lisalark's review against another edition
2.0
This could also be entitled Five Jump the Shark. It eventually straightened out, but not before a creepy-Pied-Piper-toad-talking boy took over the first half. Also, much more abuse of exclamation points than there generally is, which is saying something.
Also also, for the love of all that is good and holy, stop torturing the poor dog as a plot device.
Rather glad this is the penultimate installment - it's getting weird.
Also also, for the love of all that is good and holy, stop torturing the poor dog as a plot device.
Rather glad this is the penultimate installment - it's getting weird.
emmablackthorn's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
imogen_eliza's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
nenekoii's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
carnation7's review against another edition
3.0
Nostalgia read. :)
I think that the "Famous Five" were the first real books (not picture books) I've ever read - the series that started it all!
I remember them being the favourites of my crush-at-the-time (apparently I've always had a thing for intellectuals). :P Books last, romances fade...
I remember not yet being able to pronounce English names correctly, but pronouncing them according to Croatian shallow ortography - and Uncle Quentin frustrated me with his unpronounceable Q!
And I remember being rather enthralled with their adventures. And the elements of the stories (this particular one, at least) have stuck with me, I see, in ways I didn't expect and wasn't conscious of.
Nostalgia reads! <3
I think that the "Famous Five" were the first real books (not picture books) I've ever read - the series that started it all!
I remember them being the favourites of my crush-at-the-time (apparently I've always had a thing for intellectuals). :P Books last, romances fade...
I remember not yet being able to pronounce English names correctly, but pronouncing them according to Croatian shallow ortography - and Uncle Quentin frustrated me with his unpronounceable Q!
And I remember being rather enthralled with their adventures. And the elements of the stories (this particular one, at least) have stuck with me, I see, in ways I didn't expect and wasn't conscious of.
Nostalgia reads! <3
leanner's review against another edition
4.0
I read this book as part of a Summer/Winter reading challenge. This author was a favourite from my childhood. Simpler and safer times, my son also enjoyed these adventures.
It's totally different as an adult, corny as heck and I see the author has a formula. But what can I say, it worked and I loved them back in the 70s.
The 5 have a mystery to solve and solve it they did.
It's totally different as an adult, corny as heck and I see the author has a formula. But what can I say, it worked and I loved them back in the 70s.
The 5 have a mystery to solve and solve it they did.
_ash0_'s review against another edition
5.0
Re-read a famous five book after a long time and just loved it! The best series ever.
veethorn's review against another edition
3.0
I read like ten famous five books this weekend because they were a good brain cleanser.
luffy79's review against another edition
4.0
I'm being very generous with my rating system here. The book is simply sub-par. No amount of rhetoric will change that. Now I understand why I don't remember reading the 20th Famous Five book. I had perhaps made an attempt, and did not finish the book.
The story is ludicrous beyond belief. Our Five want to go camp in a quaint, crooked looking cottage. The cottage have a world class view of the coastline, the harbor, the island etc. To those not familiar with this series, I think the mention of the word island will make the initiated perk up in anticipation.
Sadly, my anticipation was cheated by the paucity of proper plotting. So why am I giving this parody 4 stars? I think it's because of the setting, of the token willful boy who gets tamed on contact with the Five. This book should not have been greenlit for publishing. I could say more, but I'm done.
The story is ludicrous beyond belief. Our Five want to go camp in a quaint, crooked looking cottage. The cottage have a world class view of the coastline, the harbor, the island etc. To those not familiar with this series, I think the mention of the word island will make the initiated perk up in anticipation.
Sadly, my anticipation was cheated by the paucity of proper plotting. So why am I giving this parody 4 stars? I think it's because of the setting, of the token willful boy who gets tamed on contact with the Five. This book should not have been greenlit for publishing. I could say more, but I'm done.