The Adventures of Pinocchio (1883)

On the whole, this has to be the least satisfying classic I've read over the past couple of months. I genuinely disliked nearly every character in the book, with special emphasis on Pinocchio. I was rooting for the fireplace rather than the real boy angle. ( )

The book is better than the Disney movie -- which was still a good movie. I've also seen a wonderful theatrical production at the Children's Theatre Company in Minneapolis. Another one I ought to reread. ( )

I don't think I even meant to download the ebook for Pinocchio -- it's not something I had on my mental list of books I intended to read. I don't know who translated the version I read, but it was easy enough to read. It reads like quite a light story, but Pinocchio isn't a terribly nice character. He's, well. A boy. A little boy, selfish and without much of a moral compass to call his own. I couldn't really root for him, to be honest, and his moments of compassion and caring for other people seemed just that... moments. I guess he reminded me of Peter Pan a little, in his selfishness and his boyishness. I can imagine a little boy really being somewhat like Pinocchio, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. If the book had been longer or less lightly written, I daresay I wouldn't have liked it at all.

I was glad for the lack of constant overt moralising, like Jiminy in the Disney adaptation. There is a little, of course, but it doesn't really seem to sink into Pinocchio's head... the ending is a little saccharine-sweet, with Gepetto being made young again and Pinocchio turning into a real boy through reforming and so on, but it isn't too irritating.

It was enjoyable as a quick read, as a break from doing essays, and I wonder if I'd have liked it more if I'd read it as a kid, but it didn't really arouse strong feelings either way. ( )

I read the ebook version from the library. This story was so cute and so well written. It reminded me of my childhood when I'd watch the movie and listen to my little record of the soundtrack. It has such a good moral lesson too. ( )

Pinocchio è la prima volta che lo leggo; per questo sono rimasta stupita dal romanzo, la mia aspettativa era ormai stata traviata dal Pinoccio della Disney (che c'entra ben poco con la storia di Collodi).
"Pinocchio" è un romanzo cattivo (non saprei dire quanto sia "per bambini"), il grillo muore nelle prime pagine, ci sono impiccagioni, assassini, annegamenti e frustate.
C'è da dire che nella prima parte Pinocchio è un burattino decisamente strafottente e insopportabile (ma poi migliora).
Secondo me nel romanzosi può vedere un bello spaccato di Italia, come Collodi la conosceva - ma che non è molto cambiata -, ci sono gli approfittatori che ingannano i poveri burattini promettendo ricchezze facili (perchè mi vengono in mente i politici?), ci sono le folle che incitano la ragione a dormire e si generano mostri (perchè mi vengono in mente le manifestazioni politiche e le tifoserie?), c'è un burattino che vuole lavorare poco e godersela molto, insomma in fin dei conti, chi più chi meno, siamo tutti burattini, c'è da sperare di riuscire, prima o poi, a diventare ragazzi veri.
( )