Scan barcode
josie_addison's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
madcat29's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
barbarajean's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
jeaninesmith1962's review against another edition
2.0
This was a well-written story but I don't think many kids I know would choose to read it.
impybelle's review against another edition
4.0
I read this back when I was a kid and it probably set the stage for me sending my brother across the highway to pick out a hamster. Repeatedly.
And yes, one was named Houdini in honour of this book.
I was curious to see how well this held up and so I read it to the Widget a few years ago. He preferred Humphrey, his first foray into talking hamsters, but enjoyed it all the same.
Adult me found Houdini way more smug than kid me did, but it still holds up very, very well.
And yes, one was named Houdini in honour of this book.
I was curious to see how well this held up and so I read it to the Widget a few years ago. He preferred Humphrey, his first foray into talking hamsters, but enjoyed it all the same.
Adult me found Houdini way more smug than kid me did, but it still holds up very, very well.
llkendrick's review against another edition
4.0
Read this aloud to my daughter and we both enjoyed it!
caroleheidi's review against another edition
5.0
I love this book. It appealed to me for the simple reason that not only was it about a hamster but it was written from the perspective of a hamster.
And not just any old hamster, either. Houdini is clever and he knows it – how many other self-educated hamsters with autobiographies do you know? Exactly.
The tales of his escapades are hilarious and the immense sense of adventure you get from seeing the world from his eye-view is incredible. Have you ever thought about what the inside of a piano must look like to someone as small as a hamster? Or how mystical ‘outside’ must look/smell?
It makes you look at the world a bit differently the whole time you are reading and opened my eyes to the idea of looking at things from a totally different perspective.
I have read and reread this book so many times I have lost count and it has been lent out to numerous friends over the years. I can’t wait to rediscover it with Tori and Arthur when they get a bit older, either. They have never had a hamster but they did have gerbils and they had a habit of escaping too!
I enjoy this book as much as an adult as I did as a child and Terry Riley’s illustrations are just gorgeous. They may be black and white illustrations but they are intricate and perfect and I can see them all in my head without even having to find the book because I have looked at them so much. My favourite one is depicting the ‘pipe incident’ – you will have to read the book to find out what that is all about though, because I don’t want to give it away.
If you have an animal mad person in your family and they haven’t read this book then I suggest getting them a copy, because it is awesome.
And not just any old hamster, either. Houdini is clever and he knows it – how many other self-educated hamsters with autobiographies do you know? Exactly.
The tales of his escapades are hilarious and the immense sense of adventure you get from seeing the world from his eye-view is incredible. Have you ever thought about what the inside of a piano must look like to someone as small as a hamster? Or how mystical ‘outside’ must look/smell?
It makes you look at the world a bit differently the whole time you are reading and opened my eyes to the idea of looking at things from a totally different perspective.
I have read and reread this book so many times I have lost count and it has been lent out to numerous friends over the years. I can’t wait to rediscover it with Tori and Arthur when they get a bit older, either. They have never had a hamster but they did have gerbils and they had a habit of escaping too!
I enjoy this book as much as an adult as I did as a child and Terry Riley’s illustrations are just gorgeous. They may be black and white illustrations but they are intricate and perfect and I can see them all in my head without even having to find the book because I have looked at them so much. My favourite one is depicting the ‘pipe incident’ – you will have to read the book to find out what that is all about though, because I don’t want to give it away.
If you have an animal mad person in your family and they haven’t read this book then I suggest getting them a copy, because it is awesome.
nanaboo's review
1.0
I remember liking this as a kid. But I'm reading it now as an adult to my kids, and it's dragging on and on. Plus I had to paraphrase and skip over all the hamster lust parts when Houdini meets a girl hamster and is in her cage for a bit because my kids are 7 and 5. I think my son (5) sort of likes it. My daughter (7) just read I, Freddy (a newer hamster diary book) and can't wait for us to be done with this one so I'll read I, Freddy aloud to her brother claiming I, Houdini is long and boring.
josephine687's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
bookbrig's review against another edition
2.5
I read this book dog-eared and shredded when I was little, and I found a copy at a used book store recently. I think as a kid, I loved the premise of looking at the world from the perspective of a tiny animal. As an adult, I was SO ANNOYED by the pompous hamster voice! It reads like the most condescending lecture ever. Which, I think, is just the character of Houdini, but I guess as a grown up it's annoying instead of interesting. Oh well. It's a good book for kids who like animal based stories.