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27th out of 37 books
—
9 voters
Swan Lake
The two-time Caldecott medalist illustrates Mark Helprin's enchanting story of the characters in Tchaikovsky's famous ballet.
Paperback, 80 pages
Published
October 2nd 2012
by Houghton Mifflin (Jp)
(first published 1989)
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A lovely, lovely poem of a book, bittersweet and gentle. Swan Lake was a delight to read and I imagine the emotional impact will remain much the same upon a second go around.
Mr Helprin's prose is gorgeous and evocative; though his descriptions occasionally drag on a bit longer than necessary and though he does disgress quite a bit, each sentence is a work of beauty. Mr Van Allsburg's illustrations are equally pleasing, interspersed throughout the book to great effect.
I cannot adequately express...more
Mr Helprin's prose is gorgeous and evocative; though his descriptions occasionally drag on a bit longer than necessary and though he does disgress quite a bit, each sentence is a work of beauty. Mr Van Allsburg's illustrations are equally pleasing, interspersed throughout the book to great effect.
I cannot adequately express...more
This version of Swan Lake (1989) is written by Mark Helprin with fabulous color illustrations by Chris Van Allsburg. The story, of course, is very similar to the famous ballet.
An old man lives on a mountain with a young girl who, as children of her type often do, wants to venture down from the safe seclusion of their mountain to find her parents. Seeing this, the old man tells the girl a story to show her what she will encounter below: A story about a prince and a princess named Odette. As the o...more
An old man lives on a mountain with a young girl who, as children of her type often do, wants to venture down from the safe seclusion of their mountain to find her parents. Seeing this, the old man tells the girl a story to show her what she will encounter below: A story about a prince and a princess named Odette. As the o...more
A beautiful but very sad version of the Swan Lake story.
One of the most treasured books of my childhood and adolescence. I discovered this just at the peak of my obsession with all things even vaguely Russian, and the combination of Helprin's elegant re-telling of the story with van Allsburg's sumptuous color plates made a book that I regularly checked out of the public library and pored over hour after hour. Disappointingly out of print by the time I thought to obtain it, I was just this past year able to secure a copy of my own. A rich and beautifu...more
This book is illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg and it makes the story seem so much more magical. I love the ballet, so I was also excited to read this story. It tells a story within a story. The old man tells the girl a story about a prince and a princess named Odette. As the old man relates the story of these star-crossed lovers, it becomes apparent that their fate is intimately linked with the young girl. What is different is that the main characters do not even speak. However, the illustratio...more
Gorgeously written, but ultimately hollow. The characters have little purpose in the story beyond setpieces for the lovely prose. Odette is barely in it and says next to nothing. We know very little about her. A SIGNIFICANT amount of this novel is dedicated to stating over and over again the dangers of society and the overindulgence of pleasure vs. the simplicity of nature, and as a result there's little to no character depth or development. While it is gorgeously written, it was impossible for...more
This is a retelling of the ballet, but with significant changes (like the fact that Odette hasn't been transformed into a swan...). Interesting read, but it took away the magic and enchantment of the story and replaced it with too much preaching about the dangers of politics and the failings of the bourgeoisie. I also got very distracted by the prose. It felt like one of those college essays where the student is trying too hard to use 25c words when a 5c word would do better.
This book is amazing. It's incredible. It's unbelievable. I read it over and over again as a little girl and even well into my teenage-hood. It's a grand epic story borrowed from the musical Swan Lake but with Helprin's writing, Odette and her Prince really leaps out of the pages in the beautiful illustrations. I especially remember the horse riders reading newspapers atop their horses and the tragic ending. Every child should not miss out on the beauty of this book.
You should own this book and read it often. Be sure to get your hands on an out of print hard copy - the illustrations will live inside of you. I sob every time I finish this book so I have to be sure I'm not around anyone who would think I'm a weirdo (like my kids! - yeah that's right it's a "kids book" - but don't read it to your kid unless you want to blubber all over them)
Swan Lake is a magical work that takes any reader, regardless of age, into an unforgettable world. I had the series read to me as a little girl and now I re-read it every few years, each time reminded of why I fell in love with the book in the first place. The simple, enchanting story that Mark Helprin tells is complemented perfectly by Van Allsburg's illustrating genius.
