The Boggart

Cooper, Susan. The Boggart, Aladdin Paperbacks, 196 pages. It is a fictional chapter book belonging to the fantasy genre.

Description: A Scottish spirit known as the Boggart is unknowingly brought to Canada when a Canadian family inherits his castle. The kids, Emily and Jessup, face difficulties in communicating with the Boggart and getting him to cease his disruptive tricks.

Review: This book shines brightest at the beginning and end when the Boggart is on his Scottish Island. The prose during these passages is highly descriptive, vividly bringing the misty setting and the seemingly ancient characters to life for chapter book readers.

However, the Canadian scenes, which make up the majority of the book, are less engaging. The children are constantly blamed for the Boggart's antics, while their parents remain completely unaware of what is happening around them. Although dull parents are a common trope in books for this age group, the parents in The Boggart are mere caricatures, lacking interest for any age group. Additionally, the technology references in this book make it seem rather outdated and unappealing.

Professional Reviews:

Flowers, Ann. Horn Book, May/June 1993. Flowers describes the characters in The Boggart as well-rounded. I concur that the children and the Boggart are fully developed characters, but not the parents.

Fader, Ellen. School Library Journal, Jan. 1993. Fader mentions that the novel effectively handles the meeting of technology and ancient folklore. While I believe that the folklore v. technology theme is an ambitious one, I don't think it has aged well over the past 15 years.

While I was finishing up my re-read of The Dark Is Rising, I thought I'd pick up The Boggart on the way down.

Unfortunately, I didn't really have a great liking for The Boggart. If the entire book had been like the first part set in the Scottish village, I would have enjoyed it a great deal more.

However, as soon as the story left Scotland and headed to Canada, everything just felt extremely disjointed. I liked the Boggart character, and the humans seemed fine too, but I simply couldn't generate much interest in them. Serious events were taking place, such as the Boggart almost accidentally killing people, Emily almost being committed to a psychiatric ward, and the family relationships suffering as everyone blamed each other for the Boggart's problem-causing. But there was a strange dissonance between the nature of these events and the somewhat sketchy and lighthearted tone of the book.

The computer-related stuff was also super confusing and strange. Maybe it's because the book is old and I wasn't alive in 1993 to know what computers were like back then, but half of it didn't seem to make sense at all, and the rest of it was a distraction from the things that truly mattered.

Overall, The Boggart just didn't quite hit the mark for me.

I'm not entirely certain how I overlooked this particular Susan Cooper book. I'm a huge enthusiast of her other literary works. I chanced upon this on Scribd last night and promptly decided to embark on a reading journey.

I have a great affinity for authors who possess the remarkable ability to make non-human creatures truly and authentically non-human. The Boggart, which gives the book its title, is a being of ancient Wild Magic. He is not driven by the typical array of human desires and lacks the capacity to experience most human emotions. Over the course of centuries, he has developed a penchant for items such as peanut butter and applesauce. On rare occasions, he has even felt a twinge of grief. In this story, he succumbs to homesickness as he was inadvertently transported far from his abode in the Scottish castle where he had resided for time immemorial. The boggart is inherently curious and inclined towards experimentation; his mischievous antics bring him amusement, yet they have the potential to inflict real harm. And it is this harm that the boggart is largely unable to fathom.

This is one of those books from the early 1990s that combines an odd juxtaposition of technology and supernatural elements. Computers serve as a connection between the children and the boggart.

Fortunately, there is a happy conclusion. It may be a relatively slender volume, but it contains a charming and engaging story.

My overwhelming impression upon reading this book was one of pleasant surprise.

Though I've always relished Susan Cooper's previous works, given the limited discussion surrounding this particular one, I had not anticipated it to be as remarkable as it truly is. The plot unfolds at a delightful pace, with details from the beginning neatly resurfacing at the end in a satisfyingly rounded denouement.

I've awarded three stars because I recall giving four to Cooper's The Dark is Rising sequence, and The Boggart doesn't quite reach the same level of soaring beauty. Nevertheless, it is indeed an excellent little story.

The characters, while not overly profound, are realistic and original. The villain is appropriately slimy and irritating, with that patronizing niceness that grownups often overlook and every kid despises. The kids' mom is vividly portrayed: both sympathetic and exasperatingly overprotective, just as a mom should be. Her son's "layabout" genius friend, whom she distrusts so much, is a strikingly ambiguous detail for such a young audience. Similarly, the hinted relationship between the two helpful theatre workers who first teach the heroes to name the "weird stuff" that has been occurring as "Boggart" adds subtle layers of authenticity to the world.

Some have criticized the use of technology in the story, claiming that it "dates" the book and renders it irrelevant. However, in all honesty, computer technology becomes outdated so rapidly these days that by that reasoning, one would have to completely avoid it in literature. It's hardly the author's fault that nobody uses floppy discs anymore. I fail to see how it detracts from the story in any way. I was rather intrigued by the glimpse into a time when computer games were an exciting new invention being created by groups of enthusiastic kids, rather than the massive industry it is today. Cooper weaves science with magic in a surprising manner, and in this, as well as in the affectionate nod to show business, invites comparison to Madeleine L'Engle.

