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294th out of 2,181 books
—
6,648 voters
The Lonely Doll (Edith #1)
by
Dare Wright
Once there was a little doll. Her name was Edith. She lived in a nice house and had everything she needed except someone to play with. She was lonely! Then one morning Edith looked into the garden and there stood two bears! Since it was first published in 1957, The Lonely Doll has established itself as a unique children's classic. Through innovative photography Dare Wright...more
Hardcover, 64 pages
Published
September 28th 1998
by Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
(first published 1957)
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how many of you were sucked into Dare Wright's world as a child? What a world! Black and white photographs of a doll stepping into an old abandoned house, meeting a friendly old turtle, riding on his back to the outside, befriending 2 teddy bears, a nice one and a grumpy one...at one point she takes off her clothes and they dress her in fern leaves...what a world. Beautiful and mysterious and a bit kinky. I think we should start a Dare Wright Club and call it Under the Influence. I know her own...more
my thanks to boyd for answering my call for "more creepy doll books". it seems everyone knew about this but me. and its great! i got the two still in print, and will track down the rest. and while i was buying them, my cashier-friend commanded me to read the bio, which i will also do. this book is beautiful and sad and just so well-posed. theres a lot more conveyed than meets the eye at first glance. these photos need to be really examined, not just paged through. another book i am baffled that...more
19 likes · like · see review
I both loved this book and found it creepy. I don't know if the creepiness was what appealed to me, actually. I read a feature on Dare Wright in Tin House years ago that confirmed that she was herself lonely and a bit odd.
This is in that category of books that were very influential but about which I have mixed feelings. The photographs themselves and the doll (why are certain dolls creepy?) are well done and very innovative. I have always responded to children's books that are illustrated with...more
This is in that category of books that were very influential but about which I have mixed feelings. The photographs themselves and the doll (why are certain dolls creepy?) are well done and very innovative. I have always responded to children's books that are illustrated with...more
1 like · like · see review
I had this book as a child -- still own it as a matter of fact. I had the doll as well. I was looking for a new copy for my granddaughter when I ran across some rather surprising reviews. Seems the general consensus is that the author, Dare Wright, had a troubled childhood and it is reflected in her books. I guess when viewed from todays pc society, the books don't fit into what is right for "today's" kids -- I mean there is an instance of the father bear spanking the little bear when he disobey...more
Edith lives in a lovely house and has everything she needs -- except company. She is desperately lonely, praying every night for friends and trying to talk with the small animals who seem to be the only living things left in this deserted world. Perhaps there has been some apocalypse, some epidemic which wiped out all mammals. Edith is on the verge of going mad from isolation when finally two strange bears appear. Father and son? They do not say. Possibly Mr Bear appropriated and "adopted" Littl...more
18 likes · like · see review
The Lonely Doll by Dare Wright
This book was originally published in 1957 and has content which may have been more acceptable then, but could be considered offensive now. The story is of a doll named Edith who has everything she could possibly want, except friends. She prays for friends each night until, one day, Mr. Bear and Little Bear come into her life. Mr. Bear assumes an authoritative, fatherly role over Edith and they become a family. They begin to have a nice life together, doing fun acti...more
This book was originally published in 1957 and has content which may have been more acceptable then, but could be considered offensive now. The story is of a doll named Edith who has everything she could possibly want, except friends. She prays for friends each night until, one day, Mr. Bear and Little Bear come into her life. Mr. Bear assumes an authoritative, fatherly role over Edith and they become a family. They begin to have a nice life together, doing fun acti...more
Apr 13, 2010
Ceridwen
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Depends on your predilictions
Recommended to Ceridwen by:
Grandma Dory
Overview of review:
I.Autobiographical anecdote
II.A short freak-out about star-ratings
III.Some musings about the ways we read; close readings; furries
IV.Final freak-out
V.Further reading
I saw Chandra's review of The Lonely Doll go past my feed, and I don't think I've ever logged off of Goodreads so fast so that I could order this and get it right into my hot little hands. My Grandma Dory had a copy of this book at her house when I was a kid, and I was absolutely entranced. When it did finally came...more
I.Autobiographical anecdote
II.A short freak-out about star-ratings
III.Some musings about the ways we read; close readings; furries
IV.Final freak-out
V.Further reading
I saw Chandra's review of The Lonely Doll go past my feed, and I don't think I've ever logged off of Goodreads so fast so that I could order this and get it right into my hot little hands. My Grandma Dory had a copy of this book at her house when I was a kid, and I was absolutely entranced. When it did finally came...more
26 likes · like · see review
Never read The Lonely Doll as a kid, somehow acquired a biography of Dare Wright (still unread), saw this displayed in the kiddie section at the library and snatched it up. I read it this morning because I needed to take it back to the library.
