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mannim's review against another edition
fast-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? Yes
2.75
thaurisil's review against another edition
3.0
I read this book because someone told me that the dress I was wearing reminded him of the cover of the Jungle Book, and then followed up by saying that it was a good book and I should read it. I have never watched the movie and so didn’t have the preconceived notions that many other people do.
This is a collection of short stories. The first three feature Mowgli, a boy who grows up amongst a pack of wolves, and it seems like the rest of the book is going to focus on him, but then the later stories feature other animal characters in various settings. There’s Kotick, a white seal looking for a new safe home for his brethren, Rikki Tikki Tavi, a mongoose defending a family from cobras, Toomai, a boy who watches elephants dance, and an unnamed human soldier eavesdropping to some military animals. Each story is preceded and followed by a poem or song.
The stories are set in India, where Kipling spent the first six years of his life, and then another six-and-a-half when he was older. It is a book written for children, and can be enjoyed at a child’s level, yet it does bring in very adult themes of the injustice of white supremacy and the folly of man in trying to control animals. It arouses in the reader an awe of nature and of animals, which, despite our best efforts to tame, do have a will of their own.
This is a collection of short stories. The first three feature Mowgli, a boy who grows up amongst a pack of wolves, and it seems like the rest of the book is going to focus on him, but then the later stories feature other animal characters in various settings. There’s Kotick, a white seal looking for a new safe home for his brethren, Rikki Tikki Tavi, a mongoose defending a family from cobras, Toomai, a boy who watches elephants dance, and an unnamed human soldier eavesdropping to some military animals. Each story is preceded and followed by a poem or song.
The stories are set in India, where Kipling spent the first six years of his life, and then another six-and-a-half when he was older. It is a book written for children, and can be enjoyed at a child’s level, yet it does bring in very adult themes of the injustice of white supremacy and the folly of man in trying to control animals. It arouses in the reader an awe of nature and of animals, which, despite our best efforts to tame, do have a will of their own.
kessler21's review against another edition
4.0
I love Disney's The Jungle Book (1967) and the 2016 remake is one of my favorites. How can you not love Christopher Walken as King Louie? But I had never read the book until now.
The Jungle Book is a collection of short stories and with the exception of Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, the stories about Mowgli are the best but beware, the stories and characters are different than Disney's retelling. Which do I like better? Disney's The Jungle Book (2016) is still one of my favorites, and 1967 is a fun movie that will always hold a spot in my heart. But I really enjoyed the book. The characters are...better? They are different but did not taint my love for these enduring characters. And the new characters in stories I have never heard of before was a wonderful surprise.
The stories keep a theme of following rules, being kind and generous, the underdog winning, and abandonment/adoption.
This is a book I will want my kids to read.
The Jungle Book is a collection of short stories and with the exception of Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, the stories about Mowgli are the best but beware, the stories and characters are different than Disney's retelling. Which do I like better? Disney's The Jungle Book (2016) is still one of my favorites, and 1967 is a fun movie that will always hold a spot in my heart. But I really enjoyed the book. The characters are...better? They are different but did not taint my love for these enduring characters. And the new characters in stories I have never heard of before was a wonderful surprise.
The stories keep a theme of following rules, being kind and generous, the underdog winning, and abandonment/adoption.
This is a book I will want my kids to read.
seccybishop's review against another edition
2.0
Another childhood traumatizing read, the book is good but I was forced to read it, several times and it's quite a long read.
_s_i_r_h_c_'s review against another edition
3.0
not too sure why the animals spoke english so well to each other... but the stories were good. Better than the disney version.
nenation's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
sugarpop's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.75
florante's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0