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The Magic Pudding (New York Review Children's Collection)

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 15 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

The Australian Lewis Carroll? 5 out of 5 stars.
31 of 31 people found this review helpful.

This book is part of the wonderful new series of republished children's books from the New York Review of Books. Over 80 years old, "The Magic Pudding" describes the adventures of a koala bear, named Bunyip Bluegum - the kind of koala who wears a high collar and spats - who falls in with a crazy cowboy sort of fellow named Bill Barnacle and a penguin named Sam Sawnoff.

Bill and Sam are possessed of a magic pudding (named Albert, if you can believe this), who regenerates every time you take a bite of him and changes into whatever flavor you like. Albert the pudding is much coveted by two evil villains who are constantly tricking our Heroes into giving up the Pudding, whereupon they must go and re-re-re-rescue it.

The characters and style are very reminiscent of "Alice in Wonderland," with Bunyip seeming a little White-rabbitish to me, and Bill and Sam sort of Mad Hatter and Dormouse-y. The effect is somewhere in between "Alice" and an old Loony Tunes in which Bugs Bunny constantly bewilders Elmer Fudd.

The whole narrative is punctuated with many whimsical song lyrics, like the poetry in Carroll's book. The lyrics make it a great read-aloud for the younger set, although older kids might be a bit puzzled by its style. However, everyone will be charmed by the Pudding himself and want one of their very own.

Editorial Review:

The Magic Pudding is a pie, except when it's something else, like a steak, or a jam donut, or an apple dumpling, or whatever its owner wants it to be. And it never runs out. No matter how many slices you cut, there's always something left over. It's magic.

But the Magic Pudding is also alive. It walks and it talks and it's got a personality like no other. A meaner, sulkier, snider, snarlinger Pudding you've never met.

So Bunyip Bluegum (the koala bear) finds out when he joins Barnacle Bill (the sailor) and Sam Sawnoff (the penguin bold) as members of the Noble Society of Pudding Owners, whose "members are required to wander along the roads, indulgin' in conversation, song and story, and eatin' at regular intervals from the Pudding." Wild and woolly, funny and outrageously fun, The Magic Pudding stands somewhere between Alice in Wonderland and The Stinky Cheese Man as one of the craziest books ever written for young readers.

The Amber Spyglass, Deluxe 10th Anniversary Edition (His Dark Materials, Book 3)

Philip Pullman

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 21 Average rating: 3.0 of 5

His Not So Subtle Bad Writing 1 out of 5 stars.
2 of 5 people found this review helpful.

You'd think that after 10 years the publisher would have invested in a rewrite, lord knows that it would have taken that long to fix this beast.

I had heard all the hype about these books and this volume in particular being anti-Catholic, etc, so rather than listening to the "do not read" uber religious chatter, I read all 3 books.

Forget his agenda -- Phillip Pullman or whomever ghostwrote this book was a very lazy writer here, unlike in the earlier 2 volumes. I was ready to quit after the first third of the Spyglass book out of boredom but was curious to hear how everything resolved. He doesn't even follow his story telling rules which he expounded in his earlier volumes. Basically he lies to the reader by promising something he doesn't deliver on.

The big show was to be the death match b/w Lord Asriel and God,
tag teamed by Will "the Knife".

I think Pullman's sendup to Armageddon into thin air was his way of saying that since Judeo/Christianity is a human invention, he didn't have to have a big fight to kill it off, that he could let it feebly fade away, which he did. Almost like it wasn't worth writing any more about.

As I trudged through the last book, the worlds and characters ended up being made out of and as important as cardboard. Pullman would reiterate a lot of the same detail when describing the world(s) and it was totally amazing to me that Will knew which worlds to cut into ... especially given the infinite potential for connecting worlds.

Contrast this to Tolkein, who spend most of his life not only further detailing his worlds, but inventing the mythos, language and geography as to be believable.

Pullman's naming of the characters was particularly trite.
Lyra ("Liar, Liar", the harpie exclaimed).
Will ((free) will, the desire to accomplish a goal, such as using the knife)
Mary (archetypical female figure, 2nd Eve, Jesus' mother, tempter, a nun -- voice of the church and the now new way of thinking).
Lord Asriel (Israel, rising up)
Give me a break ....

The various soliloquys were pandering and while I enjoyed thinking about some of the ideas, it was so heavy handed that I just had to wryly smile and wonder how the author could live with his lack of discipline in this work.

The Mulefa world was god-awful boring and he could have covered the whole evolutionary piece in 1 chapter. Mary's existence there and elsewhere seemed only to deliver the summary of a form of ethics w/o a god-head and how god-lessness does not equate to moral-lessness.

There was a major logical inconsistency ... if there was no God or supernatural like beings, then how could the witches fly, how could the grey Purgatory exist, how could the Specters and harpies end up being? For as much as the author attempts to justify everything through science, he didn't even bother to apply the same treatment to his fantasy trappings. Goofy.

