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The Borrowers #4
借物少女4：閣樓奇蹟
四個逗趣新角色，竟讓借物者面臨前所未有的絕境！？
借物者的密室逃脫！倒數計時中
清新幽默的文字，陪伴讀者邊讀邊笑
最適合搭配下午茶享用的冒險故事！
吉卜力動畫《借物少女艾莉緹》原著小說
暢銷70年全新譯本
一個如放大版「借物者」的退休鐵道員，
一個就算雞同鴨講也要一直說話的奇女子，
還有專坑觀光客錢、滑稽招數不斷的小店夫婦拍檔，
《借物少女》故事全新開場！
這一次，借物者們借了一點「知識」，
準備跌破你的眼鏡，化不可能為可能！
艾莉緹一家像是來到了天堂。退休鐵道員與孟奇絲小姐建了一座袖珍模型村，整個村子都像是按照借物者的體型量身打造，每天還有許多遊客留下來的東西，借都借不完！媽媽做家事時唱起了歌，連爸爸在村子裡逛大街時都吹起了口哨！但，這真的是天堂嗎？
他們不知道的是，暗處正有一雙眼睛盯著他們，邪惡的計畫正悄悄展開！而此時的艾莉緹隱藏著一個巨大的祕密……
借物者們忽然從天堂墜入地獄！他們被困在一間閣樓裡，被當成貓咪一樣餵食！門縫被堵死，地板之下就是人類，窗戶之外更有如萬丈深淵，根本無處可逃！日子一天天過去，眼看他們就要淪為魔鬼的搖錢樹，會有奇蹟出現嗎？
《借物少女》初版於1950年代，吉卜力動畫公司根據原著改編成家喻戶曉的動畫電影《借物少女艾莉緹》。諾頓一手打造的迷你世界使她與托爾金、C‧S‧路易斯、路易斯‧卡洛爾三位奇幻文學大師齊名。時隔七十年，我們重新翻譯此書，重現諾頓優美如詩的文風，以更活潑、現代的語言貼近讀者。期待將這部奇幻經典傳承下去，啟發下一代小讀者用保有想像力的眼光觀察周圍的世界，也體會到故事裡小小人們面對困境、未知時的勇氣與韌性。
得獎紀錄
★ 卡內基文學獎十大童書
★ 紐約公共圖書館百年百大童書
★ 路易斯‧卡洛爾書籍獎
★ 美國圖書館協會榮譽推薦
感動推薦
【專文導讀】
趙恬儀｜國立臺灣大學外國語文學系教授
【各界好評】
李苑芳｜貓頭鷹親子教育協會創辦人
邱慕泥｜戀風草青少年書房店長
陳安儀｜閱讀寫作老師
廖淑霞｜臺北市私立再興小學研究教師
劉婉雯｜教育部國語文學科中心種子教師
JC｜「Jasper & Jayden 英倫生活記」版主
Tey Cheng｜「小學生都看什麼書」版主
■ 倘若《格列佛遊記》讓我們身歷其境，隨著主人翁在大小人國之中反思人於天地之間的存在意義，《借物少女4》則是帶領我們體驗從底部向上、如小草一般看似微薄卻綿綿不絕的韌性，以及求生奮鬥中時而迸發的智慧靈光，同時也和主角一家人一起轉換視角，從前集的家宅隱密暗處，到水上的流動，再到本書後半飛天凌空、俯瞰大地，令人讀來豁然開朗、法喜充滿。即使冒險到此還沒有完全結束，相信對艾莉緹、胖德和荷蜜莉來說，每一次挑戰都是重要的功課，而且一路都有新舊夥伴情義相挺，從此不孤單。也相信他們的愛、希望與勇氣，透過字裡行間傳遞到讀者心中，於人生的「閣樓」創造生命的奇蹟。──國立臺灣大學外國語文學系教授 趙恬儀
■ 當我們跟著《借物少女》裡的角色，用更貼近地面的視角觀察這個世界時，我們是否也應該好好的思考一下，這個世界所有的一切，是專供某種生物所用嗎？當然，既不是小矮人，也不是人類！我們應該如何與我們看得見或看不見，甚至不知道的生物們，共享這個世界的資源，尊重彼此，邁向生生不息的生態平衡？
這是一本非常適合親子共讀、激發創意的好書喔！建議每天由大人朗讀十分鐘給孩子聽，然後再一起動動腦，討論看看家裡若也住著小矮人，家裡的什麼東西，小矮人將會把它用在什麼地方呢？──貓頭鷹親子教育協會創辦人 李苑芳
■ 看《借物少女》，總是會讓我想起「寓居於世」這個詞。不管是我們大大的人類，或是小小的精靈，都只是來這個世間當一過客。有別於資本主義的占有慾望，故事裡我們看到「借用」的概念。這不正是人類與大自然共生共存的理念嗎？
理念很難說得透，那麼就讀這個故事吧！讓我們試著放棄物質占有的慾望，打開心眼看看生活周遭，也許也會遇見「借物者」。噓！記得別打擾他們。──戀風草青少年書房店長 邱慕泥
■ 生存在這個世界上，誰不是短暫的過客？我們也都是這個世界的「借物者」，不是嗎？然而，即使是書中渺小的借物者，他們寧願自力更生，也不想成為人類豢養的寵物。雖然量身打造的家園美好又舒適，但是要付出的代價卻是任人窺探、失去自由。
第四集結尾十分引人深思：物質的富裕和精神的自由，到底哪個比較重要？胖德義無反顧的堅持要帶著家人離開傳奇之地模型屋，荷蜜莉和艾莉緹最後再一次打開電燈，環視模型屋時，赫然領悟爸爸的意思……或許，這也是我們這個強調享樂與舒適的社會該深思的問題呀！──閱讀寫作老師 陳安儀
■ 「安穩」從不屬於借物者一族，而「漂泊」與「冒險」似乎成了他們的宿命。艾莉緹一家在史比勒的協助下終於安然地度過險象環生的水路，來到他們眼中的「香格里拉」。不論是波特先生的「小福特漢」模型村，還是普萊特先生的「巴利霍金」模型村，似乎都為艾莉緹一家提供了充足的借用物資和無虞的生活，但是這個所謂的「家」真的是借物者的歸屬還是禁錮？在這一集中，我們再度看到艾莉緹一家在遭遇多舛命運時展現的智慧與勇氣，因為他們堅守如何在依附人類而生存，卻仍能實踐自食其力的自我價值與活得安心與自在的人生態度。──臺北市私立再興小學研究教師 廖淑霞
