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A review by misajane79
The Diamond in the Window by Jane Langton
2.0
Didn't enjoy this near as much as I expected to. The fantasy bits just didn't do it for me. I kept thinking of Zilpha Keatley Snyder or Edward Eager and how they're able to weave fantasy and reality and make it all seem possible. For this one, I just couldn't suspend my disbelief and I couldn't get over how creepy the whole dream thing was.
But I loved the setting and the kids, so I was trying to hold out on judging the book too much until the conclusion.
And honestly, the conclusion just left a bad taste in my mouth. Part of it was I just felt uncomfortable with some of the racial undertones in the story of Prince Krishna. Because he's Indian, he's exotic and has a relative with some otherworldly power? And when they're freed (the aging thing seemed off to me too), he and Lily are just going to set off for India, set up free elections and head on home? Ummm, seriously?
I felt like I should have liked it more--it's Concord! There's a fabulous old house in trouble! Intrepid kids! But no, it just felt dated instead of timeless. And left a bit of a bad taste in my mouth.
But I loved the setting and the kids, so I was trying to hold out on judging the book too much until the conclusion.
And honestly, the conclusion just left a bad taste in my mouth. Part of it was I just felt uncomfortable with some of the racial undertones in the story of Prince Krishna. Because he's Indian, he's exotic and has a relative with some otherworldly power? And when they're freed (the aging thing seemed off to me too), he and Lily are just going to set off for India, set up free elections and head on home? Ummm, seriously?
I felt like I should have liked it more--it's Concord! There's a fabulous old house in trouble! Intrepid kids! But no, it just felt dated instead of timeless. And left a bit of a bad taste in my mouth.