This is a children's book that involves a story, told through photographs, of a doll who is desperate for friends until one day two bears mysteriously show up. There's a large bear who ends up being a father figure and a little bear who ends up being the...more
This is a children's book that involves a story, told through photographs, of a doll who is desperate for friends until one day two bears mysteriously show up. There's a large bear who ends up being a father figure and a little bear who ends up being the...more
I was reading this story book because I learned of the biography of the author, Dare Wright, by Jean Nathan. The biography suggests that the story book series reflects a sinister, sexual tone because in nearly every photo frame one can see the doll's underwear, and because in one scene the doll is being spanked.
I read the book for the first time now, as an adult, with the biographer's idea lodged in my brain, but I have to admit I do not see any sinister, sexual overtones that would be apparent...more
I read the book for the first time now, as an adult, with the biographer's idea lodged in my brain, but I have to admit I do not see any sinister, sexual overtones that would be apparent...more
Hmmm... 5 stars for originality, 1 star for creepy factor. Now, my children didn't pick up on it, but I was a wee bit troubled when Mr. Bear spanks the doll for being naughty. He is kind of the father figure in the book, I suppose, but he's only ever called her "friend." So that kind of weirded me out. Anyone else?
This book came recommended from a source I trust, but this was not what I was expecting. I like the idea of taking pictures of dolls and inventing a story around them, but this is hard...more
This book came recommended from a source I trust, but this was not what I was expecting. I like the idea of taking pictures of dolls and inventing a story around them, but this is hard...more
Apr 10, 2012
Robert
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Robert by:
Patty Phillips
This was another book in a box from my sister. I almost just logged this and put it in a pile. But I looked through and then read it. This was a wonderful story! I really like the simplicity of it all. Nowadays, I imagine this would be seen as too simple, but it works. It's a good story!
A doll is lonely. Along come two bears and the adventures begin. I really like that the photographs. While we have all seen books that use real photos, this is the only one I recall from the 1950s. This book proc...more
A doll is lonely. Along come two bears and the adventures begin. I really like that the photographs. While we have all seen books that use real photos, this is the only one I recall from the 1950s. This book proc...more
I think I'm missing something. This book may not have withstood the test of time. Maybe because this book was written the same year my Mom was born, I'm not going to understand the connection people have with it.
It isn't that I'm offended by the spanking or that I disagree with the doll wanting to be a woman. I just don't understand. Is this house abandoned? If so, whose things are these? She lives alone, but she's just a little girl. Maybe she's agoraphobic, but then she wouldn't really be cr...more
It isn't that I'm offended by the spanking or that I disagree with the doll wanting to be a woman. I just don't understand. Is this house abandoned? If so, whose things are these? She lives alone, but she's just a little girl. Maybe she's agoraphobic, but then she wouldn't really be cr...more
I came across a photo of this book completely by accident and it brought back such a flood of memories. We read every single one of these strange books by Dare Wright as kids. There was something creepy and a little scary about them - the staginess of all the scenes, the black and white photography. One picture that stayed with me in particular, I'm not sure from which book, was Edith the doll turned over Mr. Bear's knee getting a spanking. Now the whole idea makes me think of Cindy Sherman....
T...more
T...more
Dare Wright was one sick puppy (read her biography if you want to know why) and this book radiates perversion--but in the very best way. I never read it when I was a child, and coming to it a few years ago I was dumbfounded that the subtext apparently shot right past mid-century parents, legions of whom thought the book was just the ticket for their sensitive little daughters. But hey, *I'm* not running a kindergarten.
The pink-gingham book jacket makes me think of sugar-frosted rat poison.
The pink-gingham book jacket makes me think of sugar-frosted rat poison.
I had this book as a child, growing up in the 70's. I LOVED it. It offered what no other book did: A dreamy world, with imperfect characters all magically brought together with lipstick, dress up, friendship, authority, discipline and..., well, imperfect love. I was sheltered, Edith was sheltered, and although I could not describe it then, I felt like I was peering into Edith's private world. As an adult, I understand more of Wright's life-and the book is magical once again.
I lie the art, which are photographs of toys in various locations and poses. I can't bear the old fashioned discipline, though. The doll sees herself in a mirror and is dissatisfied (welcome to American girls). The doll and bear get spanked. The girl is told to stop crying and her friend mocks her for being a girl and crying.
And a personal preference- the kids get in trouble for getting dirty- I would rather like my kids to play in dirt.
And a personal preference- the kids get in trouble for getting dirty- I would rather like my kids to play in dirt.
