Customer Reviews

The Gawgon and the Boy

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Lloyd Alexander's latest is a departure from his usual tales of ancient heroism or far-off lands, though it is no less enjoyable than the Prydain Chronicles or the Vesper Holly adventures.

Eleven-year-old David (also known as "Skeezix," "Skinamalink," Snicklefritz..." by his various weird relations) is recuperating from near-fatal pneumonia, in 1920s Philadelphia. He has an array of bizarro relatives who flit by him, but who cannot erase the apparent boredom of bedrest. He's willing to try mild exercise and stimulation, but...

... he has to have a tutor. Apparently reading, watching "talkies" and making cartoons is not sufficient for a young boy. Old Aunt Annie agrees to be David's tutor--the Gorgon (whom accented Aunt Rosie calls Gawgon... get it? Gawgon and the Boy?)

But Aunt Anne is not just another formidable old lady -- she is witty and intelligent (wow, sounds like Alexander's other female heroes!) and intrudes on his written escapades. The Gawgon and the Boy also has hints of autobiography, given the time period and the unexotic locale, not to mention the excellent sense of atmosphere that permeates the story.

Both David and the "Gawgon" are enjoyable, quirky characters who clearly have the full imagination of Mr. Alexander behind them. Aspiring writers will be fascinated by the early writings of David, and his thoughts on them. Though they may initially dislike Aunt Annie, she soon shows her more endearing sides. In addition to these two, there is also a supporting cast of slightly weird relatives,

The descriptions of Philadelphia in the 20s sparkle with life and vividity. Such details as the "new" films with actual sound give it an added feeling of "you are there." The words used to describe the characters and situations are excellent as always!

Lloyd Alexander's talent has not dulled, and this unique offering will satisfy any reader.

Lloyd Alexander is rightfully considered one of the finest children's writers in the world today, and his latest novel, The Gawgon and The Boy, is yet another strong addition to the canon. What sets Alexander apart from most other writers is his marvelous imagination, and in this book he pays tribute to the person who inspired that imagination, his Aunt Annie, herein referred to (affectionately) as "The Gawgon."

The novel centers on Alexander's (called David in the book) childhood days in Philadelphia in the 1930s, and features his own family in all their delightful eccentricity. While lovingly and sweetly portrayed, there is nothing saccharine in his portrayal of family life. Fans of Bradbury's Dandelion Wine, Durrell's My Family & Other Animals, and JD Fitzgerald's Great Brain series will all find something to smile about here.

As a bonus, readers are treated to samples of young David's own stories and get a ringside seat to the workings of his imagination. David is tutored by his Aunt Annie, who gave David books as gifts, and fostered his youthful aesthetic. This book is a paean to her memory.

The Gawgon and The Boy harkens back to Alexander's earliest books, such as My Love Affair with Music and Janine is French, now long out of print. He deals with some of the same themes he tackled in The Arkadians (where do stories come from?), and structurally it is reminiscent of his first full-fledged children's novel, Time Cat. The cat Gareth in Time Cat introduced the boy Jason to 9 different lives and times, which in a sense is what The Gawgon, David's muse, does here.

This is a great book, but Alexander has already set the bar so high with some of his earlier books -- The Black Cauldron, Taran Wanderer, Marvelous Misadventures of Sebastian, First Two Lives of Lukas-Kasha, The Westmark Trilogy, The Iron Ring, and the aforementioned books -- that this book is just a notch below. The episodic nature of the plot is a little choppy in parts. However, it is far superior to some of his other books. Hopefully, the Newbery Award committee will realize they've got another winner on their hands with this one. This book, which explains how the mind of one of the world's most imaginative authors works, is a rare and delightful treat.

The Gawgon and The Boy was a good book with strong characters. The book was a 1 day read for me. Lots of kids will enjoy all of the silly nicknames the main character has given, and they will be sure to recomend it to all there friends!

Here, we journey with Lloyd Alexander through *his* childhood. In addition to wonderment, lots of laughs, a bit of sadness, we share his developing imagination. And that is a priceless gift for his readers and fans.

Most highly recommended.

It takes a lot of courage for an author as well-established and well-loved in a genre as Lloyd Alexander is, to depart from that genre and present a book so unlike anything they've done before. It takes even more courage when it's a book about your own childhood. Lloyd Alexander did this, and the result is one of his best books.
I've never liked books in which the protagonist can magically jump from the present to a fantasy world. However, Lloyd Alexander makes it work effortlessly. The short stories which come from David's imagination add adventure to the plot without losing credibility.
The story, told from the point of view of 11 year old David (who is increadibly easy to identify with ), is childish without being immature. The world is a place where it's possible to drown in a backyard creek, and adults never quite make sense. But you are nevertheless at all times in the hands of a master storyteller.
Lloyd Alexander has influenced my life more than any other author I've read. His characters have peopled my own imagination, and even helped to shape who I am. This book about his own childhood is unlike anything he's written, so don't buy it hoping for his normal formula. Instead, put yourself in his hands and let the story lead you where it will. You wont be sorry.
Did I mention it's funny too?

