kandicez's review against another edition
3.0
Not as good as the first. Maybe because I was so much older when I read it.
zenithharpink's review against another edition
3.0
This was just okay, The Jungle Book wasn't my favorite, and I had the same problems with the first book that I had with the second. This is a collection of short stories-most of which feature Mowgli, and most of which are set in India-but some are not, and I really didn't enjoy that minority of stories. Additionally, I'm not a huge fan of poetry (judge me as you see fit), and the constant injections of poetry in this book of prose was more frustrating than illuminating to me-it seemed to disrupt my flow with the book, so I never quite got into the zone reading it.
For the stories of Mowgli, I was absolutely transported-it's so well written, and the structure of the Jungle is so clear and evident in this collection. I truly forgot where I was as I read. Simply, there just wasn't enough of what I loved about this book.
I recommend this book to those interested based on the title, those who read and enjoyed the first book, and those looking for a quality English-language read. It's short but diverting, even if you don't love every bit about it!
For the stories of Mowgli, I was absolutely transported-it's so well written, and the structure of the Jungle is so clear and evident in this collection. I truly forgot where I was as I read. Simply, there just wasn't enough of what I loved about this book.
I recommend this book to those interested based on the title, those who read and enjoyed the first book, and those looking for a quality English-language read. It's short but diverting, even if you don't love every bit about it!
rosekk's review against another edition
3.0
It's been a long time since I read The Jungle Book (the first one), and I'd forgotten a lot about the stories, so reading this felt a bit like a refresher course. The stories that centred on Mowgli & the characters of his jungle I found the most absorbing, but perhaps that's because they're characters I've been reading about since I was a child.
krejdar's review against another edition
4.0
The world is sleeping on Mowgli.
We get countless retellings of Beauty and the Beast, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, Treasure Island, etc etc and yet I've never heard of anyone retelling or expanding on the Mowgli universe (please fucking correct me if I'm wrong!)
The Godling of the Jungle has endless story potential and I'm just sitting here bitter as hell that the rest of the world sleeps on this beautiful world.
Also, Bagheera is best boy.
We get countless retellings of Beauty and the Beast, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, Treasure Island, etc etc and yet I've never heard of anyone retelling or expanding on the Mowgli universe (please fucking correct me if I'm wrong!)
The Godling of the Jungle has endless story potential and I'm just sitting here bitter as hell that the rest of the world sleeps on this beautiful world.
Also, Bagheera is best boy.
jessicamdawn's review against another edition
2.0
Some of the stories were enjoyable, including "The Miracle of Purun Bhagat" and "Letting in the Jungle." Some were very boring for me, like "The Undertakers." Most of the stories were okay, but nothing I would really recommend to a friend looking for something to read. Kipling is a talented storyteller, for sure, but a few of the stories just felt like characters doing a lot of talking but not much actually happening.
I did enjoy the fact that I already knew the Law for the Wolves before reading this. I used the first six stanzas in a story once and so could say the law loud and proud when it came up in this, the original telling of it.
I did enjoy the fact that I already knew the Law for the Wolves before reading this. I used the first six stanzas in a story once and so could say the law loud and proud when it came up in this, the original telling of it.
hals_'s review against another edition
3.0
In the beginning, this book was quite confusing for me. But as I read on, it became clearer and clearer what the theme of, not just Mowgli’s story, but other character’s stories was. Kipling, yet again, definitely didn’t miss the mark for me.
Although, there are some sections in this book I found non-contributing to the plot line, I still think they were cute additions to the story, re-enforcing that theme of growth again.
The best part about it? You don’t even need to read the first book. While, yes, I am a seasoned “Jungle Book” reader, this book does not require you to have read the first book. If you’ve seen the movies, or even if you haven’t, you’ll still understand this book just fine. Overall, a lovely read for me.
Although, there are some sections in this book I found non-contributing to the plot line, I still think they were cute additions to the story, re-enforcing that theme of growth again.
The best part about it? You don’t even need to read the first book. While, yes, I am a seasoned “Jungle Book” reader, this book does not require you to have read the first book. If you’ve seen the movies, or even if you haven’t, you’ll still understand this book just fine. Overall, a lovely read for me.
bookpossum's review against another edition
4.0
A reread after some 60 or more years! I read it and its predecessor because my book club read Neil Gaiman's "The Graveyard Book" this month, and I was interested to see how his tribute to Kipling had borrowed from the Mowgli stories. "The King's Ankus" is a very striking predecessor of the ancient tomb under the hill and The Sleer in Gaiman's book.
Kipling's language is reminiscent of the King James version of the Bible. It gives all the animals a dignity that is sadly lacking in most modern stories with anthropomorphic animals. They are not cute: they kill to eat, they fight among themselves and with other species, and there is death. I had not remembered how powerful the stories were, and I can see why Gaiman wished to celebrate them.
Kipling's language is reminiscent of the King James version of the Bible. It gives all the animals a dignity that is sadly lacking in most modern stories with anthropomorphic animals. They are not cute: they kill to eat, they fight among themselves and with other species, and there is death. I had not remembered how powerful the stories were, and I can see why Gaiman wished to celebrate them.
forkdogforkfruit's review against another edition
4.0
Another reason why classics are labelled as classics.
This instalment has more Mowgli stories alongside a few other stories. I am conflicted whether this instalment is better that the first or not. Either way this is a great read and really taps into many things I like in a book.
Worth the read and thoroughly enjoyable.
This instalment has more Mowgli stories alongside a few other stories. I am conflicted whether this instalment is better that the first or not. Either way this is a great read and really taps into many things I like in a book.
Worth the read and thoroughly enjoyable.