Any book by JK Rowling is doomed to be compared to Harry Potter. In my opinion, it is clear that she will not write something as powerful as GP, because it is hardly possible to create two such works in one human life. But we really expect good books from her.
The recently released “The Ickabog” is a specific book, not for everyone. But “The Christmas Pig” can be safely recommended to all children from about 6 to 10 years old. Maybe up to 12, if the child still believes in the fairy tale. This is a real fairy tale, not fantasy, a very Christmas, very atmospheric and dynamic fairy tale.
It turns out that all the things we lost are sent to the Land of Loss and wait there for the owner to find them again. In this country, things are distributed among different territories based on how dear they were to their owners: those dear to the heart live in golden palaces and almost certainly know that sooner or later they will go back to the “upper” world; and there are trinkets that people were only too happy to get rid of - these are doomed to lead a miserable existence, and their hope of returning is very slim. There are also intermediate territories. There is also one who keeps the whole country in fear - his name is Loss (this one can be called). There are also those who are in the service of Lost.
The population of the Land of Loss is very diverse, because here you can find all the things ever produced by man: a Gardening Glove, a Phone Book, a Compass, a Pair of Precious Earrings, Wrapping Paper. But it is not only material goods that can be lost, so here we will also get acquainted with Hope, Principles, an unfinished Poem, Fiction, and even a gang of Bad Habits.
The boy Jack ends up in this country on Christmas night. He is looking for his favorite toy, which he has not parted with for all seven years of his life since birth - a little plush pig named Pook - his best friend, to whom he could tell all his joys and sorrows in a cave under a blanket, and who understood everything without words. He was treacherously thrown out of the window by one good girl (yes, good - with JK Rowling, everything, as always, is multi-layered and complicated). Twin brother Poka, a brand new pink pig still smelling of the store, sent to replace his old friend, will lead Jack to save the one and only one, with a dirty ear and smelling of his mother's perfume.
"The Christmas Pig" is a little reminiscent of "The Blue Bird": Maeterlinck's things also come to life and travel with children through an imaginary country, also on Christmas night. But in "Piglet" there is much less "parable" and metaphor. If “The Blue Bird” is a measured, almost biblical story, then “Piglet” is drive, race, intensity of passions and a million interesting details (but still remember that happiness, like a glove, can be suddenly lost).
The book is well written, well translated, well published. It is medium format, voluminous, in a dust jacket, on white paper. The drawings, however, are black and white, but very, very good, you will look at each picture with pleasure.
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