User Reviews
Rating: really liked it
The Tale of Despereaux, Kate DiCamilloThe adventures of a mouse named Despereaux Tilling, as he sets out on his quest to rescue a beautiful human princess from the rats.
The novel is divided into four "books" and ends with a coda. Each "book" tells the story from a different character's or group of characters' perspective: Despereaux, Roscuro, Miggery Sow, and finally all of them combined.
عنوانهای چاپ شده در ایران: «موش کوچولو»؛ «ماجرای دسپرو»؛ «قصه ی دسپروکس»؛ «دسپروکس»؛ نویسنده: کیت دی کامیلو؛ تاریخ نخستین خوانش: روز دوم ماه ژانویه سال2005میلادی
عنوان: موش کوچولو؛ نویسنده: کیت دی کامیلو؛ مترجم: حسین ابراهیمی (الوند)؛ ویراستار فرزانه کریمی؛ تهران، افق، سال1383، در286ص؛ فروست رمان نوجوانان؛ شابک9789643691516؛ چاپ بعدی سال1395؛ موضوع داستانهای کودکان - افسانه های پریان - داستان موشها از نویسندگان ایالات متحده آمریکا - سده 21م
عنوان: ماجرای دسپرو؛ نویسنده: کیت دی کامیلو؛ مترجم: سپیده خلیلی؛ تهران، تولد، سال1388؛ در232ص؛ شابک9786005503173؛
عنوان: قصه ی دسپروکس؛ نویسنده: کیت دی کامیلو؛ مترجم: لیلا شیرزاد؛ تهران، قلم کیکیا، سال1389؛ در176ص؛ شابک 9789649549200؛
عنوان: دسپروکس؛ نویسنده: کیت دی کامیلو؛ مترجم: صونا جلیل نژاد حلاجیان؛ اصفهان، یارمانا، سال1393؛ در253ص؛ شابک9786009508662؛
آیا کس باور میکند که موش کوچولویی عاشق شاهزاده خانمی شود؟ این رمان ماجرای رنجهای همین «دسپرو» موش عاشق است؛ ماجرای ایستادگی او در برابر سختیها، نارواییها، و تبعید، و تهدید؛ رمان ماجرای سفر موش کوچولو، و دوستانش، به سیاهچال ترسناک، در قلعه ای پر زرق و برق است، که شاهزاده خانم آنجا زندگی میکند؛ اما در این سفر چه بر سر آنها خواهد آمد، و این عشق چه سرانجامی خواهد داشت؟ ...؛
موشی شجاع، با یک موش صحرایی طماع، و دخترکی خدمتکار و آرزومند، و شاهزاده ای به نام «پی» در این رمان از «کیت دی کامیلو» گرد هم آمده اند، و داستانی را آفریده اند؛ رمان پر است از شخصیتهایی جذاب و دوست داشتنی «دسپرو تیلینگ»، موشی که به موسیقی، داستانها و البته شاهزاده ای به نام «پی» عشق میورزد؛ «روسکورو» نیز، موش دیگریست، که در تاریکی زندگی میکند، و رویای دیدن جهانی پرنور و روشن را در سر میپروراند؛ «میگری سو»، دخترکی خدمتکار، و با بهره ی هوشی نه چندان بالا است، که آرزویی ساده اما ناممکن دارد؛ این سه شخصیت، پا به مسیری میگذارند، که آنها را تا ژرفای سیاهچالی ترسناک، بر فراز قلعه ای پر زرق و برق، و در نهایت، به درون زندگی یکدیگر میبرد؛ بعد از آن چه میشود؟ همانطور که «دی کامیلو» خواهد گفت: «مخاطب کتاب، سرنوشتت این است که خودت بفهمی!»؛
نقل از متن: (کتاب نخست: تولد یک موش: یک - آخرین موش؛ این داستان با تولد موشی میان دیوارهای یک قلعه آغاز میشود؛ موشی کوچولو؛ آخرین فرزند پدر و مادرِ خود و تنها موشی که به هنگام تولد و در میان آن همه بچه موش، زنده به دنیا آمد؛ همین که زایمان به پایان رسید، موشِ مادر، خسته گفت: «بچه هایم کو؟ بچه هایم را نشانم بده.»؛
موشِ پدر، موش کوچولویی را بالا گرفت و گفت: «فقط همین یکی است؛ بقیه مرده اند»؛
ــ Mon Dieu
فقط همین یکی؟
ــ فقط همین یکی؛ برایش اسم میگذاری؟؛
مادر گفت: «این همه زحمت برای هیچ.» سپس آهی کشید و ادامه داد: «چه غم انگیز! چه قدر مایه ی تاسف!» او موش ماده ای بود که مدتها پیش، با بار و بنه ی دیپلماتی فرانسوی به قلعه راه یافته بود؛ «مایه ی تاسف» از جمله عبارتهای مورد علاقه اش بود؛ او اغلب آن را به کار میبرد
پدر تکرار کرد: «برایش اسم میگذاری؟»؛
ــ برایش اسم میگذارم؟ باید برایش اسم بگذارم؟ البته که میگذارم. برایش اسم میگذارم، اما او هم مثل بقیه خواهد مرد؛ آه، چه غم انگیز! آه، چه مصیبتی!؛
موشِ مادر دستمالی را جلو بینی اش برد و آن را مقابل صورتش تکان داد؛ بعد، دماغش را بالا کشید و گفت: «برایش اسم میگذارم. بله؛ من اسم این موش را به خاطر این همه تاسف، این همه اندوه، دِسپرا میگذارم؛ ببینم آیینه ی من کجاست؟»؛
همسرش تکه آیینه ای به دست او داد؛ موش مادر که اسمش آنتوانت بود، به خودش در آیینه نگاهی انداخت و آه عمیقی کشید؛ سپس به یکی از پسرانش گفت: «تولس، آن جعبه ی آرایش مرا بیاور ببینم؛ چشمهایم ترسناک شده اند!»؛
هنگامی که آنتوانت داشت چشمهایش را آرایش میکرد، موش پدر، دسپرا را روی تشکی گذاشت که از کهنه پاره ها درست شده بود؛ خورشید ماه آوریل از یکی از پنجره های قلعه، ضعیف اما مصمم به داخل میتابید، خودش را به زحمت از سوراخی میان دیوار به داخل میکشاند و به اندازه ی یک بند انگشت از نور زرینش را روی موش کوچولو میانداخت؛
چشمهای دسپرا نباید باز میبود
بچه موشهای بزرگتر، دور دسپرا حلقه زدند تا او را ببینند
خواهرش گفت: «گوشهایش خیلی بزرگ اند؛ من تا به حال گوشهایی به این بزرگی ندیده ام.»؛
یکی از برادرانش به نام فرلاف گفت: «نگاه کنید، چشمهایش بازند؛ پاپا چشمهایش بازند؛ نباید باز باشند»؛
همین طوراست؛ چشمهای دسپرا نباید باز میبودند، اما بودند؛ دسپرا به نور خورشید که پس از برخورد با آیینه ی مادرش منعکس میشد، خیره شده بود؛ نور بیضی شکل به سقف میتابید و او به آن لبخند میزد
پدر گفت: «یک چیزیش شده است، تنهایش بگذارید»؛
خواهر و برادر دسپرا عقب رفتند و از موش نوزاد فاصله گرفتند)؛ پایان
تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 13/10/1399هجری خورشیدی؛ 03/08/1400هجری خورشیدی؛ ا. شربیانی
Rating: really liked it
From the moment Despereaux the mouse was born, everyone knew he was different. Born extremely small with strange ears and the only survivor of the litter, his parents weren't sure if he could stay alive. As time goes on, Despereaux becomes quite a curious little critter and begins to question the world around him. He discovers a love for music and falls in love with a lovely princess named Pea. The issue is that Despereaux has gone against the rules put forth by the mouse council by showing himself to the princess, and now he must deal with the consequences by spending time in the dark dungeon below the castle. He's been ordered by the mouse council, including his father, and there's no turning back.
He considered fainting. He deemed it the only reasonable response to the situation in which he found himself, but then he remembered the words of the threadmaster: honor, courtesy, devotion, and bravery.
"I will be brave," thought Despereaux. "I will try to be brave like a knight in shining armor. I will be brave for Princess Pea." The book is told in four parts and the entire book setting takes place at the castle in the kingdom of Dor. The whole book is narrated by an omniscient narrator whom isn't related to the story, but remains the storyteller throughout. The first part begins with Despereaux and his family. The second covers a rat named Chiaroscuro (Roscuro) who is very confused and on the verge of becoming evil. The third book introduces a new character named Miggery Sow, a young girl who was abandoned by her father and wants nothing more than to become a princess just like Pea. The fourth and last part of the book is when all of these characters come together for the climax of the story and I have to say that their fate is never predictable.
