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The Adventures of Mabel
"I loved this book as a child. I still have the 1916 edition with the Harry Roundtree illustrations that my aunt read it to me over and over. The Kirkus reviewer seems to have forgotten what is like to be a child when magical thinking comes to the aid of the fledgling ego in a dangerous world where one is utterly dependent on adults who (like the Kirkus reviewer) seem to have forgotten their childhood. Mabel, with her animal friends, turns the tables on adults (and boys), coming to their rescue--not by assuming adult powers, but as a little girl with the mind and sensibility of a child. The style is that of a bedside story teller. All those 'weak' words the reviewer finds so tiresome, belong to the voice of the well intentioned but condescending adult--the voice of those little Mabel shows up story after story. As a child listening to these tales I didn't identify with that voice, but with Mabel--and remember the delicious sense of irony that came precisely from the power of being 'little' ...and knowing they didn't get it." - Reviewer Jacob Russell
130 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1896
12 people are currently reading
333 people want to read
About the author
Harry Thurston Peck
234 books7 followersAmerican classical scholar, author, editor, and critic.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
April 30, 2010
I loved this book as a child. I still have the 1916 edition with the Harry Roundtree illustrations that my aunt read it to me over and over. The Kirkus reviewer seems to have forgotten what is like to be a child when magical thinking comes to the aid of the fledgling ego in a dangerous world where one is utterly dependent on adults who (like the Kirkus reviewer) seem to have forgotten their childhood. Mabel, with her animal friends, turns the tables on adults (and boys), coming to their rescue--not by assuming adult powers, but as a little girl with the mind and sensibility of a child. The style is that of a bedside story teller. All those 'weak' words the reviewer finds so tiresome, belong to the voice of the well intentioned but condescending adult--the voice of those little Mabel shows up story after story. As a child listening to these tales I didn't identify with that voice, but with Mabel--and remember the delicious sense of irony that came precisely from the power of being 'little' ...and knowing they didn't get it.
Sixty-five years later, I still sometimes wish I had some of that wonderful Brownie jelly to spread on my morning toast...
Sixty-five years later, I still sometimes wish I had some of that wonderful Brownie jelly to spread on my morning toast...
May 23, 2018
The Adventures of Mabel was first published in 1896. Mabel's adventures are delightful and fondly remembered by Jimmy McGill of "Better Call Saul".
June 30, 2018
(Available on Open Library.)
I would have loved this story when I was a small child. I learned to read early, so would have been able to handle this fine when I was the age of Mabel, five and then six. And I was a good girl, so I could dream of deserving to have the adventures that this very brave and good girl does, too. And if I read the edition with the Meg Wohlberg illustrations, I would have empathized with the white-blond hair and prettiness of the child, as I did look much like that.
Now, I dunno. Two reads, several years apart, and neither time does my inner child want to come out and play. Maybe it's the episodic nature of the plot, maybe it's that there are no actually interesting characters, I dunno. Still, gotta love making friends with the animals and other beings, and all the independence (trusting Grandma, no parents), and the courage of the girl. Why, in the episode that happens to be last, little Mabel rescues a seven y.o. boy named Jack from a Giant!
Definitely G-rated. Mabel never uses violence to meet challenges. Those who do, get their come-uppance. The world would be a better place if fairy tales were like this, instead of full of men who wield swords.
To sum, a great book for most ppl, but I have to be honest and say it doesn't quite succeed for me. Still, highly recommended to most of you, my GR friends & followers.
I would have loved this story when I was a small child. I learned to read early, so would have been able to handle this fine when I was the age of Mabel, five and then six. And I was a good girl, so I could dream of deserving to have the adventures that this very brave and good girl does, too. And if I read the edition with the Meg Wohlberg illustrations, I would have empathized with the white-blond hair and prettiness of the child, as I did look much like that.
Now, I dunno. Two reads, several years apart, and neither time does my inner child want to come out and play. Maybe it's the episodic nature of the plot, maybe it's that there are no actually interesting characters, I dunno. Still, gotta love making friends with the animals and other beings, and all the independence (trusting Grandma, no parents), and the courage of the girl. Why, in the episode that happens to be last, little Mabel rescues a seven y.o. boy named Jack from a Giant!
