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The Rope Trick
It's magic! The great American storyteller Lloyd Alexander conjures an engrossing tale of a bewitching magician. Lidi is not only beautiful-she has the talent to perform the greatest magic feat imaginable-the rope trick. But she must find the one master who can teach her how.
On her quest to find master magician Ferramondo, she meets some traveling companions who all help...more
On her quest to find master magician Ferramondo, she meets some traveling companions who all help...more
Hardcover, 195 pages
Published
October 14th 2002
by Dutton Juvenile
(first published 2002)
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"Seeing her clean and happy, Lidi would have liked to think of her as a butterfly coming out of a grimy cocoon. But Daniella was hardly a butterfly. Dressed in the odds and ends of clothing Lidi rummaged out and pinned to fit, she now looked like any everyday underfed and undergrown ragamuffin; for her, a step up in the world." (Alexander 25)
Lloyd Alexander's "The Rope Trick" is a fascinating almost-fairy tale about teenage magician, Lidi, and her journey to find th...more
Lloyd Alexander's "The Rope Trick" is a fascinating almost-fairy tale about teenage magician, Lidi, and her journey to find th...more
Yet another great book by Lloyd Alexander. I have yet to read the Chronicles of Pydrian by him, but I have seen the movie the Black Cauldron about a dozen times. The Rope Trick is a short and cute read great for all ages. The main purpose of the novel was Lidi was looking for a magician that knew the rope trick and for them to teach to her. All in all, the adventure was in the journey not the destination. I find myself enjoying anything written by this author and thanks for great works and rest ...more
I enjoyed this book. However, I don't think it's the best by Lloyd Alexander. The plot feels a little rushed, and the story lacks some of the fire and energy every other book I've read by him had. The ending doesn't come out of nowhere, but it doesn't quite flow and I found it rather disappointing. Three stars. I'd recommend The Wizard In The Tree or Westmark, both are like this one but much better.
Lidi is a magician who travels with her canvas master Jericho. She travels in search of the greatest trick on earth, the rope trick, performed by Ferramondo. Along the way, the Added Attraction Damela, and Julian, an outlaw, join them. When Daniella is kidnapped by an unscrupulous lawyer, Didi must find it within herself to perform the magic of a lifetime to save herself and her friends
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This is the first Lloyd Alexander book I've read, and overall I'm satisfied. I wish the reader had better descriptions of the environment and not as much focus on the story, which could have been longer for better character development. The books feels a little bit rushed to me, but what little does happen in the book is fairly charming and entertaining.
This book really isn't all that long, but it took me almost four days to read because it moved so slowly. The characters seemed poorly developed, the language was dull and repetitive, and the ending made no sense. I've liked some of Alexander's other novels, but this one...I wish I'd skipped it.
2/5 on here, 4/5 for myself
2/5 on here, 4/5 for myself
This was such a beautiful book. I opened it expecting a shallow child's fantasy but found something beautifully rich with culture, full of old Italy and color. The characters were carefully constructed and wonderfully portrayed, and the ending left me in tears. Alexander really is a master of the old world.
Ah, I hadn't realized this was a Lloyd Alexander book until this moment. Now I'm encouraged to pick up some of his other work. I'd read some stuff in Cicada magazine and know others really like him.
I remember liking this book. I liked the plot and the writing and found it interesting overall.
I remember liking this book. I liked the plot and the writing and found it interesting overall.
A little disappointed in the ending because it seemed so unrealistic, but a good story. I still prefer The Chronicles of Prydain! But this one was fun with a traveling magician, a guy on the run, and the fascination of finding the ultimate magician and his trick, The Rope Trick.
Sweet, quick, and touching story about a female magician who chases an elusive magician to teach her a trick, and picks up a family along the way. Quite enjoyable; just compelling enough to make it enticing. Read it in one sitting.
I've started rereading Lloyd Alexander just because I wanted to read about characters who overcome in the face of adversity and who learn deep lessons. I wanted to read about endearing characters like Jericho:
"He was a large man, and if anybody in Lidi's audience got out of hand, Jericho had only to go and stand next to the trouble-maker, who immediately grew quiet. Jericho was a tiger when it came to protecting Lidid, but she was the only one. He had a secret. He was softhe...more
"He was a large man, and if anybody in Lidi's audience got out of hand, Jericho had only to go and stand next to the trouble-maker, who immediately grew quiet. Jericho was a tiger when it came to protecting Lidid, but she was the only one. He had a secret. He was softhe...more
Entertaining and quick reading historical fantasy which I thought was worth four stars until the end which I found disappointing. Familiar themes from Alexander's other titles: greed, power, moral and community responsibility.