Other characters include King Phillip (Pea's father-ruler of Dor), a jailer, a cook, and an evil rat in the dungeon named Botticelli. We honestly loved all of the characters. Each one had their own story and were well-developed. Despereaux was hands down my favorite character. Regardless of his size, he's very hopeful and courageous. His fear is always present, but his perseverance prevails. Miggery Sow was my son's favorite and she was likable with her eventual change of heart. We loved her language and her repeated use of the word "Gor!". My daughter's favorite character was Roscuro because you're never totally sure who's side he's going to take.
We found the story charming as it reads like a fairy tale. I was a little nervous once I realized that the book was told in separate parts. You get so invested in the first part and can't wait to find out what will unfold, and then there's the switch to a new book with new characters. I thought that format might derail us, but it didn't. We appreciated the sketched illustrations which enhance the story and bring the characters to life. There's a lot going on between characters and the action makes this a real page-turner. There were twists we didn't see coming and there was no telling what direction the story would take. I always love the themes in Kate DiCamillo's books and this story includes themes of love, revenge, courage, family and forgiveness.
Overall, Kate DiCamillo has woven another wonderful story for children that even adults can enjoy. I'm so glad I purchased this for our home library because I know it's one that we'll reread in the future!
5*****
Rating: really liked it
I picked this book up on a whim in the Barnes & Noble because I liked the look of the cover and the jagged edges of the paper that gave it a "classic" feel. I was looking for a new bedtime book to read to my children - 2 and 6 at the time. We like to read a bigger book, one chapter each night - for bedtime stories. I read the description and thought it sounded like a good idea so I went ahead and bought it (which is REALLY unusual for me - I can be a cheapskate!) It is by far some of the best money I have ever spent. The book is really that good. While technically a children's story, I could have read this as an adult before I had kids and loved the book just as much - it is a story that is so beautiful, classic and timeless. The thing I think I love the most about her writing style is that she does NOT dumb anything down. Not the language, characters, plot, theme or anything. The style is like a story teller telling you the story, with some asides and speaking to the reader. Which added so much to the story. The book is paced perfectly (there were many nights we all wanted to just keep reading and reading!), and the chapters are perfect breaking points (I would not be surprised at all to find out that she purposefully chose the chapter breaks with nightly reading in mind - there is a wonder cliff hanger feel to each chapter ending. Every night my son would look at me with big eyes and say - I wonder what is going to happen next??!!) The themes are very complex, but everything is understandable even to young children (my 2 year old daughter was able to follow along without too much difficulty - but with a lot of word definitions!) I liked that it dealt with such big themes like duty and love and heartache and redemption and the reality of the world around you. (ie certain characters are not evil but mean, sometimes people do stupid things that you can't fix, etc.) I could go on all day about things that I loved and scenes that were so wonderful i can still see them in my head. We have read this as a family for bedtime stories 3 times now!! And given the chapter a night pace and the size of the book, that is no small feat! This is a book that I will save and give to my grandchildren. I can't recommend it enough!!
Also check out The Journey of Edward Tulane - we loved Despereaux more, but it is a very close call. That book is very similar and also wonderful.
Rating: really liked it
OK, so now that I've thought about what I really think about this book, I'm changing my rating from 3 stars to 2 stars. There was more that I didn't like than I liked. After hearing a lot good reports about this book, I think I was expecting something different. I liked the idea of the light versus dark. I liked the unlikely friendship between the mouse and the princess. I liked the forgiveness. And I liked that it ended up "happily ever after", for the most part.
I started out reading this book aloud to my boys, but I stopped reading to them after the first rat chapter and finished the book myself, then gave them the condensed version, picking up with the actual reading at the very end of the book. They were disturbed (and so was I) by the unfeeling evil of the rats. I felt even worse about the constant ear boxing and degredation of Miggery Sow.
I didn't go for another princess story without a mom. Just like all the Disney movies - Mom is deceased and Dad is oblivious. And what about the mouse family? Yikes!
I didn't like that the darkness in the story seemed to outweigh the light. The rat and Miggery Sow chapters were simply unpleasant. The lack of positive family feelings was sad. And what is this about Miggery Sow and a big kitchen knife? Hmm.
I guess I was anticipating more light. More love. More happy family feelings. I realize that the negative was essential to make the contrast between light and dark, but for me, there was just too much dark and not enough light. Especially for a prize winning book geared for young people.
