Rating: Summary: The greatest children's book I have ever read Review: I remember reading Norton Juster's "The Phantom Tollbooth" when I was in third grade and liking it for its adventure, its characters, and its wordplay (though I missed most of it that time around). I've kept the same copy over the years - both covers have fallen off, but I have fond memories of it. About a week ago I took it off the shelf and read it again because I was bored (much like Milo, the book's main character, was when he first stepped into the Tollbooth). What I found was a splendid allegorical story that has a refreshing lookout on life quite different from that preached by most children's fantasy. The genre of escapist fantasy, fueled by claims that as long as one has imagination one doesn't have to do anything, is debunked by this book. Its last words are "I would like to make another trip, but I really don't know when I'll have the time. There's just so much to do right here."The wordplay in this book approaches Carollian proportions in parts. The descriptions of the demons near the end (including such monstrosities as the Horrible Hopping Hindsight, a "most unpleasant fellow whose eyes were in the rear and whose rear was out in front... he invariably leapt before he looked and never cared where he was going as long as he knew why he shouldn't have gone to where he'd been") are wonderfully clever and illustrate the worse sides of human nature very well. Other characters - Alec Bings (he sees through things); the fat/thin/tiny/giant man, Dr. Dischord and the Awful DYNNE; Chroma the color conductor; the Spelling Bee; and the .58 of a boy (he's one of the 2.58 children the average family has) are all so well done that one finds oneself reading their parts over and over again with a grin on one's face. Though the allegory becomes too simple as one grows older, it should be returned to over and over again just to see if you missed anything the last time around. It was only recently that I noticed the wonderful line "Is everybody who lives in Ignorance as bad as you?"
Rating: Summary: A favorite smile Review: When I think of Milo and the Phantom Tollbooth, I instantly smile. As an adult it is still one of my favorite books, not because it stirs up memories of lovely childhood summers that could sometimes become "boring", but because Juster plays with language and characters in such an entertaining way. Even the title is intriguing to me, hinting at the adventure waiting inside. This sits right next to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on my list of best children's stories.
Rating: Summary: A Great Book Review: Milo was a kid who was bored. All at once a tollbooth appears in his bedroom. Milo gets into his car and drives through the tollbooth. Instantly Milo was transported to another land. In the land called "Beyond Expectations", Milo meets a dog named Tock. Tock is a clock dog that ticks. Together they continue the adventure. The next stop on the trip is a town called "Dictionapoplis" where they meet a Humbug and a Spelling Bee. Milk and Tuck get thrown in jail because of a fight between the Humbug and Spelling Bee. In jail they meet "Which", an old lady who helps them find a way out. Here they hear the story of Princesses Rhythm and Reason. A royal banquet was held at the king's palace. Milo and Tock were volunteered to go find the Princesses and bring them back. Milo and Tock see many interesting places and meet many people. Does Milo finally rescue the Princesses? Does Milo return home safely? How does the book end? I'm not going to spoil the book's ending. Enjoy reading the book to find out. I loved the book because it is a mystery with each chapter something new and different. I enjoyed the book, I hope you do to.
Rating: Summary: A tour of the mind ! Review: This book "The Phantom Tollbooth" is a childhood must read. The book leads you on a tour of the imagantion. It's easy to read and can give you the best mind tour. Even for a yonger person. I personally have read this book in a standard English class in 6 th grade and it even today remains on my "Best Book" list. presently, I am in 10th grade and in honors classes, oddly enough,I GREATLY enjoy this book. It'll bring you on the tour of your life time. I plain to read "The Phantom Tollbooth", a creative book when my lovely children arrive. A comparative author to this sort of book would be C.S Louis. They are both great authors.
Rating: Summary: The Phantom Tollboth Review: The phantom tollbooth is a book about a young boy, Milo, in which a magical tollbooth turns up in his room one day and he is wisked away to a magical kingdow where there is much unrestfulness for the princesses Rhyme and Reason are kidnapped. Along the way he passes through the Doldrums, meets the man who makes all noises, and the orchestra who paints teh morning with their instruments. This book is so rich in color and wordplay that it is so engrossing to read. The way the author wrote it is so unuiqe and special. It is differnet from any other book I have read. The one story this reminded me of was ALice in Wonderland. Both are classics.
Rating: Summary: A classic that stays fresh Review: It was over 15 years ago when I first plowed into this book, but it reveals a new facet to itself every time one delves into it anew. And it works on many levels-- as adventure story, as allegory, as Alice-in-Wonderland-style surrealistic tale. The chief character, Milo, has a serious case of ennui at a young age. He sees little point in doing or experiencing anything. One day, a mysterious tollbooth materializes before him, and through it Milo is transported into Dictionopolis, a world so weird that it makes Oz seem truly as normal as Kansas. There are characters such as the bickering Humbug, the aptly-named Spelling Bee (who reflexively spells out commonly-used words), and the marvelously tongue-twisting Weatherman, whose splendid spoonerisms would put Gilbert and Sullivan to shame. Things in Dictionopolis happen for no particular reason, its denizens act with no point in mind, and in general things make absolutely no sense. Even the poor king is constantly embroiled in conflicts with himself, over, of course, nothing at all. All this has come to pass because the princesses, Rhyme and Reason, have gone missing. It is thus that Milo sets off on his search-and-rescue mission. To say much more would be to spoil the book's ineffable magic, so whether you're getting this book for your ten-year-old or for yourself (and there is no shame in the latter!), it's a must-have for your bookshelf.
Rating: Summary: Best book ever! Review: This book is one of the best books I've ever read, and will continue to be for a long time i believe. The book is about a kid named Milo that is always bored and doesn't want to do anything. When he is in school, he wants to be out and vice versa. So Milo one day recieves a magic tollbooth, which transports him to the place where most of the story takesplace. He meets companions and funny characters, the whether man, not the weather man, the which, not the witch, and many other puns. Great book.
Rating: Summary: Absolutely,positively,wonderously GREAT!!!!!!! Review: This is on the list of my top 3 absolutely favorite books. I got it for Christmas a few years ago, and I was overjoyed. I love it all!!!! ...The Watchdog:Tock,the Humbug,the Spelling Bee,the awful DYNE,Milo(of course),and everybody else. It makes you think a lot...I LOVE THIS BOOK!!!
Rating: Summary: The Phantom Tollbooth Review: This great book by Norton Juster is about a boy named Milo and his adventures. Milo is always bored and nothing seems to make him happy. Then all of a sudden this gift just appears in his room. So Milo opens it (who wouldn't) and it is a tollbooth. So Milo gets his toy car and rides through the tollbooth and discovers lands, meets new people, sees places. You'll have to read this book to find out what kind of adventures Milo gets in to. I would recommend this book to the kind of poele that love to open a good book and start reading it or a person that loves a book that something is always happening in it.
Rating: Summary: good book Review: greaat book! i don't read alot, and i don't finish many books. but this one i couldn't put down! if you want an exciting book ,get THE PHANTOM TOLLBOTH!
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