23rd out of 86 books
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28 voters
Cyrano
A gallant solider, a sharp wit, and a man of letters, Cyrano de Bergerac seems like the obvious romantic hero. He has just one noteworthy flaw: an improbably large nose.Andafter a lifetime of loving the beautiful Roxane from afar, Cyrano must find a way--any way at all--to express his feelings for her.
Romantic, funny, and action packed, this adaptation is sure to win a who...more
Romantic, funny, and action packed, this adaptation is sure to win a who...more
Hardcover, 128 pages
Published
October 1st 2006
by Harcourt Children's Books
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Do kids of today need to be familiar with the Cyrano de Bergerac story? Sure, it's not a bad one. [return][return]Will this book have them seeking out the original tale or finding more information about the man? Probably not.[return][return]Finding an audience might be hard for this book because although it is quite thin, it's not just any kid who is going to pick up this book. Luckily for the audience, McCaughrean starts with the scene of Cyrano making fun of his own nose (use this booktalk and...more
I picked this book up because I'd heard of the Edmond Rostand play, and this book was only a few pages north of a hundred, so I thought why the heck not? What I got was a story that would definitely have flowed better as a play (I got the sense that this was sort of a strictly adherent retelling), a magnetic protagonist (Cyrano de Bergerac, despite the "handicap" of his nose or perhaps because of it, was deliciously witty and magnetic to read about), some stylish, occasionally flowery prose, a r...more
Cyrano de Bergerac has a witty tongue, flare with a pen, and a dynamic hand with a sword.
But he has lost his heart.
To the fair and clever Roxane.
Who has lost her own to another.
When she asks her dear friend to assist Christian, the young soldier who has caught her attention, Cyrano feels the sting of defeat.
And the light of possibility.
In the chance—however underhanded—to tell Roxane exactly how he feels.
Through Christian.
But with war on the horizon, Christian’s less than stellar way with words,...more
But he has lost his heart.
To the fair and clever Roxane.
Who has lost her own to another.
When she asks her dear friend to assist Christian, the young soldier who has caught her attention, Cyrano feels the sting of defeat.
And the light of possibility.
In the chance—however underhanded—to tell Roxane exactly how he feels.
Through Christian.
But with war on the horizon, Christian’s less than stellar way with words,...more
Absolutely hilarious; I was laughing from the very first words of the beginning chapter. Cyrano is the sort of full-of-himself character which somehow manages to be sincere and endearing rather than obnoxious and an absolute blow-gut. He's the sort of friend everyone would like to have for any occasion.
I confess that I have not yet read the play for which this book is based off of, so I can neither commend nor frown at the Author for any particular liberties she might have taken. But from what I...more
I confess that I have not yet read the play for which this book is based off of, so I can neither commend nor frown at the Author for any particular liberties she might have taken. But from what I...more
I didn't find this version amazing. I liked it, but wasn't wow-ed. This is certainly a parred down and simplified version of the original, but an enjoyable version. Very quick read.
Cyrano is a lover and a fighter. He loves Roxanne, but she's in love with a captain in Cyrano's company of guards. Willing to sacrifice his happiness for Roxanne's, he feeds her lover with poetry and words of love to say to her. Roxanne is enamored with the words and falls even more in love with Christian. Even when C...more
Cyrano is a lover and a fighter. He loves Roxanne, but she's in love with a captain in Cyrano's company of guards. Willing to sacrifice his happiness for Roxanne's, he feeds her lover with poetry and words of love to say to her. Roxanne is enamored with the words and falls even more in love with Christian. Even when C...more
I've read one of Geraldine's McCaughrean's books before, and I loved it so much I decided to read another. Though Cyrano's plot line was a bit dissapointing, I enojoyed the writing style. McCaughrean has a beautiful way of writing, and describes things in fresh, new ways. I've never read the play, but a lot of the book did seem as if taken straight out of a script. There was a good opening scene, and very few dull moments in between. There weren't many characters, but I got confused with the min...more
McCaughrean brings an accessible version of an old favorite to new audiences. She uses her mastery of language in this familiar story to keep the reader's interest. I kept waiting for a new twist or a new take on the story, but it never came. I can't figure out whether or not it is comforting that she chose not to mess with a story that has stood the test of time. I think so. Probably disappointing to some, but I rather liked the fact that she let the story stand on its own without any gimmicks.
This was an accessible version of the classic Cyrano de Bergerac - the French tale of love and loss. I never read the original version, but I'm assuming this version follows it closely.
I thought it was well-written and easy to read, and short enough to read in one or two sittings.
The only gripe I have (and this is just me being a romantic) is I wish the ending was different! :)
I thought it was well-written and easy to read, and short enough to read in one or two sittings.
The only gripe I have (and this is just me being a romantic) is I wish the ending was different! :)
Nov 24, 2011
Kristy
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
read-2011,
ya-fiction
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This book is probably the most beautiful piece of literature that I've ever read. I usually have a bit of a hard time understanding old english, but this was just so brilliantly done that I was able to get it. The language used and the forms of speech was just breathtaking, and I know that it sounds exaggerated, but it's not. It was funny, witty, and heartbreaking. It just made me feel.
Jun 11, 2009
Ehbluemle Bluemle
added it
Cyrano by Geraldine McCaughrean (2006)
OK. I'm finally giving up on finishing this. It's not a bad book. In fact, the writing is fantastic. But it just doesn't make any sense. The book really seems to be an exact retelling of the original play. Seriously. This is not a modern adaptation. This is not Cyrano with a twist. This is just Cyrano written as a novel instead of as a play. Very strange.
With her strong command of language, McCaughrean is a good author to retell the story of Cyrano de Bergerac. She does justice to his witty dialogue with equally eloquent descriptions. The only weakness is her lack of added detail. She follows the storyline, but fails to flesh out the story much beyond the original play (or at least what I have seen portrayed in the movie version).
May 01, 2013
Cagney
marked it as to-read
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Geraldine McCaughrean was born in 1951 and brought up in North London. She studied at Christ Church College of Education, Canterbury and worked in a London publishing house for 10 years before becoming a full-time writer in 1988. She has written over 120 books, 50 short plays for schools, and a radio play.
Her adult novels include Fires’ Astonishment (1990) and The Ideal Wife (1997), but she is bes...more
More about Geraldine McCaughrean...
Her adult novels include Fires’ Astonishment (1990) and The Ideal Wife (1997), but she is bes...more
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