What do you think?
Rate this book
Pobby and Dingan
Pobby and Dingan live in Lightning Ridge, New South Wales, the opal capital of Australia. They are friends with Kellyanne Williamson, the daughter of an opal miner, but only Kellyanne can see them. Pobby and Dingan are imaginary.
Ashmol Williamson, Kellyanne's brother, thinks his sister should grow up and stop being such a fruit loop. Until the day, that is, when Pobby and Dingan disappear--the same day that Ashmol and Kellyanne's father is accused of "ratting" (poaching on someone else's land), the worst sin an opal miner can commit.
As Kellyanne--grief-stricken and suddenly, mysteriously, ill--begins to fade away, Ashmol recruits the whole town in a search for Pobby and Dingan. In the end, however, he discovers that only he can find them, and that he can only find them if he too believes they are real.
Funny, deeply moving and told without a wasted word, Pobby and Dingan--the debut of a prodigiously gifted new writer--is an enchanting story.
Ashmol Williamson, Kellyanne's brother, thinks his sister should grow up and stop being such a fruit loop. Until the day, that is, when Pobby and Dingan disappear--the same day that Ashmol and Kellyanne's father is accused of "ratting" (poaching on someone else's land), the worst sin an opal miner can commit.
As Kellyanne--grief-stricken and suddenly, mysteriously, ill--begins to fade away, Ashmol recruits the whole town in a search for Pobby and Dingan. In the end, however, he discovers that only he can find them, and that he can only find them if he too believes they are real.
Funny, deeply moving and told without a wasted word, Pobby and Dingan--the debut of a prodigiously gifted new writer--is an enchanting story.
112 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2000
19 people are currently reading
1598 people want to read
About the author
Ben Rice
12 books23 followersBen Rice (born 1972), is a prize-winning British author.
Rice was born in Tiverton, Devon, educated at Blundell's School and read English literature at Newcastle University and then Wadham College, Oxford, before studying Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia.
His novel Pobby and Dingan (later filmed as 'Opal Dream') was awarded the Somerset Maugham Award in 2001 (as well as being shortlisted for the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize), and in 2003 Granta named him as one of their twenty "Best of Young British Novelists". Pobby and Dingan is a short story about a small girl, her two imaginary friends, and her older brother who gradually learns that just because one can't see something, doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Disguised as a children's story, this emotional tale is appreciated by readers of all ages.
Rice was born in Tiverton, Devon, educated at Blundell's School and read English literature at Newcastle University and then Wadham College, Oxford, before studying Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia.
His novel Pobby and Dingan (later filmed as 'Opal Dream') was awarded the Somerset Maugham Award in 2001 (as well as being shortlisted for the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize), and in 2003 Granta named him as one of their twenty "Best of Young British Novelists". Pobby and Dingan is a short story about a small girl, her two imaginary friends, and her older brother who gradually learns that just because one can't see something, doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Disguised as a children's story, this emotional tale is appreciated by readers of all ages.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 285 reviews
July 26, 2011
When was the last time that you read a book in a single evening and kept thinking about the characters for weeks afterwards?
August 5, 2013
In the opal-mining region of Australia, little Kellyanne lives with her dad, her big brother Ashmol, and her imaginary friends, Pobby and Dingan. Ashmol is constantly teasing his little sister about how Pobby and Dingan aren't real and telling her to grow up. He is convinced that his sister is just being a baby who refuses to grow out of her imaginary friend stage. However one day, when Ashmol and Kellyanne's father is suspected of a crime that he didn't commit, and Pobby and Dingan go missing, Ashmol has no choice but to learn to believe in his sister's invisible friends so he can find them before Kellyanne wastes away from grief and clear his father's name.
