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zoe243'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
labunnywtf's review
5.0
*Updated Review in 2009*
I still remember exactly where this book was located in my catholic school library, and it's been well over 15 years since I read this book.
I'm very surprised I didn't read any other Dr Dolittle books, because I just adored this one. I only read it once, and it left a huge impression.
8/3: Wow. Either my taste in books has changed drastically since I was a little girl, or I had really crappy taste back then.
This book is boring as sin. I didn't even finish it. I know this was the book I read then only because of the part where Pippinella is taken to the mine to be the gas-sniffing bird. Other than that, I would wonder if I hallucinated the whole thing.
Hunh.
I'm going to leave my rating the same, though. Because the little girl I was in Catholic school loved it, and I'm not arguing with her. She was a lot nicer and more innocent than I am.
I still remember exactly where this book was located in my catholic school library, and it's been well over 15 years since I read this book.
I'm very surprised I didn't read any other Dr Dolittle books, because I just adored this one. I only read it once, and it left a huge impression.
8/3: Wow. Either my taste in books has changed drastically since I was a little girl, or I had really crappy taste back then.
This book is boring as sin. I didn't even finish it. I know this was the book I read then only because of the part where Pippinella is taken to the mine to be the gas-sniffing bird. Other than that, I would wonder if I hallucinated the whole thing.
Hunh.
I'm going to leave my rating the same, though. Because the little girl I was in Catholic school loved it, and I'm not arguing with her. She was a lot nicer and more innocent than I am.
kailey_luminouslibro's review against another edition
4.0
Doctor Dolittle hears the full story of a green canary's life, from the time she was born in a cage to her tragic separation from her owner, the window washer. After their success in the Canary Opera, Pippinella and Doctor Dolittle set out to find the missing window washer, and restore Pippinella to her favorite owner.
I enjoyed this book so much! The characters are hilarious, and I loved Pippinella's varied life experiences and all the weird circumstances that made her change owners so frequently. She lives with a coal miner, a marchioness, a troop of soldiers, an innkeeper, and a tramp. She also lives in the wild for a short time before being captured, stolen from her rightful owner, and sold in a pet shop to John Dolittle.
This book is an expansion and continuation of the story told in [b:Doctor Dolittle's Caravan|210852|Doctor Dolittle's Caravan (Doctor Dolittle, #6)|Hugh Lofting|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1270959652l/210852._SX50_.jpg|204077], with many of the same story lines and plot points retold with more detail. Whereas "Doctor Dolittle's Caravan" ends when the Canary Opera is over, this book continues with a further adventure to find the missing window washer.
"Caravan" gives a short synopsis of Pippinella's life and focuses mostly on the Canary Opera. This book gives all the details of Pippinella's life and a short synopsis of the doings at the Canary Opera.
I would definitely recommend reading "Caravan" first, and then reading this one. The details are so interesting and the plot points are so amusing, that it doesn't suffer at all from being retold and expanded on.
I enjoyed this book so much! The characters are hilarious, and I loved Pippinella's varied life experiences and all the weird circumstances that made her change owners so frequently. She lives with a coal miner, a marchioness, a troop of soldiers, an innkeeper, and a tramp. She also lives in the wild for a short time before being captured, stolen from her rightful owner, and sold in a pet shop to John Dolittle.
This book is an expansion and continuation of the story told in [b:Doctor Dolittle's Caravan|210852|Doctor Dolittle's Caravan (Doctor Dolittle, #6)|Hugh Lofting|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1270959652l/210852._SX50_.jpg|204077], with many of the same story lines and plot points retold with more detail. Whereas "Doctor Dolittle's Caravan" ends when the Canary Opera is over, this book continues with a further adventure to find the missing window washer.
"Caravan" gives a short synopsis of Pippinella's life and focuses mostly on the Canary Opera. This book gives all the details of Pippinella's life and a short synopsis of the doings at the Canary Opera.
I would definitely recommend reading "Caravan" first, and then reading this one. The details are so interesting and the plot points are so amusing, that it doesn't suffer at all from being retold and expanded on.
katekat's review against another edition
4.0
The Hugh Lofting Doctor Dolittle stories are classics that stand the test of time. I really enjoy them and find them clever and enjoyable. I think the writing can be seen as a bit dated but I think it's still extremely readable.
katekat's review
4.0
The Hugh Lofting Doctor Dolittle stories are classics that stand the test of time. I really enjoy them and find them clever and enjoyable. I think the writing can be seen as a bit dated but I think it's still extremely readable.
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