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Title: The Stone and the Flute by Hans Bemmann, Anthea Bell ISBN: 0-14-007445-7 Publisher: Penguin USA (Paper) Pub. Date: August, 1988 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $17.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.72 (25 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: My Favorite Book
Comment: This is my favorite book. The only thing that I can say to prove how good it is, is that I was reading it in my living room, and when I put it down, I wasn't sure where I was for a few seconds. This happened in my living room in a house that I have lived in for 17 years. If this book isn't good, than I don't know what is.
Rating: 5
Summary: So much like life, with applicable portions for everyone...
Comment: When I read this book (checked out from my local library) when I was 10 years old, I thought that the characters and storyline were really great, very interesting and engaging, with fun (and sometimes scary) bits everywhere. It was an instant favorite for me, but other things caught my attention until...
...I was 15 when I re-read the book, and while I was still entertained by the story and characters, I began to see what was going on behind the scenes: the attraction of the stone and the symbolism thereof, the notion of power and control in the flute, and the almost stark duality of things in so many situations (the Riders and the "rest" of the world; the living and the Gray One; men and women; humans and animals; fear and courage; etc, etc, etc). It again became my favorite book. Again though, I became distracted with finishing high school, going to college, etc., until....
...I found a first-edition of The Stone and the Flute online in good condition. I jumped at the chance to read my own copy when it arrived, and being older (around 19, I think), the full meaning of the story began to sink into me. I think I've read it once a year since then (about 5 years ago), and each time I marvel at the richness of the story and the intense parallels I find between it and my own life. And anytime I feel myself getting down, getting depressed with life in general, I simply read the last twenty pages or so, and usually find myself in higher spirits. It is a very uplifting yet grounding book that feels like it has a balancing effect upon one's outlook and mood.
An "editorial review" from Publisher's Weekly calls The Stone and the Flute a "would - be German Lord of the Rings" that has "simple messages of brotherhood and ecology". I could not disagree more. I think that this book actually has far more character depth and development than Lord of the Rings has, mostly due to the each books' respective purpose: LOR was written to be a mythology (or the background to one), whereas the Stone and the Flute has a less grand yet no less worthy purpose to follow a boy/man through life, exposing his doubts, mistakes, strengths, faults, and ultimately, his humanity. Both books are wonderful reads, but neither is better or worse than the other; they're completely different in style, substance, and experience...
Rating: 5
Summary: One of my all time favorites
Comment: On the surface, it's light reading because it falls into the "fantasy" category but each adventure has consequences and a life lesson that Listener had to learn the hard way.
I recommend this book for young adult readers because "It's a smart man who learns from his mistakes. It's a wise man who learns from the mistakes of others." However, my recommendation does not stop at that age group. Having recently re-read it now that I'm of "Grandma" age (EEEEK, already???) I picked out and understood many more things than when I first read it 15+ years ago. Still thoroughly enjoyable!
On another plane, years ago I sent a copy to a friend to share with her Native American students in Santa Fe. She had mentioned that many of the teens had complained how no one understands their culture and beliefs. Yet here is a book written by someone from the other side of the planet that conjurs up images of the southwest in its descriptions of its peoples and parallels to their legends. She says her copy has been passed from hand to hand throughout the years and though teens can be tough and careless, this book has been treated with far greater respect than any of their other reading materials.
To me, that's a testament to the book's value.
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