The Borribles

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Summary: Borribles pre- Harry Potter adventure in a realistic London
Review: First time I read the Borribles was at my grandmothers' gas station. It was on the rack for young readers. But that was clearly marketing's mistake. It should've been in the adult section for the down and dirty realsitic language, in your face emotional impact and vulgar settings. M.DeLarrabetti provides a quick read in that once you've read 5 pages, you've already absorbed enough information to fill what would take another author 50 pages. DeLarrabetti has the rare talent to have the readers own imagination work as feverently with providing description / details as reading with the eyes. This has been a story that has stuck with me for the last 15 years. I still recall the characters, places and events. From Dallas to New Orleans to Northern Virginia I have been reminded of what I once read. And seen sides of the charachters (namely Charlotte and Orrocco and Knocker) in the people I've met during my life. I've praised / recommendated The Borribles to my friends and gave away my only copy to one on her way to Seattle. That was 7 years ago. Does anyone have a copy they can spare?

For the past year I've heard the heralds of Harry Potter. Harry Potter had to come from somewhere, and the Borribles provides an awfully good prequel to a less magical age of the depths of London and greater Europe. Perhaps Harry Potter's author (name escapes me at the moment) has read The Borribles?

It can definately make you WANT to believe things aren't always as they appear. That's for sure. And who can read this book and not WANT to imagine a life before round ears? What name might you win?

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Summary: Finally available again!!
Review: From reading the other reviews here, I can see I'm not the only person who looks at this trilogy as a "cult favorite." It seems that the Borribles definitely have a devout following!

Good news, friends! A publisher in the UK has recently re-printed all three books, in a single volume. These stories are available again at last! Click on "United Kingdom" at the bottom of your screen, and have "The Borribles Trilogy" shipped to you from Amazon.com in Great Britain.

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Summary: Fantastical, Brilliant and Fun
Review: I first read the Borribles trilogy when I was about 13 - and haven't stopped thinking about it since. Having been an avid fan (along with my brother whom I caught "secretly" practicing with a catapult in the back garden), it's been amazing to come to London and discover the settings of the stories. I used to block book the trilogy from my local library in Durban - re-reading the stories constantly - totally captured by the imaginative tellings. If ever there was a set of books that deserved to be put back into print - these are they. Please sort this out, publishers???!!

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Summary: CLASSIC ESCAPISM
Review: I first read the trilogy back in the early 80's. These books introduced me to fantasy/adventure and I haven't looked back since. I agree with many of the other reviews that this book should be recommended to everyone not just kids. Like the Harry Potter series it traps you and won't let you go. Don't be mistaken by the thought these are cute stories about children. These are gritty tales of survival and living on the edge, not soft and charming characters like Harry Potter and his friends.

When you have finished one you will crave the next.
These books have been out of print for some time but the news on the web is they are to be re-issued in June 2002. If you enjoy Hobbit's, Wizards and Adventure then you'll love The Borribles.

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Summary: Fantastic urban fantasy
Review: I read this book almost 20 years ago and found it very unique and one I couldn't put down. I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in fantasy of any kind. Very engrossing and well written. Of course I would like to find another copy and would appreciate if anyone knows where I could find it or any of the trilogy. I thank you in advance.

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Summary: Dreaming?
Review: I read this book when I was in grade school and have never seen it since. I was so engrossed in this underground existence that it has never left my mind. I was beginning to think that I had just dreamt the entire story when I found it in Amazon. I had no idea that there were 3 books and I would love to have these in hardback for my future children. Any ideas?

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Summary: Borribles
Review: I was extremly lucky enough to have read this book a long time ago ,I am searching for a copy if anyone can help please e-mail me. This book inspired me to read at a very young age.

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Summary: Blast from the past
Review: This book brings back a lot of memories. I read it in my teen years, and it reminds me of one of my English teachers who took the trouble to track down and buy me one of the sequels. That was an act of kindness I never forgot, and why I think teachers are such marvellous people to this day (I had excellent ones.)

The basic premise is of children who run away from home to an underworld/sub-world (yes, it's a kind of urban fantasy). The new arrivals have no name until they can prove they deserve one, and they can earn several. I don't remember the plot, but I know that the tribal/merit-based culture and the way they interacted was really interesting to me, and I'm getting ready to track down a copy for my niece who will soon be of an age to enjoy this one.

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Summary: If you're my friend, follow me round the bend
Review: This is probably my favourite ever book. I read it as a child and have re-read it about a hundred times since. It never fails to move me to tears and I always read it in one sitting, so mesmerising is it. It's just the sort of "not nice" book that most children would love to read in place of all the sanitised schmaltz they get fed. It has moral lessons about love, friendship and hubris, certainly, but the pace of writing and gripping storyline never make you feel that you're being preached to. And fantastic news - all three volumes have been reprinted in the UK as "The Borrible Triology" available from the Amazon.co.uk site. Happy reading - and don't get caught!

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Summary: very distinctive and original
Review: This is supposed to be a young adult book, but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone younger than 16. Much of the language and emotional content is very harsh. The plot involves a small gang of hoodlums with arrested development going to asassinate little furry bunny like creatures that live in a very posh burrow. There is an element of prejudice and hate crime to this. It is very harsh and aggressive. It would only really appeal to boys with more than a small touch of larceny in their souls.