About this title: Mowgli, the man-cub who is brought up by wolves in the jungles of Central India, is one of the greatest literary myths ever created. As he embarks on a series of thrilling escapades, Mowgli encounters such unforgettable creatures as Bagheera, the graceful black panther, and Shere Khan, the tiger with the blazing eyes. Other animal stories range from the simple heroism found in 'Rikki-tikki-tavi' to the macabre comedy 'The Undertakers'. A rich and complex fable of human life, Kipling's enduring classic dazzles the imagination with its astonishing descriptive powers and lively sense of ...
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Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Publisher: Penguin Classics, Toronto, ON, Canada
Date published: 1994
ISBN-13:9780140621044ISBN:0140621040
Description: Very Good. 0140621040 Mass market paperback, previously read used book in very good condition, may have slight worn corners and varying degre..._ read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Date published: 8/13/1998
ISBN-13:9780192835031ISBN:0192835033
Description: Fine. 0192835033 Ships from PA, 15-day return for any reason. Fast Shipping, thank you for your order. Wear on corners and edges. read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Doubleday & Company
Date published: 1948
Description: Fair. No Jacket. Size: 8vo-over 7¾"-9¾" tall; Pages and cover clean, some color illustrations. Binding tight. Cover clean, spine bumped, top edge slightly frayed. No dust jacket. read more
Binding: PAPERBACK
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Date published: 1998
ISBN-13:9780192835031ISBN:0192835033
Description: Good. 0192835033 Copy has been read but remains in good condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or high-lighting. Spine is tight; a clean read. Back cover and last 3 pages have been wrinkled and have a 1 inch tear. Some shelf wear to the cover. Interior of book is in good condition. read more
"I spent roughly two weeks reading this book and it was all worth it. Rudyard Kipling's writing is very clear and concise and this book was very eventful. If i had to choose between reading this book and watching the movie, i would definately read this book. If you have seen the movie, you will discover that the true story is a little different, but that is O.K. Another reason why I liked this book is because it contained many creative images that helped me visualize the story as I was reading it. I would definatelt recomend this book to a frient because it is a timeless classic. Now that I have read this book, I feel like reading more of Kiplings literary works. I read this book for my tenth grade english class as an Asian literature book and if I had to choose another book, then i would definately read this one. One reason why I liked this book is because it contained many Indian elements such as fables and short stories. My favorite character in the book was Moogly and I loved reading about his adventures in this magical book. I really enjoyed reading this book and I will definately reread it in the short future. If you want to read an Asian literature book, then you should definately read this one because it is easy to read, action packed, and it contains many creative drawings."
"A really interesting venture into 'boy's lit.' Prior to this, my only exposure to the story was that of the Disney version, which I was not fond of as a child. So going into this, my expectations were pretty low. I was happily surprised by how much I enjoyed it.
The writing is a nice change of pace for a lot of the children's writing of the era; while the language is still very British (a very unfitting choice for animals in the jungles of India), it's far more accessible than a lot of the concurrent writing. I particularly enjoyed the descriptions of the landscape; they are vivid and colourful without being overbearingly long and wordy. It was a very good balance.
The story itself is simple enough but compelling, and Mowgli's struggle to balance his human nature with his environment is well done and provides a running conflict within the story. The characters aren't highly fleshed out, although one can attribute this to the whole animal nature angle of the story; it's not Disney and singing and musical numbers. In fact, it's surprisingly brutal at times, and there's always a reminder that these are wild animals and not the tame Disney versions.
Of course, there's the inevitable white-man-burden's aspect, but I think it's a lot more understated than it probably could have been. If anything, Kipling treats India lovingly; there's imperialist assumptions abounding and a certain level of assumed superiority, but he seems genuine in his attachment to the country.
Anyway, it was pretty enjoyable. Definitely a children's classic."
"I wanted to read this book because I remember enjoying the Disney movies (both the cartoon and people version). I was surprised that the books were not all about Mowgli but instead are made up of several short stories and some aren't even set in the jungle. My favorites were The White Seal and Rikki Tikki Tavi."
"Really interesting, and well read, but. . . . like the mighty jungle cat, my mind couldn't stop wandering. . . .
I found it easier to get into the First Jungle Book than The Second Jungle Book (or as I like to call it, "The Empire Strikes Back"), but it could just be that I'd reached my limit of the regal talking animals.
I will say that i read the Oxford World's Classics edition, and there were quite a few editorial mistakes. Now, I'm no spellmeister, so if the errors become a distraction to ME, that means they're pretty bad. If you're craving some Kipling, , , maybe go with a different edition.
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