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14th out of 68 books
—
41 voters
The Pink Motel
Nothing exciting ever happens to Kirby or Bitsy Mellen--that is, until their mother inherits a motel in Florida from her great-granduncle Hiram, complete with a roster of eccentric guests. New this winter are the Browns, obsessed with their suntans; Miss DeGree, obsessed with her poodles; and two mysterious men, obsessed, like Kirby, with trying to find Uncle Hiram's rumor...more
Hardcover, 182 pages
Published
1959
by Macmillan
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A whimsically light-hearted read--still quite enjoyable and fun! The Pink Motel and all its "odd" guests sounds like a delightful place to visit, and the activities Kirby and Bitsy (the two main protagonists) take part in seem like good fun. Whether tracking a pair of gangsters or being treated to goodies from an artist's hamper, their adventures are always fun and humorous.
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One of my favorite books when I first started reading chapter books as a child. The cover on my copy is pink (though rather grubby, as it first belonged to my mother and her siblings).
This was my favorite book as a child, and my brother recently reminded me of it. It's about a family from Minnesota who inherits a pink motel in Florida. Since it was written in 1959, the motel is a series of pink stucco cottages with spanish tile roofs... very vintage mid-century.
I've just re-read it -- thank heaven for Amazon Marketplace -- and loved it just as much. Its language is a little archaic, but in a good way. And the story holds up well.
The Pink Motel attracts all kinds of odd types...more
I've just re-read it -- thank heaven for Amazon Marketplace -- and loved it just as much. Its language is a little archaic, but in a good way. And the story holds up well.
The Pink Motel attracts all kinds of odd types...more
Jan 15, 2013
Beth
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
reviewed,
project-nostalgia
In which the Mellons inherit Great-Uncle Hiram's pink motel and adventures ensue. As Cousin Rose says: "It's a real bright pink, a speaking pink, as you might say. And whether because of the color or because Uncle Hiram was a rather unusual person, it attracted the most unusual guests."
Oh yes. The Pink Motel is hilarity from start to finish, peppered with sly asides and running gags. Everyone and everything is slightly overdrawn, a bit exaggerated, larger than life - but they fit the pink, pink,...more
Oh yes. The Pink Motel is hilarity from start to finish, peppered with sly asides and running gags. Everyone and everything is slightly overdrawn, a bit exaggerated, larger than life - but they fit the pink, pink,...more
I last read this maybe 30 years ago and couldn't have told you a thing about the plot so I decided to read it again. I had lots of "Oh, yeah!" moments.... "Oh, yeah, a family from Minnesota inherits a Florida motel," "Oh, yeah, the lady and her little show dogs stay at the motel," "Oh, yeah, there are gangsters and alligators and a mystery." It was sweet and I liked it. When I'm 70 and have forgotten it again, maybe I'll read it all over.
I vividly remember Mrs. Hannah, my 4th grade teacher and one of my all-time favs, (1969), reading this book to us. I can still hear her voice and the "crinkle" that the pages made as she turned them. I wish I could remember the content of the story more clearly ... Think I might have to see if there is a Kindle edition and revisit the past!!! This has to be a 5-Star book if I can still remember it after all this time!!!
Reminded me of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in that it was a nice story about both kids' and adult friendships & that the setting is important & that it's both a nice story and a mystery story w/ gangsters. I would have read it several times if my childhood library had had it.
This was my absolute favorite book as a child. I loved checking the book out at our public library and school library. I so envied Kirby and the fun and adventures he had when his family visited the motel. I still recall the book and it's wonderful, pink cover ... and, I'm 50! Wish I had that hardcover book in my collection. I do have the paperback, but it's not quite the same.
I picked this up at the library book sale a couple years ago and finally got around to it. It was delightful, although nothing made strict logical sense. I loved the characters' quirky names and the adventures that Kirby, Bitty, and Big have at the bright pink motel they inherited from their bizarre but wonderful great-uncle Hiram.
This was one of my top 5 favorite books as a child. It's not in print anymore, as far as I can tell, but if you ever see a copy you should read it. It's not the most dramatic plot ever written, but it's such a sweet story and the characters are endearing. I highly recommend for children and adults alike.
This book inspired me to want to write one myself and even though I never followed through I have very fond memories of this one. It's a good story about all kinds of different people who learn how to get along, accept each other, and understand their differences. A sweet little story with eccentric characters.
