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The Borrowers #5
The Borrowers Avenged
Escaping from an attic where they had been held captive over the long, dark winter, a family of tiny people sets up house in an old rectory.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1982
74 people are currently reading
2513 people want to read
About the author
Mary Norton
76 books870 followersMary Norton (née Pearson) was an English children's author. She was the daughter of a physician, and was raised in a Georgian house at the end of the High Street in Leighton Buzzard. The house now consists of part of Leighton Middle School, known within the school as The Old House, and was reportedly the setting of her novel The Borrowers. She married Robert C. Norton in 1927 and had four children, 2 boys and 2 girls. Her second husband was Lionel Boncey, who she married in 1970. She began working for the War Office in 1940 before the family moved temporarily to the United States.
She began writing while working for the British Purchasing Commission in New York during the Second World War. Her first book was The Magic Bed Knob; or, How to Become a Witch in Ten Easy Lessons published in 1943, which, together with the sequel Bonfires and Broomsticks, became the basis for the Disney film Bedknobs and Broomsticks.
Mary Norton died of a stroke in Devon, England in 1992.
She began writing while working for the British Purchasing Commission in New York during the Second World War. Her first book was The Magic Bed Knob; or, How to Become a Witch in Ten Easy Lessons published in 1943, which, together with the sequel Bonfires and Broomsticks, became the basis for the Disney film Bedknobs and Broomsticks.
Mary Norton died of a stroke in Devon, England in 1992.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 177 reviews
August 10, 2022
2,5/5
Pierwszy tom jednak pozostał moim ulubionym. Ten wydawał mi się nieco wymuszony.
Pierwszy tom jednak pozostał moim ulubionym. Ten wydawał mi się nieco wymuszony.
May 28, 2019
I think that Mary Norton just lost it by this point. Great borrower hijinks, fun descriptions and imagery, and then a seriously bonkers literary structure. Ghosts are set up quite deliberately and then never actually enter the plot. Why are there the horrifying ghosts of a murder-suicide in the middle of a nominally children's book?
Spiller and Peagreen are set up as romantic rivals for Arietty, but the foreshadowed tension never even arrives, let alone resolves by the end of the series. We spend the first half of the book (even more than usual!) establishing a plot line around humans and avenging the borrowers. That is then abandoned until some half-assed wrapup in the last few mini-chapters.
Not a spectacular finish for a series that was otherwise fantastic.
Spiller and Peagreen are set up as romantic rivals for Arietty, but the foreshadowed tension never even arrives, let alone resolves by the end of the series. We spend the first half of the book (even more than usual!) establishing a plot line around humans and avenging the borrowers. That is then abandoned until some half-assed wrapup in the last few mini-chapters.
Not a spectacular finish for a series that was otherwise fantastic.
September 6, 2009
After the lovely "Borrowers Aloft," this book feels superfluous, and worse, out of continuity. Why add another ending book when "Aloft" had such an "end of series" feel? Why does Spiller get so little page time in this book when Arrietty declared her commitment to him in the previous book? I did enjoy the scenes with Peagreen, but overall this book was a disappointment.
June 14, 2023
Never have I seen a more rushed ending. Manifesting fan continuations 🫸🫷
January 14, 2021
For a children's series that consists of such short books, getting through them seemed to take so very long. The plot is a charming and original idea, but more than anything, I appreciate it for being the inspiration behind Ghibli's adaptation Arrietty.
Although I liked the first book well enough, I felt this series dropped in quality with each instalment. The final book The Borrowers Avenged added some questionable contents and all in all, just felt redundant. With the exception of the existence of Borrowers, this series was realistic and held no fantasy or supernatural elements. In this instalment, ghosts suddenly appear - it felt out of place and ultimately didn't add or relate to the plot at all, they were simply there. It was also quite suddenly on the religious side of things which took away from the light atmosphere the previous books had.
For a final instalment, it had a complete lack of conclusion. Miss Menzies never finds out what happened to the Borrowers, in general, I didn't like how everyone was so deadset against Arrietty talking to humans. Then the book ended with an argument between Arrietty and Spiller, not exactly what one would hope of what was hinted as a romantic relationship - will they get together? Then there was also a new Borrower who could have easily been another romantic partner to Arrietty - what was the point of him?
While not a dreadful book, it was unsatisfying and much more of a chore to finish sit for, well, the sake of finishing this series.
May 27, 2012
I can't think, offhand, of another series in which I wish the author had stopped before writing one more sequel. . .
This story disappointed me in so many ways. I read it and recommended that my daughter NOT read it, lest this one story spoil the whole series for her. Not only is it dull and rambling, but the classic characters I loved in the first four books have changed, in themselves and in their relationships to each other. The take-away feeling is depressing and rather dark.
Definitely not worth the time.
This story disappointed me in so many ways. I read it and recommended that my daughter NOT read it, lest this one story spoil the whole series for her. Not only is it dull and rambling, but the classic characters I loved in the first four books have changed, in themselves and in their relationships to each other. The take-away feeling is depressing and rather dark.
Definitely not worth the time.
July 23, 2022
Although this book isn't as good as the rest of the series, I did enjoy it. Getting through them seemed to take so very long for this book.
February 17, 2021
So...after the "What...???" reaction I had as I finished The Borrowers Avenged, I found out the rather open-ended conclusion of the previous book is a rewrite, intended to make room for this next book that didn't come until decades later.
Well. It's another open-ended, dissatisfying conclusion here. It seems there was supposed to be at least one more book after this one, but it never came.
And although this fifth novel is the last and longest of the series, it has no real need to be so long, since it's a pretty redundant story for the borrowers. Different locations. Villains with different names. But nothing truly new driving the plot, and no growth for the main characters who had such an interesting, promising start in the first, wonderful novel.