I love Lloyd Alexander books but this one didn't reach me. The story line was a little off and the characters not developed enough for me to care about them. Maybe it's just not my type of story.
I enjoyed the book. I was disappointed that it ended abruptly. I didn't feel satisfied in the winding up & conclusion. I like the heroine.
I loved this magical Italian adventure. I've heard good things about Lloyd Alexander, and this book encourages me to pick up some more of his work.
Lidi is a traveling magician with amazing skills in sleight of hand and many other fascinating magic tricks, but the one she wants to know, the rope trick, is apparently known only by the famous magician Ferramondo. Lidi sets out find Ferramondo and learn the rope trick, but along the way she finds many other adventures. She meets Daniella, a little girl who seems to be able to see the future, and Julian, a young man on the run from the authorities who has a mission of his own. Read this fast...more
Pretty good, yes, pretty good. Only a few things--firstly, Lloyd Alexander didn't do quite enough with his romantic spots. Julian kissed her in the middle of one of her magic performances. Awesome. I like. But how did it feel? How did she feel? Etc. Come on, I need details. (Or maybe I'm just lame.) :)
Secondly, after the whole book is based on this girl trying to find out how to do the rope trick, and then not figuring out how to do it (though she does it)...it's just seem...more
Secondly, after the whole book is based on this girl trying to find out how to do the rope trick, and then not figuring out how to do it (though she does it)...it's just seem...more
3.5. Just read for my daughter's book group. I think she'll love it!
I read this as an adult. It's a great story, one I hope to read to my grand daughter.
I really, really liked it, but I think they need to make a sequel
it was just a great book that i would read again
I hated giving a Lloyd Alexander book less than three stars (which I would if Goodreads had half-stars), but I did not enjoy Rope Trick. Much of the book was enjoyable, and felt like Alexander, but while Lidi, our heroine, had a very definite goal and aimed straight for it the book did not. It wandered a bit aimlessly, and the ending was just ... baffling. And disappointing. I hoped for, expected, magic and humor and the joy of a nice solid story from a long-beloved writer, and in the end felt c...more
Another find during my shelf sort. I had not read any Lloyd Alexander since I'm not a big fan of fantasy, but this one isn't really fantasy. It is a medieval tale of a traveling magician and the people she comes into contact with. There is adventure, mystery, and some elements of magic. It kept me reading even though it wasn't really something I would have picked up on my own. I liked the characters, although some of the dialogue dragged a bit. There is also some swearing involved.
Awesome for anyone that likes magic!!!!
I like the characters and the story. However, I didn't feel the relationships between the characters developed well. They developed, but by implication mostly, rather than in the pages of the book as you read. I haven't read enough children's literature recently to remember if this is common.
The ending was a little abrupt to me. While everything tied back together and was resolved, some parts felt forced and other parts a bit confusing.
The ending was a little abrupt to me. While everything tied back together and was resolved, some parts felt forced and other parts a bit confusing.
It's been a very long time since I've read any Lloyd Alexander, but this was definitely worth picking up. Alexander plays with old fashioned traveling shows in a world that is just familiar but just magical enough. The characters are only lightly sketched, but they have enough depth to hold up for a short read. The idea of a female traveling stage magician alone was enough to catch my attention.
I always enjoy Lloyd Alexander's characters. He has a fascinating way of telling light stories, but teaching profound life messages. Preparing for our mother/daughter book group, I gained a greater appreciation for this book and its message about magic. Sometimes, the greatest magic in our lives can be the magic of strong friendship or the magic of a new perspective on the world.
Another good journey story by Lloyd Alexander. The twist this time is that the main character is a girl rather than his usual boy. She's a magician, which is fun because you hear about her shows and learn some of the tricks of the trade. This one was a bit more mysterious than usual and had kind of an ambiguous ending. But overall I enjoyed it.
right now i am reading this book and it is amazing! the reason i love it is because it is so descriptive of everything in the book such as personalities, clothes, facial expressions, and much more. if you ever see this book in a library pick it up and read it. i never want to stop reading.
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Lloyd Chudley Alexander (January 30, 1924 - May 17, 2007) was an influential American author of more than forty books, mostly fantasy novels for children and adolescents, as well as several adult books. His most famous contribution to the field of children's literature is the fantasy series The Chronicles of Prydain. The concluding book of the series, The High King, was awarded the Newbery Medal i...more
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