■ 歷經野外求生和漂流驚奇後，艾莉緹一家終於來到借物者的傳奇之地──「小福特漢」。本以為迎接他們的是舒適愜意生活，但相繼而來的是更大的災難。面對危難時，人物塑造非常立體，巧手沉著的胖德，嘮叨愛操心的荷蜜莉，還有勇於嘗試但有些莽撞的艾莉緹，三人發揮所長，物盡其用，最後順利脫困。此外，本書還探討了究竟要選擇被豢養的安逸不自主，還是自力更生但須面對未知的風險。這也是我們在生活中，會面臨的兩難抉擇。藉由艾莉緹一家的掙扎與討論，為我們呈現深刻的生存價值與意義。──教育部國語文學科中心種子教師 劉婉雯
■ 英國兒童文學家瑪麗‧諾頓的經典作品──宮崎駿動畫原著小說──借物少女第四集《閣樓奇蹟》出版了！
家中的物件常常不知所蹤，無論怎樣找也找不到？有沒有想過，並不是你粗心大意，而是有人「借走了」？小小的借物者，寄居在人類家中，依靠人類而生，但不被人類發現．他們沒有特殊能力，沒有特別魔法，憑著借用人類物品，在人類房屋的夾縫中生活。
我喜歡看動畫或電影的原著小說，因為只有經典的小說才會被青睞，改編成動畫或電影。而且，小說更能原汁原味地咀嚼整個故事，被動畫、電影裁掉的細節，只能在小說中回味。如果你喜歡看宮崎駿的《借物少女》，你一定要看看這套小說；若你喜歡充滿幻想、童真的小說，誠意推薦你看這套《借物少女》全新翻譯本。──「Jasper & Jayden英倫生活記」版主 JC
■ 對世界充滿好奇和善意，又有勇氣探險未知的人，無論什麼年紀、什麼情境，看起來總是閃閃發光，讓人忍不住想要凝視，主角艾莉緹就是這樣的存在。作者非常會勾人，充滿畫面感的緊湊故事，每一集結束都讓人好想知道他們接下來發生什麼事呀！
──「小學生都看什麼書」版主 Tey Cheng
借物者的密室逃脫！倒數計時中
清新幽默的文字，陪伴讀者邊讀邊笑
最適合搭配下午茶享用的冒險故事！
吉卜力動畫《借物少女艾莉緹》原著小說
暢銷70年全新譯本
一個如放大版「借物者」的退休鐵道員，
一個就算雞同鴨講也要一直說話的奇女子，
還有專坑觀光客錢、滑稽招數不斷的小店夫婦拍檔，
《借物少女》故事全新開場！
這一次，借物者們借了一點「知識」，
準備跌破你的眼鏡，化不可能為可能！
艾莉緹一家像是來到了天堂。退休鐵道員與孟奇絲小姐建了一座袖珍模型村，整個村子都像是按照借物者的體型量身打造，每天還有許多遊客留下來的東西，借都借不完！媽媽做家事時唱起了歌，連爸爸在村子裡逛大街時都吹起了口哨！但，這真的是天堂嗎？
他們不知道的是，暗處正有一雙眼睛盯著他們，邪惡的計畫正悄悄展開！而此時的艾莉緹隱藏著一個巨大的祕密……
借物者們忽然從天堂墜入地獄！他們被困在一間閣樓裡，被當成貓咪一樣餵食！門縫被堵死，地板之下就是人類，窗戶之外更有如萬丈深淵，根本無處可逃！日子一天天過去，眼看他們就要淪為魔鬼的搖錢樹，會有奇蹟出現嗎？
《借物少女》初版於1950年代，吉卜力動畫公司根據原著改編成家喻戶曉的動畫電影《借物少女艾莉緹》。諾頓一手打造的迷你世界使她與托爾金、C‧S‧路易斯、路易斯‧卡洛爾三位奇幻文學大師齊名。時隔七十年，我們重新翻譯此書，重現諾頓優美如詩的文風，以更活潑、現代的語言貼近讀者。期待將這部奇幻經典傳承下去，啟發下一代小讀者用保有想像力的眼光觀察周圍的世界，也體會到故事裡小小人們面對困境、未知時的勇氣與韌性。
得獎紀錄
★ 卡內基文學獎十大童書
★ 紐約公共圖書館百年百大童書
★ 路易斯‧卡洛爾書籍獎
★ 美國圖書館協會榮譽推薦
感動推薦
【專文導讀】
趙恬儀｜國立臺灣大學外國語文學系教授
【各界好評】
李苑芳｜貓頭鷹親子教育協會創辦人
邱慕泥｜戀風草青少年書房店長
陳安儀｜閱讀寫作老師
廖淑霞｜臺北市私立再興小學研究教師
劉婉雯｜教育部國語文學科中心種子教師
JC｜「Jasper & Jayden 英倫生活記」版主
Tey Cheng｜「小學生都看什麼書」版主
■ 倘若《格列佛遊記》讓我們身歷其境，隨著主人翁在大小人國之中反思人於天地之間的存在意義，《借物少女4》則是帶領我們體驗從底部向上、如小草一般看似微薄卻綿綿不絕的韌性，以及求生奮鬥中時而迸發的智慧靈光，同時也和主角一家人一起轉換視角，從前集的家宅隱密暗處，到水上的流動，再到本書後半飛天凌空、俯瞰大地，令人讀來豁然開朗、法喜充滿。即使冒險到此還沒有完全結束，相信對艾莉緹、胖德和荷蜜莉來說，每一次挑戰都是重要的功課，而且一路都有新舊夥伴情義相挺，從此不孤單。也相信他們的愛、希望與勇氣，透過字裡行間傳遞到讀者心中，於人生的「閣樓」創造生命的奇蹟。──國立臺灣大學外國語文學系教授 趙恬儀
■ 當我們跟著《借物少女》裡的角色，用更貼近地面的視角觀察這個世界時，我們是否也應該好好的思考一下，這個世界所有的一切，是專供某種生物所用嗎？當然，既不是小矮人，也不是人類！我們應該如何與我們看得見或看不見，甚至不知道的生物們，共享這個世界的資源，尊重彼此，邁向生生不息的生態平衡？
這是一本非常適合親子共讀、激發創意的好書喔！建議每天由大人朗讀十分鐘給孩子聽，然後再一起動動腦，討論看看家裡若也住著小矮人，家裡的什麼東西，小矮人將會把它用在什麼地方呢？──貓頭鷹親子教育協會創辦人 李苑芳
■ 看《借物少女》，總是會讓我想起「寓居於世」這個詞。不管是我們大大的人類，或是小小的精靈，都只是來這個世間當一過客。有別於資本主義的占有慾望，故事裡我們看到「借用」的概念。這不正是人類與大自然共生共存的理念嗎？
理念很難說得透，那麼就讀這個故事吧！讓我們試著放棄物質占有的慾望，打開心眼看看生活周遭，也許也會遇見「借物者」。噓！記得別打擾他們。──戀風草青少年書房店長 邱慕泥
■ 生存在這個世界上，誰不是短暫的過客？我們也都是這個世界的「借物者」，不是嗎？然而，即使是書中渺小的借物者，他們寧願自力更生，也不想成為人類豢養的寵物。雖然量身打造的家園美好又舒適，但是要付出的代價卻是任人窺探、失去自由。
第四集結尾十分引人深思：物質的富裕和精神的自由，到底哪個比較重要？胖德義無反顧的堅持要帶著家人離開傳奇之地模型屋，荷蜜莉和艾莉緹最後再一次打開電燈，環視模型屋時，赫然領悟爸爸的意思……或許，這也是我們這個強調享樂與舒適的社會該深思的問題呀！──閱讀寫作老師 陳安儀
■ 「安穩」從不屬於借物者一族，而「漂泊」與「冒險」似乎成了他們的宿命。艾莉緹一家在史比勒的協助下終於安然地度過險象環生的水路，來到他們眼中的「香格里拉」。不論是波特先生的「小福特漢」模型村，還是普萊特先生的「巴利霍金」模型村，似乎都為艾莉緹一家提供了充足的借用物資和無虞的生活，但是這個所謂的「家」真的是借物者的歸屬還是禁錮？在這一集中，我們再度看到艾莉緹一家在遭遇多舛命運時展現的智慧與勇氣，因為他們堅守如何在依附人類而生存，卻仍能實踐自食其力的自我價值與活得安心與自在的人生態度。──臺北市私立再興小學研究教師 廖淑霞
■ 歷經野外求生和漂流驚奇後，艾莉緹一家終於來到借物者的傳奇之地──「小福特漢」。本以為迎接他們的是舒適愜意生活，但相繼而來的是更大的災難。面對危難時，人物塑造非常立體，巧手沉著的胖德，嘮叨愛操心的荷蜜莉，還有勇於嘗試但有些莽撞的艾莉緹，三人發揮所長，物盡其用，最後順利脫困。此外，本書還探討了究竟要選擇被豢養的安逸不自主，還是自力更生但須面對未知的風險。這也是我們在生活中，會面臨的兩難抉擇。藉由艾莉緹一家的掙扎與討論，為我們呈現深刻的生存價值與意義。──教育部國語文學科中心種子教師 劉婉雯
■ 英國兒童文學家瑪麗‧諾頓的經典作品──宮崎駿動畫原著小說──借物少女第四集《閣樓奇蹟》出版了！
家中的物件常常不知所蹤，無論怎樣找也找不到？有沒有想過，並不是你粗心大意，而是有人「借走了」？小小的借物者，寄居在人類家中，依靠人類而生，但不被人類發現．他們沒有特殊能力，沒有特別魔法，憑著借用人類物品，在人類房屋的夾縫中生活。
我喜歡看動畫或電影的原著小說，因為只有經典的小說才會被青睞，改編成動畫或電影。而且，小說更能原汁原味地咀嚼整個故事，被動畫、電影裁掉的細節，只能在小說中回味。如果你喜歡看宮崎駿的《借物少女》，你一定要看看這套小說；若你喜歡充滿幻想、童真的小說，誠意推薦你看這套《借物少女》全新翻譯本。──「Jasper & Jayden英倫生活記」版主 JC
■ 對世界充滿好奇和善意，又有勇氣探險未知的人，無論什麼年紀、什麼情境，看起來總是閃閃發光，讓人忍不住想要凝視，主角艾莉緹就是這樣的存在。作者非常會勾人，充滿畫面感的緊湊故事，每一集結束都讓人好想知道他們接下來發生什麼事呀！
──「小學生都看什麼書」版主 Tey Cheng
208 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1961
About the author
Mary Norton
76 books895 followersMary Norton (née Pearson) was an English children's author. She was the daughter of a physician, and was raised in a Georgian house at the end of the High Street in Leighton Buzzard. The house now consists of part of Leighton Middle School, known within the school as The Old House, and was reportedly the setting of her novel The Borrowers. She married Robert C. Norton in 1927 and had four children, 2 boys and 2 girls. Her second husband was Lionel Boncey, who she married in 1970. She began working for the War Office in 1940 before the family moved temporarily to the United States.