I'm rather disappointed that the overall progression of the series doesn't do justice to the way it began. Still, I understand this kind of thing just happens sometimes.
Not everything always pans out as planned in publishing, and authors are human.
So. Unless you're dying to see the various ways this last novel goes wrong, I'd recommend either getting your hands on an original copy of Book Four, The Borrowers Aloft, or finding its original conclusion online somewhere. Then let that original ending be The End.
Well. It's another open-ended, dissatisfying conclusion here. It seems there was supposed to be at least one more book after this one, but it never came.
And although this fifth novel is the last and longest of the series, it has no real need to be so long, since it's a pretty redundant story for the borrowers. Different locations. Villains with different names. But nothing truly new driving the plot, and no growth for the main characters who had such an interesting, promising start in the first, wonderful novel.
I'm rather disappointed that the overall progression of the series doesn't do justice to the way it began. Still, I understand this kind of thing just happens sometimes.
Not everything always pans out as planned in publishing, and authors are human.
So. Unless you're dying to see the various ways this last novel goes wrong, I'd recommend either getting your hands on an original copy of Book Four, The Borrowers Aloft, or finding its original conclusion online somewhere. Then let that original ending be The End.
July 7, 2018
The charm and inventiveness of the other books seemed, to me, mostly absent from this one (The Borrowers Avenged). The writing was quite good, and there was some cleverness in the writing that didn't feature in the earlier books, e.g. "'Timmus, just look at your face!' This was something Timmus could not do" (247). But I just wasn't as into the characters and storyline as I was into those of the other books. Also, loose ends were not, I think, properly tied up, such as Spiller's interesting character developing further. I thought Spiller was much more interesting than Peagreen, but Peagreen got a ton of attention in this book. Spiller received very little attention.
Still not sure what the ghosts are about!
Still not sure what the ghosts are about!
February 6, 2026
Sometimes a story has a logical conclusion: Harry Potter defeats Voldemort, good triumphs over evil, story ends. Sometimes a story ends but leaves enough room to start a different story afterwards: Anakin Skywalker becomes Darth Vader, story ends temporarily, picks up a few decades later with Luke Skywalker. And sometimes a story ends not because it reaches a logical conclusion or pauses temporarily, but because it just peters out for one reason or another. The Borrowers Avenged, the last of Mary Norton’s Borrowers series, definitely feels like the latter.
That’s not meant as a slight against the book, or at least not much of one. I have no idea why Norton never wrote any Borrowers novels beyond this one. Perhaps she ran out of creative steam; perhaps she always meant to but never quite got around to it. Perhaps she viewed this story as more of a natural endpoint than I do, and there is something to that; while the Clock family ends the story safe at last from the sinister Platters, the sobering fact—spoken out loud by the Borrowers themselves—is that Borrowers will never be truly, completely safe from humans. It’s an usually somber note to end a children’s series on, let alone a fairly lighthearted and gentle one like this.
But on the whole, I don’t hate that there isn’t a big denouement to this series. I remember watching the Hollywood movie adaptation of The Borrowers, which for its climax features Pod Clock and a veritable army of Borrowers tying up and berating their human antagonist into terrified submission. It’s a satisfying enough conclusion for a children’s film, and yet it does not feel in keeping with the story Mary Norton originally crafted. The Borrowers Avenged, for whatever faults it may have, at least feels like the ending to the story Norton wanted to tell—not a final resolution, but a resolution nonetheless.
That’s not meant as a slight against the book, or at least not much of one. I have no idea why Norton never wrote any Borrowers novels beyond this one. Perhaps she ran out of creative steam; perhaps she always meant to but never quite got around to it. Perhaps she viewed this story as more of a natural endpoint than I do, and there is something to that; while the Clock family ends the story safe at last from the sinister Platters, the sobering fact—spoken out loud by the Borrowers themselves—is that Borrowers will never be truly, completely safe from humans. It’s an usually somber note to end a children’s series on, let alone a fairly lighthearted and gentle one like this.
But on the whole, I don’t hate that there isn’t a big denouement to this series. I remember watching the Hollywood movie adaptation of The Borrowers, which for its climax features Pod Clock and a veritable army of Borrowers tying up and berating their human antagonist into terrified submission. It’s a satisfying enough conclusion for a children’s film, and yet it does not feel in keeping with the story Mary Norton originally crafted. The Borrowers Avenged, for whatever faults it may have, at least feels like the ending to the story Norton wanted to tell—not a final resolution, but a resolution nonetheless.
April 17, 2023
In shock over the loss of their trio of moneymakers, the Platters plan to stake out Little Fordham to recapture the little people who have inexplicably escaped their attic prison. Meanwhile, Miss Menzies is distraught at the sudden absence of her friend Arrietty and the family that she’s come to love. Knowing that no good deed goes unpunished, Pod understands the immediacy of getting his family as far away from Little Fordham as possible before those nasty Platters return because luck and ingenuity will not save them next time. With the discovery of a permanent home—along with a new borrower—it seems that things are finally as they should be for our favorite little family, but their safety may once again be at risk when the Platters learn that a credible “finder” is in their midst and with the help of a bit of clothing left behind by Homily, could the Clock’s days of freedom be coming to an end?
Written twenty-one years after her fourth book in The Borrowers series, The Borrowers Avenged fails to live up to the expectations set by its predecessors and is the weakest and most disappointing of Norton’s five-book series. I entered with high hopes and was not disappointed as the beginning indicated that Norton hadn’t missed a day when she picked up the story of our beloved Clock family. However, with its overly descriptive text (the story loses valuable momentum quite a few times throughout the book), the introduction of three other-worldly characters who added no value and served no purpose to the overall story, and an ending that is perhaps the bleakest and darkest I have ever read in a children’s book, it seems that Norton was writing more to her original fans (who had aged 20+ years since her last installment putting them in their early 30s) rather than to the book’s intended audience of readers aged eight to twelve. Norton even goes so far as to introduce the topic of suicide in her book, which goes beyond the pale. I’m not sure why Norton waited so long to conclude her series (which was really unnecessary), but after reading this book, not only did her characters deserve better, but her fans did as well.