This is one of the saddest, sweetest, most heartbreaking books I have ever read. As a child, I didn't have imaginary friends. Kellyanne's relationship with Pobby and Dingan made me really wish that I had. This girl is just the cutest thing. She has these adorable conversations with them and plays games with them. She constantly tries to convince Ashmol to join her, but he always brushes her off and makes fun of her. He cannot understand how his sister is so convinced that Pobby and Dingan are real, and at first I wasn't convinced that they were real either. But when the two imaginary friends disappear, little Kellyanne is devastated and falls ill. Her condition gets progressively worse each day that they remain missing. By this point, Ashmol will do anything to save his sister--even believe in what he can't see. As Ashmol slowly realizes that Pobby and Dingan are real because Kellyanne believes that they are, so did I. By the end of the novella, I wholeheartedly believed in Pobby and Dingan.
I have to warn you, the ending is not a particularly happy one. It left me dangerously close to tears. But I have absolutely no regrets. Seeing Ashmol begin to believe reminded me of Peter Pan. The mantra that I kept hearing in my head was "I do believe in imaginary friends, I do, I do." I loved seeing him become less cynical and more open minded, and was reminded of the wise words of one of my favorite wizards: "Of course it is happening inside your head...but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?”
My three-year-old brother has an imaginary friend he calls Michael, and, needless to say, I will never again belittle his friendship with him. All in all, this was a beautiful gem of a book, and I recommend it to absolutely everyone.
This is one of the saddest, sweetest, most heartbreaking books I have ever read. As a child, I didn't have imaginary friends. Kellyanne's relationship with Pobby and Dingan made me really wish that I had. This girl is just the cutest thing. She has these adorable conversations with them and plays games with them. She constantly tries to convince Ashmol to join her, but he always brushes her off and makes fun of her. He cannot understand how his sister is so convinced that Pobby and Dingan are real, and at first I wasn't convinced that they were real either. But when the two imaginary friends disappear, little Kellyanne is devastated and falls ill. Her condition gets progressively worse each day that they remain missing. By this point, Ashmol will do anything to save his sister--even believe in what he can't see. As Ashmol slowly realizes that Pobby and Dingan are real because Kellyanne believes that they are, so did I. By the end of the novella, I wholeheartedly believed in Pobby and Dingan.
I have to warn you, the ending is not a particularly happy one. It left me dangerously close to tears. But I have absolutely no regrets. Seeing Ashmol begin to believe reminded me of Peter Pan. The mantra that I kept hearing in my head was "I do believe in imaginary friends, I do, I do." I loved seeing him become less cynical and more open minded, and was reminded of the wise words of one of my favorite wizards: "Of course it is happening inside your head...but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?”
My three-year-old brother has an imaginary friend he calls Michael, and, needless to say, I will never again belittle his friendship with him. All in all, this was a beautiful gem of a book, and I recommend it to absolutely everyone.
April 30, 2013
Came across this book on a list, I think it was on Kirkus, detailing the small books one should not miss. I loved this little story, about a 8 yr. old girl who lives with her family in New South Wales, Australia. Her father was digging for opals and the little girl had two imaginary friends called Pobby and Dingan. Reminded me of the saying that if a tree falls and no one is near does it still make a sound. If not everyone can see the imaginary friends does this mean they do not exist? This is a story of a town that pulled together to help save a little girl. It is also about what being family means, not just someone saying brother or sister, but going above and beyond, even if it means suspending one's belief. As her brother says, "Because they are all just fruit loops who don't know what it is to believe in something which is hard to see, or to keep looking for something which is totally hard to find." Wonderful little story.
December 24, 2022
เราควรทำตัวอย่างไรดีล่ะในฐานะพี่ชาย... ถ้าน้องสาวเราไม่มีเพื่อนเป็นคน แต่มีเพื่อนสนิทเป็นอากาศ... พูดกับอากาศ เล่นกับอากาศ ไปอาบน้ำกับอากาศ ไปโรงเรียนกับอากาศ
และที่ยิ่งไปกว่านั้น
ทุกวัน แม่ก็เตรียมอาหารและของว่างเผื่อเจ้าพวกนั้นที่ใครก็มองไม่เห็นด้วย!?
เวลาไปร้านขนม เจ้าของร้านก็แถมอมยิ้มให้ บอกให้น้องเอาให้เพื่อนของเธอ ในฐานะที่เป็นเด็กดี เรียบร้อย ไม่ส่งเสียงดัง!?
หรือขนาดน้องสาวป่วย ไปประกวดเจ้าหญิงประจำหมู่บ้านไม่ได้ น้องส่งเพื่อนที่มองไม่เห็นไปประกวด ดันได้รางวัลที่ 3 เฉยเลย มีนักข่าวมาถ่ายรูปทำข่าวน้องสาวกับเพื่อนด้วย!?
เรื่องราวในครอบครัวเล็กๆ มีพ่อทำงานขุดเหมืองโอปอล แม่เป็นคนอังกฤษที่แต่งงานกับพ่อก็เลยย้ายประเทศมาอยู่เมืองเล็กๆ แห่งนี้ พี่ชายหัวไว กับน้องสาวที่มีเพื่อนสนิทล่องหน ชื่อพ็อบบีกับดิกแกน (คนนึงเป็นเด็กผู้หญิง อีกคนเป็นเด็กผู้ชาย)
ไม่อยากจะเชื่อว่านี่เป็นผลงานเขียนเรื่องแรกของเบน ไรซ์
เล่าเรื่องเก่ง ปิดและเผยข้อมูลต่อคนอ่านได้อย่างแยบคาย จังหวะจะโคนดี ลื่นไหล กลมกล่อม
เล่าเรื่องคมคายแบบเคลือบลูกกวาด
ทั้งที่เรื่องก็เล่าผ่านตัวละครเด็ก แต่สารที่ส่งออกมาใหญ่มาก
สิ่งที่เรื่องนี้ทิ้งเอาไว้ จะติดอยู่ในหัวคุณไปอีกเป็นสัปดาห์
ใครชอบโอตสึอิจิ ต้องชอบเล่มนี้แน่นอน
เรื่องสั้น แต่ทรงพลัง
สิ่งที่ตามองไม่เห็น ไม่ได้แปลว่าไม่มี
และที่ยิ่งไปกว่านั้น
ทุกวัน แม่ก็เตรียมอาหารและของว่างเผื่อเจ้าพวกนั้นที่ใครก็มองไม่เห็นด้วย!?
เวลาไปร้านขนม เจ้าของร้านก็แถมอมยิ้มให้ บอกให้น้องเอาให้เพื่อนของเธอ ในฐานะที่เป็นเด็กดี เรียบร้อย ไม่ส่งเสียงดัง!?
หรือขนาดน้องสาวป่วย ไปประกวดเจ้าหญิงประจำหมู่บ้านไม่ได้ น้องส่งเพื่อนที่มองไม่เห็นไปประกวด ดันได้รางวัลที่ 3 เฉยเลย มีนักข่าวมาถ่ายรูปทำข่าวน้องสาวกับเพื่อนด้วย!?
เรื่องราวในครอบครัวเล็กๆ มีพ่อทำงานขุดเหมืองโอปอล แม่เป็นคนอังกฤษที่แต่งงานกับพ่อก็เลยย้ายประเทศมาอยู่เมืองเล็กๆ แห่งนี้ พี่ชายหัวไว กับน้องสาวที่มีเพื่อนสนิทล่องหน ชื่อพ็อบบีกับดิกแกน (คนนึงเป็นเด็กผู้หญิง อีกคนเป็นเด็กผู้ชาย)
ไม่อยากจะเชื่อว่านี่เป็นผลงานเขียนเรื่องแรกของเบน ไรซ์
เล่าเรื่องเก่ง ปิดและเผยข้อมูลต่อคนอ่านได้อย่างแยบคาย จังหวะจะโคนดี ลื่นไหล กลมกล่อม
เล่าเรื่องคมคายแบบเคลือบลูกกวาด
ทั้งที่เรื่องก็เล่าผ่านตัวละครเด็ก แต่สารที่ส่งออกมาใหญ่มาก
สิ่งที่เรื่องนี้ทิ้งเอาไว้ จะติดอยู่ในหัวคุณไปอีกเป็นสัปดาห์
ใครชอบโอตสึอิจิ ต้องชอบเล่มนี้แน่นอน
เรื่องสั้น แต่ทรงพลัง
สิ่งที่ตามองไม่เห็น ไม่ได้แปลว่าไม่มี
November 11, 2022
ทีสองปีมานี้คุณไม่เจอโอปอลเลย ทำไมถึงเชื่อว่ามีอยู่จริงล่ะ เท่าที่ฉันเห็นโอปอลบ้าบอคอแตกของคุณก็ไม่มีตัวตนเหมือนกันแหละ
โห เราหยิบเล่มนี้มาเพราะ พี่ณัฐ บอกว่าเหมือนโอตสึอิจิ และรีวิวได้ดีมากๆ 5555 พอซื้อมาก็ดองเอาไว้เพิ่งได้ฤกษ์หยิบมาอ่านนี่เองค่ะ แล้วก็พบว่า เอ้อ ไม่รู้สึกถึงโอตสึเท่าไร แต่ดีมากมากมากมากมากมากมาก ดีใจที่ได้อ่าน
เรื่องเล่าจากมุมมองของพี่ชายเคลลีแอน /แอชโมล/ ผู้มีน้องสาวคนดังในทางเพี้ยนๆ เพราะแคลลีแอนมีเพื่อนสองคน คือ พ็อบบีกับดินแก็น แต่เรื่องคือ สองคนนี้มีแค่แคนลีแอนเท่านั้นที่เห็น แอชโมลเรื่องปวดประสาทกับน้องสาวของตัวเองพอๆ กับเรื่องปวดประสาทรอบตัวที่ใส่มาน้อยแต่มาก
เซ็ตติ้งคือยุคล่าโอปอลในประเทศเกิดใหม่อย่างออสเตรเลีย ครอบครัวของแอชโมลย้ายมาจากอังกฤษ (ออสเตรเลียเป็นประเทศอาณานิคม) แม้จะมีรายละเอียดเล็กๆ น้อยๆ แต่ก็ใส่มาให้เราเห็นภาพถึงความเป็นไปในสมัยนั้น (อย่างการเสด็จสวรรคตของเจ้าหญิงไดอาน่า) และความยากลำบากของการเป็นนักขุดโอปอล
ประเด็นที่ใส่มาในเรื่องชัดเจน พ่อของเด็กทั้งสองพยายามตามหาโอปอลที่ไม่เคยเห็นแต่เชื่อว่ามีจริง และทุกคนก็เชื่อว่าอย่างนั้น ในขณะที่แคลลีแอนก็มีเพื่อนสองคนที่ไม่มีใครเคยเห็นแต่เชื่อว่ามีจริง แต่ไม่มีใครเลยที่เชื่อว่าเป็นเรื่องจริง ทำไมละ ทำไมเราถึงเชื่อว่ามีโอปอล แต่ไม่เชื่อว่าแคลลีแอนมีเพื่อน
มันเรียบง่ายแบบนั้นแหละ แต่มันได้ง่ายขนาดนั้นน่ะสิ เรื่องนี้เลยกลายเป็นวรรณกรรมเด็กเรื่องสั้นที่ไม่เด็กเลย และแม้จะสั้นมากแต่ก็ติดอยู่ในใจไปอีกนานเลยค่ะ
โห เราหยิบเล่มนี้มาเพราะ พี่ณัฐ บอกว่าเหมือนโอตสึอิจิ และรีวิวได้ดีมากๆ 5555 พอซื้อมาก็ดองเอาไว้เพิ่งได้ฤกษ์หยิบมาอ่านนี่เองค่ะ แล้วก็พบว่า เอ้อ ไม่รู้สึกถึงโอตสึเท่าไร แต่ดีมากมากมากมากมากมากมาก ดีใจที่ได้อ่าน
เรื่องเล่าจากมุมมองของพี่ชายเคลลีแอน /แอชโมล/ ผู้มีน้องสาวคนดังในทางเพี้ยนๆ เพราะแคลลีแอนมีเพื่อนสองคน คือ พ็อบบีกับดินแก็น แต่เรื่องคือ สองคนนี้มีแค่แคนลีแอนเท่านั้นที่เห็น แอชโมลเรื่องปวดประสาทกับน้องสาวของตัวเองพอๆ กับเรื่องปวดประสาทรอบตัวที่ใส่มาน้อยแต่มาก
เซ็ตติ้งคือยุคล่าโอปอลในประเทศเกิดใหม่อย่างออสเตรเลีย ครอบครัวของแอชโมลย้ายมาจากอังกฤษ (ออสเตรเลียเป็นประเทศอาณานิคม) แม้จะมีรายละเอียดเล็กๆ น้อยๆ แต่ก็ใส่มาให้เราเห็นภาพถึงความเป็นไปในสมัยนั้น (อย่างการเสด็จสวรรคตของเจ้าหญิงไดอาน่า) และความยากลำบากของการเป็นนักขุดโอปอล
ประเด็นที่ใส่มาในเรื่องชัดเจน พ่อของเด็กทั้งสองพยายามตามหาโอปอลที่ไม่เคยเห็นแต่เชื่อว่ามีจริง และทุกคนก็เชื่อว่าอย่างนั้น ในขณะที่แคลลีแอนก็มีเพื่อนสองคนที่ไม่มีใครเคยเห็นแต่เชื่อว่ามีจริง แต่ไม่มีใครเลยที่เชื่อว่าเป็นเรื่องจริง ทำไมละ ทำไมเราถึงเชื่อว่ามีโอปอล แต่ไม่เชื่อว่าแคลลีแอนมีเพื่อน
