Strange little book. The premise is one I enjoy, as I've always been somewhat fascinated by unusually small things, and the notion of experiencing the world from the perspective of a very small being. So I loved all the little contraptions and whatnot created to help Stuart function in a human-sized house.However, the book kind of felt like White didn't really know what he was doing with it or where he was going with it. The first half of it consists of largely unrelated, episodic adventures around New York, and then the second half develops a somewhat more cohesive plot as he embarks on his quest to find Margalo. Only barely more cohesive, though, as it too consists of a series of basically unrelated escapade along his journey.And then it just ends. No, seriously. It's like White just stopped writing in the middle of the story. We don't find out if Stuart finds Margalo, or anything about what happens to Margalo. We don't know how the Little family reacts to Stuart's departure, or if he ever makes it back. We just know he sets out on this quest, and that's it. It really feels unfinished, and I actually checked to see if maybe he died in the middle of writing it or something, but no. It was written earlier than the other two books included in this volume, so I don't know. Maybe he got bored? In any case, it's kind of bizarre.Also contributing to my sense that he didn't really know what he was doing with this story is the fact that, for the most part, aside from the fact that Stuart is a mouse born to a human family, everything is basically, well, reasonably plausible. The things his father builds for him make sense, the fact that he wears doll clothes makes sense, and even his sailing of the model ship is conceivable. Someone could be crazy enough to build a model ship that is fully functional, to the point of being crewable if only you could find a crew small enough. But then there's the little car. OK, there again, maybe you could be crazy enough to build a model car that actually runs on gasoline and everything. But this thing has an invisibility button. WTF? All of a sudden, this bit of complete outlandishness is just dropped into the story. And for no particularly good reason. The car goes invisible in its owner's office, crashes around for a while, and that's it. From that point on, it's just Stuart's little car. Never goes invisible again. And how it becomes invisible is also entirely unexplained. Weird.His encounter with Harriet, the two-inch-tall girl is also fairly random and fairly pointless. They meet, try to have a date, it doesn't really work, she goes home, and he continues his journey. What was the point of that? I'd have made her another mouse person like Stuart, and maybe they could continue to journey together or something. Instead we just had this random meeting (which was another instance of unexplained phenomenon - why is she two inches tall, but otherwise a regular person? If we're being asked to accept that Stuart's situation is conceivable, why not just stick with that? Why mess with it like this?), for no particular reason.Also, I know it's a children's book, and a fairly old one at that, but let's have some standards of literature here. Frankly, I expect better than the following from a man who's written his own bloody book about grammar:[Stuart:] whipped off his cap, lay down on his stomach, and dipped up some of the cool refreshing drink, using his cap as a dipper."That's very refreshing," remarked Stuart. "There's nothing like a long, cool drink in the heat of the day, when you're travelling."102-103Really? You feel the need to repeat that it's a cool, refreshing drink two sentences right in a row? Really? Maybe I'm overreacting, but that just seemed like really bad, lazy writing.Anyway. It was cute, but frankly, I don't know that I would recommend it, due pretty much entirely to the totally bizarre and abrupt way it ends. I just don't see the point of reading a story with no discernible plot arc or resolution of any kind.