There were some bright spots in this last book: the reunion with the Hendrearys; the rekindled relationship between Arrietty and her young cousin Timmus; and the introduction of Peagreen Overmantle who forces Homily to again rethink her past prejudices and appreciate that trustworthy and dependable allies come from the unlikeliest of places. Despite these, The Borrowers Avenged lacks the magic, wonder, and youthful spirit that we’ve come to expect in the series and should serve as a reminder that sometimes revenge isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be.
We’re now posting videos of some of our book reviews! Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thedustyjacket or on Instagram @tdjreviews and join in on the fun!
Written twenty-one years after her fourth book in The Borrowers series, The Borrowers Avenged fails to live up to the expectations set by its predecessors and is the weakest and most disappointing of Norton’s five-book series. I entered with high hopes and was not disappointed as the beginning indicated that Norton hadn’t missed a day when she picked up the story of our beloved Clock family. However, with its overly descriptive text (the story loses valuable momentum quite a few times throughout the book), the introduction of three other-worldly characters who added no value and served no purpose to the overall story, and an ending that is perhaps the bleakest and darkest I have ever read in a children’s book, it seems that Norton was writing more to her original fans (who had aged 20+ years since her last installment putting them in their early 30s) rather than to the book’s intended audience of readers aged eight to twelve. Norton even goes so far as to introduce the topic of suicide in her book, which goes beyond the pale. I’m not sure why Norton waited so long to conclude her series (which was really unnecessary), but after reading this book, not only did her characters deserve better, but her fans did as well.
There were some bright spots in this last book: the reunion with the Hendrearys; the rekindled relationship between Arrietty and her young cousin Timmus; and the introduction of Peagreen Overmantle who forces Homily to again rethink her past prejudices and appreciate that trustworthy and dependable allies come from the unlikeliest of places. Despite these, The Borrowers Avenged lacks the magic, wonder, and youthful spirit that we’ve come to expect in the series and should serve as a reminder that sometimes revenge isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be.
We’re now posting videos of some of our book reviews! Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thedustyjacket or on Instagram @tdjreviews and join in on the fun!
June 29, 2018
While this book was written in a way that made you HAVE to turn each page to find out what was going to happen, I found it to be very unsatisfying at the end. If you are going to read these series, or have your children read them, I recommend that you stop with book 4. This one seems so different from the rest, that I feel like an entirely different person has written it. From what I can read about it online, it seems this one was written when Ms. Norton was not in her right mind or perhaps had planned to take the series in a different direction, but never finished another book. It's almost like they published her notes and manuscript while she was ill or in failing health. I don't want to speculate on what was going on when she wrote this one, but this is NOT the way I'd recommend that a person finishes such a fun young adult series!
Just stop with Book 4 and you'll be great and you'll like the storyline! Enjoy!
Just stop with Book 4 and you'll be great and you'll like the storyline! Enjoy!
February 26, 2018
It has been years since I read the others in this series, I had never seen this one before, so I latched on to it.
The Clocks (Pod, Homily and Arriety) have been held captive by the "evil" Platters, however, the Clocks have finally managed to escape from their "prison" and have decided against returning to their miniature village that was so wonderfully provided by Miss Menzies and her friend.
The Clocks have found a home in the old village rectory, and reunited with their former friends thinking all are safe - until the Evil Platters come nosing around after dark!
The Clocks (Pod, Homily and Arriety) have been held captive by the "evil" Platters, however, the Clocks have finally managed to escape from their "prison" and have decided against returning to their miniature village that was so wonderfully provided by Miss Menzies and her friend.
The Clocks have found a home in the old village rectory, and reunited with their former friends thinking all are safe - until the Evil Platters come nosing around after dark!
November 4, 2022
Oh dear, I think Mary Norton should never have recommenced this family history again. This surprise installment was first published in 1982, more than twenty years after she wrapped up The Borrowers Aloft.
The story picks up right where Borrowers Aloft concludes. Twenty-one years have lapsed in real time, but only three days in story time. Norton was quite elderly at this stage and I doubt her train of thought on this series was as finely calibrated as it had been at the end of 1961 when she last put down her pen. She might've been doing her younger self a disservice by continuing.
For a start, we're given an actual date for the happenings, 1911. The former stories merely impart a strong Edwardian vibe which seemed to be her intent and works well. Nailing it down arguably diminishes some of the magic. Not to mention, many readers who took up Norton's invitation to resume the tale of the Clock family with their own imaginations may be disappointed.
Anyway, here's where she takes it. To recap, Pod, Homily and Arrietty arrive back at Little Fordham by homemade air balloon, are reunited with Spiller, and Pod decides it's no longer an ideal place to live. That turns out to be wise, for Sidney and Mabel Platter refuse to accept their loss and immediately decide to track down the little trio and steal them back again. The borrowers escape in Spiller's knife tray boat in the nick of time. Their new destination is a haunted rectory, and Uncle Hendreary's family is living in the church next door, for Spiller re-located them too, while Pod, Homily and Arrietty were trapped in the Platters' attic.
We're introduced to a new young Borrower who also lives in the rectory. His name is Peregrine (or Peagreen) Overmantel, and he walks with a limp due to a childhood injury. You guessed it, he's a member of that same proud and patronising Overmantel family who used to irritate, yet inspire Homily. But Peagreen himself is a pleasant and friendly young man.