Definitely G-rated. Mabel never uses violence to meet challenges. Those who do, get their come-uppance. The world would be a better place if fairy tales were like this, instead of full of men who wield swords.
To sum, a great book for most ppl, but I have to be honest and say it doesn't quite succeed for me. Still, highly recommended to most of you, my GR friends & followers.
February 11, 2019
Very odd collection of stories as I recall, but I do also remember not being able to get some of them out of my head (the one about the jar of brownie jelly was probably my favorite). I’d like to read them again as an adult and see if they’re as bizarre as I remember.
May 13, 2012
This is the first chapter book my mom ever read to me and it is what set off my desire to read and dream.
May 14, 2025
I had never heard of this book until I saw Jimmy McGill (Bob Odenkirk) reminisce about it on Better Call Saul. This is doubly shocking, since my wife and I named our firstborn child Mabel.
I read this to my three oldest kids and they really enjoyed the adventures of a precocious young girl who has a mysterious way with animals. Each chapter is a standalone "adventure" but there is an overarching theme. Modern readers may find the book slow-paced, and often times I expected a far-different outcome than what ultimately occurred. But I would challenge the readers here to slow down and appreciate books from a by-gone era. The prose is vibrant, the dialogue is clever, and it is easy to immerse yourself in the world of a five-soon-to-be-six-year old girl.
Remember what it was like before we gave our lives over to technology and the hurry-up-and-wait mentality. Go on an adventure with Mabel.
I read this to my three oldest kids and they really enjoyed the adventures of a precocious young girl who has a mysterious way with animals. Each chapter is a standalone "adventure" but there is an overarching theme. Modern readers may find the book slow-paced, and often times I expected a far-different outcome than what ultimately occurred. But I would challenge the readers here to slow down and appreciate books from a by-gone era. The prose is vibrant, the dialogue is clever, and it is easy to immerse yourself in the world of a five-soon-to-be-six-year old girl.
Remember what it was like before we gave our lives over to technology and the hurry-up-and-wait mentality. Go on an adventure with Mabel.
July 24, 2023
Definitely an old time kids book. It was mentioned in Better Call Saul. That Chuck read it to Jimmy when they were kids. I found it quite cute. And yay the girl was the one with the adventures. Especially with the animals.
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September 21, 2019my childhood
May 30, 2024
Simple and sweet. Imaginative! Reminded me of Dorothy. Thank you Better Call Saul for the reference.
January 2, 2024
3.5 rounded up.
Fun and light, but quite dated. Though it at least had some progressive views about wolves. It's a very innocent view of the world, but it's quite fun to watch young Mabel succeed in her endeavors.
And yes, I read this because of the name drop in 'Better Call Saul'.
'The Adventures of Mabel' is in the public domain, and I listened to the Librivox audiobook.
Fun and light, but quite dated. Though it at least had some progressive views about wolves. It's a very innocent view of the world, but it's quite fun to watch young Mabel succeed in her endeavors.
And yes, I read this because of the name drop in 'Better Call Saul'.
'The Adventures of Mabel' is in the public domain, and I listened to the Librivox audiobook.
July 5, 2016
This is a very silly book. But I think it is a great read for children. Abigail will love it when she reads it and she is eight so it good for younger children.
April 19, 2017
Read this because it got referenced in the television series Better Call Saul, which I love. Shouldn't have bothered, It's a children's book which might have its place in literary history but certainly doesn't contribute anything original or even remotely entertaining to me as a contemporary reader.
I wouldn't give it to my child either, because six year old Mabel regularly goes places she is told are dangerous, overstays her curfew times, and approaches wolves and giants, both known to eat little girls. And she is rewarded for that behavior every time without having contributed anything to anybody, except lifting a stone off a lizard's tail at the very beginning of the story.
I wouldn't give it to my child either, because six year old Mabel regularly goes places she is told are dangerous, overstays her curfew times, and approaches wolves and giants, both known to eat little girls. And she is rewarded for that behavior every time without having contributed anything to anybody, except lifting a stone off a lizard's tail at the very beginning of the story.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews