Description
In search of food, Leander, King of the Bears, leads his subjects from their safe caves in the mountains of Sicily to the valley where they triumph over many enemies.
Subjects
Language
Original language
Italian
Publication
HarperCollins (2005), 192 pages. Original Italian novel (sans Snicket commentary) is from 1945.
ISBN
0060726083 / 9780060726089
Awards
User reviews
LibraryThing member lweddle
Book #4 - The Bears' Famous Invasion of Sicily by Dino Buzzati (translated by Frances Lobb)
After a grueling winter destroys the food supply, Leander, king of the bears, decides they must leave their mountain homes to search for food in the valley among the cities of men. They encounter much
Written as a folk tale, the book mixes poetry and prose to tell the story of the bears' struggle for physical survival and later moral survival. What is the cost that the bears pay to exchange their natural home for the excesses and frivolities of the urban and modern world? The illustrations are whimsical. The story is complex and not for younger readers. Some of the vocabulary may have children (and adults) reaching for their dictionaries! The tale of "the natural" vs. "the civilized" is an old one, and a somewhat simplified one (natural = good, civilized = bad), but the bears' story is engaging. I recommend it for older children and adults.
After a grueling winter destroys the food supply, Leander, king of the bears, decides they must leave their mountain homes to search for food in the valley among the cities of men. They encounter much
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resistance along the way, but they are eventually triumphant. They enter the city, are fed, and finally they are accepted by men as friends. However, that is not the end of their troubles.Written as a folk tale, the book mixes poetry and prose to tell the story of the bears' struggle for physical survival and later moral survival. What is the cost that the bears pay to exchange their natural home for the excesses and frivolities of the urban and modern world? The illustrations are whimsical. The story is complex and not for younger readers. Some of the vocabulary may have children (and adults) reaching for their dictionaries! The tale of "the natural" vs. "the civilized" is an old one, and a somewhat simplified one (natural = good, civilized = bad), but the bears' story is engaging. I recommend it for older children and adults.
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LibraryThing member Marensr
Dino Buzzati’s THE BEARS’ FAMOUS INVASION OF SICILY has the appearance of a children’s book with a much more subversive political message at heart. The book starts with the author’s charming illustrations and brief character descriptions- of the Bear Marzipan, the Bear Dandelion, the Bear
The plot reads as a magical-realist, forgotten history lesson of Sicily and the long wars and strife between bears and humans. The overriding themes of the book involve the corruption of humans and the real moral risk faced by the bears when they begin to adopt the airs and aspirations of their human counterparts. Few children’s books deal with war or politics and none so inventively. It works beautifully for the child reader and adult reader alike. A mature young reader (for example a child who easily picked up on the allegory of the Narnia Chronicles) will discern much about human/bear nature and an adult with some exposure to history will read more into the sections on war and politics. In spite of basic premise (the ease with which power and decadence corrupt) it has a healthy dose of humor, magic and hope to balance the reality.
The New York Review of Books deserves high praise for bringing back the neglected classics for the enjoyment of both children and adults.
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Merlin, Marmoset the Cat and others. This introduction of the major players and their driving character traits has a theatrical almost overture-like effect of setting the stage for the action that follows. The plot reads as a magical-realist, forgotten history lesson of Sicily and the long wars and strife between bears and humans. The overriding themes of the book involve the corruption of humans and the real moral risk faced by the bears when they begin to adopt the airs and aspirations of their human counterparts. Few children’s books deal with war or politics and none so inventively. It works beautifully for the child reader and adult reader alike. A mature young reader (for example a child who easily picked up on the allegory of the Narnia Chronicles) will discern much about human/bear nature and an adult with some exposure to history will read more into the sections on war and politics. In spite of basic premise (the ease with which power and decadence corrupt) it has a healthy dose of humor, magic and hope to balance the reality.
The New York Review of Books deserves high praise for bringing back the neglected classics for the enjoyment of both children and adults.
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LibraryThing member BJK1903
I think that even though everything in the book happens fast it has a deep meaning to it. The book is very creative all along and is witty in most places.
LibraryThing member JimmyChanga
This book has a lot of fun, and a lot of violence too. You won't find better illustrations than the ones within these pages. They are charming and detailed and colorful. Don't skip the list of characters at the beginning (playful descriptions and menacing silhouettes). Don't skip the
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afterword/Reading Guide by Lemony Snicket either, where he gives the reader creative activities like the following:Practice the art of flattery by trying the following exercise:When a teacher says something ridiculous to you, reply, "You are absolutely right. You are an absolutely brilliant person," and try to keep a straight face. Show Less
LibraryThing member themulhern
Unique book which I might never have read if it weren't for Lemony Snicket's involvement in the most recent edition.
The questions added by Lemony Snicket to accompany each chapter are intelligent and humorous.
The narrative itself is partly tragic and quite subtle. The style is unusual; it would be
The questions added by Lemony Snicket to accompany each chapter are intelligent and humorous.
The narrative itself is partly tragic and quite subtle. The style is unusual; it would be
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very interesting to discover the author's influences. Show Less