Now, the big question is whether or not Norton was attempting to set up one of those tiresome love triangles, for Peagreen is Spiller's antithesis in every way. He shuns the great outdoors, is very clean looking, loves taking baths, will chat for hours to anyone, and is very creative and classy. He's an artist with a studio in an old nesting box, writes poetry and is also working on a book about the history of the Overmantels. Peagreen limits himself to borrowing from the well-stacked rectory pantry, since his gammy leg prevents him from hunting, fishing or foraging.
Although it's never stated directly, it seems Arrietty now has two polar opposite borrower boys appealing to the two equally compelling sides of her own character; her passion for the great outdoors and her fascination for culture and literature. But if she ever makes a choice it's not revealed in canon, since this book was the last. Some readers may think introducing a potential love triangle adds a dash of spice, but I'm no fan of this breezy newcomer supplanting our boy Spiller, who has earned his way into our hearts during the last three books.
The next questionable addition is the ghost thread. The rectory is haunted by three apparitions, each with sad or violent backstories. Now, I have no trouble with teeny-tiny human look-alikes, but I think Norton crosses a line by introducing the supernatural. I don't think I'm alone either. Some other reviews indicate protective parents objecting to the possibility of their kids getting frightened by the occult, which is fair enough. But my biggest gripe is that these ghosts never do anything other than waft around looking tragic and opaque! Why introduce such a startling element when it has no bearing on the plot whatsoever?
Finally, the ending is frustrating. Norton, who satisfied me at the end of The Borrowers Aloft, leaves me disgruntled and puzzled now. Perhaps she had further plans, (surely she must have!) but we'll never know.
If ever I wanted to write my own bit of Borrower fan fiction, it's now.
The story picks up right where Borrowers Aloft concludes. Twenty-one years have lapsed in real time, but only three days in story time. Norton was quite elderly at this stage and I doubt her train of thought on this series was as finely calibrated as it had been at the end of 1961 when she last put down her pen. She might've been doing her younger self a disservice by continuing.
For a start, we're given an actual date for the happenings, 1911. The former stories merely impart a strong Edwardian vibe which seemed to be her intent and works well. Nailing it down arguably diminishes some of the magic. Not to mention, many readers who took up Norton's invitation to resume the tale of the Clock family with their own imaginations may be disappointed.
Anyway, here's where she takes it. To recap, Pod, Homily and Arrietty arrive back at Little Fordham by homemade air balloon, are reunited with Spiller, and Pod decides it's no longer an ideal place to live. That turns out to be wise, for Sidney and Mabel Platter refuse to accept their loss and immediately decide to track down the little trio and steal them back again. The borrowers escape in Spiller's knife tray boat in the nick of time. Their new destination is a haunted rectory, and Uncle Hendreary's family is living in the church next door, for Spiller re-located them too, while Pod, Homily and Arrietty were trapped in the Platters' attic.
We're introduced to a new young Borrower who also lives in the rectory. His name is Peregrine (or Peagreen) Overmantel, and he walks with a limp due to a childhood injury. You guessed it, he's a member of that same proud and patronising Overmantel family who used to irritate, yet inspire Homily. But Peagreen himself is a pleasant and friendly young man.
Now, the big question is whether or not Norton was attempting to set up one of those tiresome love triangles, for Peagreen is Spiller's antithesis in every way. He shuns the great outdoors, is very clean looking, loves taking baths, will chat for hours to anyone, and is very creative and classy. He's an artist with a studio in an old nesting box, writes poetry and is also working on a book about the history of the Overmantels. Peagreen limits himself to borrowing from the well-stacked rectory pantry, since his gammy leg prevents him from hunting, fishing or foraging.
Although it's never stated directly, it seems Arrietty now has two polar opposite borrower boys appealing to the two equally compelling sides of her own character; her passion for the great outdoors and her fascination for culture and literature. But if she ever makes a choice it's not revealed in canon, since this book was the last. Some readers may think introducing a potential love triangle adds a dash of spice, but I'm no fan of this breezy newcomer supplanting our boy Spiller, who has earned his way into our hearts during the last three books.
The next questionable addition is the ghost thread. The rectory is haunted by three apparitions, each with sad or violent backstories. Now, I have no trouble with teeny-tiny human look-alikes, but I think Norton crosses a line by introducing the supernatural. I don't think I'm alone either. Some other reviews indicate protective parents objecting to the possibility of their kids getting frightened by the occult, which is fair enough. But my biggest gripe is that these ghosts never do anything other than waft around looking tragic and opaque! Why introduce such a startling element when it has no bearing on the plot whatsoever?
Finally, the ending is frustrating. Norton, who satisfied me at the end of The Borrowers Aloft, leaves me disgruntled and puzzled now. Perhaps she had further plans, (surely she must have!) but we'll never know.
If ever I wanted to write my own bit of Borrower fan fiction, it's now.
May 5, 2022
Despite its ominous cover and title, The Borrowers Avenged is a sunny conclusion to a series that has known dark moments. The Clocks take refuge near a church, see a whole new side of the village, and meet a new borrower.
I thought nothing could top the first book in the series, but I must not have actually read this one in childhood. I absolutely adored the cozy hijinks our small friends get up to in this book, the lengths they go to furnish their new home, and the new human characters. Lupy, Hendreary, and Timmus appear again, as they are living in the church, which contributed the most humorous scenes in the whole series for me. Arietty doesn't know who "the Lord" is, but Lupy has picked up on the lingo from the ladies who do the flowers in the vestry. Timmus has taken to camouflaging himself and hiding in a rood screen. If only the ladies would bring something besides scones for tea...
