Customer Reviews

Gypsy Rizka

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Gypsy Rizka, the latest in a long line of wonderful books from the fantastic Lloyd Alexander, fully lives up to the whimsical quality and surprisingly moral value of its predecessors.

A deviation from Alexander's usual quest type fantasy (The Arkadians, The Chronicles of Prydain, The Iron Ring, etc.), Gypsy Rizka is not based on any sort of mythology and stays within one small and rather idiosyncratic town. Alexander's standard cast is also refreshingly changed; Rizka is certainly no Eilonwy, though she bears a little resemblance to Vesper in her quick wittedness and propensity for managing the business of others. Rizka is almost a sort of Robin Hood; helping the good and teaching the corrupt a lesson. There is no magic in Gypsy Rizka, save that of Rizka's extraordinary cleverness and the chapters are loosely connected and episodic with Rizka's extremely amusing antics as the uniting theme.

If I had one complaint about this excellent book (complete with several diverting allusions to Romeo and Juliet) it would be that it is somewhat difficult to keep the multitudinous townsmen straight. Most remain caricatures throughout the book. However, it is an easily forgiven flaw in such a fun story. Those who enjoyed Alexander's unique style in Gypsy Rizka may want to continue on with his Vesper Holly adventures and then move to his quest-type novels.

Lloyd Alexander is probably the greatest children's author living today. Gypsy Rizka is another great book by the master. Alexander has always brought strong heroines to children's lit. Rizka is yet another great to add to the list: Eilonwy from The Prydain Chronicles, Mickle from the Westmark Trilogy, Isabel from The Marvelous Misadventures of Sebastian, and Vesper Holly from her own books (there are also a few more which I haven't gotten to yet). This novel, besides its excellent characters, has a lot of humor. Alexander displays his unbelieveable imagination with the unusual methods Rizka utilizes to get out of trouble. Nobody mixes high adventure with humor as well as Alexander. The prose in this novel is unbelievably polished also. Gypsy Rizka doesn't have as much depth as some of Alexander's other novels, but there are not very many childrens books that can entertain like this one can. Overall, Gypsy Rizka is an amazing novel.

In his book Gypsy Rizka, Lloyd Alexander presents us with a town in which the well-meaning townspeople go about their business, as well as everyone else's, the merchants are only slightly corrupted, and the officials are only slightly honest. In other words, it would be a fairly average town; the townspeople looking out for each other and for gossip, the merchants passing off week old cheeses and fish as merely days old, and the official's purses steadily being replaced by larger ones, that is it would be an average town if it weren't for Rizka. Rizka is a gypsy, living on the outskirts of town in her wagon during the night but by day stirring up whatever mischief she can in town just like any other gamin. But it is soon clear that Rizka is no ordinary gamin. She'll stir up mischief a- plenty, but only that which will be a benefit to those living in the town. She cannot abide the mayor's silly feud that is tearing apart two love-struck individuals, nor can she stand the magistrate's tainted justice. She believes it her duty to help out her friends, so she does just that in the most comic scenarios all throughout Alexanders clever satire. And yes, Gypsy Rizka is a satire, though quite mild, it is no less amusing or witty than Shakespeare or Gogol. In the end, of course Rizka manages to clean up the town, or at least most of it, and finally has to face her own future. Gypsy Rizka is a wonderful book, filled with Alexander's zany incidents and madcap fun that is sure to adhere you to the story right up to the very last page.

Since the Princess Eilonwy was created in "The Book of Three," Lloyd Alexander's quirky and lovable heroines have become a unique trademark. Eilonwy was followed by Mickle, Joy in the Dance, and now Rizka. However, this is Rizka's story and no one else's-she shares it with no male hero.

Rakish Gypsy Rizka is something of a social outcast in her very proper, upright, and stupid town. With her brains and street smarts, she manages to get her foot into every door. The proper, upright, and stupid town officials want her run out, but just who can run out Rizka? Nobody, that's who!

