ozblom24's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
kathleennicholson09's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
kandicez's review against another edition
3.0
I want to know how Disney read this and decided it would make a good cartoon. Seriously. I need to research this and find out if it was truly him that focused on this novel for the film, or if someone else brought the idea to him.
Salten anthropomorphizes woodland animals to give us a look inside their lives. It's important to remember, reading this today in the 21st century, that it was written in 1923. There was no (or very little) eco biology. Saving the planet was not a "thing" at the time. I don't even know if people were really aware, or worried about man's effect on the environment on any kind of scale at the time. This book could be used in many college courses today. Did Salten get a lot wrong about animal behavior? Yes, I think he did, but it makes no difference. You close this book feeling like scum for being a human that infringes upon, hunts and kills animals for sport. I imagine that most hunters in the 20's ate their prey, but today I don't know how true that is, so the emotions inspired by this book are very different than they would have been reading it upon publication.
I think most adults were traumatized by Disney's Bambi at some point. Perhaps it was more traumatizing (I don't even have to say what "it" is because everyone knows!) because the movie was a cartoon. It was beautiful and lush, and delicately drawn. Children don't expect what happened in the movie and for many, this is their first hint that their parents are mortal. The book is not a beautiful cartoon and "it" happens off page, and is later mentioned and realized in an almost off-hand way that somehow lends even more tragedy to the event.
I think everyone would glean something from reading this. There is a lot to absorb, it's simply written and the words are small, but the ideas are anything but simple or small. The ideas are earth shattering.
Salten anthropomorphizes woodland animals to give us a look inside their lives. It's important to remember, reading this today in the 21st century, that it was written in 1923. There was no (or very little) eco biology. Saving the planet was not a "thing" at the time. I don't even know if people were really aware, or worried about man's effect on the environment on any kind of scale at the time. This book could be used in many college courses today. Did Salten get a lot wrong about animal behavior? Yes, I think he did, but it makes no difference. You close this book feeling like scum for being a human that infringes upon, hunts and kills animals for sport. I imagine that most hunters in the 20's ate their prey, but today I don't know how true that is, so the emotions inspired by this book are very different than they would have been reading it upon publication.
I think most adults were traumatized by Disney's Bambi at some point. Perhaps it was more traumatizing (I don't even have to say what "it" is because everyone knows!) because the movie was a cartoon. It was beautiful and lush, and delicately drawn. Children don't expect what happened in the movie and for many, this is their first hint that their parents are mortal. The book is not a beautiful cartoon and "it" happens off page, and is later mentioned and realized in an almost off-hand way that somehow lends even more tragedy to the event.
I think everyone would glean something from reading this. There is a lot to absorb, it's simply written and the words are small, but the ideas are anything but simple or small. The ideas are earth shattering.
maaike96's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
ann_reads22's review against another edition
4.0
Originally published in Berlin during 1923 and then translated to English by Whittaker Chambers for US publication during 1928, Bambi remains a popular children's classic. Although some anthropomorphism is used, Salten's story is a far cry from the cutesy, sanitized version presented by Walt Disney decades later. Salten's beautifully descriptive and subtle writing is deceiving, as the story contains underlying themes of fear, survival, death, war and religion.
Bambi, a male roe deer, first appears as a newborn and by the end of the book is older and turning gray. Bambi is first cared for by his mother and as he gains more independence, eventually chooses a mate. Bambi learns the most from an older male deer, who every so often seeks out Bambi to teach survival strategies, including how to outwit "He" which is the animal's term for a human.
Just a word of caution if you plant to read this, as there are various translations available and some versions are abridged too. After unwittingly borrowing and reading a recently translated abridged copy on HOOPLA, which I thought was horrible, I figured out my error. My second reading was an unabridged version translated by Whittaker Chambers and I came away with a much more favorable impression of the writing and the story. I personally think the story is far too sophisticated and gloomy for children but might be more appropriate for the YA age group.
Bambi, a male roe deer, first appears as a newborn and by the end of the book is older and turning gray. Bambi is first cared for by his mother and as he gains more independence, eventually chooses a mate. Bambi learns the most from an older male deer, who every so often seeks out Bambi to teach survival strategies, including how to outwit "He" which is the animal's term for a human.
Just a word of caution if you plant to read this, as there are various translations available and some versions are abridged too. After unwittingly borrowing and reading a recently translated abridged copy on HOOPLA, which I thought was horrible, I figured out my error. My second reading was an unabridged version translated by Whittaker Chambers and I came away with a much more favorable impression of the writing and the story. I personally think the story is far too sophisticated and gloomy for children but might be more appropriate for the YA age group.
aurinkotuulia's review against another edition
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
ahyggelibrary's review against another edition
2.0
A classic tale that highlights important themes of loss and change.
memita's review against another edition
3.0
Gostei de conhecer a história original, mas não achei nada de transcendente. Descreve a vida dos animais nos bosques, tal como o título indica, e onde a presença do Homem, tal como na realidade, implica sofrimento para estes. Torna-se mais interessante se o lermos através da lupa do impacto ambiental que causamos todos os dias à nossa casa, mas o foco principal é mesmo a vida do Bambi e como ele se viu obrigado a crescer e a se adaptar à vida de um corço adulto.