Reviews

Just William by Richmal Crompton

saroz162's review against another edition

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5.0

I've heard about the Just William stories for years now, but for whatever reason, they haven't penetrated American shores. I was pleased and delighted, then, when a close friend sent me this edition of the original Just William collection for my birthday. Now, I'm more surprised than ever these are so unknown in the USA: William, while resolutely a British boy of the 1920s, clearly has the blood of Mark Twain's Tom Sawyer and O. Henry's Red Chief in his veins. Because the stories are British, there is no need to see William get more than a trifling comeuppance for his behavior; instead, Richmal Crompton's prose has a wonderfully dry way of both understating and slyly winking at everything William does. As a long-time fan of P.G. Wodehouse's Jeeves and Wooster stories, these were right up my alley, and I enjoyed them tremendously.

jonathanrobert's review

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funny lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

thomasawriter's review

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3.0

Was given this book as a child, this character is hard to hate.

wllmrlw's review against another edition

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adventurous funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

isaaco's review against another edition

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4.0

This was a very good book. It was cleverly written and quite funny.
Definitely recommend.

hzcyr's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.25

ajitgeorge's review

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4.0

Fun books from childhood that are funnier as an adult. (Free on Kindle!)

skyfluff8's review

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adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

4.0

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mindsplinters's review

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2.0

I suspect this is the sort of book that is more charming in doses and at the right time. I think I read it too fast and thus wanted to swat William into next week more than once. XD But still it's incredibly old-fashioned, generally good-humored, and left me bemused more than once. Not heavy on plot or even character development, it romps along in that way that fairy tales often do. Plus, yeah, I can see where Pratchett and Gaiman drew on this for Adam in Good Omens... Except Adam is much sweeter (possibly just the effect of when he was written).

katieckb's review

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3.0

I read this as a teenager. I remember not being overly impressed and thinking it was like a British version of Leave It To Beaver.