I read this book with my eight year old daughter. This is a sweet story published in 1959. It reads with all the charm of a vintage book for kids: characters with names like Bitsy and Kirby, innocent hijinks, and a bit of a mystery, all wrapped up with good message. We both loved reading it.
Jun 07, 2009
Helen
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
top-five-children-s-books,
carol-ryrie-brink
I have the original hardcover copy of the 1960 edition. I loved this book as a child in elmentary school. I wanted to inherit a pink motel and go to Florida so I could meet all these interesting people. What a great introduction to the world of mystery solving. I have read it over and over.
I recently reread this one, it's been a favorite one since an elementary teacher read it aloud. I love the illustrations as well as the very positive and charming storyline. I'm thinking about a quilt making project dedicated to this book. Definitely a wonderful book to share.
My sister and I read this book often when we were young girls. I think it is probably the book that jump started our love of mysteries. I found a first edition copy for my sister, but read it before sending to her. I love it just as much today as I did decades ago.
This was another delightful gem from Carol Ryrie Brink. There is a little mystery, but it is a pretty obvious one. The main draw of the story is the cast of loveably eccentric characters and the authentic interactions between the children. I thought it was clever how all the guests' names had something to do with their respective personalities. I don't quite understand why the guests came every year at that particular time, though. There are some plot holes and predictable parts to the story, bu...more
i remember reading this book and thinking it was weird. Obviously i didn't get the non-conformist message! maybe i should read it again!
I just remember that the motel was pink and not very profitable.
I just remember that the motel was pink and not very profitable.
Loved this book when I was a kid and still love it now that I am a mother. Re-read this story to/with my children and it is one of their favorites now, too! LOVE the pink hard back edition! :)
One of my favorite books from childhood. I think it was one of my mom's favorites too. I am hoping to find an old edition -- with this green and pink cover -- to re-read on vacation this summer.
I read this book probably 50 times when I was a kid, and it never failed to delight me. I love how it shows a different Florida -- a pre-DisneyWorld Florida, actually -- that is quirky and picturesque.
One of my very favorite books as a child. Lost or gave away my copy, but found one at a library book sale several years ago. Of course, I bought it ... was like I had found an old friend!!
Jan 04, 2013
Denise
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
children-s-books-i-love
This was a very favorite book of mine when I was a child. I still remember UN IMP BUS as part of the plot. I wish it were still available to share with my library patrons.
Apr 03, 2007
Phyllis
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
children-s-books,
favorites
Growing up I loved this book handed down to me from my mother, who got it in her Weekly Reader Book Club subscription in the 50s...it's sort of a Patrick Dennis style read for children. I might be overstating things, but I truly believe it has a great message about the joys of being a nonconformist--no small feat for a kid's book written in 1959. Plus there's some magical realism for kids in the form of an amazing bohemian painter crone who is probably a witch. But unfortunately, it hasn't aged...more
This is one of the first, if not the very first book that I read as a child. It was such a great memory that I re-purchased the book as an adult and read it again.
The first book I always checked out at the library when I moved to a new town, growing up. Just knowing it was there made me feel like this place was "home".
I read this to Lydia and I think she liked it. My mom read it to me when I was little and I LOVED it. It's much different to read it as an adult though. ;)
This a JFIC book about a family who inherits a pink motel in Florida and all the interesting characters that come to stay there. This was recommended by Helen.
Cute story that didn't change my life but did make me yearn for a trip to a less-developed Florida of 50 years ago, with pink motels and coconut shell filing systems.
Bought at Willard's Emporium in Mankato.
Bought at Willard's Emporium in Mankato.
My favorite book as a kid, and joyfully rediscovered as an adult. Just plain great fun. I try to put a bit of its spirit in everything I write.
Jul 22, 2011
Prilla Speer
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
books-from-childhood
My favorite book and probably one of my first chapter books. Plus we just moved to Florida so the story setting was perfect for me!
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Born Caroline Ryrie, American author of over 30 juvenile and adult books. Her novel Caddie Woodlawn won the 1936 Newbery Medal.
Brink was orphaned by age 8 and raised by her maternal grandmother, the model for Caddie Woodlawn. She started writing for her school newspapers and continued that in college. She attended the University of Idaho for three years before transferring to the University of Cal...more
More about Carol Ryrie Brink...
Brink was orphaned by age 8 and raised by her maternal grandmother, the model for Caddie Woodlawn. She started writing for her school newspapers and continued that in college. She attended the University of Idaho for three years before transferring to the University of Cal...more
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