She began writing while working for the British Purchasing Commission in New York during the Second World War. Her first book was The Magic Bed Knob; or, How to Become a Witch in Ten Easy Lessons published in 1943, which, together with the sequel Bonfires and Broomsticks, became the basis for the Disney film Bedknobs and Broomsticks.
Mary Norton died of a stroke in Devon, England in 1992.
She began writing while working for the British Purchasing Commission in New York during the Second World War. Her first book was The Magic Bed Knob; or, How to Become a Witch in Ten Easy Lessons published in 1943, which, together with the sequel Bonfires and Broomsticks, became the basis for the Disney film Bedknobs and Broomsticks.
Mary Norton died of a stroke in Devon, England in 1992.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 137 reviews
October 23, 2022
Read back in the old ages, I mean the 1970s. Loved the series but this was my favorite!!
I hope to revisit them again with (future-hopefully) grandchildren!
I hope to revisit them again with (future-hopefully) grandchildren!
June 25, 2019
Pod, Homily, and Arrietty finally reached the ideal village they risked their lives to get to. This turns out to be a miniature village built as a hobby by a retired railroad man. Arietty, made brave by the newly acquired stability, befriends a human bean and the family ends up being kidnapped. They will have to do the unthinkable to escape... again!
I enjoyed this series very much. I started reading it because I am a big fan of the anime, and I continued because I liked the books. Of course, you can tell they are "classics", and certainly they contain some references no child's book today would make (like to black slaves), but overall they were a cozy, wholesome read. I liked this last one all right, especially the first part.
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I enjoyed this series very much. I started reading it because I am a big fan of the anime, and I continued because I liked the books. Of course, you can tell they are "classics", and certainly they contain some references no child's book today would make (like to black slaves), but overall they were a cozy, wholesome read. I liked this last one all right, especially the first part.
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July 28, 2021
Again a great addition in this book series. I loved reading this book and imagine all what was going on. It makes me almost said to see that there is only 1 book left. There could have been more by this writer.
May 27, 2024
Naciągane dwie gwiazdki. W moim odczuciu autorka nie miała pomysłu na tyle części tej serii. Z czasem książki tracą urok i coraz mniej się w nich dzieje. Ta część była całkiem niespójna, oderwana od poprzedniej i brzmiała jak wymęczone w bólach zakończenie serii (a przecież jest jeszcze kolejny tom...).
Pierwsza połowa zapowiadała się całkiem nieźle i sugerowała całkiem fajną przygodę. Choć na początku było dużo za dużo historii bez udziału Pożyczalskich to było to dużo lepsze niż druga połowa. Wówczas nie dzieje się już praktycznie nic prócz budowania balonu okraszonego KILOMETROWYMI i NUDNYMI opisami najprostszych czynności i otoczenia. Nawet sam "odlot" - który powinien być emocjonującym wydarzeniem - przemknął jakby niezauważony. Cała historia w tej części zmierza w sumie donikąd, jest mało spójna - sama w sobie i z resztą serii - i nie jest wiarygodna nawet jak na historię o małych ludzikach. Spokojnie to wszystko mogło stanowić epizod w poprzedniej części serii. Nie wiem po co w ogóle ten tom powstał - nie powinien. Boję się co znajdę w piątej części, ale póki co jestem zniechęcona i zawiedziona.
Pierwsza połowa zapowiadała się całkiem nieźle i sugerowała całkiem fajną przygodę. Choć na początku było dużo za dużo historii bez udziału Pożyczalskich to było to dużo lepsze niż druga połowa. Wówczas nie dzieje się już praktycznie nic prócz budowania balonu okraszonego KILOMETROWYMI i NUDNYMI opisami najprostszych czynności i otoczenia. Nawet sam "odlot" - który powinien być emocjonującym wydarzeniem - przemknął jakby niezauważony. Cała historia w tej części zmierza w sumie donikąd, jest mało spójna - sama w sobie i z resztą serii - i nie jest wiarygodna nawet jak na historię o małych ludzikach. Spokojnie to wszystko mogło stanowić epizod w poprzedniej części serii. Nie wiem po co w ogóle ten tom powstał - nie powinien. Boję się co znajdę w piątej części, ale póki co jestem zniechęcona i zawiedziona.
November 23, 2025
More fun adventures with the Borrowers. I was a little disappointed there was no follow-up on the sinister epilogue from the previous book, though.
