Reviews

Bambi: A Life in the Woods by Michael J. Woods, Felix Salten

shelleebee_books's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

It was a good story, bit dark in places but an easy read. Shows an interesting POV as an animal in a forest. I wasn’t sure what to expect, obviously having seen the Disney film, but I certainly was surprised. I tried using the audiobook but the one available in the Audible Plus catalogue had a lot missing and for the sake of 122 pages, I just finished it without.

pdwelch's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

"He isn't above us. He's just the same as we are. He has the same fears, the same needs, and suffers in the same way. He can be killed like us, and then He lies helpless on the ground like all the rest of us, as you see Him now."

The wisdom of the Old Stag.

"Can't you stay by yourself? Shame on you!"

Find out for yourself. Farewell."

"Act bravely."

I adore this little book and am so glad Rebecca gave it to Porter to read and that it found it's way into my hands.

sidebraid's review against another edition

Go to review page

2.0

After being told by my mother that this book was "nothing like the Disney version," I came prepared to read something like Watership Down for Children. Surprise! Not really.

This book actually was very like the Disney movie, as I remember it (and it's been quite a few years). It begins with Bambi's birth in a meadow and continues by cataloging his discoveries and experiences one by one: meeting a squirrel, conversing with a screech owl, meeting Aunt Ena and cousin Faline. There's no Bashful or Thumper here and no charming icy pond sequence...and no forest fire. However, there really is an "Old Prince," and Bambi's mother really does die. The less dramatic, cinematic bits of the Disney movie might have been lifted straight from Salten's pages.

However, Salten's major theme didn't quite make it in. All of Bambi's experiences throughout the book are building to one major revelation about the nature of life, of nature, of wild animals vs. domestic animals, and the events that contribute to this revelation didn't quite make the final Disney cut. I'm not sure if I agree with Salten's view of domestic vs. wild and the role of man in nature, but I did find his conclusions thought-provoking. I'd say this book is worth a rainy Sunday afternoon.

chuskeyreads's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

It's a Little Golden Book - what's not to love?

malavacious's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Quite a bit more stern of a tale than the Disney film: a surprisingly gripping romp that reminds me of Watership Down.

bloodghosts's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

Saying this is a book about a young deer and his animal friends is a wild understatement. I feel like this is more of a reflection of humanity than a children’s tale.

karenholmes's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional informative relaxing sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

sbsenpai's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

The book and movie are different as night and day. The book has a much deeper take on the characters and the overall plot isn't too bad. Good job.

lieblingslesen's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark reflective medium-paced

3.5

crabel93's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

Hoy os quiero hablar de Bambi, de Felix Salten e ilustrado por Benjamin Lacombe, en una edición maravillosa. En un principio, este libro me llamaba la atención por estar ilustrado por Lacombe, la historia me creaba curiosidad por ver cómo es la original, pero el único referente que tenía (la película de Disney) no es de mis favoritas, así que no sabía qué esperar.

Por eso me sorprendió descubrir todo el simnolismo que ocultaba esa historia que, a primera vista, puede parecer infantil.

Se trata de una historia metafórica sobre la Segunda Guerra Mundial y la persecución que sufrió el pueblo judío. Jamás me hubiera imaginado de detrás del pequeño corzo que todos conocemos existiera una historia tan dura de supervivencia.

Una vez que te das cuenta de ese transfondo, ves la historia con otros ojos: la persecución, el miedo, la muerte... Es un libro más duro de lo que puede parecer en un primer momento.

Por eso se agradece la sutileza y belleza de las ilustraciones que incluye Benjamin Lacombe. Se centra en las pequeñas cosas, en la belleza del bosque y los descubrimientos que hace Bambi a lo largo de su crecimiento; e ilustra de forma muy sutil su miedo y la muerte de la cual es testigo; cómo pasa de la ignorancia a descubrir qué es realmente lo que le rodea.

Del mismo modo que te hace ser consciente de esa dureza, el libro también está plagado de momentos tiernos y llenos de felicidad. Somos testigos de cómo Bambi descubre el mundo, como hace amigos y conoce a otros animales del bosque. La inocencia de nuestro protagonista hace de él un personaje muy tierno, al cual se coge cariño en seguida. Por eso también es interesante ver cómo va cambiando, como esa primera ternura e inocencia se va alejando a medida que va creciendo y va descubriendo cómo es su mundo en realidad.

En general, es una belleza de libro que, lejos de resultar infantil, tiene un transfondo profundo, que se lee entre líneas. Un libro que merece la pena por su historia y por las ilustraciones tan maravillosas que lo acompañan.