Rating: really liked it
Stories are light. Light is precious in a world so dark. Begin at the beginning. . . tell a story. Make some light.
Rating: really liked it
i hated this book SO MUCH when i was a kid.
everyone thought i would like it. librarians recommended it to me. family friends gave it to me as a birthday present. other kids were reading it.
it was the newbery medal-winning book the year i was 6, and i was a tiny nerd. you do the math.
but even then, i did not care for books about animals, and i found this both corny and sad, a lethal combination for me my entire life.
i was a hater even in my extreme youth.
part of a series i'm doing in which i review books i read a long time ago and reveal that yes, i've always been like this
Rating: really liked it
Poor Miggery Sow; named after a pig, motherless, traded for peanuts, abused, and later described as lazy and fat. Crikey. Also, the author's penchant for describing things to the
Reader drove me bananas. Despereaux actually has a small part considering the continuous horrors of the story: evil rats, ambivalent family members, the Queen's death, and the no soup decree.
Rating: really liked it
Absolutely enchanting. Full of compassion, sweetness and dreamers, with exquisite word choice and delicate rhythms. The narrator's voice is like a comforting but sharply intelligent grandmother, pushing you to both see and feel with the best of yourself. I started to read this this this morning for work purposes, I finished it because I couldn't put it down.
Rating: really liked it
I was thinking the other day: what would you do if you had a negative (and I mean really negative) opinion on a book but by chance happened to come across its author? What would you tell them if they asked you what you thought about their book?
Without the luxury of the internet or reviews or all the other ways we have of expressing a negative opinion on things without having to come into direct contact with their creator, we tend to be more insensitive with our criticism.
The medium is the message... What is the message the medium of criticism conveys? That, perhaps, individual works of art can be analysed, praised or attacked as if they existed in a void - as if they weren't created by people with flaws and feelings. I understand that criticism is necessary in a world as saturated with works of art as the one we live in, if only for us to be able to timidly navigate through this ever-expanding sea of creativity. However, I also believe it's necessary to look at established institutions a little more, ahem, critically from time to time.
So: should we be writing criticism we wouldn't be able to say it to the authors' faces?
I'll let you ponder that a for a sec.
...
Done? Great! At this point I'll contradict myself, as I so happily and readily do, and say what I can say from the safety and isolation of my Goodreads account, albeit signed with my real name, a move I would predictably not make if I knew my review would be read by Kate DiCamillo and not get lost in the ego-stroking labyrinth of positive comments and reviews this piece of work has disappointingly received.
This, people, is one of the worst books I've ever read.
Terribly obnoxious, annoying, arbitrary characters; events I did not care about reading and that made me feel worse than before (what was up with the cauliflower ears? Come
on!); an arrogant, didactic style of writing that's pretending not to be so but which cannot help but seep through... I'd go on but it's already been a couple of months since I read it so most of my vitriol has evaporated; that is, I can't really remember more of the exact reasons I didn't enjoy this book at all, but what I can tell you is that it managed to solidify itself in my memory as a bad reading experience, one that made me feel uncomfortable, a kind of uncanny sick inside. Maria did warn me, but I just had to sneak a peek at this train wreck... To not make this review longer than it should be, I'll just say that I'd never read this to my child.
At least it had beautiful illustrations.
Rating: really liked it
Seeing the Light
(A Book Review of Kate DiCamillo’s The Tale of Desperaux)
Despereaux Tilling is the most unusual mouse you’lll likely meet. Conspicously small with considerable large ears, he has always been seen as different, an outsider among his own — a mouse drawn to music, fascinated with stories, and breaks the strict rule of their kind by falling in love with a human, the Princess Pea.
Roscuro leads a normal, rotten rat life in the dungeon, his is a world of utter darkness. Until one day, when a match was lit in front of his face and he ventures upstairs in the castle, he began to crave nothing but the color and light that he is denied, and and so vows to make others miserable, plunging them to the gloom which he is subjected.
Miggery Sow, “named after his fahter’s favorite prize-winning pig,” lost her mother when she was young. Her father abandoned and sold her away to an old man who boxed the girl’s ear until she became hard of hearing. Finally, on a fateful stroke of fortune, she came to the castle where she proved to be a slow-witted servant. But Mig has aspirations: she has seen the Princess and wants to become her.
These unique assortment of characters will set out to an adventure and stumble into each others lives in Kate DiCamillo’s 2004 Newbery award-winning novel,
The Tale of Despereaux. For a long time I’ve looking for a children’s book that I will flat out love and this book has got to be it!