August 28, 2010
I found this one so unsatisfying to reread. It goes nowhere, and it's becoming ridiculous how often the Borrowers just have to move on and move on and move on, never satisfied. I did like the touch of romance between Spiller and Arriety -- I hope the final book doesn't take that away -- and I do like the little details of the world Mr Pott and Miss Menzies create.
I'm sad that there's no sign of Mrs May or Kate anymore: they've vanished out of it, even though as far as I'm concerned they were as important to the story as the Borrowers, in their way. And the questioning element about their existence is totally gone. It isn't a story being told, but facts being laid out. The Borrowers are really captured, really about to be put on display... It could still have worked, with the right narrator to tell the story, but this book isn't framed that way. And somehow, it takes the uncertain enchantment out of it, rather than making it feel more real.
I do love the details of the world Mr Pott creates, and the loving attention he puts to it, and even the kindness of him and Miss Menzies. I always love the attention to detail, the thinking put into figuring out how these tiny people would survive, but...
Thinking about it now, in one way, the ending of this book is satisfying for that very reason. The harsh electric light in the Clocks' house that Mr Pott made, it isn't right for them, for the story. They have to go away and begin somewhere anew, somewhere they can make themselves, with their own hands and using their own skills. They have to go back to where they won't be seen, where they can flirt with the boundary between reality and fantasy.
It's nice to think of it that way.
I'm sad that there's no sign of Mrs May or Kate anymore: they've vanished out of it, even though as far as I'm concerned they were as important to the story as the Borrowers, in their way. And the questioning element about their existence is totally gone. It isn't a story being told, but facts being laid out. The Borrowers are really captured, really about to be put on display... It could still have worked, with the right narrator to tell the story, but this book isn't framed that way. And somehow, it takes the uncertain enchantment out of it, rather than making it feel more real.
I do love the details of the world Mr Pott creates, and the loving attention he puts to it, and even the kindness of him and Miss Menzies. I always love the attention to detail, the thinking put into figuring out how these tiny people would survive, but...
Thinking about it now, in one way, the ending of this book is satisfying for that very reason. The harsh electric light in the Clocks' house that Mr Pott made, it isn't right for them, for the story. They have to go away and begin somewhere anew, somewhere they can make themselves, with their own hands and using their own skills. They have to go back to where they won't be seen, where they can flirt with the boundary between reality and fantasy.
It's nice to think of it that way.
March 29, 2023
Interesting how my copy still contains the epilogue that was cut from editions published after Norton decided to write another book in the series.
RTC
29/03/23
RTC
29/03/23
October 7, 2022
It's a bit sad not to start with Mrs May and Kate this time round, but we're plunged directly into the world of other humans. Mr Pott is the kindly man who built the model village of Little Fordham as his fun hobby. Miss Menzies is his enthusiastic friend who helps with craft work and fills the village with small plaster people. And across the water live the shrewd rip-off merchants Sidney and Mabel Platter, who aim to copy Pott's every move and make an obscene profit from their own tawdry model village, Ballyhoggin. One night, Mr Platter spies tiny live people running around in Mr Pott's village and decides to purloin them to inhabit his. They are, of course, our little Clock family, who don't dream what lies ahead of them.
As a subplot early on, Arrietty keeps a guilty secret from her parents, because borrowers aren't supposed to be 'seen', yet she relishes the pleasure of delighting lovely, harmless folk like Miss Menzies just by showing up. For her, there's always a tension between two good things. Adherence to her strong family traditions on one hand and the thrill of making someone's day on the other. The double life makes her a bit cranky, yet her father attributes that to her awkward age.
It's a slower burn than the first three books, since a huge chunk of the story sets the family as prisoners in the Platters' attic over a six month period. Mary Norton had to write it so their escape didn't seem a cinch, yet without bogging the story down with the technical details of creating and launching the balloon. She treads a fine line and I think her success depends on the tolerance of mechanical waffle of each individual reader. Personally I felt it dragged in spots, and the title and cover themselves comprise a plot spoiler, as any young reader will instantly see how the Clock family will eventually escape from the Platters' attic. Oh well, sometimes a story is more about anticipation rather than surprise.
One thing I liked is the sound credibility. The Platters would most certainly have the materials for building the balloon stored up there. After all, balloons and strawberry baskets are part of the afternoon tea hustle they run on the side. So that was all good. And I felt great empathy for poor Pod's hopeless depression, when he foresees the remainder of their lives living behind glass, snooped at and treated like zoo animals. For this time, their unlikely boyish guardian angel Spiller can't come to their rescue, since he has no idea where they are.
Outside of the attic, the simmering dynamics between Arrietty and Spiller are getting cute. I sense subtle attraction from both sides, along with the angst that so often goes with it. I love Arrietty's irritation because Spiller won't listen to any technical explanations about the building of the balloon unless they come from her father. (He suddenly seemed balloon crazy... there seemed no end to his curiosity which, for some masculine reason Arrietty could not fathom, could only be satisfied by Pod.)
For over twenty years this was the final book in the series, and I think it's a perfect place to stop and let our reader imaginations take over. Pod has talked Homily into agreeing with him that purposelessness sets in when everything is done for you by others, so he and she look forward to resuming their hands-on lifestyle elsewhere. There is a broad hint that Arrietty and Spiller will end up happily married which satisfies our hearts for romance. In fact the end of the book's older version leaves us in no doubt. What more do we need?
This neat sense of completion is why I face the fifth installment, The Borrowers Avenged, with trepidation. Surprise sequels way down the track are sometimes facepalms. I hope it won't be one of those cases where an author plunges way beyond where she should have stopped, and undoes all her good work. I'll soon find out.
