The Little Prince (1943)

I was not lucky enough to have been introduced to this book as a child, but I've heard so much about it I had a nagging NEED to read it. I am so glad I finally did! This is a sweet book filled with wonderful little life lessons that are all to often forgotten these days. The Little Prince is without a doubt a true gem that will stand the test of time. ( )

"Oh, I understand just what you mean," said the little prince, "but why do you always speak in riddles?"
"I solve them all," said the snake.
And they were both silent.

Oh, yes, I am this evil. I apologize to my friends who love this book for all that I am about to say. This is the worst children's book I've read since The Giving Tree. Yes, the snake was chilling and the finale was lovely, but the underlying ideas are so awful that I can't rate this any higher.

Here's my issue: The problem with the world isn't that people grow up. It's that far too many never finish the job. The romantic obsession with being a child isn't beautiful and it isn't warranted. Growing up is good. Maturity sets you free. It is impossible to see the invisible without it. And when you truly have it, kings and vain men and drunkards and businessmen and lamplighters and geographers turn out to be as beautiful as roses, and you don't have to tame or be tamed to love someone.

It also really does not help matters that the rose is the only female voice, conforming to almost every stereotype of the feminine I can think of off the top of my head, or that the hero blithely continues on inflicting pain on those around him and this figures as wisdom. That is it, really. The wisdom contained in these pages is poison.

Loved the snake though.

(Reviewed January 2016.) ( )

When reading this book there are a few lessons that you can pick up on. For example, that humans can be materialistic, we need to appreciate the little things, etc. This book is great for older elementary students to middle school students but anyone can read it and hopefully pick up on the lesson and grew from it. ( )

Review for Norwegian version.

Ce livre est absolument, bien sûr, un classique de littérature française. Pour moi, le livre est un classique parce qu'on le peut lire à tout âge pendant sa vie. Les cours dans le carapace de le fantasie simple sont très riches, et le petit prince est charmant. Quand on sont entrain de lire, en les mots de le renard, >. Aussi, pour quelq'un comme moi, qui est un élève de le langue française, ce livre est parfait avec son vocabulaire diverse et les perspecives plusieurs.