Customer Reviews

At the Back of the North Wind

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I've never read anyone who writes quite like MacDonald. When you read him it is not the quality of his writing, but rather his personality (kindly and eccentric, at the same time so quintessentially Scotch)and immensely powerful and original imagination that show on the page. He is more an excellent storyteller than a "proper" author, I think.

In the North Wind, as in much of MacDonald's work, there is a wealth of moral and religous themes and analougies under the surface. In my mid 20's now, I was surprised at the effect that reading MacDonald's childrens books has had on me. It is not that I would have disagreed on an intellectual level with anything in the books before reading them, but rather that McDonald has a talent for gently bringing people to examine what their opinions mean and how they treat other people as a result of them. I've found more than a few chinks in my own armour, in that respect.

As for North Wind in particular, it's quite a breathtaking, display of raw, imaginative brawn. The first third or so of the book is perhaps one of the most chilling and beautiful stories I've ever read. It becomes a little more conventional after that and meanders a little. There is a good bit of amiable nonsense and a fairy tale within it that, though it seems a little tacked on and has nothing to do with the greater story, is still very clever and charming. I think most adults will see the ending coming, but it left me a little shaken up anyway.

Like some of the other reviewers have mentioned, it's a very hard thing to create a character who is absoulutely good. There is a real danger of making the character into a weak, simpering, priggish, goody two shoes. It's a testament to MacDonald, even just that Diamond isn't appallingly annoying, but that he is actually a very likable and smypathetic character. He reminded me very much of a small version of Dostoyevsky's Prince Myshkin.

To close, I feel I can hardly recommend MacDonald in general or North Wind in particular highly enough. Be certain to get an unedited version, there is nothing in the original that you'll want to do without (I read the puffin classics edition with the cover art of Diamond on a glacier). Though the style is somewhat Victorian(not that there's anything in itself wrong with that) and though MacDonald's writing is a little idiosyncratic to begin with, I don't think it would present any serious problems to an older child or young adolescent reading on their own -at least, no more so than a book by Tolkien or Lewis would. It's true that McDonald was a Christian minister and this book is proabably best used, and was most likely originally intended, to be read aloud by parents to their children within a Christian family. That said, I do not think there is anything in it that any person with faith in God, whether they were Christian or otherwise, would find fault with. I think MacDonald is an author who repays an open and thoughtful reading in a way that will work for many people in many stages of their life.

This enchanting classic is as lively and moving to read as the day it was written. There is no Victorian stodginess or moralizing here. I remember reading an essay where Simone Weil lamented over the difficulty of portraying goodness in literature--in fiction evil seemed to dominate. Well here in the character of the lad Diamond is one of the most convincing evocations of human goodness and saintliness in literature, childrens' or adult. One is reminded of St. Francis of Assisi when contemplating Diamond; his purity, innocense, and unselfconsciousness float right off the page. I especilly call your attention to the dialogue between Diamond and his mother on the beach as she tries hopelessly to explain to him that now they are poor. His sublimely worldly (and yet otherworldly )responses are both hilarious and deeply moving. One of MacDonald's core beliefs, so often and passionately stated throughout his writings, is here given flesh and blood: goodness is truth.

This children's book has had a profound impact on my faith and spirituality. It is a book I have read and re-read over the years, especially when I am struggling with my faith. The story, Diamond's relationship with the North Wind, satisfies one on an almost mystical level. Its simple, beautiful story leaves one knowing that no matter what happens in the world, God is God; and we can rest assured that He is in control. We can be at peace, in spite of the pain and evil in the world.

Don't look for answers. Simply read the story and let it wash over you. If you have the faith of a child, you will not be unaffected.

I'm torn here. I personally get frustrated when the rating for a book is brought down by someone rating something other than the book itself, but I do feel obligated to warn anyone else away from downloading this book to their Kindle. If and when songs or poems are quoted in this book, they are either omitted entirely, or formatted without any punctuation or line breaks. I recommend that you find a copy of this book that has been more carefully edited.

So, I'm rating the book five stars, because George MacDonald is almost certainly worth it -- but I strongly recommend you download one of the other Kindle versions of this book.

I'm a new Kindle user, and my biggest and most consistent frustration has been the typos and poor formatting I find in many of the books -- free or purchased. When I run across such poor formatting and other errors, I will begin to make my experience known. I hope others will do the same.

