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72nd out of 525 books
—
171 voters
The 13 Clocks; and, The wonderful O
“ “The Thirteen Clocks” is a mixture of fairy tale, parable, and poetry. It has everything to please everybody. There is a princess in distress, a prince in disguise, a wicked uncle, and a last minute race between good and evil which is as exciting as any thriller. James Thurber wrote it, when he was supposed to be writing something quite different, because he couldn’t hel...more
Paperback, 158 pages
Published
1983
by Puffin
(first published 1958)
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The 13 Clocks is wonderful, an absolute delight. Thurber's wordplay is marvellously inventive, and the fairytale manages to be both funny, subversive and emotionally engaging. I read this aloud to my eldest son, and we were both completely captivated by the duke who has murdered time, the Minstrel who wishes to marry the princess, and his impossible quest.
The second story in this volume, The Wonderful O is good, but not quite the treasure found in the first story. It delights in rhyme and wordpl...more
The second story in this volume, The Wonderful O is good, but not quite the treasure found in the first story. It delights in rhyme and wordpl...more
Bought this as much for the Ronald Searle illustrations as because of Thurber himself - also previewing whether it might be good bed-time reading for a 5-year-old (conclusion: wait a couple of years).
While the writing and inventiveness is plainly quite sophisticated, I wasn't really noticing the specific literary devices for which it is famous as I was going through.
This edition includes "The Wonderful O", a sort of allegorical fantasy quite reminiscent of The Phantom Tollbooth (which I am hardl...more
While the writing and inventiveness is plainly quite sophisticated, I wasn't really noticing the specific literary devices for which it is famous as I was going through.
This edition includes "The Wonderful O", a sort of allegorical fantasy quite reminiscent of The Phantom Tollbooth (which I am hardl...more
Oct 07, 2011
^
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
all children, all parents, all grandparents
Absolutely brilliant. Two very engaging and educational stories, beautifully written, and utterly superb to read aloud.
This is a first-class example of a book that should be read to every child, and that in due course of time every child should be able to read for themselves. It makes the present-day offerings of childrens’ books for sale in bookshops look entirely inadequate.
I have seen “The 13 Clocks” performed, excellently and very enjoyably, as a school play.
This is a first-class example of a book that should be read to every child, and that in due course of time every child should be able to read for themselves. It makes the present-day offerings of childrens’ books for sale in bookshops look entirely inadequate.
I have seen “The 13 Clocks” performed, excellently and very enjoyably, as a school play.
I've reread these books many times, and they are perfect fairytales, with the special Thurber touch. James Thurber loved to play with language, so that many parts read more as poetry than prose. The Gollux, the only gollux in the world, with his indescribable hat, is a unforgettable character.
Not just for children, but terrific fun for everyone.
Not just for children, but terrific fun for everyone.
A wonderful book I read aloud to an appreciative audience not long ago. The writing is crystal clear, funny, droll, quite exquisite. It's the only Thurber I've read, and the illustrations by Ronald Searle are really great. I can recommend it for any ages.
This was one of the many books I read while staying with my cousins on holidays at Lake Tekapo. Their holiday house bookshelf was full of good things. Even though I read it many years ago, fragments of it stay with me even now. So clever, so funny!
This book is so good I started reading it aloud to myself. The sounds roll along, the word choice apt, and the story fairytale -ish. I wish I had this book growing up, but it was equally fun to read it for the first time this week!
I remember reading this book as a child and thinking the stories were wierd and very odd, unlike anything I had ever read before. But entertaining nonetheless, as obviously I am now recalling them many years later.
Love it. Read it 'til the pages fell out, then read it some more only carefully.
Wit, wisdom and underlying messages. Good entertaining stuff.
May 23, 2010
Wade
added it
The 13 clocks by James Thurber (1950)
I read this book during two class periods in the 4th grade, and was enchanted by it. What I remember standing out to me was the beauty of the words and poetry of the writing. This is a great children's story, but I think that if I read it again now I would still love it!
Gorgeous little book, with wit and hilarity and just a good old fashioned story. Couldn't have been more content settling down with these two tales, and have ordered my 700 page Thurber wonderland!
What a strange little book. It appears to be for children, but it is not. It was rather interesting I must admit. I found it in a library discard pile.
Apr 27, 2013
Pieter
marked it as to-read
Apr 23, 2013
Jill
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Apr 19, 2013
Thebuskitten
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Apr 19, 2013
Marianne
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Mar 02, 2013
Rick Slane
marked it as to-read
Feb 25, 2013
Coi
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Thurber was born in Columbus, Ohio to Charles L. Thurber and Mary Agnes (Mame) Fisher Thurber. Both of his parents greatly influenced his work. His father, a sporadically employed clerk and minor politician who dreamed of being a lawyer or an actor, is said to have been the inspiration for the small, timid protagonist typical of many of his stories. Thurber described his mother as a "born comedien...more
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