annieb123's review against another edition
4.0
Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
Dover has done more to protect and republish out of print classics than probably any other publishing entity ever. There have been a number of their offerings over the years which I've reviewed on my blog. This is another one. Originally published in 1906, The Story of the Amulet is an odd tale ostensibly (more on that later) for children. It's the third of the 5 Children books about a family of 5 siblings (4 of whom are in this book) and their adventures. They are set on their path by a thoroughly weird magical mentor, the Psammead. The Psammead, or 'Sammy', is by turns rude and solicitous. The book was written at a time when societal mores were more stringent and far more unbreakable than now. In that sense the dialogue and characterizations can feel a little 'out there' from a modern reader's viewpoint. In a lot of ways, Nesbit reminds me of Charles Kingsley, Roald Dahl, and even Shel Silverstein, in the sly puncturing of societal norms and the polite fictions we tell ourselves in order to keep society chugging along. Make no mistake, this is two different books depending on the reader. There's the fable-tall-tale-adventure plot for the younger readers with a healthy dose of sly humor lurking under the surface for the supposed adults in the audience.
Released 18th July 2018 by Dover, it's 320 pages and available in paperback and ebook formats (earlier editions are available in other formats). This edition is a reprint of the 1957 Ernest Benn version.
This would make a superlative read-to-me for younger kids (note: due to length, it'll be a long-term project) or a good school-break read for middle readers. I can't honestly say that it would be completely appropriate for a reading circle read in a classroom setting due to the oddness of some of the characters and the implicit attitudes and mores of its time period (Edwardian England). It is a product of its time period and shows it. It would be fine for a school library though, there's nothing overtly violent or objectionable.
I really enjoyed these books a lot. I remember them from my youth and they were a sweetly nostalgic revisiting of the books which turned me into the raging bibliophile I am today.
Four stars, as long as readers remember they're reading a book written more than 100 years ago.
Five everlasting stars for Dover, they are a treasure worth preserving and supporting.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Dover has done more to protect and republish out of print classics than probably any other publishing entity ever. There have been a number of their offerings over the years which I've reviewed on my blog. This is another one. Originally published in 1906, The Story of the Amulet is an odd tale ostensibly (more on that later) for children. It's the third of the 5 Children books about a family of 5 siblings (4 of whom are in this book) and their adventures. They are set on their path by a thoroughly weird magical mentor, the Psammead. The Psammead, or 'Sammy', is by turns rude and solicitous. The book was written at a time when societal mores were more stringent and far more unbreakable than now. In that sense the dialogue and characterizations can feel a little 'out there' from a modern reader's viewpoint. In a lot of ways, Nesbit reminds me of Charles Kingsley, Roald Dahl, and even Shel Silverstein, in the sly puncturing of societal norms and the polite fictions we tell ourselves in order to keep society chugging along. Make no mistake, this is two different books depending on the reader. There's the fable-tall-tale-adventure plot for the younger readers with a healthy dose of sly humor lurking under the surface for the supposed adults in the audience.
Released 18th July 2018 by Dover, it's 320 pages and available in paperback and ebook formats (earlier editions are available in other formats). This edition is a reprint of the 1957 Ernest Benn version.
This would make a superlative read-to-me for younger kids (note: due to length, it'll be a long-term project) or a good school-break read for middle readers. I can't honestly say that it would be completely appropriate for a reading circle read in a classroom setting due to the oddness of some of the characters and the implicit attitudes and mores of its time period (Edwardian England). It is a product of its time period and shows it. It would be fine for a school library though, there's nothing overtly violent or objectionable.
I really enjoyed these books a lot. I remember them from my youth and they were a sweetly nostalgic revisiting of the books which turned me into the raging bibliophile I am today.
Four stars, as long as readers remember they're reading a book written more than 100 years ago.
Five everlasting stars for Dover, they are a treasure worth preserving and supporting.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
bigdreamsandwildthings's review against another edition
3.0
Still a weird book upon second read, but I didn't hate it as much as I did the first time. Maybe all the 18th and 19th century lit is finally catching up to me, but despite this one's weirdness, it felt a little nostalgic.
mattgroot1980's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
alexsaunders's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
belles_bookishlife's review against another edition
4.0
I don’t read the first two books but I don’t think you need to. I read this book because of my childrens lit class and I’m glad I did. This was such a fun, entertaining and easy read. It has the typical feeling of the early 1900 children’s novels. The other worldly aspects, the magic, the banter, the fun.
I definitely recommend this book for preteens or anyone who likes literature of that time. (If you like the narnia books try these out!)
I definitely recommend this book for preteens or anyone who likes literature of that time. (If you like the narnia books try these out!)
tsuferman's review against another edition
3.0
3.5/5
One of the weirder children's books I've come across, which made it both intriguing and arbitrary at times.
One of the weirder children's books I've come across, which made it both intriguing and arbitrary at times.
vaderbird's review against another edition
4.0
5 star - Perfect
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
mikewomack's review against another edition
3.0
I began reading this book for a Teachers As Scholars class. I am glad I read it as apparently E. Nesbit is an important fantasy novelist of whom I knew little or nothing about. Some interesting facts that were pointed out in the class: the little boy named Wells in one of the chapters is actually a shout out to HG Wells, a contemporary to Nesbit. Additionally, Nesbit included Rudyard Kipling in her book as well in the British museum that the children visit. Heis the only nice adult among the other angry men.
Okay book but I am sure I would have liked it much more as a younger reader.
Okay book but I am sure I would have liked it much more as a younger reader.
em_holborn's review against another edition
I read this for a class on children's literature. The book is structured with each chapter being a sort of mini-adventure with a loose plot that connects all of the adventures together. I don't really like that structure typically because they always read more like short stories to me, which I'm not a fan of. Overall, I found this book a bit hard to get through, especially because the children are not given many distinctive features and it was difficult to remember who they were.