This seems to be a more openly comical novel than previous ones-this is exactly what it's meant to be, a fluffy but touching piece. The townspeople range from nice (they like Rizka) to clownish (they don't like Rizka)

Rizka is enjoyable, funny, and brilliant, and she lives the carefree, stress-free lifestyle that all of us dream of. This carefree attitude gives her plenty of opportunities to better life in general.

Alexander still hasn't lost his Midas touch-this story could have been heavy and dull, but it sparkles instead.

This is probably my favorite of Lloyd Alexanders books! Its a hilarious story with a great storyline and fabulous characters! And who couldnt love the cat! Its definitely the funniest and most light-hearted of all of his books. A must read!

This excellent, humorous, well-written books tells the story of a young half-Gypsy girl Rizka living in a town with an archenemy, an admirer, and a friend.

The villianous Sharpnack wants Rizka run out of town, so he cooks up devious plots. But Rizka cleverly outwits him every time.

Rizka only stays in this town where she has hardly a friend because she is waiting for her gypsy father to return to get her. Meanwhile, she becomes good friends with the warm-hearted Big Franko, becomes the sole admirer of Sofiya Pumpa, the mayor's daughter, and achieves the status of enemy in the Councilor in Chief Sharpnack's book.

You will laugh as Rizka cleverly outsmarts Sharpnack and slowly wins the townspeoples' trust fairly and squarely. (She even helps two couples get married!) I recommend this book very highly.

P.S. If the person who gave me this book (you know who you are) reads this, I broadcast "Thank you so, so, so much for this great book!"

Of all Lloyd Alexander's books, I think that Gypsy Rizka is one of the best. Rizka, like most of Alexander's heroines, is strong, smart, and always funny. The end is sort of predictable, but the writing, characters, and situations more than make up for it. In general I hate fantasy, but there is just something about Lloyd Alexander which pulls readers in, keeps them laughing until the end and leaves them wishing for more. Thanks Lloyd Alexander!

From the back cover of my edition:" Rizka's a live wire--just try to stop her!

Quick-witted, bright and sassy, Rizka the Gypsy girl is involved with everything happening in Greater Dunitsa, including runaway lovers, floods, magical caves and a ghost in the town hall. And everyone in town has an opinion. Big Franko wants her to have a better life, General Hatvan wants to court-martial her, young Sofiya wants to be just like her, and her greatest enemy--Chief Councilor Sharpnack--wants to run her out of Greater Dunitsa. Has Rizka finally met her match?"

Most of the characters in this book tend to be cartoonish. Even Rizka herself, who lives alone on the outskirts of the town in a gypsy caravan, waiting for her gypsy father to return and claim her, doesn't escape this type of characterisation. But that's often the case in farcical comedies like Gypsy Rizka, and Lloyd Alexander's wit and humour are bound to appeal to most young readers, especially girls, who can hardly fail to share Sofiya's feelings about Rizka. While I enjoyed this book and had no trouble identifying with Rizka, it's definitely not a favourite among my Lloyd Alexander collection.

Rizka follows a classic fantasy pattern of taking a journey to find out about herself, but this time the gypsy heroine finds that her home is, in fact, her home. Alexander uses his matchless wit to strengthen yet another female character who has an enviable imagination and an even stronger soul.

ISBN 0525461213 - Although I'm giving Rizka 5 stars, I do think the book's target audience of Young Adults is just a little off. The Pippi Longstocking-esque main character, the cartoon-like other characters and the storyline(s) seem to me to be more appealing to slightly younger readers. Still, a fun and well-written story.

Rizka, a gypsy who lives on the outskirts of Greater Dunitsa, where she awaits her father's return, has her finger on the pulse of the town. From Big Franko, her friend, to Chief Councilor, her nemesis, Rizka understands them all better than they understand themselves - and better than she understands herself, for that matter. Using their own fears and superstitions, Rizka "fixes" the problems of many townfolk and, in the end, teaches them a great deal and learns as much about herself.

The characters, cartoonish and very colorful, are delightful in their own weird ways, and the stories throughout all tie up neatly. The younger end of the Young Adult readers will enjoy Rizka's adventures, and probably wish for more!

- AnnaLovesBooks