Mr. and Mrs. Little are a little surprised when their newborn son looks somewhat like a mouse, but they and their older son George love him regardless of his appearance and tiny size. But a little mouse growing up in a big city is going to mean some giant adventures.I don't remember reading this as a kid, but I think if I had it would hold up more for me after all these years. This is an odd little story (and I use the term story loosely). It's a series of misadventures featuring Stuart and his family, the house cat Snowbell, a lovely little bird named Margolo, and some other random citizens of New York and surrounding areas, but there's no real thread to tie them all together. Stuart's journey to find and rescue Margolo is an interesting idea for a great adventure, but it turns out so abrupt and unsatisfying that it makes you wonder if he just stopped halfway through and sent it to the publisher as is (which, according to some reports, is more or less what happened). It's fun to see a big city through tiny eyes, and some of the adventures are rollicking and exciting, but they never really mean or lead to anything, so it's hard to get invested. Stuart is also actually kind of an unpleasant, self-centered little fellow, which isn't the worst thing ever for a fictional character, but there didn't seem to be many redeeming qualities. Still, the writing is readable and has a nice energy, it's decidedly wholesome and there are a few prime comedic moments. The illustrations by Garth Williams are nice to look at and add some charm to the sometimes strange proceedings.I'm sorry to say that I didn't love this children's classic. It had some great comedy and the premise is odd but fun, but the episodic story is pretty ho-hum, especially when you get to the sudden end. Stuart's kind of a pill, but it's fun to see the big city through his tiny eyes, even if it doesn't make sense (and doesn't bother trying) (and doesn't really need to). This is one of the rare cases when the movie(s), though imperfect, actually improve(s) on the story in some ways.-----------------------------------------"What next do you study?" asked Stuart."Spelling," cried the children."Well," said Stuart, "a misspelled word is an abomination in the sight of everyone. I consider it a very fine thing to spell words correctly and I strongly urge every one of you to buy a Webster's Collegiate Dictionary and consult it whenever you are in the slightest doubt. So much for spelling. What's next?" (90)Stuart rose from the ditch, climbed into his car, and started up the road that led toward the north. The sun was just coming up over the hills on his right. As he peered ahead into the great land that stretched before him, the way seemed long. But the sky was bright, and he somehow felt he was headed in the right direction (131).
Do You like book Stuart Little (2005)?
Forgive me, I'm in a maudlin mood today and had to post this.It all started here, folks, my love of stories. I have vivid memories of my mother, God rest her loving soul, reading this book to me as a kid (funny, though I can't remember if my older sister and brother were present -- maybe they'd moved on to big kid books?). I think I was 5 or 6 at the time. I keep a copy on my nightstand. As then, I'm still mesmerized by the marvelous drawings, as well. I do love that mouse!Anyone care to mention their favorite childhood book, the one that made you fall in love with reading, I invite you to post it here.
—Tom
This children’s book is generally recognized as a classic in children's literature. I like to read classics in different genres and thought that I would give this book a read.This book is about a mouse, Stuart Little, that is born to a couple in New York City. It’s about Stuart’s different experiences living in a human world. It was interesting that the book did not give much detail about obvious questions like what did friends, family and neighbors think about Stuart’s parents raising a mouse as a boy? Why did the family seem to think a mouse was a boy? My main criticism of the book is that it is a bunch of well written scenes, which is expected of E. B. White author of one classic writing books – The Elements of Style, but there is no real storyline (plot), growth in Stuart, or a satisfying ending. Actually the ending is very disappointing, as Stuart does not find his bird friend, Margalo.I did like the individual scenes in the book. White is a master of the written word and painted vivid scenes, but there did not seem to be any continuity to the next scene in the story. I guess that young children might find a story about a mouse living as a boy interesting but I think most everyone would be better served reading White’s other children’s classic Charlotte’s Web rather than Stuart Little. Other books I’ve read/listened to by author•tThe Elements of Style – E. B. White and William Strunk Jr.•tCharlotte’s Web – E. B. White
—Juergen John Roscher
Just read this to my 6 year old twin boys. They liked it pretty well, and maintained interest and enthusiasm over several reading sessions which we don't do much of yet.For my part, I don't remember whether I had it read to me as a child or not. The book ends with an ambiguous and, to my mind, somewhat sad ending. There is some truly random stuff in this book. An invisible car for one. One inconsistency that bothered me a bit was that it was explicitly stated that Stuart is too small to carry money. In fact there is an episode where he attempts to pay for a busride with aluminum foil coins his father made for him. Later on though he pays for everything from a mini-canoe to gasoline without incident. He even argues with the gas station attendant along the lines that "I need gas and you need the money so why don't you make the sale" when the attendant expresses unwillingness to sell five drops of gas.I also found Stuarts personality a bit abrasive. He's proud, formal, sulky, and easily offended. Perhaps his struggles for respect resonate more with children though.
—globulon