Beautifully told by a narrator that directly speaks to the reader, it has a delicate magic about it that holds the yours attention from start to finish, spellbound by the unfolding story page after page, seize by its peculiar storyline that jumps backwards and forwards into certain events in the tale that leaves you anticipating for what’s going to happen next.
Kate DiCamillo’s voice,trimmed with wit and wisdom, is wildly authorative — asking us questions; showing us a thing or two about what is disappointment, grief, prejudice, and forgiveness; sometimes instructing the reader to look up a particular word in the dictionary and pointing us about the consequences of certain actions — while at the same over the top, funny, and confiding yet in a manner that doesn’t feel intrusive, talks down to its reader or break the story’s pace. It’s a wondeful storyteller’s voice that makes every word beg to be read aloud.
Timothy Basil Ering’s sprightly illustrations add more dimension to its quirky characters and takes the reader a step beyond the world of Despereaux. The book’s lovely design gives this fairy tale a mythic feel that contributes to its over all enjoyment.
Over and above, what makes
The Tale of Despereaux truly remarkable is that it boldly tackles weighty themes that regular children’s books would have avoided. Given that this is a fairy tale with talking animals as its characters, Kate DiCamillo dares to raise topics that are too close for comfort. She doesn’t shy away from or sugar-cost the darker aspects of her story by bringing to the fore subjects such as cruelties one can do to harm or hurt others, violence, child abuse and — the most awful of the lot — parental abandonment. Through Despereaux’s story we see the pains of being different and his search for love and acceptance, things that are not often freely given, sadly sometimes, by those who belong in our primal relationship or even by those who are close to us. Dealing with these raw emotions in a way makes me feel that it may not appeal to some readers, notable of which are parents who are cautious with what their children are reading and I at one see that this might not be an ideal bedtime story reading. But well-meaning parents please do check this one out!
Far from being gloomy,
The Tale of Despereax is a book that celebrates courage in believing in yourself, honor, redemption, kindness, compassion and forgiveness. As a full-bodied soup, it warms and comforts the heart. As an entrée, the author serves up a satisfying meal in the grand tradition of the Grimm Brother’s fairy tales yet with distinction all its own and a balanced treatment of its main ingridient, the darkness and light, each equally important but with a decided appreciation towards the latter for just as the author declares “Stories are light.” Yes, I believe this story illuminates and will be cherieshed by children and child-at-hearts. It shines on.
And how did it end you ask?
It may not end up in the way they exactly wished for, as dreams aren’t realized in the way one hopes it to be. Still one can create it in a way it is need and can be achieved in more ways than one which goes to say that yes, Gentle Reader, each character deserves their own happily ever after.
_________________________
Book Details:
Book
#9 for 2011
Published by Candlewick Press
(Hardcover, First Edition 2003)
270 pages
Started: March 27, 2011
Finished: March 27, 2011
My Rating:★★★★★
[See this book review on my book blog
Dark Chest of Wonders and for many others.]
Rating: really liked it
I never knew this was a book. I saw the movie of it on one of my bus trips north. Or maybe it was on the return trip south. Or even both, because I know I saw it twice. I thought the movie was wonderful, but as I say, I never knew it had been a book first. I just stumbled across the title while browsing at my favorite online used book seller one day and thought 'Oh, I have to get this!'
And the book was every bit as wonderful as the movie. Actually better, because I loved the way DiCamillo would address remarks directly to the Reader every so often. We are told to go look up the word
perfidy in the dictionary. We are told to say the word
quest out loud.
It is an extraordinary word, isn't it? So small and yet so full of wonder, so full of hope.And we are reminded of realities:
Reader, you must know that an interesting fate (sometimes involving rats, sometimes not) awaits almost everyone, mouse or man, who does not conform. Oh, speaking of rats:
Rats have a sense of humor. Rats, in fact, think that life is very funny. And they are right, reader. They are right.Our hero Despereaux does not conform. He did not fit into Mouse World from the day he was born. He had to learn to be himself. And his fate did involve rats, but it also involved love, hope, light, and of course soup.
Despereaux is supposed to eat the glue and pages of the books in the castle library, but instead he discovers that he can read, and he reads a story of a knight who rescues a princess. This story gives him the idea that will eventually be both his undoing and his salvation.