I read this book from the library and once again, I am buying a copy. My 14 year old son is now reading it and can't seem to put it down. George MacDonald's imagination is incredible. You never know what is next.

The story is of a servant's child who is visited and taken on journeys by the Lady North Wind. It is set in the time period of Charles Dickens' stories and is refreshingly challenging.

Unlike many of today's books for children, it makes them think about life's myteries and challenges their intellect and values. I think most people find it 'boring' or 'difficult to get through' because it is so unreasonable.

Flying, whirling, spiraling through the night sky, the beautiful and powerful North Wind takes little Diamond and the reader on countless journeys throughout England in the late 1800's. As Diamond travels with North Wind he experiences what it means to truly live, and he matures in wisdom far beyond his young years.

Throughout the novel, numerous hardships befall Diamond's family, and he is forced to drive a horse-drawn cab in order to help his family survive. Although just a young boy at the time, he shows remarkable strength, and fortune seems to follow him in whatever he does. But is it fortune or North Wind? Even though mostly indirectly, North Wind plays an extremely manipulating part in Diamond's life, for the good and the temporary bad. One night, she takes him on a magical flight to a beautiful country behind her, and throughout all his trials and achievements, Diamond longs to revisit that peaceful country. Diamond's life is grievous, but his innocence forever pulls him closer to his heart's desire.

With wonderfully created characters, excellent scenery, and master storytelling skills, British author George MacDonald has written a marvelous piece of classical children's literature that has thrived through over one hundred years of written storytelling. Although fantastical in nature, he imparts on his readers, through the personalities and behaviors of Diamond and his family, a certain level of morality that is almost nonexistent today. This children's novel is written in classical British English, yet it is easy and fun to read with many songs, poems and stories within the larger story. MacDonald does an excellent job of depicting life and death in a positive manner, and the parallels to Christianity and God's relationship to his children are evident for all readers to see. Even though some of the formal British mannerisms outlined within these pages are antiquated, I highly recommend this story to any parent looking to provide their child with a good, wholesome work of literature. AT THE BACK OF THE NORTH WIND also serves as a great comparison to modern prose and society.

Reviewed by Natasha T.
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

This is a 299 paged fiction book.

This book most likely takes place in Europe where horses and carriages were people's transportation.

Diamond is a young boy.

His father is a coachman. His mother works in the home.

Diamond is named after his dad's favorite carriage horse.

Diamond is first visited by the North Wind in his bedroom in the loft.

When he was with North Wind, he could not say he was exactly happy because he didn't have his parents with him; but it was more than happiness, he was content, at peace and still when there.

Diamond is a small boy who has blond hair, light blue eyes, light brown skin, lips like a red rose, sings songs to his little brother and sister that some time make you cry.

Diamond was kind to his little brother and sister; he was brave, clever, neat, and generous. He was wise beyond his young years.

People liked him. He was kind to every one.

North Wind is gentle and kind to Diamond. Even though it doesn't say it at the beginning, North Wind is death. Diamond went to be with her.

I would recommend this book to 6th graders and up.

The book talks about death in a peaceful way.

Diamond is someone you can admire.

George Macdonald suceeds in creating a perfectly innocent character in this book: the young boy Diamond. A previous reviewer said that Diamond was too perfect and not believable. I assume that this reviewer would say that Adam was not believable before he fell as well. Why someone is looking for "believable" (by believable I believe that he meant a character we would expect to meet in real life) characters in a George Macdonald fantasy novel in the first place is beyond me. It is like criticizing China for not producing any Englishmen.

Secondly, a previous reviewer said that this book is important historically but that it was not fun to read. He says that "He's the point when 'just fun' and 'sound moral instructions' combine in children's literature." I would like very much for him to show me one of these childrens stories with no moral instruction. That is what all fairy tales were about until recently. Try to find any traditional fairy tale that is not meant to convey moral truths to us. I am afraid that the reviewer has got it exactly backwards. This novel is not historically important at all, but it is very fun to read. George Macdonald is a master at creating fantasy worlds which the reader find easy to become immersed into.

Overall grade: A

My Grandma read this book to me when I was 12. I didnt really get it then but I do now. I love this book it teaches us so many new and intersting lessons.

I very much enjoyed this book and especially the character of young Diamond. I couldn't help but want to actually have a conversation with him and to experience more of his unselfish, pure and innocent wisdom. At times I found it difficult to get through partly because it was written in a different time and possibly becuase I have a short attention span. Either way, it provided a pleasant journey into this child's world.