Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Chililug chugger is back..., May 18, 2004
Pippi Longstocking is a lot of things. She plays with sparklers, she plays with guns, she resists arrest, flaunts her supernatural power, manhandles bothersome adults, insults them and disregards them as silly. She's self-important, arrogant, callous, rude, undignified, and absolutely perfect. Maybe the former LEADS to the latter, because I can't think of any other way she could be all of those things so perfectly. Pippi is the kind of character who, although she seems so terribly foolish, is somehow always right. Pippi is, in that respect, to elementary school children what Superman is to the people of metropolis. She so totally represents everything they hold dear that she can't help but become their champion, despite, or perhaps because of the fact that she's a universal "bad girl." This book contains every one of her "popularly-recognized" adventures, with new illustrations by some fellow who's really good at drawing pictures of Pippi and her friends. The pictures are slick and cartoon-like in keeping with the sometimes-wacky-but-always-credible-somehow escapades of the girl wonder. Pippi owns an old, run-down villa and a horse and monkey. She keeps her horse on the porch, and her monkey on her shoulder when she goes for a walk. But the strangest thing in the house is Pippi herself, whose resources consist of a seemingly endless supply of gold, a vast collection of rare trinkets, and an endless supply of youthful energy and superhuman strength, probably equal to the task of lifting a small steamroller. She also possesses great durability and the seeming ability to leap great distances with enormous speed. Her skills in seemingly all tests of acrobatics and hand-eye coordination are top-knotch. In short, she was a self-insertion character before there was such a thing. However, with Pippi, it works, because rather than pretend that she's up against some terrible foe or trying to add tension to the story, Pippi lives her life almost strictly for the humor and fun of it. Anything that keeps people from having fun is something Pippi will generally try to plow right through. Pippi has the ultimate secret. She knows how to have fun, and if wisdom comes from the mouths of babes, than Pippi is indeed, faults and all, the wisest person who has ever lived. As a closing note, I'm probably not the only person who hopes that Pippi's "Chililug" pills are real immortality medication, because that would mean that she is still around, and still having fun somewhere.
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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
THIS IS SUCH A TREASURE, January 29, 2002
I have loved Pippi since I was 7. Bright, high spirited and wonderfully creative and original, the red haired moppet literally shakes up the Swedish village she lives in. Blessed with incredible physical strength, Pippi lives alone and fends for herself. Indeed, her strength comes in handy when she throws would be robbers into the air like pizza dough. That part still makes me laugh!She is a delightful, independent foil to her more timorous peers, siblings Tommy and Annika. When they invite Pippi to their school, she dazzles all with her creative, hit or miss spelling, her misprounciation of "multiplication" (she insists on calling it "plutification") and her wild stories. Indeed, Pippi has had her share of adventures. Her seafaring father travels the 7 seas, often leaving Pippi to her own devices. It is a good thing others are invited to travel along with Pippi!
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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
amazing book that has had a lasting effect, October 26, 2001
The first thing I have to say is that this book is the most extraordinary book I have ever read. I began reading these books as a very young child. I am now 25 and it has left a wonderful impression on my soul. As a young child I was so amazed at Pippi's spunk and ability to do things on her own free will. It wasn't until I was older that I was able to reflect on her influence on my life. Pippi shows children the value of self esteem and the power to do anything once you set your mind to it. Pippi never cares what people think of her and speaks her mind adamently. She is so loved by everyone that the effect of her quirky personality is above everything you could imagine. There are so many "lessons" in her stories that are hidden in little bits and pieces. I fiercly believe that Pippi allowed me, as a child, to open up to my imagination and become a strong individual. As I said, I am now in my twenties and am scavaging all her books in hopes of showing my "future" children the delights of her incredible behavior. I HIGHLY suggest these books to adolescents-you wouldn't believe the magic enclosed. Pippi did to me what Harry Potter is doing to the world now. Harry, unfortunately is just a little late.
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