Norton has said that stories are never finished, and that approach is clear in Avenged with its sudden end, though for the reader that has been attending to hints along the way, it's fairly clear how things will shape up. It's a charming conclusion to a delightful series, and it's lovely to leave the Borrowers at peace and . Again, despite the title, Avenged is not about the Clocks plotting revenge on the Platters, but about them finally finding a secure way to live after their previous habitations were brought to naught.
I have been keeping a mental list of novels about Anglicanism, and this might be the most unique book on there. The C of E from a 4" perspective. Incredible. The climax takes place on Holy Saturday, so it was especially fun reading it this time of year.
I thought nothing could top the first book in the series, but I must not have actually read this one in childhood. I absolutely adored the cozy hijinks our small friends get up to in this book, the lengths they go to furnish their new home, and the new human characters. Lupy, Hendreary, and Timmus appear again, as they are living in the church, which contributed the most humorous scenes in the whole series for me. Arietty doesn't know who "the Lord" is, but Lupy has picked up on the lingo from the ladies who do the flowers in the vestry. Timmus has taken to camouflaging himself and hiding in a rood screen. If only the ladies would bring something besides scones for tea...
Norton has said that stories are never finished, and that approach is clear in Avenged with its sudden end, though for the reader that has been attending to hints along the way, it's fairly clear how things will shape up. It's a charming conclusion to a delightful series, and it's lovely to leave the Borrowers at peace and . Again, despite the title, Avenged is not about the Clocks plotting revenge on the Platters, but about them finally finding a secure way to live after their previous habitations were brought to naught.
I have been keeping a mental list of novels about Anglicanism, and this might be the most unique book on there. The C of E from a 4" perspective. Incredible. The climax takes place on Holy Saturday, so it was especially fun reading it this time of year.
July 1, 2022
This was the final book in the series and to be honest I really didn't enjoy it. I think it was the longest of the series at around 300 pages and I don't think it needed to be that long, it seems that parts of the book were being built up but then nothing actually happens. For example it is built up to being a love triangle between Spiller, Pea Green and Arrietty but in the end it doesn't even develop into even a half formed relationship, literally nothing happens. Same thing with the ghosts in the house, it is built up multiple times but in the end its just washed away?
I think this started as a great idea and was such an amazing story at the start of the series, however after that I think the whole thing sort of dragged on and didn't lead to anything. The books aren't long at all but it takes such a long time to get through them which is clearly not a good sign. Ultimately you build up to the final book in the series only to be let down by a lack of conclusion, nothing is really resolved and you're just left disappointed.
I think this started as a great idea and was such an amazing story at the start of the series, however after that I think the whole thing sort of dragged on and didn't lead to anything. The books aren't long at all but it takes such a long time to get through them which is clearly not a good sign. Ultimately you build up to the final book in the series only to be let down by a lack of conclusion, nothing is really resolved and you're just left disappointed.
August 30, 2010
Not a very satisfying end to the series, somehow. It's nice to end with the Borrowers all set up in a new home, but the Platters aren't really satisfactorily got rid of, and Miss Menzies doesn't (yet?) have closure about the Borrowers, and we don't know if Arriety and Spiller ever get together...
All the setting up home stuff reads a bit like a happily ever after, and yet it's unsatisfying, because so little happens. And again, like the fourth book, it's not a story being told anymore, but is presented more factually, and that makes it seem less real, not more.
And everything just ties up a bit too neatly. The Clock family are still altogether, the Hendrearies are nearby, and they're all settled in and have homes again, and the Platters leave the country, and Arriety stops talking to humans...
Mind you, I don't know how you could end this series to my satisfaction.
All the setting up home stuff reads a bit like a happily ever after, and yet it's unsatisfying, because so little happens. And again, like the fourth book, it's not a story being told anymore, but is presented more factually, and that makes it seem less real, not more.
And everything just ties up a bit too neatly. The Clock family are still altogether, the Hendrearies are nearby, and they're all settled in and have homes again, and the Platters leave the country, and Arriety stops talking to humans...
Mind you, I don't know how you could end this series to my satisfaction.
March 27, 2007
I loves me a good book about tiny people who live in big peoples' houses! I pick up a Borrowers book every couple of years just to remind myself how much I LOVED them when I was younger...and how cool it is that the little people find different uses for every day items (the dad's walking stick is a sewing needle, which comes in handy for any numbers of sticky situations)....
March 8, 2012
A good story, but sadly anti-clamatic. I wanted more tied up. I guess
That's a sign of a great series.... you end up wondering who Arrietty married, what happened to everyone? Did Spiller keep his promise?
That's a sign of a great series.... you end up wondering who Arrietty married, what happened to everyone? Did Spiller keep his promise?
August 16, 2018
Якщо врахувати, ще це вже п’ята книга із серії Мері Нортон про маленьких чоловічків, які називають себе роздобудьками, прочитана нами з сином, то нічого нового про неї розповісти нібито й немає. Хіба що про те, як зароджується і на чому базується дружба між підлітками. І про те, як важливо дотримуватися даної комусь обіцянки. І про дружбу між дітлахами різного віку, бо це — не міф і в житті...
А ще у книзі такі живі-живі реалії британської глибинки. Ну просто наче якийсь серіал дивишся))) Й образи отих усіх міс та місіс, містерів, поліцейського та інших дуже вдало, хоч і кількома штрихами, виписані. І старою садибою із купою цікавих закапелків, у якій оселилися наші вже майже рідні роздобудьки Под, Хомілі та Аріетті, так цікаво побродити. І церкву, де живуть їхні родичі, теж цікаво відвідати. Й ілюстрації пороздивлятися. Та й загалом зустрітися з давніми друзями — то завжди приємно)))
А ще у книзі такі живі-живі реалії британської глибинки. Ну просто наче якийсь серіал дивишся))) Й образи отих усіх міс та місіс, містерів, поліцейського та інших дуже вдало, хоч і кількома штрихами, виписані. І старою садибою із купою цікавих закапелків, у якій оселилися наші вже майже рідні роздобудьки Под, Хомілі та Аріетті, так цікаво побродити. І церкву, де живуть їхні родичі, теж цікаво відвідати. Й ілюстрації пороздивлятися. Та й загалом зустрітися з давніми друзями — то завжди приємно)))
June 21, 2023
My actual rating is 3.5 stars, but I rounded up.
