|
Quite enjoyable, and I'm really looking forward to the next two. What makes him amusing is his sense of humor, but what makes hi compelling is the ways in which he lies to himself in order to justify some of his decisions when everyone around him can see his real motivation.
I was quite pleasantly surprised, though the book is based on a webcomic and sometimes feels like it.Greg Heffley is the wimpy kid of the title, and is also (not surprisingly) the narrator of this "novel in comics". Jeff Kinney, Diary of a Wimpy Kid (Abrams, 2007)The Diary of a Wimpy Kid books have become the biggest teen-lit sensation since Harry Potter, so I figured I needed to see what all the fuss was about and give them a try.
Lots of other reviews have talked about how authentic Greg's voice is, and that's a strong part of what makes this so much fun, but no one zeroes in on Greg's finely-honed sense of self-deception. He and his best friend Rowley are school outcasts.
We go through Greg and Rowley's seventh grade year, seeing things through Greg's jaundiced eyes as he tries to climb the social ladder while not turning into a complete idiot. That's the sort of little quirk that turns an average book into a good one.
*** ½
The series was provided to my grandchild's 2nd grade class to read. These books are droll vignettes of daily existence.Greg's days consist principally of dodging the paper wads and water balloonslife swats his way. I was weary myself by the time I finished the 1st book. My grandchild put forth persistent effort to read them and seemed to enjoy doing so. But, I am of the opinion children should be spared exposure to the the tedium and fatigue of adult life until they are---let's say, young adults.
My grandson was so excited when he opened my gift of three Wimpy Kid books. This was the first one he picked to read. He took it with him in the car and never put it down. He loved the first one that he read which was the second last one published and could not believe his good fortune to receive all the rest of them.
Until the Wimpy Kid books came along, the only books my son would read willingly were Captain Underpants books. This book (and its sequels) are hilarious, and will engage even the most reluctant reader. My daughter loves this series too - not just for boys. Very nicely done, with the realistic perspective of a young boy.
I bought all 4 books from the WImpy Kid series for my soon to be 8 yr old. And I got them just in time for him to read over the summer. He loves them. Already read one whole book. I looked everywhere for these books and this was the best price.and they are hard cover, which are way more durable for the younger readers.Very cute cartoons, and it makes the little guys think they are reading huge chapter books, the point is to get them to read, and enjoy it. These books do just that.
|