As a subplot early on, Arrietty keeps a guilty secret from her parents, because borrowers aren't supposed to be 'seen', yet she relishes the pleasure of delighting lovely, harmless folk like Miss Menzies just by showing up. For her, there's always a tension between two good things. Adherence to her strong family traditions on one hand and the thrill of making someone's day on the other. The double life makes her a bit cranky, yet her father attributes that to her awkward age.
It's a slower burn than the first three books, since a huge chunk of the story sets the family as prisoners in the Platters' attic over a six month period. Mary Norton had to write it so their escape didn't seem a cinch, yet without bogging the story down with the technical details of creating and launching the balloon. She treads a fine line and I think her success depends on the tolerance of mechanical waffle of each individual reader. Personally I felt it dragged in spots, and the title and cover themselves comprise a plot spoiler, as any young reader will instantly see how the Clock family will eventually escape from the Platters' attic. Oh well, sometimes a story is more about anticipation rather than surprise.
One thing I liked is the sound credibility. The Platters would most certainly have the materials for building the balloon stored up there. After all, balloons and strawberry baskets are part of the afternoon tea hustle they run on the side. So that was all good. And I felt great empathy for poor Pod's hopeless depression, when he foresees the remainder of their lives living behind glass, snooped at and treated like zoo animals. For this time, their unlikely boyish guardian angel Spiller can't come to their rescue, since he has no idea where they are.
Outside of the attic, the simmering dynamics between Arrietty and Spiller are getting cute. I sense subtle attraction from both sides, along with the angst that so often goes with it. I love Arrietty's irritation because Spiller won't listen to any technical explanations about the building of the balloon unless they come from her father. (He suddenly seemed balloon crazy... there seemed no end to his curiosity which, for some masculine reason Arrietty could not fathom, could only be satisfied by Pod.)
For over twenty years this was the final book in the series, and I think it's a perfect place to stop and let our reader imaginations take over. Pod has talked Homily into agreeing with him that purposelessness sets in when everything is done for you by others, so he and she look forward to resuming their hands-on lifestyle elsewhere. There is a broad hint that Arrietty and Spiller will end up happily married which satisfies our hearts for romance. In fact the end of the book's older version leaves us in no doubt. What more do we need?
This neat sense of completion is why I face the fifth installment, The Borrowers Avenged, with trepidation. Surprise sequels way down the track are sometimes facepalms. I hope it won't be one of those cases where an author plunges way beyond where she should have stopped, and undoes all her good work. I'll soon find out.
March 28, 2022
The Borrowers Aloft worked a lot better for me than the previous installments, Afield and Afloat. The Clock family has a breather, gets back to traditional borrowing from humans rather than foraging in the wilderness, and makes a daring escape. (I love how detailed the cover illustration is--matches the book description exactly.) The first few chapters depart from the Clocks and explore humans who are just trying to make an honest buck by competing with each other via miniatures. Well, one set of humans is trying to make a dishonest buck, hence the whole plot of Aloft. Norton's characterizations and dialogue continue to be my favorite part of the whole series, and I love how much she can do with tiny nuggets of information.
The short story "Poor Stainless" takes us back to Homily's childhood, when the house was full of Borrowers and humans. It is quite cute and made me long for the prequel I wish Norton had written, but it sufficed. Since it's set in the world of the Borrowers, it was easy to slip into, and Norton kept previous characterizations true to earlier portrayals.
Content warnings: a weird section where the Borrowers question "who hunts humans" and mention cannibalism--just felt off somehow, and would have disturbed me as a child.
The short story "Poor Stainless" takes us back to Homily's childhood, when the house was full of Borrowers and humans. It is quite cute and made me long for the prequel I wish Norton had written, but it sufficed. Since it's set in the world of the Borrowers, it was easy to slip into, and Norton kept previous characterizations true to earlier portrayals.
Content warnings: a weird section where the Borrowers question "who hunts humans" and mention cannibalism--just felt off somehow, and would have disturbed me as a child.
October 31, 2019
The poor poor Borrowers. What a life! Forever trying to find home. Forever escaping. Borrowing. Scavenging for scraps. Sounds like my life.
In the fourth book in the series, Mary Norton sends her borrowers to a little village where they find what seems to be a nice home in a model village. Arrietty finds a human ‘bean’ for a friend, then finds herself and her family kidnapped before they escape breathlessly and try to find another home. I find that the series is losing its charm as I move through to the end.
In the fourth book in the series, Mary Norton sends her borrowers to a little village where they find what seems to be a nice home in a model village. Arrietty finds a human ‘bean’ for a friend, then finds herself and her family kidnapped before they escape breathlessly and try to find another home. I find that the series is losing its charm as I move through to the end.
March 30, 2018
Зустріч із героями книги, яка припала до душі, — те ж саме, що й зустріч зі старими друзями. От тільки цього разу родину крихітних чоловічків спіткала халепа. Здавалося б, усе нарешті у їхному житті налагодилося, з’явився справжній затишний дім і можливості для роздобутку, аж тут їх... викрали підступні люди.
Однак засмучуватися не варто: звісно, роздобудькам вдалося втекти з горища, де їх тримали у полоні. А для цього довелося неабияк постаратися, зібрати всю винахідливість і змайструвати... повітряну кулю. Якщо врахувати, що політ на повітряній кулі — одна з моїх, поки що нездійснених, мрій, то й задоволення від читання було присмачене уявним власним польотом понад вкритими весняною зеленню пагорбами та синьою-синьою рікою...
