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kooljinks's review
dark
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
antlersantlers's review
4.0
I'm really enjoying these Treehorn books, but they're all kind of sad. Not like crying sad, but just kind of wistful.
calistareads's review
2.0
I found this ILL because Edward Gorey does the artwork for it. It is rather a sad and depressing book. Treehorn is having a birthday, but his parents pretty much do not care a bit. They don’t have a cake for him or any presents save one, an old sweater. Treehorn is hoping for presents. His parents seem rather neglectful to me. They don’t even wish him Happy Birthday.
Treehorn found a bottle with a genie in it and he uses all 3 wishes on his birthday cake. It’s the only way he gets one. He wishes for a cake, for candles and his name on it. Poof, the genie is gone. What is so sad is how alone Treehorn seems. Even his friend doesn’t really seem to listen to him all that much. The book ends with Treehorn alone eating his cake, the genie is gone. I can’t find the humor in this. I think this is a tale about loneliness. It makes me sad.
The artwork is fantastic and I love the robe that the genie wears. It’s a story for older readers. I would call this a middle grade book. I am a bit disappointed in it.
Treehorn found a bottle with a genie in it and he uses all 3 wishes on his birthday cake. It’s the only way he gets one. He wishes for a cake, for candles and his name on it. Poof, the genie is gone. What is so sad is how alone Treehorn seems. Even his friend doesn’t really seem to listen to him all that much. The book ends with Treehorn alone eating his cake, the genie is gone. I can’t find the humor in this. I think this is a tale about loneliness. It makes me sad.
The artwork is fantastic and I love the robe that the genie wears. It’s a story for older readers. I would call this a middle grade book. I am a bit disappointed in it.
pussreboots's review
4.0
There are three Treehorn books, though I wouldn't go as far as to call the set a trilogy. None of the three seem tied to each other expect that they are all about Treehorn and his disinterested parents.
The series ends with Treehorn's birthday. Ever hopeful, Treehorn cleans out his closet in hopes of an extraordinarily large gift. Meanwhile the mother is having work done on the kitchen and is too preoccupied with her own project to remember her son's birthday.
Somewhere in the confusion Treehorn finds a jar containing a genie. Treehorn gets three wishes. Treehorn could wish for unlimited comic books or a huge gift but he opts for something more basic.
I think Treehorn's Wish is the first genie story I've read that doesn't have wishes getting out of control. It's a simple, sweet and sadly charming book.
The series ends with Treehorn's birthday. Ever hopeful, Treehorn cleans out his closet in hopes of an extraordinarily large gift. Meanwhile the mother is having work done on the kitchen and is too preoccupied with her own project to remember her son's birthday.
Somewhere in the confusion Treehorn finds a jar containing a genie. Treehorn gets three wishes. Treehorn could wish for unlimited comic books or a huge gift but he opts for something more basic.
I think Treehorn's Wish is the first genie story I've read that doesn't have wishes getting out of control. It's a simple, sweet and sadly charming book.
mat_tobin's review
4.0
The final book in the Treehorn trilogy and one I thought I had read but had not. Florence Parry Heide words coupled with Edward Gorey's illustrations lend to a perfect match far perfect, perhaps, than poor Treehorn has been lumbered with in the guise of his parents. In Treehorn's world everyone is talking but no one is listening or perhaps everyone is talking and listening but no one really cares - not even, humorously, the genie that Treehorn finds himself beholden with.
The pen and ink style is wholly typical of Gorey works so well in depicting this odd, slightly doleful little tale (I love the dog) and although Treehorn gets off lightly compared to some of the other children who are left to the illustrator's whim, it is fair to say that his life is not filled with wonder. Actually, in this case it is, yet even when he has the opportunity to change it forever, his sheer waniness (yes, I made a word up) means that he is incapable of doing so.
I snorted at some moments and have a huge soft spot for both the dog and Moshie.
The pen and ink style is wholly typical of Gorey works so well in depicting this odd, slightly doleful little tale (I love the dog) and although Treehorn gets off lightly compared to some of the other children who are left to the illustrator's whim, it is fair to say that his life is not filled with wonder. Actually, in this case it is, yet even when he has the opportunity to change it forever, his sheer waniness (yes, I made a word up) means that he is incapable of doing so.
I snorted at some moments and have a huge soft spot for both the dog and Moshie.
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