Rating: 
Summary: The story lends itself to the young as well as the old.
Review: This children's classic would definitely be rejected by most modern kids--in fact, I had to force myself through the first third of the book, until the plot became more believable. Page after page of nonsense poetry and absurd adult-child conversatons put me off. The Human story itself is pretty good: a frail, sickly, angelic boy of 7 (?), son of a poor coachman in 19th century London, has the unque ability to charm those he meets, to touch the lives of children and adults alike, changing them for the better. Some people consider him mentally unsound, but his heart is pure. Like Little Lord Fauntleroy, he seems too good to be true. Or to survive the emotional storms of Life. The book opens with the Fantasy element--where Diamond meets the mysterious lady whom he comes to love and trust completely: North Wind. This strange, nocturnal companion assumes many sizes and guises; she blows to sweep away Life's mess as well as to sink ships (obeying orders from an unnamed authority.) The quaint literary style, as well as outdated vocabulary, challenge today's readers. Diamond's philosophy of Life was changed ever since his return from the Back of the Noth Wind. One has to read this book to give other names to that special place and his beloved, long-haired lady. A curious mixture of plot and pseudo-religious themes. Recommended for 19th century studies of children's literature.
Rating: 
Summary: GOD'S BABY
Review: This children's classic would definitely be rejected by most modern kids--in fact, I had to force myself through the first third of the book, until the plot became more believable. Page after page of nonsense poetry and absurd adult-child conversatons put me off. The Human story itself is pretty good: a frail, sickly, angelic boy of 7 (?), son of a poor coachman in 19th century London, has the unque ability to charm those he meets, to touch the lives of children and adults alike, changing them for the better. Some people consider him mentally unsound, but his heart is pure. Like Little Lord Fauntleroy, he seems too good to be true. Or to survive the emotional storms of Life. The book opens with the Fantasy element--where Diamond meets the mysterious lady whom he comes to love and trust completely: North Wind. This strange, nocturnal companion assumes many sizes and guises; she blows to sweep away Life's mess as well as to sink ships (obeying orders from an unnamed authority.) The quaint literary style, as well as outdated vocabulary, challenge today's readers. Diamond's philosophy of Life was changed ever since his return from the Back of the Noth Wind. One has to read this book to give other names to that special place and his beloved, long-haired lady. A curious mixture of plot and pseudo-religious themes. Recommended for 19th century studies of children's literature.
Rating:
Summary: A Diamond in the rough!
Review: This enchanting classic is as lively and moving to read as the day it was written. There is no Victorian stodginess or moralizing here. I remember reading an essay where Simone Weil lamented over the difficulty of portraying goodness in literature--in fiction evil seemed to dominate. Well here in the character of the lad Diamond is one of the most convincing evocations of human goodness and saintliness in literature, childrens' or adult. One is reminded of St. Francis of Assisi when contemplating Diamond; his purity, innocense, and unselfconsciousness float right off the page. I especilly call your attention to the dialogue between Diamond and his mother on the beach as she tries hopelessly to explain to him that now they are poor. His sublimely worldly (and yet otherworldly )responses are both hilarious and deeply moving. One of MacDonald's core beliefs, so often and passionately stated throughout his writings, is here given flesh and blood: goodness is truth.
Rating:
Summary: Simply Enchanting!!
Review: This is such a delightful fairy tale. Marvelously filled with symbolic imagery and description. Its wholesomeness makes it a refreshing story to tell our children today. Read it to your kids ... let their imaginations soar to newer and purer heights. This is definitely one classic they will never forget!
Rating:
Summary: The story lends itself to the young as well as the old.
Review: Three generations in my family have read this story. I found it at a yard sale many years ago and read it. I was captivated by the charm of the characters and the wit bestowed upon the reader. It had me believing in the whole concept of its tale. Reading it to my daughter and then to my granddaughter also has been equally a pleasure knowing that they too have enjoyed the same sense of wonder and love for this wonderful story. They have in turn reread this story for themselves as years went by. It may be a fairytale but it can in fact take the young as well as the old and all the inbetween ages into a lovely world that may or may not be makebelieve. A marvelous book indeed!
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