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Friday, January 20, 2017

No Soup?

Despereaux came into the world with eyes open, looking at the light. This seemed very wrong to the rest of the mouse family. From that day on he only continued to be more different from the other mice. With his oversized ears and tiny body, Despereaux didn't want to eat pages, he wanted to read them. He didn't want to scurry around, he wanted to enjoy the light and the sounds. Once he put his eyes on Princess Pea, he was in love. Despereaux would do anything for her. When he admits to talking to Princess Pea, a human, he is sentenced to the dungeon for breaking the main mouse code. Despereaux’s story overlaps and intertwines with that of a rat, Roscuro, and a peasant girl, Miggery Sow. The reader gets to hear the story from each of their points of view as the tale progresses. The rat, who also loved the light, came to distaste it after falling in to the queen’s soup and killing her. He decided it was time for him to go along with the rest of the rats and their evil ways. Sadly, soup is outlawed, as it was the queen's favorite meal when she was alive and the king thinks it will be too sad to have it now. No spoons. No soup. No comfort food. No easy to make meals for those who don't have a lot of money. When Miggery Sow comes to live at the castle, she wants to become a princess. What will happen when the plot thickens and the princess may lose her crown? Will Despereaux be able to survive the dungeon? Will the rat stay with his evil ways? Will there be a happily ever after? Is soup ever going to be eaten again in the kingdom? Read this unique fairytale to find out!

I have read quite a few books by Kate DiCamillo. The Tale of Despereaux is by far my favorite. I love fairytales, and this one has something for everyone. There's action and adventure, with plenty of twists and turns. If you like stories with love and heartache, then you'll be able to relate. If the reader pays attention, there's lots of good advice sprinkled in. I love the development of the different characters and it was wonderful to see Despereaux evolve. I applauded him for being who he was and not changing his ways just to be accepted. I'd recommend this book to those in third grade and up who like a book where story lines connect, and of course, anyone who enjoys a good comforting bowl of soup! I would be upset if I could never eat soup again, and I use spoons pretty regularly too! 


 Has anyone else read The Tale of Despereaux? Or have you read another book by Kate DiCamillo? We'd love to hear your thoughts!

Happy Reading!
~L
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38 comments:

  1. Valerie-JaelJanuary 20, 2017 at 6:20 AM

    Love the sound of this story. I think I'm in the third grade of old age, so it should be something for me, too! Mde me think about Reepicheep in Narnia. Have a great weekend, hugs, Valerie

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    1. DMSJanuary 25, 2017 at 10:21 PM

      Valerie-Jael- This is definitely a book that kids and adults will enjoy. It will remind you of a good old-fashioned fairy tale with some twists and turns. :) ~L

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  2. Alex J. CavanaughJanuary 20, 2017 at 6:25 AM

    I'd be all right with not eating soup again.
    I would've read that as a kid.

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    1. DMSJanuary 25, 2017 at 10:22 PM

      Alex- You would have eaten this up as a kid. You'd have an easy time in the kingdom if you could do without soup. :) ~L

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  3. Pat HattJanuary 20, 2017 at 8:03 AM

    I haven't eaten soup in like 25 years, so I think I'd be good lol

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    1. Gloria BakerJanuary 21, 2017 at 8:58 PM

      wow!!

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    2. DMSJanuary 25, 2017 at 10:23 PM

      Pat- 25 year? Wow! I just had it two days ago. Love soup on a cold winter's day :) ~L

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  4. Karen LangeJanuary 20, 2017 at 8:57 AM

    Sounds like an interesting story. Like Alex, I might have read that when I was younger. Have a good weekend! :)

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    1. DMSJanuary 25, 2017 at 10:24 PM

      Karen- It is an interesting story and it's well told. I think it is a book you can enjoy at every age. :) ~L

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  5. BarbaraJanuary 20, 2017 at 9:19 AM

    It’s in my TBR pile so perhaps I should read it once I finish The Secret Files of Fairday Morrow, which I’m LOVING by the way. Have a lovely weekend xx

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    1. DMSJanuary 25, 2017 at 10:25 PM

      Barbara- We are thrilled to hear you are loving The Secret Files of Fairday Morrow. Yay! We think you will adore The Tale of Despereaux and hope you get to it next. :) ~Jess and Stephanie

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  6. Hilary Melton-ButcherJanuary 20, 2017 at 10:03 AM

