Rating: 
Summary: A much needed children's classic
Review: A children's story that may be read on several different level's, North Wind is a timeless work of literature. Eagerly anticipated and listened to by the children I read it to, the story also strikes deeply at our adult sense of spirituality. This is the kind of writing that brings back the rewarding closeness of reading aloud to others. Too bad we don't do more of this.
Rating:
Summary: A much needed children's classic
Review: A children's story that may be read on several different level's, North Wind is a timeless work of literature. Eagerly anticipated and listened to by the children I read it to, the story also strikes deeply at our adult sense of spirituality. This is the kind of writing that brings back the rewarding closeness of reading aloud to others. Too bad we don't do more of this.
Rating:
Summary: Diamonds Are Forever
Review: Flying, whirling, spiraling through the night sky, the beautiful and powerful North Wind takes little Diamond and the reader on countless journeys throughout England in the late 1800's. As Diamond travels with North Wind he experiences what it means to truly live, and he matures in wisdom far beyond his young years. Throughout the novel, numerous hardships befall Diamond's family, and he is forced to drive a horse-drawn cab in order to help his family survive. Although just a young boy at the time, he shows remarkable strength, and fortune seems to follow him in whatever he does. But is it fortune or North Wind? Even though mostly indirectly, North Wind plays an extremely manipulating part in Diamond's life, for the good and the temporary bad. One night, she takes him on a magical flight to a beautiful country behind her, and throughout all his trials and achievements, Diamond longs to revisit that peaceful country. Diamond's life is grievous, but his innocence forever pulls him closer to his heart's desire. With wonderfully created characters, excellent scenery, and master storytelling skills, British author George MacDonald has written a marvelous piece of classical children's literature that has thrived through over one hundred years of written storytelling. Although fantastical in nature, he imparts on his readers, through the personalities and behaviors of Diamond and his family, a certain level of morality that is almost nonexistent today. This children's novel is written in classical British English, yet it is easy and fun to read with many songs, poems and stories within the larger story. MacDonald does an excellent job of depicting life and death in a positive manner, and the parallels to Christianity and God's relationship to his children are evident for all readers to see. Even though some of the formal British mannerisms outlined within these pages are antiquated, I highly recommend this story to any parent looking to provide their child with a good, wholesome work of literature. AT THE BACK OF THE NORTH WIND also serves as a great comparison to modern prose and society. Reviewed by Natasha T.
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers
Rating:
Summary: Diamonds Are Forever
Review: Flying, whirling, spiraling through the night sky, the beautiful and powerful North Wind takes little Diamond and the reader on countless journeys throughout England in the late 1800's. As Diamond travels with North Wind he experiences what it means to truly live, and he matures in wisdom far beyond his young years. Throughout the novel, numerous hardships befall Diamond's family, and he is forced to drive a horse-drawn cab in order to help his family survive. Although just a young boy at the time, he shows remarkable strength, and fortune seems to follow him in whatever he does. But is it fortune or North Wind? Even though mostly indirectly, North Wind plays an extremely manipulating part in Diamond's life, for the good and the temporary bad. One night, she takes him on a magical flight to a beautiful country behind her, and throughout all his trials and achievements, Diamond longs to revisit that peaceful country. Diamond's life is grievous, but his innocence forever pulls him closer to his heart's desire. With wonderfully created characters, excellent scenery, and master storytelling skills, British author George MacDonald has written a marvelous piece of classical children's literature that has thrived through over one hundred years of written storytelling. Although fantastical in nature, he imparts on his readers, through the personalities and behaviors of Diamond and his family, a certain level of morality that is almost nonexistent today. This children's novel is written in classical British English, yet it is easy and fun to read with many songs, poems and stories within the larger story. MacDonald does an excellent job of depicting life and death in a positive manner, and the parallels to Christianity and God's relationship to his children are evident for all readers to see. Even though some of the formal British mannerisms outlined within these pages are antiquated, I highly recommend this story to any parent looking to provide their child with a good, wholesome work of literature. AT THE BACK OF THE NORTH WIND also serves as a great comparison to modern prose and society. Reviewed by Natasha T.
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers
Rating: 
Summary: This book takes you on a voyage through life's mysteries.
