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What Members Thought
Once again, Kate does her own special brand of magic. Set in a quasi-European country, in a time before our own (1800s maybe?), it's a story about a boy, an elephant, a magician. About being trapped, displaced, and being free; of holding on and of letting go. Most of all, about love.
It's the kind of book--my favorite--that if you are a lonely, desperately unhappy child, will give you hope and a reason to grow up and outward into the world where the impossible, yes, the impossible, does--amazingl ...more
It's the kind of book--my favorite--that if you are a lonely, desperately unhappy child, will give you hope and a reason to grow up and outward into the world where the impossible, yes, the impossible, does--amazingl ...more
I don't know if I would call this book a fairy tale, fantasy, fable, or something else, but I would call this story captivating. Young orphan, Peter Augustus Duchene suddenly has reason to believe that the sister that he had been told died at birth is alive, and the answer to her whereabouts lies with the elephant. But this is the city of Baltese and there are no elephants in the city. None until a failing magician conjures one up during a magic show, an act that paralyzed a patron and put him i
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Allegories never appealed to me. The Magician's Elephant has no realistic characters- they all seem like symbols trying to overcome their personal and collective conflicts. The anti-war message is clear, but muted by the bizarre way that his feverish uncle asks him to practice battle games.
Even though the main characters are orphans, I don't think young readers will empathize with them, or endure the flowery philosophizing language. ...more
Even though the main characters are orphans, I don't think young readers will empathize with them, or endure the flowery philosophizing language. ...more
I love Kate DiCamillo, but I'm always nervous when an author I love releases a new book. I hate worrying that it won't live up to expectations.
Well, The Magician's Elephant isn't as good as The Tale of Despereaux (then again, nothing really is). It didn't bring me to tears like The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. But it's a sweet, lovely read anyway with an ending that warms your heart. I'd recommend reading this one during winter - it'll make you feel cozy. ...more
Well, The Magician's Elephant isn't as good as The Tale of Despereaux (then again, nothing really is). It didn't bring me to tears like The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. But it's a sweet, lovely read anyway with an ending that warms your heart. I'd recommend reading this one during winter - it'll make you feel cozy. ...more
I keep trying to get into Kate DiCamillo's fantastical realms, but I can't. I loved Because of Winn Dixie, but I haven't liked a single other of hers. And this really bums me out!
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Very original story, but I was having trouble staying engaged in the book. Other books started making their way to the top of the stack. Not a good sign. I think the narration was a little too subtle for me, or perhaps it was as foggy in real life as it was in this book. Either way, I drifted through it, pleased but not amazed.
Kate Dicamillo is a precious author. Her books all have an instant "classic" feel to them. The Magician's Elephant was charming and the characters were diverse and well developed. This would make a lovely read aloud for the middle grades (3-5)
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Really deep. Good story.
Dec 06, 2009
BunnyDumpling
marked it as to-read
Jun 15, 2010
Caitlin
marked it as to-read
Jul 09, 2010
Shanshad Whelan
marked it as to-read
Apr 28, 2018
Kimberly
marked it as to-read