There were parts I really enjoyed about this book, and for the most part I did enjoy reading it. However, it felt like a lot was left unresolved at the end, and I feel like the desperation of their situation hinted at in the book's description was greatly exaggerated considering how little threat there was to them and how quickly the situation resolved itself. Never-the-less, as I said, I did enjoy it for the most part. The earlier books in the series were definitely the best though.
There were parts I really enjoyed about this book, and for the most part I did enjoy reading it. However, it felt like a lot was left unresolved at the end, and I feel like the desperation of their situation hinted at in the book's description was greatly exaggerated considering how little threat there was to them and how quickly the situation resolved itself. Never-the-less, as I said, I did enjoy it for the most part. The earlier books in the series were definitely the best though.
January 3, 2024
I hate to say this, but The Borrowers series has gotten worse with every book and it all came to a head with this absolute NONSENSE ending. I thought the last ending was bad (because it WAS), well somehow it was worst. As I’ve read the last 2 books in the series, I kept on feeling as thought The Borrowers would haven done much better as a trilogy of slightly longer books (200-300 pages). There can only be so many moves before something becomes stale and redundant and even if the constant moving could somewhat be salvaged through clever ideas like the balloon in The Borrowers Aloft, bad writing decisions cannot. The volumes keep being quite entertaining, but they become duller and duller as it becomes clear the is no continuity nor legitimate end in sight. Writing a full-fledged end-of-series epilogue in the last volume only to retcon it all in this one, coming out of nowhere it feels at point, was utter nonsense. In many respects though, the ending of The Borrowers Avenged feels more finished and a doesn’t leave quite a many loose threads as the previous one : we found the Hendrearys, they are fine and live close by, the Clocks have finally found a nice and stable home, we’ve FINALLY met another Borrower which wasn’t Spiller to give Arietty a little bit of a choice (which is never concluded however 🙃), the Platters are gone for good, all is well.
And yet. All the annoying loose threads have been tied but one, and it might be the most unsatisfying to be left untied. From his introduction in the second volume, The Borrowers Afield, it was clear Spiller was interested in Arietty. He showed very nice character growth throughout that volume and the next, The Borrowers Afloat, going from silent and broody to disclosing a lot of personal information to Arietty, from never answering and fleeing questions to actually somewhat participate in conversation, from stealing from the Clocks to helping them again and again, through thick and thin, without asking anything in return. And almost as quickly as he grew, he regressed. We saw him talking less and less, until this last volume where he has barely any lines at all, and no interactions with Arietty in both The Borrowers Aloft and the Borrowers Avenged. Well, that's not entirely true, he makes a very sweet promise to Arietty at the end of the fourth tome… that he still hasn't kept at the end of the final one. To make matters worse, while Spiller has almost no dialog lines and incredibly little page space in The Borrowers Avenged, Arietty meets Peagreen (Peregrine Overmantel), a lame Borrowers who has always lived in the rectory and with whom Arietty quickly strikes up a great friendship. While he is snobby at time, he helps her family settle in the rectory, is very resourceful and, much like Arietty, knows how to read and write —so well indeed he reads poetry and writes some alongside his book writing project, he paints wonderfully and knows a great many thing. While I think some concurrence for Spiller was long overdue, it was so it could further the credibility of their relationship, so that Arietty could CHOOSE Spiller rather than simply marry the only Borrower she had ever met with whom she wasn't related. However, Peagreen's introduction completely fails at serving that purpose, because it so highlights the cracks in Spiller and Arietty's relationship. It started out based on their shared love for the great outdoors, but it needs to be more than that because Arietty has just has many commons interests with Peagreen, and therein lies the veritable issue. In the early volumes, it was clear Spiller and Arietty had a unique bond, that they got along and the interest he showed towards her family was most likely an extension to his initial interest in her. Then, as the books went on, they gradually had less and less interactions until their interest in each other was only TOLD to the reader, never SHOWN. Still, I kept on hoping in a foolish try at positivism and, when Spiller seemed to initially dislike my boy Peregrine I hoped the author was trying to foreshadow a certain sense of jealousy on his part which would create conflict between the lovers and causing the to reveal their sentiments to the other (a fairly common but oh so serviceable trope!!) And then it never happened. My edition of the book actually had the audacity of ending with an illustration of Peagreen giving Arietty a little thoughtful Easter gift (the volume was weirdly even with the Christian stuff, for SOME reason). And don't get me wrong, I LOVE Peagreen. He's by far my favourite character and I think he added some much needed "diversity", if you will, to our little cast of Borrowers and I like how he gently challenged Arietty in ways no other characters had done since the (annoying) boy from the first instalment. My problem is, though, the the author has been trying to push Arietty and Spiller together, so much so the ending and the epilogue to The Borrowers Aloft had implied that their union was only a question of time; yet, in this LAST volume, not only does their relationship remain completely up in the airs, but Arietty ends up having leagues more chemistry with a random new character. All the while the random Christian stuff and the (poorly done) descent into madness of the Platters was given way too much page space for my taste.
