Customer Reviews

The Pigman's Legacy

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

The Pigman is one of my favorite books, so of course I was ecstatic when I discovered that Paul Zindel wrote a followup. And it turns out that The Pigman's Legacy is even better. John and Lorraine have now turned sixteen and continue on zany adventures, as well as discussing the pros and cons of their own life.

The only problem with this book is the same problem that came with the first book, and that is a very important outcome that is given away in the introduction (they call it "The Promise"). My suggestion is to skip the promise and go on with the rest of the book. You'll enjoy it.

This sequel couldn't quite surpass "The Pigman",but it came close. At first I didn't want to read it because the reviews made it sound boring,but trust me,it's not! It's happier and less melancholy than the first book. The kids have matured,especially John. It's spiced up by Zindel's usual wacky storyline and wonderful writing. He understands teens much better than most adults. I won't give away too much,but this novel involves more romance. Weirdness binds a motley crue of people,including John and Lorraine,of course. I wish she would've featured more prominently. It seemed that John "wrote" more chapters. (And why do they like old people so much?) For those who appreciate humor and seriousness,sadness and joy,I highly reccomend this book.

The sequal of "The Pigman" at first looks totally uncalled for, and has the same basic plot. But at a second look you will see that this book, still staring John and Lorranie, has the same moving emotianal plot. This time, changing charactor build. The "Pigman" of the story is a grumpy old man running from the IRS hiding in the Pigman's house. This is a complete change from the friendly, welcoming, old portraid in the original Pigman. It has the same good humor and charactors. Zindel, again, works the reader into a huge mess of couping with problems. This book, I would give a PG-13 rating. It deals more with Sex and drinking the the original Pigman. It goes up and down, from happy points, when the old man is having fun for the first time in a casino, to sad points, when John spends all the money the old man won. Be prepared to cry at the end, with the same type of sad ending. A exelent book for lovers of the original Pigman. WARNING: NOT TO BE READ, UNLESS YOU HAVE READ THE ORIGINAL!!!!!

I hate sequels and seconds. They usually never live up to the original, with the exception of The Godfather, Part II and Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. This sequel to The Pigman is also another exception of the very few good seconds to a movie or book. Zindel again writes the book at the two teenager's point of view. They've come across another old man about four months after the last time they've seen Mr. Pignati. Soon they're on a car ride to Atlantic City, about to hit the big bucks.

I feel that this book has just about the same kind of emotion and distinguishness as the first. Trust me --- you'll enjoy this book. Zindel wrote it straight from the heart.

You pick up this book thinking you will find a more satisfying ending to The Pigman. You don't. You do find the same humor, love, sadness, and plot as the last one. But this one is different. The characters have even stronger personalities (Considering they've been through almost the exact same thing 5 months ago.), and this one has it's own twist. A happier story with a happier ending. A more comforting, satisfying ending. The Pigman will make more sense. The legacy is a legacy of...

I really enjoyed this book and the author's ability to mix comedy with drama to make a really pleasant read. Anyone who has read The Pigman will love this book, because although the Pigman was great this is even better.

Driven by guilt John and Lorraine, from Zindel's first novel The Pigman, make one final trip to Mr. Pignati's house. To their surprise the house is not abandoned but seems to be secretly occupied by another old man. Who is he and what is he doing there? Motivated by their usual curiosity John and Lorraine just have to start up a conversation with him.

This is one of the weakest of Zindel's social realism novels. It is basically <The Pigman> all over again without the originality of style and plot, and the charm and humor that permeates the earlier truely classic novel. Certainly the new old man, the Colonel, is feisty and adventurous, whereas Mr. Pignati was shy and quiet; certainly there are new plot twists, such as a road trip to a casino; but this book is so much like the old one, right down to playing a 'mind game' with revealing psychological results, that I struggled to get through it. What is worse, and makes for boring reading, is that John and Lorraine seem to have learned absolutely nothing from their relationship with Mr. Pignati, and even more learn nothing from the Colonel. The book is called <The Pigman's Legacy> and I could see absolutely no growth in character to justify the promise of a 'legacy'. What exactly is Zindel trying to say here? Does he really mean that people basically never change? Perhaps I am an escapist wanting to disappear into a fantasy of learning and development? I have given this novel three stars, which is stretching it a bit, but you might like it more than I did and you might even agree with its apparently dark philosophy.

I read the first book, The Pigman, and I really liked it. So when I went to the bookstore and found this book I decided to give it a try. It was a really good book. I was expecting it to be just like The Pigman, but it wasn't. It wasn't as sad as The Pigman and John and Lorraine changed since The Pigman took place(even though it was only four months). Anyway, if you havn't read the Pigman and you want to read this book, I still recomend it. The book doesn't require The Pigman to make sense.

This book was so good that i could never put it down. I read this book for a test in school and i got every question right! Paul Zidel is a great author and one of my favorites. This story basically ends what the first Pigman story didnt. It can teach children lots of important morals in life by John and Lorraines experiances. The way that this story is written is almost like watching a movie in the theaters. Believe me it takes alot to have sit and read a book. I would of never found reading interesting if it wasnt for this book!

This book is a terrific follow-up to The Pigman. Thankfully, it was not a carbon copy of it, although it did include some o fthe same elements: a lonely old man who the teens befriend. The conclusion involving John and Lorraine is extremely satisfying for anyone who, like me, wanted more than the last book provided.