There is a Princess, who is not used to being told what to do. And there is a peasant girl is is not used to anything other than being told what to do. And getting clouted on the ear. I felt very sorry for this girl, named Miggery Sow. Her father sold her for a red blanket, a chicken, and a handful of cigarettes. She sees the Princess ride by one day and decides then that she wants to be a Princess too. But the world does not care what poor Mig wants. She is taken at one point from the man who bought her, put to work in the castle and eventually plays her part in Despereaux's quest.
Parts of the story were a little puzzling to me. Did Mig really have to get clouted on the ear so much? Was it necessary to have her (and later the King) described as
not the sharpest knife in the drawer? This bit troubled me a little, but overall the book is fun, and would be great to read aloud.
Rating: really liked it
3 starsI remember reading this as a child and enjoying it, though I'm sure it wouldn't be as good as when I'd read it at eleven. Therefore, 3 stars seems good enough.
Rating: really liked it
I had high hopes for Kate DiCamillo’s
The Tale of Despereaux. What could I not like? It was about a tiny mouse with big ears, ostracized from the other mice, who fell in love with the human Princess Pea. Armed with only a sewing needle, Despereaux bravely goes to battle with the devious rats in the palace dungeon who have stolen her.
I mean, it’s got to be great, right?!!! So I took it on vacation with my six-year-old son to read to him at bedtimes.
Sadly, the story is slow paced and doesn’t contain enough action to hold the interest of a six-year-old boy or a 40something dad.
Inconceivably, DiCamillo spends the majority of the book writing about deaf serving girl Miggery Sow and the evil rat, Roscuro and not our hero mouse—something you would not expect in a book titled:
The Tale of Despereaux. In fact in just a few minutes I have gone to the living room bookcase and grabbed Alex Haley’s
Roots,
To Kill a Mockingbird,
Fifty Shades of Grey, and the Merriam-Webster Dictionary and they all contain more action concerning tiny mice with large ears named Despereaux then DiCamillo’s book. Gor! The running gag of striking Miggery Sow, (a young girl) in the ear (she ultimately goes deaf—ha?) made me uncomfortable and the ending showdown between mouse-knight and rats was anticlimactic and disappointing on so many levels.
On a positive note, my son says he did enjoy it and wants to see the movie, but I feel perhaps he saw how excited I was to read this and didn’t want to disappoint me.
Rating: really liked it
I've now read this for the third time, every time as an adult. This is a book about the power of love and kindness. It is about how we are more alike than we are different. Important ideas to reinforce, and becoming more important by the day.
Highly recommended to kids of all ages and the audio performance is beautifully and sensitively performed.
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I loved this book. There are so many great lessons for kids about doing the right thing, being brave, forgiving and having empathy for others. It was very well-written. I also loved the author asides, as it brought an interesting flavor to the story and made it unique. The story itself was solid, but I liked the lessons and her delivery the best. I definitely want to read more by this author.
*read this book again, and loved it, maybe even more than before. I'm reading another by her now too. What a nice, gentle read with some great messages for kids.
Rating: really liked it
This book left me with the feeling that this story may not appeal to all readers. There were several important themes addressed in the story, yet little emotional attachment to the characters. The only character that many might relate to is Despereaux himself. He is ‘different’ both physically and emotionally from his peers which at first mostly works against him, though ultimately these unique qualities eventually save the day.
I did really appreciate the way this author drew in the reader in a direct manner, literally addressing the reader in the story as if the author and reader are in this together. The author almost forces the reader to actively acknowledge the examples of forgiveness, the pain of being different, grief, prejudice, cruelty not only between natural enemies but also cruelty in those primary relationships with those who are supposed to love us, i.e., parents. There are also examples of compassion as shown by the princess, the cook, and a mouse.
One important concept was present throughout the story. Light is good and darkness is evil. Striving for light (and music) represents hope and all that is worth striving for. Even the evil rat wants this light in the form of possessing the princess. The dungeon, or darkness, is scary, dirty, confusing, and cruel. Death resides in the darkness. The message is clear, i.e., keep heading for the light.
I am glad the author did not end the story with a flip ‘happily ever after’ tone. Instead she showed how someone may not achieve exactly what they’d wished for, yet can still create a satisfactory life.
Perhaps cutting off a mouse tail, hitting a girl until she is deaf, abandoning a child to a male predator, and images of being murdered by a disgusting rat left me feeling a tad raw. I certainly do realize there are children who are treated terribly in our real world, but I struggle to believe that any child would particular want to read about it.