    Hi Liz - no soup ... banished: that's very bad ... I hope Miggery Sow can help sort things out, while Despereaux gets the necessary help and resolves things ... looks like a fun read - cheers Hilary

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    1. DMSJanuary 25, 2017 at 10:26 PM

      Hilary- No soup would be terrible! Such a comforting dish. It is a tale that will keep readers turning the pages. :) ~L

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  7. Sheena-kay GrahamJanuary 20, 2017 at 11:49 AM

    I'd be more worried if forks were banned. But no soup or spoons could be problematic too. I need to read this book. Long overdue. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

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    1. DMSJanuary 25, 2017 at 10:27 PM

      Sheena-Kay- It was way too overlong for me too! I am so glad I finally picked it up. Utensils make life so much easier- it is hard to imagine life without them. :) ~L

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  8. Elephant's ChildJanuary 20, 2017 at 6:44 PM

    It does sound like fun. I have a huge weakness for fairy tales - old and new.

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  9. DEZMONDJanuary 21, 2017 at 7:01 AM

    I do sometimes feel a bit Despereaux!

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  10. Beverly Stowe McClureJanuary 21, 2017 at 2:52 PM

    I love Kate DiCamillo's books but haven't read this one. It sounds adorable.

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    1. DMSJanuary 25, 2017 at 10:31 PM

      Beverly- If you love Kate DiCamillo's books, then you will adore this one! :) ~L

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  11. Gloria BakerJanuary 21, 2017 at 8:58 PM

    Sounds really fun!

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  12. Magic Love CrowJanuary 21, 2017 at 9:52 PM

    This story sounds excellent! I love the rat!

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    1. DMSJanuary 25, 2017 at 10:32 PM

      Magic Love Crow- It is great! The characters are awesome! :) ~L

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  13. UnknownJanuary 22, 2017 at 7:29 PM

    This sounds so adorable, and I was amazed by the "evil" soup plot twist. Nooo! I love soup! Thanks for the feature of the book!

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    1. DMSJanuary 25, 2017 at 10:33 PM

      Lexa- I love soup too! This is a great book and appealing on so many levels. :) ~L

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  14. Lux G.January 23, 2017 at 12:27 AM

    Can't remember the last time I've read a fairy tale. Looks like worth checking out.

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    1. DMSJanuary 25, 2017 at 10:33 PM

      Lux- It is definitely worth checking out! :) ~L

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  15. Joanne R. FritzJanuary 23, 2017 at 12:26 PM

    I read this when it first pubbed, and I may be one of the few people in the country who didn't care for it that much. (I just don't like being constantly addressed as "Dear Reader") However, I LOVE Kate DiCamillo's other books and especially THE MAGICIAN'S ELEPHANT, which I re-read periodically. It reads like a fable, with a lovely, dreamlike quality to the writing.

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    1. DMSJanuary 25, 2017 at 10:34 PM

      Joanne- I can understand your "Dear Reader" complaint. I thought the story was very interesting. I haven't read The Magician's Nephew, yet- but it's been on my list for ages. Hope to get to it soon. :) ~L

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  16. Launna January 23, 2017 at 6:52 PM

    My gosh, I eat soup about 4 times a week, I would not like being able to eat it... this sounds like a really cute book with a great story line xox

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    1. DMSJanuary 25, 2017 at 10:35 PM

      Launna- I found it hard to imagine a world without soup too! :) ~L

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  17. DMSJanuary 25, 2017 at 10:30 PM

    Heidi- I couldn't believe I hadn't read it yet either. I think you and your daughter will love The Tale of Despereaux. Glad to put it back on your radar. :) ~L

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  18. ToTylkoJaJanuary 26, 2017 at 12:26 PM

    It sounds very intriguing and I would read it.

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    1. DMSJanuary 31, 2017 at 8:28 PM

      I am glad it sounds good to you, ToTylkoJa! :)

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  19. ToTylkoJaJanuary 26, 2017 at 12:27 PM

    Enjoy your break Jess. I wish you happy writing!:))
    (The publish button under the last post doesn't work for me, so I'm commenting here:))
    Hugs!:))

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    1. DMSJanuary 31, 2017 at 8:29 PM

      Thanks so much for posting this here! Sorry commenting on the other post was a problem. Thanks for the good wishes. :)

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