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amycrea's review against another edition
4.0
Such a sweet little book. And I can see why I loved it so much as a child.
justanothernerdling's review against another edition
4.0
Super cute fairytale-like story!
Book 2 of Booktubeathon 2017 - read a book completely outside
Book 2 of Booktubeathon 2017 - read a book completely outside
tildine's review against another edition
slow-paced
2.0
Bellissima idea ma una palla immensa da leggere
maplessence's review against another edition
5.0
This book helped me through one of the hardest times in my childhood.
Long story, but when we emigrated from Canada to New Zealand, we shifted around a little bit before moving to the Eastern Suburbs of Auckland. At school, once the novelty of having a foreigner in their midst wore off, I just didn't fit in. My determination to hold on to my Canadian accent didn't help. My sisters, both younger than me, shed their accents easily, but I stayed awkward and out of place.
So this story really resonated with me. Like eight year old Nona, no one asked me if I wanted to go. (although I didn't understand the huge distance we were going - my memory is that unlike Nona I was quite happy about it) Nona is quite desperately homesick for India as well as bewildered by strange English food and customs and while her aunt, uncle and two older cousins are reasonably sympathetic, seven year old Belinda is a brusque bully. But Nona's world changes when the girls are sent two secondhand Japanese dolls from the States (the third doll is missing from the parcel) The other girls aren't interested, so Mother says Nona can have both dolls and so Nona's learning journey begins. Miss Happiness (glass half full personality) & Miss Flower (glass half empty and the glass will never, ever be full again!) can communicate with each other and they watch with increasing hope, as Nona makes friends and learns about Japan and it's customs, so she can give her dolls a home they can love. But unfortunately one person isn't happy...
I was 10 years old again and cried right through this. I strongly recommend that you hold out for one of the older editions illustrated by Jean Primrose;
To the joyless PC brigade who say cultural misappropriation - very sorry but there are children like me who don't fit into a neat & tidy box. Please allow me a happy childhood memory from a more innocent time. :)
https://wordpress.com/view/carolshessonovel.wordpress.com
Long story, but when we emigrated from Canada to New Zealand, we shifted around a little bit before moving to the Eastern Suburbs of Auckland. At school, once the novelty of having a foreigner in their midst wore off, I just didn't fit in. My determination to hold on to my Canadian accent didn't help. My sisters, both younger than me, shed their accents easily, but I stayed awkward and out of place.
So this story really resonated with me. Like eight year old Nona, no one asked me if I wanted to go. (although I didn't understand the huge distance we were going - my memory is that unlike Nona I was quite happy about it) Nona is quite desperately homesick for India as well as bewildered by strange English food and customs and while her aunt, uncle and two older cousins are reasonably sympathetic, seven year old Belinda is a brusque bully. But Nona's world changes when the girls are sent two secondhand Japanese dolls from the States (the third doll is missing from the parcel) The other girls aren't interested, so Mother says Nona can have both dolls and so Nona's learning journey begins. Miss Happiness (glass half full personality) & Miss Flower (glass half empty and the glass will never, ever be full again!) can communicate with each other and they watch with increasing hope, as Nona makes friends and learns about Japan and it's customs, so she can give her dolls a home they can love. But unfortunately one person isn't happy...
I was 10 years old again and cried right through this. I strongly recommend that you hold out for one of the older editions illustrated by Jean Primrose;
- the delicate charm of Primrose's drawings add so much to this story and I gather that newer editions don't have instructions on how to make the doll's house (whyyyy???) I hope the new books at least show all the work and background detail that went into this book and how many people helped to bring it together.
To the joyless PC brigade who say cultural misappropriation - very sorry but there are children like me who don't fit into a neat & tidy box. Please allow me a happy childhood memory from a more innocent time. :)
https://wordpress.com/view/carolshessonovel.wordpress.com
bellh's review against another edition
3.0
This was a sweet children’s book with a sweet message. It took me about 45 minutes to read.
mm_seachelle's review against another edition
5.0
This book was my first comfort read. I have constantly re-read this since I was little. I highly recommend it for 6-9 year olds.
sngick's review against another edition
4.0
This is a re-read for me of one of my favorite childhood books.
clarablogging13's review against another edition
5.0
Molto carino e dolce, è un viaggio alla riscoperta delle cose semplici e uniche. Una lettura veloce e calma che può mitigare il vostro umore
dandelionfluff's review against another edition
5.0
This book was so lighthearted and beautiful! Belinda annoys the ever-living daylights out of me, but the story was so full of hope and goodness that by the end she can't help but catch it. I don't really think, though, that all of her emotional issues stemmed from jealousy of Nona and the dolls; most of it just seems like Belinda is a real piece of work, made even more volatile by Nona's arrival.
What I appreciated was that Miss Happiness and Miss Flower didn't become objectified Japanese signifiers; Nona says several times that the Japanese must be very brave people, and treats their way of life like an artform and not a quaint cutesy fantasy. Everyone who helps does so with research and respect. In the end, the dollhouse brings them together, and even teaches Belinda how not to be a little rotter.
What I appreciated was that Miss Happiness and Miss Flower didn't become objectified Japanese signifiers; Nona says several times that the Japanese must be very brave people, and treats their way of life like an artform and not a quaint cutesy fantasy. Everyone who helps does so with research and respect. In the end, the dollhouse brings them together, and even teaches Belinda how not to be a little rotter.
clara13dreamageblogger's review against another edition
5.0
Molto carino e dolce, è un viaggio alla riscoperta delle cose semplici e uniche. Una lettura veloce e calma che può mitigare il vostro umore