Так-так, часом падаю в дитинство, і це — чудове відчуття)))
Однак засмучуватися не варто: звісно, роздобудькам вдалося втекти з горища, де їх тримали у полоні. А для цього довелося неабияк постаратися, зібрати всю винахідливість і змайструвати... повітряну кулю. Якщо врахувати, що політ на повітряній кулі — одна з моїх, поки що нездійснених, мрій, то й задоволення від читання було присмачене уявним власним польотом понад вкритими весняною зеленню пагорбами та синьою-синьою рікою...
Так-так, часом падаю в дитинство, і це — чудове відчуття)))
August 16, 2020
The little thieves ...errmm I mean borrowers... finally settled in Little Fordham, the model village, get kidnapped by the owners of a competing model village for obvious purposes. They're kept in a loft, given milk laced with sprits (what! Perhaps that's why Homily keeps acting so mental) and plan an escape...
Half the book is from another perspective, Miss Menzies and Mr Pott, owner of Fordham Village, but that's not to fault the book, just that it's more interesting when we're in the borrowers' pov. It's quite inventive as they undertake a daring escape from capture, for about five minutes!
Slightly better than the previous book, but not as good as the first book.
Now for the last one, Borrowers Avenged. I'm like a kid again :)
Half the book is from another perspective, Miss Menzies and Mr Pott, owner of Fordham Village, but that's not to fault the book, just that it's more interesting when we're in the borrowers' pov. It's quite inventive as they undertake a daring escape from capture, for about five minutes!
Slightly better than the previous book, but not as good as the first book.
Now for the last one, Borrowers Avenged. I'm like a kid again :)
September 28, 2022
Mildly enjoyable, like Afield. I most enjoyed the beginning and end, but the middle I could not be very interested in. I most like the dialogue between the borrowers, especially when they are trying to make difficult decisions. I was hoping Mr. Pott and Ms. M would come back into the story at the end for more closure. I'm not sure if I'll pursue Afloat and Avenged. So far, the first volume is the best and the only one I would reread.
August 12, 2009
I read the Borrowers series once or twice as a kid, but they never caught on with me in the same way as other books. But now, on rereading, I find them completely charming: beautifully imagined, nicely framed (except for Afloat, which I don't like as much), and actually pretty philosophical. Of course, the Krushes' illustrations are delightful, as always. I'm so glad I rediscovered these books!
January 29, 2019
While this one was still good (Arrietty starting to have feelings for Spiller was very cute), not a lot happened and a big portion of the book was from the humans’ POV (the very beginning of the book), which was interesting but made me wonder when we’d get to the Borrowers themselves.
December 13, 2023
arietta + spiller forever
February 17, 2021
After being uprooted to escape danger more than once, the little Clock family—Pod, Homily, and their teenaged daughter Arrietty—have been settling into a comfortable life of borrowing in a miniature village. But a few human beings' interest in the Clocks puts the family back in jeopardy in The Borrowers Aloft by author Mary Norton.
While I enjoyed the first two Borrowers' books and two Borrowers' movies back in my childhood, this is my first time reading this far into this classic children's fantasy series. I think it's my fondness for the characters, rather than the story, that made me like this fourth book as much as I did.
I got a bit tired during the early chapters with humans talking about the borrowers; the story's focus could have turned to the borrowers themselves sooner. I was also a little disappointed about not getting to see Spiller until quite late in the book, though his significance concerning Arrietty snaps up a couple of notches. And the ending is a calm cliffhanger, not exactly a happy one, with a tearful (redundant?) promise from Arrietty that I found dissatisfying, anticlimactic, and maybe pointless.
Even so, it's great how the Clocks work together, all three using their heads for the escape they need to make. Plus, I always like the thought-provoking tidbits in their conversations and reflections that truly show their borrower ideology. (Like, the fact that humans hunt humans absolutely appalls borrowers, which I 1000% understand.)
I'm hoping for a fulfilling series conclusion in the next and last book.
___________
Update after reading The Borrowers Avenged, the fifth and last book of the series:
I'd recommend either getting your hands on an original copy of Book Four, The Borrowers Aloft, or finding Book Four's original conclusion online somewhere. Then let that original ending be The End.
A few more of my thoughts are here.
While I enjoyed the first two Borrowers' books and two Borrowers' movies back in my childhood, this is my first time reading this far into this classic children's fantasy series. I think it's my fondness for the characters, rather than the story, that made me like this fourth book as much as I did.
I got a bit tired during the early chapters with humans talking about the borrowers; the story's focus could have turned to the borrowers themselves sooner. I was also a little disappointed about not getting to see Spiller until quite late in the book, though his significance concerning Arrietty snaps up a couple of notches. And the ending is a calm cliffhanger, not exactly a happy one, with a tearful (redundant?) promise from Arrietty that I found dissatisfying, anticlimactic, and maybe pointless.
Even so, it's great how the Clocks work together, all three using their heads for the escape they need to make. Plus, I always like the thought-provoking tidbits in their conversations and reflections that truly show their borrower ideology. (Like, the fact that humans hunt humans absolutely appalls borrowers, which I 1000% understand.)
I'm hoping for a fulfilling series conclusion in the next and last book.
___________
Update after reading The Borrowers Avenged, the fifth and last book of the series:
I'd recommend either getting your hands on an original copy of Book Four, The Borrowers Aloft, or finding Book Four's original conclusion online somewhere. Then let that original ending be The End.
A few more of my thoughts are here.
October 14, 2023
قرأت ان ماري عادت وغيرت نهاية الرواية لتسمح لنفسها بكتابة جزء جديد. تنتهي هذ الرواية بزواج سبيلر واريتي وعيشهم في شجرة.
