Customer Reviews

The Snow Goose

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

 

 

I had borrowed this book from the library when I was reading William Fiennes' book, The Snow Geese. He mentioned that the story had inspired him to embark on his epic journey to follow the snow geese from their wintering grounds in Texas to their breeding grounds in the Foxe Peninsula. I was so moved by this story that I had to have a copy for myself. Get this book - I know you'll be glad you did! And when you read it, you'll see why it is still being published, 66 years after it was first published in 1941. That it has stood the test of time is a testament to the masterpiece that it is.

This book is really not written for children. I don't know why they keep saying that it's for kids. I suppose it's because of the lovely illustrations in it. However, the reading level is for young adults and adults. There's another book titled THE SNOW GOOSE AND OTHER STORIES. That book is written for young children and it's the same story, just rewritten for junior readers.

My parents read this haunting and lovely story to my siblings and me when we were in our teens, my husband and I read it to our children, and now my oldest grandchild is ready to hear it. Until now I have avoided purchasing The Snow Goose with pictures, finding that illustrations detracted from the story. I am delighted to find that Angela Barrett's beautiful subtly colored illustrations capture the mood of the story perfectly. (I especially love the tender drawing of Rhayader and Frith looking up at the circling snow goose, where Frith's hair, blown by the wind, softens and obscures Rhayader's deformities.) I will be purchasing several copies of this edition for sisters and friends as well as for my grandson. It is a real treasure.

Emotion and feeling become characters in this little masterpiece.

I wonder why this book is completely unknown here in Italy,

where no edition is available.

I bought the original version from Amazon and translated it myself for my family.

Beautiful pictures.

This has long been a great favorite and it continues to touch my heart. I've now been able to start sharing my classic favorites with my teenage granddaughter, a gift for both of us.

I first read this story as a child but never had my own copy. It was wonderful to re-read this again and still find it a lovely and poignant story. I loved my beautifully illustrated new hardback version. This famous book is a must in anyone's library.

First heard about this book from the Camel album of the same name - back in the late 70's - beautiful music dedicated to the book.

The book can be read in one sitting - in fact I did just that recently - reading it to my daughter(11 years old)- took me 40 minutes of non step reading.

The story is set in WW2: and is in many ways a remaking of "Beauty and the Beast" - with a mishapen and physically grotesque man befriending a young girl. The local community has rejected the young hunch-back who lives alone in a deserted lighthouse - which itself is symbolic of enlightenment.

A bird (a snowgoose) brings and keeps the two of them together as over the years they await its comings and goings and tend to its needs. The main theme of the book is plainly stated at the start by the author, who says:

"In it there lived a lonely man. His body was warped, but his heart was filled with love for wild and hunted things. He was ugly to look upon, but he created great beauty. It is about him, and a child who came to know him and see beyond the grotesque form that housed him to what lay within, that this story is told."

The love of the man for the bird and for the little girl is slowly and overwhelmingly reciprocated as she grows to see the beauty of his spirit. His love for mankind is demonstrated by his selfless act of rescuing the stranded soldiers on the beaches of Dunkirk - using his little boat to pick them up and take them to waiting ships.

This final enactment is relayed by conversations we overhear of soldiers telling the story of the man's rescue - with the snowgoose circling overhead throughout.

I will not spoil the story by giving the ending away.

The book is wonderfully written, and expresses a profound love of mankind and nature. It is inspirational and should be read.

I had read this, in a Reader's Digest Condensed Book many years ago. I thought about it recently, and decided to try to find it. I was SO happy to locate it @ Amazon. It is a timeless, classic story and this edition is SO beautifully done. Thank you so much.

My mom gave this book to my daughter for her birthday. I went ahead and read it purely because the front cover made it appear to be a WWI or WWII based story and that got my interest. As it turns out WWII plays a role in the book, but only to bring the story to it's end. It is beautiful book, with a great story, and it isn't over done or too long. This is a must read and one to keep.

I bought it sight unseen based on the Camel album that was inspired by this book (and which I recommend, in the original version without any extras).

I found it perhaps a little grim as a children's book, but appropriate for that very reason for more mature children. Perhaps not for those who already tend towards melancholy.

The only reason I give it 4 rather than 5 stars is simply that I found it hard to really place myself in England during WWII, and I think the book is lacking a bit of context. Presumably British and Northern Europeans will still get the context in their upbringing for a few generations yet to come, but 60+ years later, in the southwestern U.S., it seems so distant as to be a fable.

I am so please with the condition of this book. It is in beautiful condition.