This is a book i loved as a wee babe. Its b&w photos of Dolls & Bears in a Real Person's house are eerie.
They conjour the same anomalous feeling as the Star Trek episode when kirk, spock & bones find themselves in an uninhabited land. It's plastic and sterile and they can't find any natives. Just when the viewer decides the populace moved underground to flee a virus or ear-eating locust, an enormous hand comes out of the sky, like a macy's day parade balloon, and rearranges the furni...more
They conjour the same anomalous feeling as the Star Trek episode when kirk, spock & bones find themselves in an uninhabited land. It's plastic and sterile and they can't find any natives. Just when the viewer decides the populace moved underground to flee a virus or ear-eating locust, an enormous hand comes out of the sky, like a macy's day parade balloon, and rearranges the furni...more
I never read the Edith books as a child, and I only decided to check "Doll" out from the library because I kept seeing the book in various antique stores. As stupid as it sounds, I didn't want to read "Doll" because I thought it would be too sad (yes, I am an adult). When I finally did read it, I found the photography beautiful and a bit spooky at the same time. The story was sweet, yet sad. Poor Edith is just looking for some friends. After reading The Secret Life of the Lonely Doll: The Search...more
I was so taken with this book as a youngster, I searched and found my own hard copies some thirty years later simply to have and look at! I read them to my son who enjoyed them for years as his favorite books. Though the photos are in b&w the doll and her bear friends are as colorful today as they were in my childhood. Not to mention the concept is timeless!
I only learned of Dare Wright because of Jean Nathan's incredible biography, which I found on accident through Goodreads. A year later, I came across the original Lonely Doll. Perhaps because I am viewing it from the lens of inferred trauma via the biography, or because I am a cynical adult, I found this to be a creepy and wonderful book for children.
I re-read the Lonely Doll series recently. It was not possible to get all the books through my local library, so I dug out my childhood set to page through. Then I thought...perhaps I should purchase a set for my local library? YOWCH!
Just an aside: The little girl next door loves the stories, too. Despite criticism by contemporary adult reviewers, the series still has appeal...
Just an aside: The little girl next door loves the stories, too. Despite criticism by contemporary adult reviewers, the series still has appeal...
Jean Nathan did a brilliant biography of the author of the Lonely Doll - creativity can grow from the most terrifying places, as it does here. As a kid, the spanking scenes in Wright's books creeped me out, but she manages incredible expressiveness with only two teddy bears and a doll.
Strange, creepy, did I mention strange. I love this unique story of a lonely doll who befriends a teddy bear. There are some definite undertones of abandonment and true sadness, rare and probably undesired qualities in a children's book, but I didn't get this for the kids.
In hindsight the book seems creepy but i didn't feel that way as a child. I even had a Lonely Doll from Madame Alexander. Reading the book about the book, Secret Life of the Lonely Doll revealed the bizarre life of Dare Wright and her mother.
Nov 18, 2008
Maryka
added it
Recommends it for:
anyone
Recommended to Maryka by:
received as gift from my aunt
Shelves:
children
A childhood favorite (I had a dress to match Edith's).No one could be prettier, kinder, more elegant or sadder than Edith, the lonely doll. Beautiful black and white photos and sprightly text make it easy to feel a kinship with Edith.
Years later, I found the story behind the story in The Secret Life of the Lonely Doll by Jean Nathan. It's the story of Edith's creator, Dare Wright, a living lonely doll. She and her brother, both highly creative and talented, were victims of a repressive and suffo...more
Years later, I found the story behind the story in The Secret Life of the Lonely Doll by Jean Nathan. It's the story of Edith's creator, Dare Wright, a living lonely doll. She and her brother, both highly creative and talented, were victims of a repressive and suffo...more
My children loved this book , especially my daughter. Even though it's included, text really isn't needed to enjoy Dare Wright's books. The photographs speak for themselves. Childhood classics that never grow old.
AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!! STABBITY NANA DOLL WITH CREEPY BEDROOM EYES GETS SPANKED BY CREEPY "MR BEAR"!!!!!!!!!!!!! SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO inappropriate and ******CREEEEEEEEEPY******!!!!!!!!!!
My mom gave this story to my kids when they were very young and it is a treasured favorite in our home. It is a book that will never be forgotten. Heartwarming and imaginative.
Spooky children's story, first published in the 1950s. The story is told in black and white photography, and apparently the doll very closely resembled the author/photographer.
This whole series of books brings back wonderful memories of my grandmother and the library. I've been able to find old editions of these books and I tresure them so much!
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Apr 23, 2013 12:33pm
Apr 23, 2013 12:33pm