pavram's review
4.0
Dečija knjiga koja ima začuđujuće hrabar kraj, vrlo nekako evropski, kontemplativan, koji uspeva da zaokruži inače relativno mlaku priču u celinu. Imam nekih problema sa odabranom tematikom, no hajde da ne budem baksuz, ipak su praznici i u sat-i-po čitanja ove knjižice sam prilično uživao. Srećna Nova godina svima!
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4-
vivianhester's review against another edition
5.0
Wonderful children's book with a very intriguing storyline about God, acceptance and developing yourself. Lots of interesting characters and it really made me think about how kids see religion. Still thinking a lot about the ending, and really fascinated by the depth of the story. Amazing.
lauralynnwalsh's review
4.0
This is one of those allegorical/metaphorical books that I have a hard time understanding. It is written as a true to life story, but so much of what happens is impossible in real world terms. I have a hard time figuring out what is true. But, if I give up on what is true to life and just pay attention to what feels true, I come closer to understanding it. It is a touching story and cuts right to the core. What do you want to be when you grow up? -- "Happy."
nwhyte's review
3.0
http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/1869271.html
It's quite a fascinating package, and very short at only 100 pages; Kuijer gives a very strong sense of a repressed Dutch society of the early 1950s, still coming to terms with the recent war and occupation (Thomas, the central character, is 9 so would have been born in 1942), combined with some startling magical realism as Thomas and the slightly sorcerous neighbour call down the plagues of Egypt on his wife-beating father. The line that sticks with me is from quite near the beginning (repeated again at the end) when Thomas first talks with the witch next door:
“Wat wil je later worden eigenlijk?” vroeg ze.
“Gelukkig”, zei Thomas. “Ik word later gelukkig.”
(“What do you want to be when you are older?” she asked.
“Happy”, said Thomas. “I want to be happy.”)
Anyway, definitely impressive enough for me to look out for more of Kuijer's work.
It's quite a fascinating package, and very short at only 100 pages; Kuijer gives a very strong sense of a repressed Dutch society of the early 1950s, still coming to terms with the recent war and occupation (Thomas, the central character, is 9 so would have been born in 1942), combined with some startling magical realism as Thomas and the slightly sorcerous neighbour call down the plagues of Egypt on his wife-beating father. The line that sticks with me is from quite near the beginning (repeated again at the end) when Thomas first talks with the witch next door:
“Wat wil je later worden eigenlijk?” vroeg ze.
“Gelukkig”, zei Thomas. “Ik word later gelukkig.”
(“What do you want to be when you are older?” she asked.
“Happy”, said Thomas. “I want to be happy.”)
Anyway, definitely impressive enough for me to look out for more of Kuijer's work.
willemijnkranendonk's review against another edition
4.0
(Gelezen voor master Jeugdliteratuur, zowel in het Engels als het Nederlands.)
anelisa's review
4.0
Zó mooi. En deze, hum-tiedelum: “Alleen nietsnutten en slappelingen zijn gelukkig. Het leven is een strijd.”
lukiut's review against another edition
5.0
Ik had nooit gedacht dat ik zoveel van een kinderboek zou genieten. Ik heb het als een Nederlandse beginner gelezen dus ik raad het aan omdat het eenvoudig is. Ik heb ook genoten van de vele verschillende thema's die het heeft aangepakt en de manier waarop het dat deed. Ik zal zeker meer van het werk van deze auteur.
nathanbartos17's review
4.0
The commentary on religion on a book for children/young adults is spectacular, and the themes were really mature for its age group and really rather interesting. The magical realism really grounded this story as a great novella.
anamaria427's review against another edition
5.0
Maravilloso. Una joya. Magia. Infancia en todo su esplendor.
jessegunsing's review against another edition
4.0
" 'Nu wist ik opeens wat Elize wist,' schreef Thomas in Het boek van alle dingen. 'Zij wist het en ik wist het ook: wat er met mij ís.' "