February 27, 2024
Loved it! What saddens me is that I only have one more to read.
April 16, 2023
As good as always!
July 2, 2020
I absolutely adore this series. I wish I had read it as a kid. I already spent ages outdoors making little caps out of acorns for fairies and other diminutive items; this would have been right up my alley.
I really love the way that the Borrowers figure out how to build a hot air balloon using items in the attic in which they've been imprisoned.
Also love the part in which Arietty declares that she's going to marry Spiller one day and she supposes she'll have to tell him that at some point.
I'm sad we only have one volume left in the series. It's been fun inhabiting the world of the extremely resourceful and clever Borrowers.
I really love the way that the Borrowers figure out how to build a hot air balloon using items in the attic in which they've been imprisoned.
Also love the part in which Arietty declares that she's going to marry Spiller one day and she supposes she'll have to tell him that at some point.
I'm sad we only have one volume left in the series. It's been fun inhabiting the world of the extremely resourceful and clever Borrowers.
December 20, 2020
I'm still not warming up to this series, no matter how I like the general idea and the Ghibli adaptation. Nonetheless, I enjoyed this fourth instalment more than the third.
The stakes are set higher - this one felt like the biggest peril the Borrowers have been in so far. But somehow, this book still managed to bore me. I still feel as though the author gets lost in details.
Purely in terms of the story, though, I am surprised to find that I like Homily more and more. Pod, on the other hand, I've reserved my opinion on him for a while as I felt it would be more of a negative one. By volume four, I am compelled to say that I don't like him. I'm all for ladies-first-etiquette and am much more forgiving than most when it comes to feminism, but goodness, I can't stand how he always makes it sound like he is the man in the house and Arrietty and Homily have to obey his every command. Good on Arrietty for not following them.
I also wasn't too happy how Arrietty did quite a lot in this instalment and was given zero credit for it, no thanks to Pod. On the contrary, Pod is so stubborn about his opinions - I've just about had enough of him being so extremely anti-human, Homily has grown a whole lot more backbone by comparison.
Being the romance fan that I am, I was pretty well pleased to see a bit of something finally coming out of Arrietty and Spiller - I wouldn't mind some more of that! Let's see what the fifth and final volume brings...
February 18, 2023
I enjoyed this one in the Borrowers series too, but it felt more like a long prologue and then a chapter or two than a full book. If I hadn’t read the others in the series first I don’t think this one would have held my attention long enough to finish.
February 7, 2012
This is the fourth book in "The Borrowers" series, the children's story that supposes that little people who live under the floor take all the things that are missing. In this book, our little Borrower family - Pod, Homily and Arriety - move into a miniature village called "Little Fordham". A rival mini village proprietor and his wife steal them away intending to put them on display for all to see. As the cage is prepared, the Borrowers are locked away in an impossibly high attic. How will they escape?
This was a very good book. I loved the twists and turns in this tale and the introduction of yet another "bad intention" human trying to profit from the little folks. The ingenious of the Borrowers is truly imaginative in this book as they explore the attic to maximize their captivity and try and plan their escape. My boys loved it, too. There were nights towards the end that we read extra chapters to move the story along.
Classic children's series for sure!
This was a very good book. I loved the twists and turns in this tale and the introduction of yet another "bad intention" human trying to profit from the little folks. The ingenious of the Borrowers is truly imaginative in this book as they explore the attic to maximize their captivity and try and plan their escape. My boys loved it, too. There were nights towards the end that we read extra chapters to move the story along.
Classic children's series for sure!
January 13, 2021
After the Borrower family is kidnapped by humans, they escape in a balloon.
As usual in this series, it takes dozens of pages before the story really begins. I enjoyed the part where the characters are trapped in an attic and the ingenious ways they think about how they could use the room's contents to get out. I wasn't a super fan of the ending, but all the books end with them fleeing to a new home. This is the next to last book in the series. I don't have the fifth and am ok with this being the end of reading about the Borrowers.
This was a joint read with my 89-year-old mom, who said it was 'pretty good'.
As usual in this series, it takes dozens of pages before the story really begins. I enjoyed the part where the characters are trapped in an attic and the ingenious ways they think about how they could use the room's contents to get out. I wasn't a super fan of the ending, but all the books end with them fleeing to a new home. This is the next to last book in the series. I don't have the fifth and am ok with this being the end of reading about the Borrowers.
This was a joint read with my 89-year-old mom, who said it was 'pretty good'.
February 26, 2018
Very slow moving and very different from the first three in the series. I was quite disappointed that half the book doesn't even deal with the Borrowers, but instead focuses on the Borrowers being talked about. There are things that aren't quite explained and remain this way the entire book. The ending is very open ended and kind of sad. If you think that the Borrowers are going to get what they want and live happily, you're quite mistaken.
August 11, 2009
Another solid entry in the saga. I found this and its immediate predecessor to be much stronger, much more engaging than the first two. I love the ingenuity the borrowers show, I adore that Pod listens to Arrietty with respect and admiration, and Spiller is almost (dare I say it?) sweet. Homily is a pain, but in a realistic way.
January 3, 2015
I've always liked "hidden" sequels, ones that most people don't read and/or know existed (like those to Pollyanna. Norton doesn't disappoint Borrowers fans with this one, which is more about their lives than their borrowing.
January 5, 2010
This book is a funny life-changing book that keeps you from putting it down. I learned that there are people under our noses who use the stuff we lose when they find it.
March 13, 2020
These books got pretty uninteresting to me after the first one.
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