Review: I read this book from the library and once again, I am buying a copy. My 14 year old son is now reading it and can't seem to put it down. George MacDonald's imagination is incredible. You never know what is next. The story is of a servant's child who is visited and taken on journeys by the Lady North Wind. It is set in the time period of Charles Dickens' stories and is refreshingly challenging. Unlike many of today's books for children, it makes them think about life's myteries and challenges their intellect and values. I think most people find it 'boring' or 'difficult to get through' because it is so unreasonable.
Rating:
Summary: This book takes you on a voyage through life's mysteries.
Review: I very much enjoyed this book and especially the character of young Diamond. I couldn't help but want to actually have a conversation with him and to experience more of his unselfish, pure and innocent wisdom. At times I found it difficult to get through partly because it was written in a different time and possibly becuase I have a short attention span. Either way, it provided a pleasant journey into this child's world.
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful story although tough to get through at times.
Review: I very much enjoyed this book and especially the character of young Diamond. I couldn't help but want to actually have a conversation with him and to experience more of his unselfish, pure and innocent wisdom. At times I found it difficult to get through partly because it was written in a different time and possibly becuase I have a short attention span. Either way, it provided a pleasant journey into this child's world.
Rating:
Summary: Haunting and poignant
Review: I've never read anyone who writes quite like MacDonald. When you read him it is not the quality of his writing, but rather his personality (kindly and eccentric, at the same time so quintessentially Scotch)and immensely powerful and original imagination that show on the page. He is more an excellent storyteller than a "proper" author, I think. In the North Wind, as in much of MacDonald's work, there is a wealth of moral and religous themes and analougies under the surface. In my mid 20's now, I was surprised at the effect that reading MacDonald's childrens books has had on me. It is not that I would have disagreed on an intellectual level with anything in the books before reading them, but rather that McDonald has a talent for gently bringing people to examine what their opinions mean and how they treat other people as a result of them. I've found more than a few chinks in my own armour, in that respect. As for North Wind in particular, it's quite a breathtaking, display of raw, imaginative brawn. The first third or so of the book is perhaps one of the most chilling and beautiful stories I've ever read. It becomes a little more conventional after that and meanders a little. There is a good bit of amiable nonsense and a fairy tale within it that, though it seems a little tacked on and has nothing to do with the greater story, is still very clever and charming. I think most adults will see the ending coming, but it left me a little shaken up anyway. Like some of the other reviewers have mentioned, it's a very hard thing to create a character who is absoulutely good. There is a real danger of making the character into a weak, simpering, priggish, goody two shoes. It's a testament to MacDonald, even just that Diamond isn't appallingly annoying, but that he is actually a very likable and smypathetic character. He reminded me very much of a small version of Dostoyevsky's Prince Myshkin. To close, I feel I can hardly recommend MacDonald in general or North Wind in particular highly enough. Be certain to get an unedited version, there is nothing in the original that you'll want to do without (I read the puffin classics edition with the cover art of Diamond on a glacier). Though the style is somewhat Victorian(not that there's anything in itself wrong with that) and though MacDonald's writing is a little idiosyncratic to begin with, I don't think it would present any serious problems to an older child or young adolescent reading on their own -at least, no more so than a book by Tolkien or Lewis would. It's true that McDonald was a Christian minister and this book is proabably best used, and was most likely originally intended, to be read aloud by parents to their children within a Christian family. That said, I do not think there is anything in it that any person with faith in God, whether they were Christian or otherwise, would find fault with. I think MacDonald is an author who repays an open and thoughtful reading in a way that will work for many people in many stages of their life.
Rating:
Summary: A book of Faith
Review: This children's book has had a profound impact on my faith and spirituality. It is a book I have read and re-read over the years, especially when I am struggling with my faith. The story, Diamond's relationship with the North Wind, satisfies one on an almost mystical level. Its simple, beautiful story leaves one knowing that no matter what happens in the world, God is God; and we can rest assured that He is in control. We can be at peace, in spite of the pain and evil in the world. Don't look for answers. Simply read the story and let it wash over you. If you have the faith of a child, you will not be unaffected.
Rating:
Summary: A book of Faith
Review: This children's book has had a profound impact on my faith and spirituality. It is a book I have read and re-read over the years, especially when I am struggling with my faith. The story, Diamond's relationship with the North Wind, satisfies one on an almost mystical level. Its simple, beautiful story leaves one knowing that no matter what happens in the world, God is God; and we can rest assured that He is in control. We can be at peace, in spite of the pain and evil in the world. Don't look for answers. Simply read the story and let it wash over you. If you have the faith of a child, you will not be unaffected.
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