Here's a MUST READ classic, written by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry published 66 years ago today. Although it is categorised as a children's book and is most likely be shelved in the children's section where most of us adults avoid as we fear children somehow.... because they are adorable thingies with RAVISHING DEVILS within.......... ahem... This book is REALLY written for adults.
So the story is about an aviator and his meeting with the little prince. The little prince requests the aviator, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry himself to draw him a sheep. So as readers, we indulge ourselves to simplistic but pretty illustrations (not just in this part of the story but throughout the book! w o w right?!). So its a PLUS for those who like physical imagery on a page when reading. Ahh, but it sounds childish so far, picture story books... This novel; this classic, holds many wise words, philosophical viewpoints and commentary about the world we live in and the world around us. (ooOOooOOoo)
This book, seemingly innocent written for children only, has forced me, a young adult, to reflect. AND I DISLIKE reflecting!! Because it means I would have to face my inner demon child... But from reading this book, maybe this inner child is more wise than I give her credit...
It may be a life changing experience for you! Or an entertaining piece of literature anyways (because of the pretty pictures and did I mention it's not very long!? No I have not! It's very short!).
I LOVE it. So the Chicken will give it a:
And now I end my review with an excerpt because there isn't really any other way to persuade you but show you the real deal!. Go on read it,I DARE YOU! (NOTE: this is an excerpt of the first few pages so the aviator a.k.a. the narrator, has not yet met the little prince. You would have to read the book to see!)
Once when I was six years old I saw a magnificent picture in a book, called True Stories from Nature, about the primeval forest. It was a picture of a boa constrictor in the act of swallowing an animal. Here is a copy of the drawing.
In the book it said: "Boa constrictors swallow their prey whole, without chewing it. After that they are not able to move, and they sleep through the six months that they need for digestion." I pondered deeply, then, over the adventures of the jungle. And after some work with a colored pencil I succeeded in making my first drawing. My Drawing Number One. It looked like this:
I showed my masterpiece to the grown-ups, and asked them whether the drawing frightened them. But they answered: "Frighten? Why should any one be frightened by a hat?" My drawing was not a picture of a hat. It was a picture of a boa constrictor digesting an elephant. But since the grown-ups were not able to understand it, I made another drawing: I drew the inside of the boa constrictor, so that the grown-ups could see it clearly. They always need to have things explained. My Drawing Number Two looked like this:
Hostel Villa Saint Exupéry. (2008). The Little Prince. Retrieved March 6, 2009 from http://www.vsaint.com/
If you would like to read the rest, try finding it in your local champion library, OR click here for the full book online!
Pictures make books so much better! =)
Funny how we come across these picture books that you wouldn't expect to be wise and philosophical
I remember you being all heheheh when you borrowed the book
I like picture books too! At least, I like the wholesome ones. Not something like bratz... that stuff is retarded! lol
I really enjoyed this book, it's so cute!
I really loved two quotes the fox said to the little prince:
"You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed."
"It is the time you have spent with your rose that makes your rose so important."
They're both so simplistically worded, yet have a deeper and more profound meaning for us to discover for ourselves :)
One day, I hope to improve on my French enough to read the original version (ie. not translated) by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry himself :P
:O! Ray!