The Last of The Really Great Whangdoodles

Title: The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles

Author: Julie Andrews

Publisher: HarperCollins

Year of Publication: 1974

Readers Rating: 3.5

Excerpt: Until Professor Savant told them about the Whangdoodles--the wise and magical creatures who disappeared to live apart from and forgotten by people--the Potter children led ordinary lives.

In a Nutshell:  The Whangdoodle was once the wisest, the kindest, and the most extraordinary creature in the world. Then he disappeared and created a wonderful land for himself and all the other remarkable animals... It was an almost perfect place where the last of the really great Whangdoodles could rule his kingdom with "peace, love and a sense of fun"-- apart from and forgotten by people. But not completely forgotten. Professor Savant believed in the Whangdoodle. And when he told the three Potter children of his search for the spectacular creature, Lindy, Tom, and Ben were eager to reach Whangdoodleland.

(SUMMARY NOT BY ME.)*

The Fantastical Stuff: The magical land of Whangdoodle was truly a magical place. This book is so full of imagination and creativity that I simply couldn't NOT love it! I enjoyed immensely reading of the strange creatures and glorious places spoken of and could picture them quite clearly. The children are quite endearing and I was immediately struck by the adorableness of Lindy, the youngest and only girl.

The Not-so-fantastical Stuff: This book is definitely for a younger age group so as I read it, I caught onto that fact. Over time, it grew a little tiresome but I know that if I was a child, I would absolutely adore this book. The creativity is striking.

Wrap Up: The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles is truly a magnificent masterpiece. Although I would recommend this for a younger age group (around 3rd grade), that does not mean that the imagination is stopped at a certain age. I believe older people should experience some magic once in a while; to reminisce and to grow up slower than we do today. Experiencing this book, I have found that Julie Andrews was not only a fabulous actress but also a magnificent author. This book is a delightful story.

*SUMMARY FROM HERE: 

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10336.The_Last_of_the_Really_Great_Whangdoodles

The Tempest

Title: The Tempest

Author: William Shakespeare

Publisher: Bantam Books

Year of Publication: 1988

Readers Rating: 2.5

In a Nutshell: This joyous play, the last comedy of Shakespeare's career, sums up his stagecraft with a display of seemingly effortless skill. Prospero, exiled Duke of Milan, living on an enchanted island, has the opportunity to punish and forgive his enemies when he raises a tempest that drives them ashore as well as to forestall a rebellion, to arrange the meeting of his daughter, Miranda, with an eminently suitable young prince, and, more important, to relinquish his magic powers in recognition of his advancing age. Richly filled with music and magic, romance and comedy, the play's theme of love and reconciliation offers a splendid feast for the senses and the heart.

(SUMMARY NOT BY ME.)*

The Fantastical Stuff: I would like to start off the review saying, yet again, Shakespeare stuns me with his beautiful work. Although it is hard to understand at times (even with my version that has notes telling you what certain things mean... ha!), it is a very fun and enjoyable story. {A little hint for reading Shakespeare: get a book that has either been modernized or has notes beside the more confusing sentences. Also, I read a review in The Bathroom Book about The Tempest and that helped immensely on the road to appreciating the story.} Anyway, the beauty and the whole flow of the story is magnificent; so poetic. I enjoy the love between Prospero and his daughter. It is so very sweet. To top that off, the humor is much more enjoyable and able to follow in this Shakespearean play than in Midsummer Night's Dream.

The Not-so-fantastical Stuff: There is quite a bit of alcoholic drinking and at one point, a couple men are so drunk, they can't figure the difference between what's real and what's fake. Also, some sexual comments (although, extremely vague) are thrown about, bad leadership is chosen which leads to bad decisions, and a rather large amount of references and conversations about killing are talked over. A few other things pop out such as one beast, who is a servant to Prospero, hates him and wants him dead because Prospero killed the monster's former owner. (The beast's old master was a witch or evil person of some sorts.) Another thing is the story seems long and boring at various points, but I'm sure that if I would have lived back in Shakespeare's time, I would have understood The Tempest and absolutely loved it! :) 

Wrap Up: Interestingly, I have grown quite fond of Shakespeare's writing. I always thought that I would not enjoy any of his stories, but they continue to amaze me. Although The Tempest is quite slow at times (and there are a few questionable things in it), I would definitely recommend it to any reader who's curiosity leads them to the Shakespearean shelf at the library but drags them away from his tragedies. It is, by far, my favorite Shakespearean comedy (that I've read) and I will be delighted to continue reading his beautiful tales when the time comes yet again.  

   

*SUMMARY FROM HERE: http://cbpl.sirsi.net/uhtbin/cgisirsi/?ps=eBbMCuGExB/WESTCOBB/274360017/9

Phantom Tollbooth

Title: Phantom Tollbooth

Author: Norton Juster

Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf

Year of Publication: 1961

Reader's Rating: 3

     Excerpt: There was once a boy named Milo who didn’t know what to do with himself — not just sometimes, but always.When he was in school he longed to be out, and when he was out he longed to be in. On the way he thought about coming home, and coming home he thought about going. Wherever he was he wished he were somewhere else, and when he got there he wondered why he’d bothered. Nothing really interested him — least of all the things that should have.

     In a Nutshell: Milo, a very bored little boy, receives an unusual package one day: a make- believe tollbooth. When he drives through it in his electric toy car, he is suddenly transported to the Lands Beyond, a fantastic world of imagination. On his way to Dictionopolis, one of the country's two capitals, he meets Tock, the watchdog who joins him on his journey. In Dictionopolis, Milo meets King Azaz who presides over the world of letters and words. Azaz sends Milo on a mission to rescue two princesses, Rhyme and Reason, who are imprisoned in the Castle in the Air, which floats hundreds of feet off the ground.

(SUMMARY NOT BY ME.)*

   The Fantastical Stuff: Phanton Tollbooth is filled with an enormous amount of creativity and some good humor. I enjoyed reading about all the people and animals Milo, Tock and their friends met up with on the way to Digitopolis and the pictures were marvelous. (I love books without pictures but, I'm not gonna lie, I'm a sucker for ones with them. haha!) Anyway, this book was imaginitive and fun and I took great pleasure in reading it. 

The Not-so-fantastical Stuff: Although Phantom Tollbooth was highly creative, I felt it was somehow a knock-off to Alice in Wonderland. Now, Alice in Wonderland is an amazing book but authors should be able to come up with more of their own ideas. Actually, though, this book was pretty different from Carrol's writing, but I could tell there was something similar and I didn't exactly like it. Also, with a lot of crazy things happening in Phantom, they start to become repetitive and drone on and on. After a while, I kind of got bored of the same book and was some what relieved when I flipped to the last page. 

Wrap Up: Norton Juster had the mind of a child and it shows through the pages of his stories. Phantom Tollbooth is an interesting and enjoyable tale filled with a magical essence that you are sure to love. Even though it is not on the top of my list of favorites, I recommend it to you entirely. As you're snuggling up to your little ducklings in bed or hugging your child to keep warm, read this book to fill your hearts with imagination, love, and happy thoughts galore.

*SUMMARY FROM HERE: http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/tollbooth/summary.html