And yet. All the annoying loose threads have been tied but one, and it might be the most unsatisfying to be left untied. From his introduction in the second volume, The Borrowers Afield, it was clear Spiller was interested in Arietty. He showed very nice character growth throughout that volume and the next, The Borrowers Afloat, going from silent and broody to disclosing a lot of personal information to Arietty, from never answering and fleeing questions to actually somewhat participate in conversation, from stealing from the Clocks to helping them again and again, through thick and thin, without asking anything in return. And almost as quickly as he grew, he regressed. We saw him talking less and less, until this last volume where he has barely any lines at all, and no interactions with Arietty in both The Borrowers Aloft and the Borrowers Avenged. Well, that's not entirely true, he makes a very sweet promise to Arietty at the end of the fourth tome… that he still hasn't kept at the end of the final one. To make matters worse, while Spiller has almost no dialog lines and incredibly little page space in The Borrowers Avenged, Arietty meets Peagreen (Peregrine Overmantel), a lame Borrowers who has always lived in the rectory and with whom Arietty quickly strikes up a great friendship. While he is snobby at time, he helps her family settle in the rectory, is very resourceful and, much like Arietty, knows how to read and write —so well indeed he reads poetry and writes some alongside his book writing project, he paints wonderfully and knows a great many thing. While I think some concurrence for Spiller was long overdue, it was so it could further the credibility of their relationship, so that Arietty could CHOOSE Spiller rather than simply marry the only Borrower she had ever met with whom she wasn't related. However, Peagreen's introduction completely fails at serving that purpose, because it so highlights the cracks in Spiller and Arietty's relationship. It started out based on their shared love for the great outdoors, but it needs to be more than that because Arietty has just has many commons interests with Peagreen, and therein lies the veritable issue. In the early volumes, it was clear Spiller and Arietty had a unique bond, that they got along and the interest he showed towards her family was most likely an extension to his initial interest in her. Then, as the books went on, they gradually had less and less interactions until their interest in each other was only TOLD to the reader, never SHOWN. Still, I kept on hoping in a foolish try at positivism and, when Spiller seemed to initially dislike my boy Peregrine I hoped the author was trying to foreshadow a certain sense of jealousy on his part which would create conflict between the lovers and causing the to reveal their sentiments to the other (a fairly common but oh so serviceable trope!!) And then it never happened. My edition of the book actually had the audacity of ending with an illustration of Peagreen giving Arietty a little thoughtful Easter gift (the volume was weirdly even with the Christian stuff, for SOME reason). And don't get me wrong, I LOVE Peagreen. He's by far my favourite character and I think he added some much needed "diversity", if you will, to our little cast of Borrowers and I like how he gently challenged Arietty in ways no other characters had done since the (annoying) boy from the first instalment. My problem is, though, the the author has been trying to push Arietty and Spiller together, so much so the ending and the epilogue to The Borrowers Aloft had implied that their union was only a question of time; yet, in this LAST volume, not only does their relationship remain completely up in the airs, but Arietty ends up having leagues more chemistry with a random new character. All the while the random Christian stuff and the (poorly done) descent into madness of the Platters was given way too much page space for my taste.
October 22, 2018
It was another great, exiting tale, but the ending could have had more action.
April 9, 2020
I think this is my favourite one.
August 31, 2023
troche bylo czuć było zmiane tlumaczki
October 14, 2023
لا اتفق مع مع الرأي القائل بأن هذا كتاب سيء. الحبكة جيدة، الاحداث جيدة، الشخصيات ممتازة. ولكن، نعم، ليست بخاتمة ملائمة للسلسلة، والله اعلم بأن النية كانت كتابة اكثر من كتاب واحد ولكن هذا لم يحدث.
March 13, 2020
These books got kind of old after the first one.
August 30, 2013
Every few pages, delicate line drawings detail a wisp loose from Victorian hair bun, dangling pinafore ribbon, wrinkle, even transparent ghosts. Miss Menzies reports the three Clock residents (careful "born climber" p 61 Pod, fretful Homily, and "fearless" p13 Arrietty) missing from Mr Pott's miniature village to skeptical constable "thin, very soft brown eyes" p1 Pomfret. Yet she fails to confide in Irish-born Kitty Lovelace, who hears little people after weekly church flower arranging with Lady Mullings, a "finder" who could "visualize in her mind the surroundings" p16.
In nearby Went-le-Cray, "shrivelled rat-like" lock-mender Sidney Platter and "florid, heavy" p28 wife Mabel mourn the loss of potential income, the escaped Clocks, and wreck the Pott miniature village searching. A single day ahead of pursuit, silent wild archer Spiller "master of concealment" p 13, sports bare "horny feet" p 72, paddles the refugees to their new rectory home. Lame Peregrine "Peagreen" Overmantel "a soft mop of tow-coloured hair and a pale, pale face" p 91 offers his former refuge under a library window seat, having moved to conservatory birdhouses nearer the larder. Gout-ridden uncle Hendreary, thinner aunt Lupy, and energetic cousin Timmus live in the church, and socialize with the Clocks.
"Improvisation is the breath of life to borrowers" p 33. Author Norton imagines clever re-use of what we "left behind or discarded .. what one borrower did not make use of, another one could" p 63. Neglected shabby corners repurposed make old better than new. A rusty stove can be a toasty snug home, dripping tap fills all fluid needs p 81, leftover crumbs are a "delicious luncheon" p 86.
Rare classic series - each volume stands alone, despite narrative shell of skeptical audience representing ourselves present-day, still troubled by missing odd household doodads, brings alive real time and place Britain 1911, inhabited by inventive tiny Borrowers, makes me wish to see them in the corner, want more. Watched over and over live film DVD https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzRvq..., reviewed 5* http://annetoronto1.blogspot.ca/2013/.... Would like to see BBC https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpcXL.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Foex... looks to same-same Disney pretty Princess.
