Scan barcode
linnylionheart's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Kidnapping, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and War
Moderate: Torture
Physical abuse as a method of disciplinary punishmentsingalana's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
This book definitely isn't like a Disney movie, and I feel almost sad after reading this, as it ends with a song of the army's camp animals.
Despite the story collection's name, not all stories are of Mowgli and his animal friends. Most stories are set in India, and about half of them have animals as protagonists. Despite this, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend these stories for smaller children, as they can be quite violent.
The author is a bit controversial, as his books depict the time when the British ruled India. Colonialism is also present in this book, and some might even argue that the story about the seal conveys a certain message about whiteness.
I must say that, in my opinion, the book conveyed a certain love for India. The stories were easy to read, and the language did have its moments. My favourite tale was about a mongoose, and even though it was one of the most violent ones, there was something beautiful about it. Still, I can’t help but feel saddened about how people treat animals in this book. I’m unsure if the author tried to convey a message about that, but it made me think.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Violence, Blood, Abandonment, and Colonisation
diana_raquel's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
“For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack.”
The Jungle Book and The Second Jungle Book are a collection of stories set in India, where most characters are animals. Within these stories, one of the most recognizable is the story of the boy or "man-cub" Mowgli, who is raised in the jungle by wolves.
For the most part, I found these stories interesting, however, I was not very interested in them. I cannot pinpoint why I was not interested, but, alas, I was not very interested. Therefore, I cannot give a more detailed review.
The Jungle Book and The Second Jungle Book are a collection of stories set in India, where most characters are animals. Within these stories, one of the most recognizable is the story of the boy or "man-cub" Mowgli, who is raised in the jungle by wolves.
For the most part, I found these stories interesting, however, I was not very interested in them. I cannot pinpoint why I was not interested, but, alas, I was not very interested. Therefore, I cannot give a more detailed review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Violence
Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, and Colonisation
marissasa's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
This children's classic includes "The Mowgli Stories", "The White Seal", and "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi". My favorite and the longest of the three was "The Mowgli Stories", which are the most famous work by Rudyard Kipling and the inspiration behind Disney's Jungle Book. The original story is full of colorful animal characters and Mowgli himself has a fierceness and loyalty that I loved to see.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Blood
ok7a's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death
Minor: Colonisation
alexa_d90's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty
mnerd63's review against another edition
adventurous
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Violence
Moderate: Racism and Colonisation
lectrixnoctis's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
inspiring
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Joseph Rudyard Kipling was a British journalist, short-story writer, poet, and author. He was born in India, which enlightened many of his works.
Kipling's works of fiction contain "The Jungle Book" (1894), "Kim" (1901), and many short tales, including "The Man Who Would Be King" (1888). His poems include "Mandalay" (1890), "Gunga Din" (1890), "The Gods of the Copybook Headings" (1919), "The White Man's Burden: The United States and the Philippine Islands" (1899), and "If—" (1910). He is seen as an innovator in the art of the short story. His children's books are classics; one critic noted "a versatile and luminous narrative gift.
"The Jungle Book" offers Kipling's writing for children at its best. It is a compilation of short stories and poems revolving around the boy Mowgli, raised by a pack of wolves in India. We meet the tiger Shere Khan who attacked and drove off Mowgli's parent, Bagheera, the black panther, Baloo, 'the sleepy brown bear', and the evil python, Kaa. Other tales include Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, The White Seal and Toomai of the Elephants
Family and loyalty to family are motifs throughout the stories. From the point Mowgli walks into Mother and Father Wolf's cave, they adopt him as their own, with Mother Wolf favouring his brothers on many occasions. The importance of the pack is always emphasised, and there is an order that ensures decisions are created as a family. Per of the animals lives in their own family, and whatever the animal, when they get matched and raise cubs of their own, they are allowed to leave their pack or group. Loyalty to home is also paramount; at Mowgli's looking over, Raksha prepares herself to battle until the demise for him. Mowgli reveals his commitment to Akela, his pack's leader and Lone Wolf, by departing the jungle to save him and later by supporting him and the entire collection from the red dogs. The author continues the theme of family devotion when Mowgli yields to Man and discovers his pseudo-mother, whom he values profoundly and desires to guard above all else.
