Thoughts about reading fiction, nonfiction, and children’s books, new and old
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
8Jul2008 Filed under: Child/Young Adult, Fiction, Reviews Author: Rebecca ReidI didn’t understand The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry at all. I guess I’m not a child.
A pilot has crashed his plane in the desert. While striving to repair it, he meets a young boy from a asteroid-star planet. The little prince’s planet has 44 sunsets a day, and the little prince is full of ideals and love. He shares his story with the pilot.
The bottom line was, I think, that adults don’t make the right priorities. I guess I also don’t make the right priorities: while I wanted to like this story of random childhood weirdness, I didn’t.
I read The Little Prince in English, but I imagine it’s a good starting point for scholars of the French language because it’s not too intimidating and the language is repetitive and easy. If I ever learn French, I’ll revisit it.
For now, however, I don’t consider it the classic, life-changing book I’ve heard it suggested that it is. What do you think?
Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed The Little Prince, leave a link in the comments and I’ll your link to this post.
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- Tags: childhood, modern classics, translations
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5 Responses to “The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry”
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About this blog
This blog is a collection of my thoughts about books and reading and reviews of books I've read. I'd love to hear your thoughts, too. Please share!
From October 2008-July 2009, I'm hosting the Really Old Classics Challenge.
Also, as an ongoing personal challenge, I'm reading all the works on the How to Read and Why reading list compiled by Harold Bloom. I'd love for you to either join me in this challenge or to follow along with me as I try to learn to read well.
Alessandra
Tuesday, July 8, 2008 at 12:39 pm
I didn’t get it either, the first time I read it (when I was a teenager). But I loved it when I read it a second time. I think it’s a book that needs to be re-read to be fully understood.
As far as translations go, I read it in Italian, which (I suppose) must be a very good translation, considering how many Italians love that book (and since I don’t know French, my only way to approach this book).
Natasha @ Maw Books
Tuesday, July 8, 2008 at 1:51 pm
Yep! Totally agree 100%. It took me a week to read this little book. I guess that shows how “into” it I really was.
Rebecca Reid
Tuesday, July 8, 2008 at 3:01 pm
@Alessandra: Maybe I’ll reread it sometime! and learn French or Italian…
@Natasha: It took me a little while to get through too. It just seemed to get weirder and weirder…
Lisa
Thursday, July 17, 2008 at 6:33 am
Hi, I just found your blog from a comment on another blog. I love your look, it’s nice and clean and still cute!
I’m one of those wierdos who LOVE The Little Prince. However, I haven’t read it in years and I am a bit afraid to do so for fear that it will ruin my love of it.
Rebecca Reid
Thursday, July 17, 2008 at 8:12 am
@Lisa:
Yes, that is a problem with reading negative reviews of books I like: I start wondering if I really liked it as much as I thought. Hope it keeps its magic for you!