My 10 year old son has been reading this book to me, and as we are nearing the end, I find that it is breaking my heart. I love the way Lloyd Alexander had made characters so believable that I have to assume that they are all based in some way on real people. The relationship between the Boy and the Gawgon is made even more special by the fact that the Gawgon's own son died at about that same age as her pupil David is. The Gawgan shows David that History and learning can be fun, and her greatest gifts to him are sets of history books and post cards of great artworks. As the Great Depression looms, she gives him something that changes the way he sees the world. I highly recommend the book to anyone who enjoys reading or history, or who has a Gawgon of their own, or wishes they did.

David (also known as The Boy, laddie-buck, blighter, and Bax) thinks that getting out of school is the best thing that could happen to him after he nearly dies. That is, until his parents decide he is going to have a tutor instead. This fact is made even worst when they decide that Aunt Anne will teach him. She doesn't need a salary, which is good since it's during the Depression, and she needs something to do. David dreads his first day until he realizes that it's actually the best thing that could have ever happened.

I think this is a good book for anyone eight or older to read.

I have been a big fan of Lloyd Alexander's work ever since I was 9 years old and read "The Book of Three." While this book is definitely different from the fantasy books that he's known for, it still has the delightful, real, memorable characters he so effortlessly creates.

"The Gawgon and The Boy" is the story of David, a young boy growing up in Depression-era Philadelphia. After a bout with pneumonia, David discovers that he has fallen so far behind in school that he needs a tutor. So his Great Aunt Annie steps up to the challenge. At first, David is a bit afraid of her: she's old, she seems a bit cranky, and well, he overheard one of his other aunts calling her a "Gorgon," which he mistook as "Gawgon." But the more he gets to know her, the more he likes her, until she becomes so much to him than a tutor: she is his friend and his mentor.

This book struck a very personal chord with me since I, too, had my own "Gawgon" growing up. My Great Aunt LouElla was my inspiration, my mentor, and the person I most wanted to be when I grew up. Like David's Gawgon, my great aunt had traveled all over the world and always had fascinating stories to tell, whether from her life experiences or from books. After reading this book, I sobbed-- which I almost never do when reading books-- thoroughly touched and moved. I felt like the book was not only a tribute to his mentor, but also to mine, and to all the other people who have inspired children to learn and grow.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of this book are David's stories that he intersperses in the narrative. In these stories, he often writes about characters in books he's read or imagines himself on one of The Gawgon's adventures. This is a great technique and really showed not only David's growth as a writer, but also the deepening of his relationship with The Gawgon. (And they are hysterical, too! My favorite is the Swiss Alps one!)

If you love to read, go on adventures, or laugh, this would be a great choice. It's an inspiring and funny look into the beginnings of one of America's most beloved children's book writers. I also recommend sharing it with your mentor. Alexander has outdone himself again!

I thought that this book was all right, but not my favorite of Alexander's. Still, I thought it was a nice change from his other books, which altough are all wonderful seem to have the same characters:
1) The main protonagist, usually male (Taran, Tamar, Prince Jen, Theo, etc.)
2) The protonagist's love (Eilonwy,Voyaging Moon, Mickle, Joy-in-the-Dance, etc.)
3) A sort of witty friend (Fflewder Fflam, Baksheesh, Rajiswami, etc.)
4) A wise friend (Ashwara, Salamon, Master Hu/Fu/Wu/Whatever, Gwydion, etc.)
5) Usually some other friends of the main protonagist
I know that they are all different, and all are some of my favorite books, but this was still a bit of a nice change for me, if not for anyone else. I didn't really like it more than any other of Lloyd Alexander's works, probably a little less actually. I would recomend this to any Lloyd Alexander fan who is looking for something different.

A funny and sad coming-of-age tale that explains vividly where writers get their ideas. This story, filled with wonderful and quirky characters (like the members of families everywhere), tells the tale of eleven year old David who is recovering from a dangerous illness and is kept home from school to be tutored by his mysterious aunt. She teaches him about famous historical events and gives him an apprection of Leonardo da Vinci's art (Mona Lisa), the works of Shakespeare. Her hilarious discourse about poets in general and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's "Excelsior" in particular is alone worth the price of admission. David must also come to grips his own historical events like the Great Depression, victims of World War I, his aunt's tragic past, and the ultimate brevity of human life.

Throughout the tale, David writes amusing stories using what he knows as well as what he learns - stories that explain the writing process more thoroughly than the best of the "how to write books."

Alexander is a gifted writer who instantly grabs the reader's attention and interest. He uses short, punchy sentences to capture perfectly the emotions underlying his tale; I had to put the book down for a little bit when I reached the end of one chapter after one of those powerful sentences knocked the wind out of me.

Make no mistake. First and foremost this is a funny, sad and poignant story filled to the brim with oddball characters who become dear to the reader. But it is also the story of how an artist devotes himself to his art and the inspirations that help mold that art.