But the true heart of the story is the Boggart himself. With his delightfully mischievous pranks, his innocent joy in fun, and his alien mind (racing blithely, Tinkerbell-style, from one emotion to another, from the ecstasy of discovery to brain-numbing sorrow to cheerful curiosity within seconds), Susan Cooper's little Scottish puck is a delicious embodiment of the trickster spirit.

I wasn't a fan of this audio recording. The narrator simply doesn't seem to understand the frolicking, antic tone of this story. He is booming and august when he should be营造 an atmospheric mood, and recites the humorous parts as if he were delivering a stern lecture - not in a dry, ironic way, but rather as if he slightly disapproved. He also appears to be under the impression that dramatic moments must be read at a shout, as if the audience couldn't figure out for themselves when something important is happening.

However, this story is meant to be read aloud. Its combination of whimsy, lightly poetic descriptions, and slapstick humor makes it excellent bedtime-story material. While not necessarily life-changing, it would be a great addition to a library. If you're seeking a fun adventure and quality storytelling, you really can't go wrong.

Susan Cooper is truly one of my all-time favorite authors.

Her words possess an extraordinary power of being "visual". As you immerse yourself in her writing, she effortlessly paints vivid pictures in your mind.

Her narrative is incredibly descriptive that you can almost "hear" the eerie and haunting sound of the gulls as they gracefully sail above the sea shore.

It's as if I could actually believe that I was driving over the vast and wild moors of Scotland, visiting a magnificent castle for the very first time.

Her writing is an absolute treat for all the senses, something to be cherished, savored, and thoroughly enjoyed.

The story itself is completely delightful, and the Boggart, in particular, is an exceptional character that adds a unique charm to the whole narrative.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book to all readers, regardless of their age or literary preferences. It's a literary gem that is sure to leave a lasting impression.

I vividly remember reading this when I was around 7 or 8 years old, and I simply adored it!

The beginning might seem a bit sluggish to commence with, but as you progress through the story, you just can't resist succumbing to the charm of the mischievous Boggart.

You find yourself completely immersed in his world, experiencing all of his emotions right along with him.

One emotion that really stands out is his profound and intense yearning for home.

It's as if you can feel the pull of his longing deep within your own heart.

The way the author描绘s Boggart's character and his emotions makes it impossible not to become invested in his story.

Even all these years later, I still have a special place in my heart for this wonderful tale.

It truly is a classic that has stood the test of time.

A slightly outdated pre-teen book讲述了一个来自苏格兰的恶作剧精灵最终被运到加拿大的故事。孩子们是主角，而大人则忙碌或无知。我喜欢书中的环境以及我们的英雄们所经历的解决问题的过程，并且发现这本书虽然简短但很有趣。

九岁的杰瑟普有更多的爱好（曲棍球和电脑），而且比姐姐艾米丽更丰满。在多伦多时，有太多成年人不相信孩子们的情况，尽管有证据。除此之外，情节和解决方案是可信的，并且运作良好。凯尔特人的配角很棒，反派也足够令人毛骨悚然。

作者苏珊·库珀以她获奖的奇幻系列《黑暗正在升起》而闻名。她还因儿童文学获得了其他奖项，并在2013年获得世界奇幻奖时引起了我的注意。我肯定想读更多这位作者的作品。

I have an extremely personal and deep attachment to this book. When I was a small child, my Mum borrowed it from the library for me, and it quickly became a favorite. However, in the following years, whenever I went looking for it, I couldn't find it. It has now been more than 10 years since I last listened to it, and I had completely forgotten about it until a Redditor posted a question asking about our White Whale audiobooks. Then I remembered The Boggart. And, thanks to the existence of Audible now, it was not at all difficult to find. I'm truly glad I did. It is every bit as good as I remembered, and perhaps even better because I can now appreciate more of the subtleties and folklore behind it.

The Boggart is a mischievous spirit, a shape changer who flits around playing tricks. He lives in Castle Keep with the MacDevon family in a remote part of Scotland. But when MacDevon dies, the castle is inherited by the Volnik family. They travel from their home in Toronto to see the castle but decide they cannot keep it. However, the two children, Emily and Jessup, are allowed to choose a piece of furniture each to take home. Emily takes an old roll-top desk, not realizing that the Boggart lies asleep and invisible inside. How will the Boggart react when he wakes up not in the highlands of Scotland but in the bustling modern world of Canada?

This is a children's book, yet it can be appreciated by people of all ages. The characters are not overly complicated, and the plot is short and sweet, but there is so much personality, and it is told so well that it's hard not to smile. I simply adore stories that incorporate old legends into new tales (I may have been influenced by this book), and The Boggart is an excellent example of this. Susan Cooper knows her folklore inside out and is an outstanding storyteller.

When it comes to narration, David Rintoul is superb. He uses accents and tones to highlight the contrast between old myth and modern life. He also has a really easy-to-listen-to voice.

If you like fairytales, myths, and legends, especially of the Celtic variety, then this is a gem. Am I biased? Yes. But should you read it anyway? I think so. Read my full audiobook review at: https://www.pongonarrates.com/post/th...