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Is there any good reason to read The Scarlet Pimpernel


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Guest Barb B

DS liked it in 9th grade. He had to do a character analysis on it. I agree the ending is a bit sappy. But it was a quick read. Of course books are like that - what one likes another doesn't. I don't know if it is a book he would have read on his own - this was read for an english class for Seton.

 

Barb

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This is a great book for reading aloud! My older son was part of a small group using the TLP guide for Scarlet Pimpernel a few years ago (8th or 9th grade); both my sons really enjoyed the book as we read most of it while on a road trip to Sacramento. I remember watching the movie version with Leslie Howard while in college, and I think that version is pretty close to the book. The newer miniseries (80s?), while interesting, is not a faithful adaptation of the book. The author wrote several other novels featuring the Scarlet Pimpernel, but I have not read any of them; perhaps some of the miniseries material comes from those books.

 

Anyway, I think the book is lots of fun, and my boys really liked it. I would suggest reading it aloud, though - it makes a fun group activity.

Blessings,

April

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I had my eighth grade son read it last year. At first he didn't like it at all but stuck with it. Towards the middle of the book he really started to like it and couldn't put it down. He ended up recommending it to his brother to read. The book spiked his interest in the French revolution and ended up doing a research paper of the reign of terror as well as other topics related to the French revolution. Cathy

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I enjoyed it, but I couldn't figure out why it's still in print. I wo't require it of my ds.

 

If I remember correctly (from doing background papers ala WTM:001_smile:) SP is important because Orzey (sp) was the first to present a protagonist/hero who had a hidden identity. SP set the precedent for Superman, Spiderman, etc.

 

susan

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The librivox.org recording of this book is very good, and free. The reader is fantastic.

 

Thanks for that heads up! I love the book, but have been sorely disappointed in all the movies (the old one is the best, but the copy we saw wasn't restored so hard to see.)

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mooooom asked, "Is there any good reason to read The Scarlet Pimpernel?"

 

My teen, who read The Scarlet Pimpernel (assigned) and at least half a dozen sequels (unassigned), would answer "for pleasure!" I also enjoyed the book as a teen.

 

You would know your own child's interests best.

Regards,

Kareni

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My ds read this in the 8th grade and thoroughly enjoyed it. He spent months searching for the others. We found some at a used book store. We also found the movies (made by BBC (?)) at the library.

 

Yes, my daughter enjoyed all of those as well. She read most of the sequels by using inter-library loan. She also loves the musical. In fact, it was playing here at home today.

 

Regards,

Kareni

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:iagree:

Loved it! My daughter and I read it last year and were on the edge of our seats. Hey, it's historical (albeit fiction), French Revolution and all that. We watched Marie Antoinette with Kirsten Dunst too (caution, it was a little racy).

Edited by Laurie in CA
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