Jungle Law is essential, and every animal has to learn it because it is life-saving. Laws of the jungle keep personal safety and maintain the future of the jungle and each species within it. Law is practised democratically with a committee and vote system. When a rule is broken, measures must be taken to make the violator liable and dole out a vital penalty. Some regulations and laws related to self-protection, and the greater good, see everyone working together to ensure a future for the jungle. This is evident during the Water Truce when many species work together to drive Man out of the village.
Most of the personalities in "The Jungle Book" are fearless and display their bravery through their readiness to defend, fight, or embark on an arduous quest. Mowgli often shows courage in battle, slaying Shere Khan, battling the red dogs, and standing up to the villagers. Kaa is too brave when saving Mowgli from the monkeys; Baloo and Bagheera are courageous here. In the different stories, Rikki-Tikki-Tavi maintains immense bravery by protecting his human family from the ferocious cobras, attacking one with excellent skill in the restroom, and evaporating into a hole with the moment. Little Toomai shores up his boldness to watch the elephants dance. Kotuku ventures out into the foreboding outdoors to save his people from famine. Kotick journeys for miles and miles from finding a safe island.
Kipling's evocation of English imperial and colonial endeavours in India is more implicit than explicit, but it is undoubtedly there. Samples of how vital this historical context was for the story of his tales can be seen in:
- The celebrating of the law, seen as a British colonial building
- The hierarchy current in the world of the animals corresponds to the order of English ("good" native and "bad native")
- The importance of whiteness (in "The White Seal")
- The fear of native "madness" and contamination
- The eradication of Shere Khan, the risky outlier representative of evil native citizens
These are solely a few specific examples, but overall, Kipling depicts a world that the coloniser makes organised.
Kipling is a big believer in the hierarchy, as were most Englishmen at the turn of the century. Britain was putatively the most affluent country globally regarding political influence, reach of empire, economy, and culture. Her colonisation of India and African countries solidified this but had to be justified by various theories. The English and other Western countries saw themselves as racially, culturally, and evolutionarily superior to the "savages" they colonised. They were neat to enforce this hierarchy with rules and were forced to maintain their power in the occupied territories.
I have finally managed to read this classic children's book. I enjoyed it much better than all the movie adaptations, but sadly, this story did not catch me as I hoped it would. However, I think you should have read it at least once in your life.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death
Moderate: Death, Gore, and Racial slurs
curatoriallyyours's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I was pleasantly surprised by this classic - the adventures are fast-paced and it was easy to get into the rhythm of the language, despite the different time it was written in. I tried to view it as much as possible without the lens of modern thinking overlaid, but some of the British colonial ways of talking about the people and cultures of India and Afghanistan sit awkwardly, even though I’d hesitate to call them overtly racist. If anything, I’d say India and the way of life is depicted as exotic and fascinating from a perspective of someone who sees himself as superior, which is, of course, not ok but also not unexpected from an author living in British colonial India during the period. Still, this is a minor aspect of the book as it mostly focuses on anthropomorphic animals and their affairs and only a little on people. I was surprised, given the Disney film I remember, that the Mowgli part of the book was only about half of it. The other stories were also engaging and I particularly liked The White Seal.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
Minor: Animal cruelty, Death, Gore, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, and Grief
This book is written from the British colonial mindset during India’s time as part of the British colony. There are some negative or ‘othering’ attitudes toward people of colour that come through but these are a minor part of the book, which is a product of its time. I also felt a little surprised by the way children were thought of and treated, which is not in line with my own views of how children should be thought of and treated.danajoy's review against another edition
I read all the Mowgli stories but after reading the one about the baby seal I just couldn't keep going. Too much animal cruelty and violence.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death