มันเรียบง่ายแบบนั้นแหละ แต่มันได้ง่ายขนาดนั้นน่ะสิ เรื่องนี้เลยกลายเป็นวรรณกรรมเด็กเรื่องสั้นที่ไม่เด็กเลย และแม้จะสั้นมากแต่ก็ติดอยู่ในใจไปอีกนานเลยค่ะ
September 18, 2024
More like 3.5 ✨
February 22, 2025
E aceasta o carte bună? Un picuț da.
E o carte adorabilă? Foarte! Am zâmbit, ba uneori m-a pufnit chiar râsul la unele întorsături copilărești de perspectivă.
E o carte sfâșietoare? Depinde de direcția din care o privești. Privită înainte, nu. Privită înapoi, teribil de.
E o carte pentru copii? Cât timp am sperat că va avea alt final (admit că ar fi trebuit să fie unul genial ca să nu strice cartea), am crezut că da. Acum cred că sunt foarte puțini copiii care o pot digera.
E o carte adorabilă? Foarte! Am zâmbit, ba uneori m-a pufnit chiar râsul la unele întorsături copilărești de perspectivă.
E o carte sfâșietoare? Depinde de direcția din care o privești. Privită înainte, nu. Privită înapoi, teribil de.
E o carte pentru copii? Cât timp am sperat că va avea alt final (admit că ar fi trebuit să fie unul genial ca să nu strice cartea), am crezut că da. Acum cred că sunt foarte puțini copiii care o pot digera.
February 19, 2022
เป็นหนังสือเล่มบางๆ
ที่โยนคำถามถึงความแตกต่าง
ระหว่าง .. จินตนาการของเด็ก กับจินตนาการของผู้ใหญ่
ระหว่าง .. สิ่งที่มีอยู่จริง กับสิ่งที่เราเชื่อว่ามีอยู่จริง
พล็อตและความเลยเถิดของเนื้อเรื่อง
อาจไม่ทำให้เราอินเท่าไรนัก
แต่คำถามสำคัญที่ผู้เขียนใส่ไว้ในเรื่อง
กลับทำให้เราคิดวนเวียนอยู่กับมันมาตั้งแต่อ่านจบ
อินเสียยิ่งกว่าอินไปแล้ว
ที่โยนคำถามถึงความแตกต่าง
ระหว่าง .. จินตนาการของเด็ก กับจินตนาการของผู้ใหญ่
ระหว่าง .. สิ่งที่มีอยู่จริง กับสิ่งที่เราเชื่อว่ามีอยู่จริง
พล็อตและความเลยเถิดของเนื้อเรื่อง
อาจไม่ทำให้เราอินเท่าไรนัก
แต่คำถามสำคัญที่ผู้เขียนใส่ไว้ในเรื่อง
กลับทำให้เราคิดวนเวียนอยู่กับมันมาตั้งแต่อ่านจบ
อินเสียยิ่งกว่าอินไปแล้ว
May 15, 2025
O poveste frumoasă, dar foarte tristă, despre dragostea fraternă.
March 16, 2014
Dear Friends -
Please read this book. I found this on a list of "The Top Ten Books You Should Read that You Have Likely Never Heard Of" (not sure if that is the exact name - and thought that the premise sounded interesting. And, all I can say is that these 98 pages packed a very big punch. As I finished the last few paragraphs, I was crying my eyes out. And when it was over, all I wanted to do is start again. I promise, and agree, that this is not one to miss.
Russell
Please read this book. I found this on a list of "The Top Ten Books You Should Read that You Have Likely Never Heard Of" (not sure if that is the exact name - and thought that the premise sounded interesting. And, all I can say is that these 98 pages packed a very big punch. As I finished the last few paragraphs, I was crying my eyes out. And when it was over, all I wanted to do is start again. I promise, and agree, that this is not one to miss.
Russell
July 7, 2010
What an utterly delightful little book. I had an imaginary friend as a child. His name was Rudi and he was my husband. I was 3. He only showed up when I was in the bathtub. My brothers used to tease me.
Now I have an imaginary friend. I'm 53. Her name is Ruthe (or bumma). She's my mom and she's still teaching me how to live a good life.
Now I have an imaginary friend. I'm 53. Her name is Ruthe (or bumma). She's my mom and she's still teaching me how to live a good life.
December 26, 2019
I've been wanting to read this book for years, and I finally goat around to doing it. It's a children's book, I think. Actually I'm not sure. It's a bit salty for kids and the ending is a shock.
Pobby and Dingan, Kellyanne Williamson's make believe friends, disappear one day when Kellyanne's dad forgets to pick them up after work and bring them home, and Kellyanne gets sicker and sicker the longer Pobby and Dingan go missing. To save the day, Ashmol, Kellyanne's brother, has the whole town turn out looking for them. There are search parties and false sightings. This is a nice idea that a lot can be done with. The power of imagination, and the whole idea of what is real and what is not, especially with children, is up for exploration. But what makes this story special is the shocking ending. I don't agree with the ending, but it is a shock. Not your run of the mill children's story. At 94 pages, it's worth giving this a try.
Pobby and Dingan, Kellyanne Williamson's make believe friends, disappear one day when Kellyanne's dad forgets to pick them up after work and bring them home, and Kellyanne gets sicker and sicker the longer Pobby and Dingan go missing. To save the day, Ashmol, Kellyanne's brother, has the whole town turn out looking for them. There are search parties and false sightings. This is a nice idea that a lot can be done with. The power of imagination, and the whole idea of what is real and what is not, especially with children, is up for exploration. But what makes this story special is the shocking ending. I don't agree with the ending, but it is a shock. Not your run of the mill children's story. At 94 pages, it's worth giving this a try.
November 1, 2017
This book was recommended by a friend. I had never heard of this book and decided to go ahead and read it. What I found was a heartbreaking story of a brother and sister. Of a town in search of the brilliant opals. Of imagination and believing in the unseen. Bringing the town together in a belief of a young girl. And a brother fighting for his sister's life by finally believing in her imaginary friends. The ending brought me to tears and I will never forget Kellyanne, Ashmol, Pobby and Dingan.
October 18, 2023
I actually quite enjoyed this !! a charming little story
December 13, 2018
This was more novella than novel, and really more a long short story than a novella. But it was a VERY good long short story, and it reminded me (and at least one other reviewer) a lot of a Down Under To Kill A Mockingbird, with both Scout and Jem characters (although in reversed roles), and a more dissolute Atticus; it even ends with a trial. From the very first line - Kellyanne opened the car door and crawled into my bedroom - Rice really conveys the sound, feel and overall oddness of outback Australia without going into descriptive detail - very nicely done, and well worth the hour or two needed to read the whole thing.