I would rather have had this broken up into 2 books and him invested more time to bring this home. The whole book reminds me of my 6 year old randomly and messily sketching out ream after ream of characters and worlds on scrap paper and just letting them lay all over the house. Of course a 6 year old has to clean up his messes, but Pullman somehow got away w/ not doing the same.

Free Choice is a cornerstone of Christianity and also in these books. My only regret was that I chose to read them when I could have invested time reading books about evolution, history of religion or atheism for that matter rather than this tortured attempt at writing.

For all you 5 star assigners (Pullman apologists), your zealous defenses sound as narrow minded as the alleged narrow thinking religious folks that you are condemning ... this 3rd volume is weak writing no matter how you slice it -- even with a dull yet not so subtle knife.

Read it for yourself if you've got free time to waste and form your own conclusion! (Just make sure you don't waste your money and instead borrow from the library : )

The Subtle Knife, Deluxe 10th Anniversary Edition (His Dark Materials, Book 2)

Philip Pullman

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 14 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

PUBLISHED IN 40 COUNTRIES, with over 5 million copies in print in North America alone, Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy -The
Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass - has graced the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, San Francisco Chronicle, Book Sense, and Publishers Weekly bestseller lists. For these deluxe editions, Philip Pullman has created new material: papers of Colonel John Parry for the 10-year anniversary of The Subtle Knife (15 new pages), and letters of Mary Malone from secret Magisterium files for The Amber Spyglass (10 new pages). In each book, the new material has been illustrated and handlettered by renowned artist Ian Beck and will be included in the backmatter.

Each deluxe edition also features a ribbon bookmark, rough-edged pages, and Pullman's own chapter-opening spot art. These two volumes join the 2006 deluxe edition of The Golden Compass to form a gorgeous collectible set of the trilogy - a perfect gift for loyal Pullman readers and new fans alike. The Golden Compass debuts as a New Line major motion picture starring Nicole Kidman in December 2007.

The Ruby in the Smoke: A Sally Lockhart Mystery (Sally Lockhart)

Philip Pullman

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Her name was Sally Lockhart; and within 15 minutes, she was going to kill a man 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

In The Ruby in the Smoke, Phillip Pullman combines three of my favorite things: young adult fiction, a good mystery and a Victorian era setting.

Sixteen-year-old Sally Lockhart has recently lost her father in a shipwreck. After receiving a mysterious note warning her to "beware of the Seven Blessings", she visits her late father's shipping firm in the hope that someone there can make sense of the note. When she asks one of her father's employees about the Seven Blessings, the man is so terrified that he dies of a heart attack right in front of Sally. And so begins a chain of events that will have Sally questioning the circumstances of her father's death as well as her connection to a priceless Indian ruby. All the while Sally is pursued by a series of villains who are determined to kill her before she can learn the truth.

The Ruby in the Smoke is filled with colorful, vivid characters that seem ready to leap off the page. Sally is a strong female character, but she's not perfect by any means. Pullman avoided the pitfall of turning her into an unrealistic super heroine, while still highlighting her cleverness and charm. Even some of the villains are likeable while still being villainous; I was very amused by one soft-hearted thug who gives a temperance tract to a drunken man he's just beaten up.

With witty dialogue and twists and turns on nearly every page, The Ruby in the Smoke is a delightful and exciting read. I highly recommended it to any reader who loves a good mystery.

Editorial Review:

“BEWARE THE SEVEN blessings . . . ” When she first utters these words, 16-year-old Sally Lockhart doesn’t know their meaning. But when an employee of her late father hears them, he dies of fear. Thus begins Sally’s terrifying journey into the seamy underworld of Victorian London, in search of clues to her father’s mysterious death.

Private Peaceful: With Aladdin and the Enchanted Lamp and the Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark (Oberon Plays for Young People): With Aladdin and the Enchanted ... of the Dark (Oberon Plays for Young People)

Michael Morpurgo, Philip Pullman, Jill Tomlinson

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 32 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

A Good Look at World War One 4 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

Private Peaceful has a very interesting premise: Set against the backdrop of World War One, we follow brothers Charlie and Tommo as they grow up and subsequently enlist in Britain's army to fight the Hun. Each chapter begins sometime during a very long night as Tommo remembers all the adventures and trials he and his family endured together. Morpurgo does an excellent job of building suspense as we learn slowly that Tommo is dreading the coming of morning, though the reason is unclear until late in the book. By then, we are so emotionally vested in this story that the realization of what's coming is devastating.

Private Peaceful (Peaceful is the family name) is a short book that packs a wallop of emotion. However, at times Morpurgo doesn't move the story along as quickly as I'd like, though of course war itself is like that. Tommo doesn't waver in his commitments, whether to his brothers, his soldiering, or his love for his brother's wife; it's this love for Molly that I found immature on his part. The brothers are realistic in their devotion to each other, and Morpurgo is skilled in bringing us to the climax that tests those bonds.