In nearby Went-le-Cray, "shrivelled rat-like" lock-mender Sidney Platter and "florid, heavy" p28 wife Mabel mourn the loss of potential income, the escaped Clocks, and wreck the Pott miniature village searching. A single day ahead of pursuit, silent wild archer Spiller "master of concealment" p 13, sports bare "horny feet" p 72, paddles the refugees to their new rectory home. Lame Peregrine "Peagreen" Overmantel "a soft mop of tow-coloured hair and a pale, pale face" p 91 offers his former refuge under a library window seat, having moved to conservatory birdhouses nearer the larder. Gout-ridden uncle Hendreary, thinner aunt Lupy, and energetic cousin Timmus live in the church, and socialize with the Clocks.
"Improvisation is the breath of life to borrowers" p 33. Author Norton imagines clever re-use of what we "left behind or discarded .. what one borrower did not make use of, another one could" p 63. Neglected shabby corners repurposed make old better than new. A rusty stove can be a toasty snug home, dripping tap fills all fluid needs p 81, leftover crumbs are a "delicious luncheon" p 86.
Rare classic series - each volume stands alone, despite narrative shell of skeptical audience representing ourselves present-day, still troubled by missing odd household doodads, brings alive real time and place Britain 1911, inhabited by inventive tiny Borrowers, makes me wish to see them in the corner, want more. Watched over and over live film DVD https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzRvq..., reviewed 5* http://annetoronto1.blogspot.ca/2013/.... Would like to see BBC https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpcXL.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Foex... looks to same-same Disney pretty Princess.
September 21, 2017
El menor del libro de los Borrowers. Por un lado, se toma mucho en construir la intriga, la cual resuelve en 20 páginas, lo cual es insultante considerando que es el libro más grueso de la saga. Por otro, deja el triángulo Spiller, Arriety y Peagreen en el aire (aunque en el libro 4, y es canon, se establece que al final escogerá a Spiller). Será un libro para niños, pero a la m**, todos vimos lo que pasaba ahí. Sin embargo, lo más importante es que el personaje de Arriety no se acaba de desarrollar. En el primer libro y subsiguientes es su curiosidad e imprudencia lo que mete a su familia en problemas, pero, al mismo tiempo, es aquello que les permite tener varias aventuras (Homily diría que ella bien podría vivir sin tenerlas). En este libro, pareciera que si bien Arriety obtiene más libertad, esta parece limitarla a jugar con su pequeño primo y salir en excursiones que no representan mucho peligro en realidad. La Arriety que conocimos en el libro 1° se habría aburrido rápidamente.
El final del libro 4to se siente muy apresurado, Mary Norton esboza un resumen con final feliz, por lo que este libro, en mi opinión, tendría que haber desarrollardo ese esbozo. Dado que no lo hace, el libro se siente entretenido, sí, pero no excesivamente interesante. En una nota aparte, no brilla ni la inteligencia de Pod ni la mezquindad de Homily, quienes si bien aparecen una buena parte del libro, apenas participan de la acción y son relegados a segundo plano.
Con todo, es una saga bonita para niños que recomendaría cualquier día.
El final del libro 4to se siente muy apresurado, Mary Norton esboza un resumen con final feliz, por lo que este libro, en mi opinión, tendría que haber desarrollardo ese esbozo. Dado que no lo hace, el libro se siente entretenido, sí, pero no excesivamente interesante. En una nota aparte, no brilla ni la inteligencia de Pod ni la mezquindad de Homily, quienes si bien aparecen una buena parte del libro, apenas participan de la acción y son relegados a segundo plano.
Con todo, es una saga bonita para niños que recomendaría cualquier día.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 23, 2021
That's a bit of an odd ending.
On one hand, it's another Borrowers story. They find another place to live and do tiny Borrower things to make themselves feel at home. It's amusing how very much it changes for them, when really the entire series probably takes place over a few square miles at most.
On another hand, it's interesting to see some fallout from the kidnapping in The Borrowers Aloft. They're still around and obsessed with finding some miniature people to exploit. There's a definite sense of tension when being 'seen' might be entirely more intentional.
On another hand (just go with it), the ending is... abrupt. Especially given that it's the end of the series, it's a bummer how it just sort of stops. One moment, you're in the climax of the story and then two paragraphs later, it's over. Okay then?
On one more last hand... it's kind of weird that Spiller is just kind of dropped. He's still in the story, but given that it definitely seemed that he and Arrietty were being set up, it's something of a change in tone. There's a new interest in Peagreen--who might be just as good if not a better match, but it doesn't feel like the same characters.
Overall, it's a great series stretched perhaps a bit too far. The children loved it and I enjoyed reading it to them, which is more than enough for me!
On one hand, it's another Borrowers story. They find another place to live and do tiny Borrower things to make themselves feel at home. It's amusing how very much it changes for them, when really the entire series probably takes place over a few square miles at most.
On another hand, it's interesting to see some fallout from the kidnapping in The Borrowers Aloft. They're still around and obsessed with finding some miniature people to exploit. There's a definite sense of tension when being 'seen' might be entirely more intentional.
On another hand (just go with it), the ending is... abrupt. Especially given that it's the end of the series, it's a bummer how it just sort of stops. One moment, you're in the climax of the story and then two paragraphs later, it's over. Okay then?
On one more last hand... it's kind of weird that Spiller is just kind of dropped. He's still in the story, but given that it definitely seemed that he and Arrietty were being set up, it's something of a change in tone. There's a new interest in Peagreen--who might be just as good if not a better match, but it doesn't feel like the same characters.
Overall, it's a great series stretched perhaps a bit too far. The children loved it and I enjoyed reading it to them, which is more than enough for me!
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