15 May 2015

PINOCCHIO.


PINOCCHIO by MICHAEL MORPURGO {With illustrations by EMMA CHICHESTER CLARK.}

BACK COVER BLURB: "My name is Pinocchio

I reckon I must be just about the most famous puppet the world has ever known.

But I'm more than just bits of wood and string.

I'm me. So it's about time that I, Pinocchio, told you my story ...."

FIRST SENTENCE {Introduction}: I used to think, on account of my somewhat strange start in life, I suppose, that I was unlike everyone else.

MEMORABLE MOMENT {Page 126}: Every dog I saw was hairless, all the sheep were shaved of their wool and trembling with cold. The butterflies had no colour in their wings and couldn't fly. Peacocks and pheasants had lost their tales and all their bright feathers. It was a place where everyone and everything was so sad.

SOURCE: Purchased with a book token.

MY THOUGHTS: Alas, the jury is still out as to quite what I think about the re-telling/re-imagining of books. Simply lazy, unoriginal story telling or a great way to introduce stories to a whole new generation of readers?

Told largely in the style of the original but from the point of view of an older (though not necessarily wiser) Pinocchio. I felt the first person narrative worked exceptionally well in bringing to life (if you'll excuse the pun) the wooden anti-hero of the title but it was the exquisite black and white illustrations that really made this latest offering from Michael Morpurgo such a hit with me.




11 comments:

Kelly said...

I haven't read any re-tellings other than the "true" story of the Three Little Pigs (told from the wolf's perspective) which I loved.

Given Pinocchio isn't my favorite children's story to begin with, I'm not sure I'd be inclined to give this a shot. I did like your pun, though. ;)

Stephanie Faris said...

An older Pinocchio? That sounds interesting!

Melissa (Books and Things) said...

I do enjoy retellings but this one doesn't quite resonate with me. Perhaps it's because Pinocchio hasn't learned anything...

Shooting Stars Mag said...

sounds kind of interesting. I like the idea of retellings but I haven't read that many.

Aunt Mary said...

I would like to read it, thank you for sharing , very nice review as always :)

Brian Joseph said...

I think that the original version was read to me when I was very, very young.

I have been told that it is a seriously worthy story for both children and adults. With that said I am not so sure if I approve of these retellings.

I think that it would be neat if they also included the original text in books like this.

Melliane said...

It's nice to have great illustrations like that.

brandileigh2003 said...

I like some retellings, but skip for most part.

Delia (Postcards from Asia) said...

So is it safe to say you liked the illustrations better than the story?

Gina said...

Huh. Interesting. Never heard of it before today though that author is known for some (supposedly) great works!

Felicity Grace Terry said...

Not one of my favourite characters either Kelly. Whilst I can remember the child me thinking him quite charming I can also remember my thinking him extremely selfish and being quite frustrated that he never seemed to learn.

Whilst the story was enjoyable enough, not as good as most of the other books I've read by him but still OK, it was indeed the illustrations that made me want to keep this book Delia.