In 2006, Australia made a low-budget film version of P&D, retitled "Opal Dream." Not bad; lacks the punch of the narrator Ashmol's unique voice, but then adds other scenes and characters that nicely fill out the rather sparse plot of the book. In particular, the trial scene is extended and rather nicely done, rather than being merely sketched out by Ashmol who didn't actually attend. (SPOILER ALERT!) And the ending of the film is different from the story, made more upbeat in order to pass as "feel-good family fare." But all in all, not a bad adaptation.
In 2006, Australia made a low-budget film version of P&D, retitled "Opal Dream." Not bad; lacks the punch of the narrator Ashmol's unique voice, but then adds other scenes and characters that nicely fill out the rather sparse plot of the book. In particular, the trial scene is extended and rather nicely done, rather than being merely sketched out by Ashmol who didn't actually attend. (SPOILER ALERT!) And the ending of the film is different from the story, made more upbeat in order to pass as "feel-good family fare." But all in all, not a bad adaptation.
September 4, 2007
A novella with imagination, set in the opal-mining country of Australia. A young girl has two imaginary friends, and everyone around her supports her, except her brother. When her father is accused of "ratting," or poaching someone else's land, she can't find her friends anymore and becomes very very ill. Her brother decides to help her find her "friends" even though he thinks she's crazy. Poignant and authentic; I am happy I found this lying on the shelves in the library.
December 7, 2010
Gem. Beautiful and sad. Unique voice. What happened to Ben Rice??
November 16, 2014
This book is an absolute treasure. Do not miss.
Also check out the movie based on this novella, Opal Dreams. Exquisite.
Also check out the movie based on this novella, Opal Dreams. Exquisite.
May 14, 2019
This was a strange, atmospheric book that discussing mining towns, the power of community, and the deep ravine that connects the body and mind. When Pobby and Dingan go missing, Ashmol doesn't really care. Maybe it's Kellyanne's way of saying she's too old for her imaginary friends. But when she gets sick, grieving, unable to eat, Ashmol wonders if the only way to make her feel better is to pretend that he's searching for them.
With a touch of magical realism, Rice's book is hopeful, refusing to be anything else for anybody else. It is unrelenting in its aspiration for community and understanding, which makes it sweet and strangely emotional.
It's a book that's perfect for when the sun begins to set, great with a pot of tea. It requires the still calmness of a lazy afternoon, one where you can be absorbed into Ashmol's world of impossibility and wonder.
Review cross-listed here!
With a touch of magical realism, Rice's book is hopeful, refusing to be anything else for anybody else. It is unrelenting in its aspiration for community and understanding, which makes it sweet and strangely emotional.
It's a book that's perfect for when the sun begins to set, great with a pot of tea. It requires the still calmness of a lazy afternoon, one where you can be absorbed into Ashmol's world of impossibility and wonder.
Review cross-listed here!
January 7, 2020
This novel thats actually a novella is a great short-story! Joke aside, I cannot begin to hail this marvelous, marvelous little miracle. Sure, the book is short (took me about 70 minutes to read it in its entirely), but the way Ben Rice writes is just astonashing. Frankly, 10 pages in and I wasnt really that concerned with the story anymore, as I was mesmerized by the crafting of every sentence. Simply beautiful. Simple beauty. The fact that this is the only novel written by the author saddens me. Deeply. PS: The story, while a light-read, is actually original and the moral of it really runs profoundly. I strongly, strongly recommend this one. Ney, scratch that! This is a must read! :)
August 2, 2020
Um pequeno livro com uma mensagem poderosa.
Uma amiga emprestou-me este livro e disse-me que este foi o livro que na adolescencia dela fez com que ela ficasse a gostar de ler.
E é sem súvida um livro com uma mensagem muito poderosa, que fala-nos do amor incondicional que uma criança tem por tudo. Que o amor acima de tudo prevalece independentemente das idades.
Um livro emotivo, com uma história simples, bonita e coesa. Um clássico desconhecido, diria eu.
