Reviews

An Episode of Sparrows by Rumer Godden

soniapage's review against another edition

4.0

Sweet story about children trying to grow a garden in bombed-out London.

emmagee's review against another edition

Couldn’t get into it. 

samiwise's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

missopenthrottle's review against another edition

4.0

I’m not sure if it’s the story setting or the way the author writes, but the story was very reminiscent of Dickens. I really enjoyed reading this classic as an adult, and it really reminded me how deeps children’s books can be. A wonderfully honest story, and one I would definitely recommend.

maplessence's review against another edition

4.0

4.5★

You are making a mountain out of a molehill," said Angela.

Olivia was suddenly inspired to answer, "A molehill can be a mountain to a sparrow."

I just love Rumer Godden!

One of the reasons is, like with [a:Elizabeth Goudge|50786|Elizabeth Goudge|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1413290451p2/50786.jpg], Godden's children (the sparrows of the title) are so well depicted. But all the characters (like the adults in my quote above) are very vivid) & easy to keep track of)

The unwanted waif (& kleptomaniac) Lovejoy has learned that if she wants something she has to get it herself - which is why she stole a packet of flower seeds. This leads to a passion for gardening, new friendships & a raft of unexpected consequences.

I did have to knock half a ★ off, because the relationship between Tip & Lovejoy

Spoiler

was very close to a romance - & Lovejoy was only 11. It was a relationship of minds & Tip was only two years older but it made me a little uncomfortable.

https://wordpress.com/view/carolshessonovel.wordpress.com

deborama's review against another edition

3.0

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/12529317

alcazalsir's review against another edition

5.0

This book was so great. It reminded me of books by E. Nesbit. An Episode of Sparrows is a children’s book but it is far from simple or childish. An adult could easily enjoy it. Set in a poor neighborhood of post war London the story follows Lovejoy, a young girl, I forget how old, maybe 11 or 12, and her discovery of a packet of flower seeds and her attempt to plant a garden in an unsympathetic place. There are many characters in this story and Rumer Godden jumps around between them in a style I was unaccustomed to, but which I came to greatly enjoy once I was about a third of the way through. The ending may seem contrived to some, but because of everything that comes before that I highly recommend this book.

sar_19's review against another edition

4.0

Think of this as a Secret Garden in a post WW11 bombed out London. Lovejoy Mason is an abandoned girl living in a room rented by her flighty mother. Her mother leaves her there under the care of the landlords Vincent and Ettie. Lovejoy is a feral child until she finds a packet of seeds and plans her garden in a bombed out shelter. It is when Tip joins her effort and shows her a spot in the bombed out churchyard that both their wonder begins. Working to find the money to buy flowers and seeds. This is a sweet old fashioned novel about redemption, grace and hope. Was the ending contrived? Yes, but it was really a perfect end to this tale.

ukuwuku's review against another edition

hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

5.0

mtillstaff's review against another edition

5.0

Wonderful!