Overall I enjoyed this book, though I felt it might have done a little better with Tommo being less focused on his own feelings. The book would make a great addition to a history teacher's repetoire; it illustrates the devastation of trench warfare and the unrealistic notions of young men enlisting to fight an unknown enemy. Ultimately packing a powerful punch, this is indeed a book I find easy to recommend.

The Shadow in the North: A Sally Lockhart Mystery (Sally Lockhart)

Philip Pullman

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Editorial Review:

WHEN ONE OF Sally’s clients loses a large sum of money in the unexpected collapse of a British shipping firm, Sally sets out to investigate. But as she delves deeper into the identity of a wealthy and elusive industrialist, she uncovers a plot so diabolical, it could subvert the entire civilized world.

Clockwork

Philip Pullman

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 62 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Just when he gets it all wound up the spring snaps! 4 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

This book is very skillfuly writen by Philip Pullman, all the way up until the end. I am eleven and I have just finished reading this book. It is wonderful story but becomes very weak near the end, it gets very mushy and loses he dark theme Philip had built up throuout the story. Clockwork could easily be twice the length it is now. It is as if Philip ran up agianst at deadline near the end and just finished it. The ending exhibits none of the skill prevelent in the rest of the book.

I can't wait ot read more by this author! 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

This is my first Philip Pullman book. I went to the library looking for "the Gold Compass but it was checked out so I grabbed this little book by the same author and decided I'd give it a try. It is an admidtedly short, fairy tale revolving around a small group of people living in a German villiage a long time ago. The people's lives revolve around a monster grandfather clock that is filled with lifelike figures. Every time an apprentice is about to graduate to become a master he must carve a figure for this clock. Karl, the apprentice who is one of the main characters, has so failed to produce a figure and now has only a single night to come up with something or be disgraced. How far is this desperate willing to go to achieve his goals? An enigmatic old clockmaker comes to the inn and willing to help him but with magic help of this kind there is always a price.
There is also a writer whose short stories have a bad habbit of turning out to be nonfiction, a little prince who is not what he seems, and a plucky little inkeepers daughter who is the hero and moral center of this story.
Pullman packs a lot of emotion and suspense in this little book. A must read for anyone who enjoys suspense, fantasy, or just enjoys a good fairy tale with a twist. After this I cannot wait to read Pullman's other books.

Editorial Review:

From the master storyteller comes a tale of gothic mystery as elegantly crafted as the most intricate clockwork. A tormented apprentice clock-maker - and a deadly knight in armour. A mechanical prince - and the sinister Dr Kalmenius, who some say is the devil- Compelling characters and superbly constructed narrative create a story that is funny, frightening, exciting, and clever. A gem.

The Tiger in the Well: A Sally Lockhart Mystery (Sally Lockhart)

Philip Pullman

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Editorial Review:

UNLIKE MOST VICTORIAN women, Sally is completely independent, with her own successful business and a comfortable home for her young daughter, Harriet. But Sally’s whole world is about to collapse. A stranger emerges, claiming to be both her husband and Harriet’s father and threatening all that she has.

The Tin Princess: A Sally Lockhart Mystery (Sally Lockhart)

Philip Pullman

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Editorial Review:

AFTER WITNESSING A mysterious explosion, three young Londoners—Becky, Jim, and Adelaide—journey to a tiny country high in the mountains of Central Europe in 1882. They’re an unlikely trio to lead a country, but when Adelaide’s husband, the new king, is assassinated, she finds herself fighting for the crown—and for her very life.

The Scarecrow and His Servant

Philip Pullman

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 9 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Delightful Book! 4 out of 5 stars.
3 of 4 people found this review helpful.

Mr.Pandolfo sits down one day and decides to make a scarecrow. But the night he sets it out it is stolen and carried from place to place. Lightning strikes the scaercrow, mysteriously bringing him to life. He finds an orphan boy named Jack, and the scarecrow and his new friend set out for adventure.

This is a bit lighter than the magnificent HIS DARK MATERIALS trilogy (both in story and substance) but will be eagerly devoured by the auther's fans.

RATING:B+

Editorial Review:

A tattered scarecrow stands in the middle of a muddy field, taking no notice of the violent thunderstorm around him. But when a bolt of lightning strikes him, fizzing its way through his turnip head and down his broomstick, the Scarecrow blinks with surprise–and comes to life.
So begins the story of the Scarecrow, a courteous but pea-brained fellow with grand ideas. He meets a boy, Jack, who becomes his faithful servant. Leaving behind his bird-scaring duties, the Scarecrow sets out for Spring Valley, with Jack at his side. As the valiant Scarecrow plunges them into terrifying dangers–battles, brigands, broken hearts, and treasure islands–he never realizes he’s being followed by the one family who desperately wishes he’d never sprung to life. Will the Scarecrow discover the secret to his past before the crooked Buffalonis close in on him?


From the Hardcover edition.