Um livro pouco comum mas que aconselho a lerem.
Uma amiga emprestou-me este livro e disse-me que este foi o livro que na adolescencia dela fez com que ela ficasse a gostar de ler.
E é sem súvida um livro com uma mensagem muito poderosa, que fala-nos do amor incondicional que uma criança tem por tudo. Que o amor acima de tudo prevalece independentemente das idades.
Um livro emotivo, com uma história simples, bonita e coesa. Um clássico desconhecido, diria eu.
Um livro pouco comum mas que aconselho a lerem.
December 24, 2020
Pobby and Dingan are two imaginary friends of a little girl whose story is here narrated by the girl’s elder brother.
This is a slim volume which I read and finished two nights ago just before I slept. And I found out that it is true, as what another reviewer said, that this will stay with you days after, you thinking about what “reality” is, and why the “unreal” or the merely “imagined” can have more power and can deliver more tangible results than those which you can apprehend with your five senses.
A very clever, thought-provoking literary gem.
This is a slim volume which I read and finished two nights ago just before I slept. And I found out that it is true, as what another reviewer said, that this will stay with you days after, you thinking about what “reality” is, and why the “unreal” or the merely “imagined” can have more power and can deliver more tangible results than those which you can apprehend with your five senses.
A very clever, thought-provoking literary gem.
September 28, 2022
Hace muchos años compré este libro, lo leí, lo amé, compré muchos más para regalar, todos lo amaron y hoy, pues creo que quizá pocos lo recuerden, es posible que el escritor no volvió a escribir nada más, no lo sé.
Es una chulada. Una ternura. Rompe con un esquema de pensamiento que me encanta.
Te invita a creer, realmente creer, en los amigos imaginarios.
Y termina, uf, cómo deben o más bien, pueden, terminar los libros infantiles.
Si crees realmente en los niños y su inteligencia.
Lo volví a disfrutar como la primera vez.
Es una chulada. Una ternura. Rompe con un esquema de pensamiento que me encanta.
Te invita a creer, realmente creer, en los amigos imaginarios.
Y termina, uf, cómo deben o más bien, pueden, terminar los libros infantiles.
Si crees realmente en los niños y su inteligencia.
Lo volví a disfrutar como la primera vez.
October 29, 2023
To think these imagery friends have much control over me as well...
This was our homework. I loved it but I didn't love it anymore when I had to retell this story in 250 words.
Well...
This is a brilliant story. Easy to read. Lovely to immerse yourself in Kellyanne's perspective. PERFECT for a beach read or on a vacation!
This was our homework. I loved it but I didn't love it anymore when I had to retell this story in 250 words.
Well...
This is a brilliant story. Easy to read. Lovely to immerse yourself in Kellyanne's perspective. PERFECT for a beach read or on a vacation!
March 15, 2022
3,5 stars
this was such a cute and quick read, and i loved every second of it! the mystery of whether pobby and dingan were real and the way kellyann loved them so much just broke my heart...
this story was short and beautifully written in my opinion and i will definitely read this again!
this was such a cute and quick read, and i loved every second of it! the mystery of whether pobby and dingan were real and the way kellyann loved them so much just broke my heart...
this story was short and beautifully written in my opinion and i will definitely read this again!
October 16, 2017
3.5 Stars for Pobby & Dingan.
4 Stars for Specks in the Sky.
4 Stars for Specks in the Sky.
June 3, 2018
Mijn 4,5*-recensie van Pobby en Dingan (Ben Rice - BBNC Uitgevers) kan je nalezen op mijn blog via https://boeklovers.wordpress.com/2018...
December 19, 2021
I loved this. Read it in an afternoon. So feel-good and nice. Long live Pobby and Dingan!
July 28, 2017
I am not a big fan of short stories as I am always wanting more, so for me to say anything about this book probably isn't fair. It was a beautiful story but I have many questions which leaves me feeling cheated out of a longer book....Heartbreaking but in a very good way!!
March 9, 2022
kitabı orijinal dilinden okuma denemeleri ve ilk galibiyetim...bitirdim :)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 285 reviews