This book was good, it caught my attention and I love the creativity in this story. The illustration that were made, it's something that so many younger kids' would definitely love to read. This book was by Mark Helprin but Chris Van Allsburg did the illustrations for the story; it's really creative and the pictures are similar to other books of his.
Sep 30, 2012
Megan Moore
added it
The main reason i enjoyed this book was because of the beautiful and detailed pictures that really catches the readers eyes. I do not think this is the best children's book, but for older readers it is a very soothing book. It is filled with colors that are calming giving the reader a more of a relaxing feeling when enjoying this book.
Dec 25, 2008
Rachel
rated it
1 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
people who would like it
Recommended to Rachel by:
some friends
Shelves:
don-t-read
This book was full of things that were sooooo boring! I can't beleive that the same thing keeps happening over and over and over again, but in slightly different ways each time. And like everyone who you might like in the book dies (of course) and only a few survive. Also the people who die die kind of greusomely if you ask me!
The illustrations in this book are amazing. They are very life like with beautiful colors. The book is full of blues and other calm colors that help you relax and become immersed in the story. The story its self is a bit romantic for children, but overall it was beautifully done.
Got this from a book sale - does anyone know if it is the one from the ballet? I've always heard of "Swan Lake" ballet and was curious about the story - this was beautifully written with lots of little tidbits about society and human nature that were gems! Tragic, but a good read.
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I suppose I should comment on the strange plot alterations, or the pacing, or the gruesome deaths... but I'm so busy drooling over the illustrations that I can't bring myself to care about anything else!
Lovely expansion on the ballet tale. I began reading it to my girls tonight, then finished it on my own to make sure it wasn't too scary for them. It is not, and it has many life lessons depicted.
It was a great read with beautiful illustrations; I loved the story so much that I neglected everything in a morning and afternoon to read it through. And then the ending disappointed me greatly. *sadface*
Although Chris Van Allsburg's illustrations are beautiful and dramatic, Mark Helprin's telling of this haunting tale is over-written and drags when it needs to soar.
Found the hardcover version as a teenager. My first discovery of both Mark Helprin and illustrator Chris Van Allsburg (better known for Polar Express).
Not at all sure what I thought about this. Parts of it I liked very much, and parts of it didn't satisfy me. Will have to keep thinking about it.
Sep 19, 2008
Jason
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Helprin lovers, young adults who may want a challenge
Shelves:
read-since-being-out-of-work-jan-2
What a wonderful book (and series) -- beauty in their language and illustrations. Classic Mark Helprin prose, long (sometimes laborious) but always beautiful language. This is a lyrical story with gorgeous yet simple illustrations. I have read a few reviews and some speak to what a child favorite this story is, but I found, when reading it to my 9 year old and 5 year old, that the very reasons I love Helprin (his language, winding sentences, immense vocabulary) were major stumbling blocks to enj...more
Beautiful book. Beautiful prose. Beautiful drawings. It is a bit romantic, and a bit dreamy, but it is completely worth it.
A beautiful children's book. Handsome printing and the illustrations by Chris Van Allsburg are fabulously rich in color.
The storyteller's voice is bewitching and clever. Full of exotic scenes and beautiful images.
I'd give the art 5 stars but the book overall less. Also its not really a picture book.
One of my favorite books of all time! A beautiful story, and told with such magic.
good, although the story was a little silly in places - great to read to kids, the illustrations are lovely
Jan 22, 2011
Joanna
marked it as to-read
I am having a really hard time getting into this. The prose seems too keen on admiring its own cleverness and I have little patience for its continual, thinly-veiled preaching on the ~avarice of man~. Maybe sometime later. :P
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A conservative commentator who has served in the Israeli army may not seem the likeliest source of whimsy, but Mark Helprin's tales are written from the soul of a poet. Soldiers and burglars figure prominently in his work, but the stories are not tales of intrigue; they focus more on love, morality and far-flung travels. - http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk
More about Mark Helprin...
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Feb 24, 2012 06:54pm