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The Little Snake
This is the story of Mary, a young girl born in a beautiful city full of rose gardens and fluttering kites. When she is still very small, Mary meets Lanmo, a shining golden snake, who becomes her very best friend.
The snake visits Mary many times, he sees her city change, become sadder as bombs drop and war creeps in. He sees Mary and her family leave their home, he sees her grow up and he sees her fall in love. But Lanmo knows that the day will come when he can no longer visit Mary, when his destiny will break them apart, and he wonders whether having a friend can possibly be worth the pain of knowing you will lose them.
From one of Britain's most gifted and celebrated writers, The Little Snake is a magical and deeply moving fable about the journey we all take through life, about love and family, about war and resilience, about how we live in this world, and how we leave it.
The snake visits Mary many times, he sees her city change, become sadder as bombs drop and war creeps in. He sees Mary and her family leave their home, he sees her grow up and he sees her fall in love. But Lanmo knows that the day will come when he can no longer visit Mary, when his destiny will break them apart, and he wonders whether having a friend can possibly be worth the pain of knowing you will lose them.
From one of Britain's most gifted and celebrated writers, The Little Snake is a magical and deeply moving fable about the journey we all take through life, about love and family, about war and resilience, about how we live in this world, and how we leave it.
128 pages, Paperback
First published October 7, 2016
49 people are currently reading
2221 people want to read
About the author
A.L. Kennedy
85 books298 followersAlison Louise Kennedy is a Scottish writer of novels, short stories and non-fiction. She is known for a characteristically dark tone, a blending of realism and fantasy, and for her serious approach to her work. She occasionally contributes columns and reviews to UK and European newspapers including the fictional diary of her pet parrot named Charlie.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 451 reviews
December 18, 2018
The Little Snake is a charming little fable that could be read by someone of just about any age. I could see reading this at different points in time, because the message will be perceived so differently depending on your place in life.
This is one of those stories that is difficult to explain; its beauty lies in the telling more than the actual plot. It's a story about discovering friendship, learning about humanity, and recognizing the cruel truths of life.
But most of all it's a story about love.
4.5 stars rounded up for this little gem of a story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Canongate Books for providing me with a DRC of this book.
This is one of those stories that is difficult to explain; its beauty lies in the telling more than the actual plot. It's a story about discovering friendship, learning about humanity, and recognizing the cruel truths of life.
But most of all it's a story about love.
"...[She] told him quietly, 'Love is a terrible thing.'And that, my friends, is the truest thing I know.
'So it seems,' whispered Lanmo.
'But it is also wonderful.'
4.5 stars rounded up for this little gem of a story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Canongate Books for providing me with a DRC of this book.
June 1, 2020
I received a copy of The Little Snake from NetGalley and Canongate Books in exchange for an honest review.
The Little Snake was a short and bittersweet read, a dark fable which shows a terrifyingly familiar world through the filter of innocence at first, a picture which gets clearer and more heartbreaking as Mary, the main character, grows up. The beginning of the book depicts Lanmo, the titular snake, as he begins to form a strange bond with a kind and clever little girl, the aforementioned Mary, whose pure heart and inquisitive nature causes her to extend friendship to the snake, instead of the fear and horror most people would feel in the face of such a creature. The snake, however, is not a mere snake; he is a personification of death. Lanmo is neither evil nor good, instead he is fair and neutral, at least up until he encounters Mary. The girl is a beacon of hope and love in a darkening world, and her goodness manages to touch Lanmo, and through the filter of unconditional love changing his view of the world. It is a sad story, but it is also beautiful and full of hope, and I cannot imagine anyone reading it and not enjoying it.
The Little Snake was a short and bittersweet read, a dark fable which shows a terrifyingly familiar world through the filter of innocence at first, a picture which gets clearer and more heartbreaking as Mary, the main character, grows up. The beginning of the book depicts Lanmo, the titular snake, as he begins to form a strange bond with a kind and clever little girl, the aforementioned Mary, whose pure heart and inquisitive nature causes her to extend friendship to the snake, instead of the fear and horror most people would feel in the face of such a creature. The snake, however, is not a mere snake; he is a personification of death. Lanmo is neither evil nor good, instead he is fair and neutral, at least up until he encounters Mary. The girl is a beacon of hope and love in a darkening world, and her goodness manages to touch Lanmo, and through the filter of unconditional love changing his view of the world. It is a sad story, but it is also beautiful and full of hope, and I cannot imagine anyone reading it and not enjoying it.
November 2, 2018
Actual rating 4.5/5 stars.
What an utterly charming, little read! This held in its pages pure magic, the likes of which I have not had the pleasure of reading since The Little Prince. It managed to perfectly capture the breath-taking beauty of a withheld belief in magic, with a moralistic undertone that gave this a painfully poignant edge. Both colluded to make this a delightful story of wonder, told in a lyrical yet simple writing style that embodied traditional fairy tales, and that holds a dual appeal for adults and children alike.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, A.L Kennedy, and the publisher, Canongate books, for this opportunity.
What an utterly charming, little read! This held in its pages pure magic, the likes of which I have not had the pleasure of reading since The Little Prince. It managed to perfectly capture the breath-taking beauty of a withheld belief in magic, with a moralistic undertone that gave this a painfully poignant edge. Both colluded to make this a delightful story of wonder, told in a lyrical yet simple writing style that embodied traditional fairy tales, and that holds a dual appeal for adults and children alike.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, A.L Kennedy, and the publisher, Canongate books, for this opportunity.
September 21, 2019
Sheer magic.
January 26, 2023
I clearly missed something in this book. I did not get it.
Obviously it's an allegory about life and circumstances in life but I just couldn't get into it. There may be one obvious issue that held me back here, and it's not the literary writing...
Personality of Snakes
I am a long time snake owner (10+ years). My husband and I have fostered over a dozen snakes over the years and had many of our own. Today we have 3 (an 18-yr-old cornsnake, a 4-yr-0ld ball python, a 4-yr-old boa) and so I intimately know that snakes have personalities, and they are all different. No one snake is the same as another.
While the snake is the star of A. L. Kennedy's book The Little Snake; what it's really missing is a feel for the snake. I wanted to love this snake (even if his purpose in the world is dark), I wanted to connect with him and feel alongside him. I believe you are meant to sympathize with the snake and connect with him. For me it fell flat.
There were too many weird descriptions of the way the snake moved, changed and otherwise interacted with the humans it encounters. Now, before you get all upset with me, yes I know it's a mythical talking snake; and yes I get that it's fiction. But imagine a book where a cat or dog is the lead character and where the descriptions of the animal don't match up to what you personally know about that type of animal. Say they describe a dog that can't swim or a cat that likes water; you'd be put off too right? This is the kind of feeling I got about the snake.
Plot
It seems to be a theme lately with literary books that they are seriously lacking in plot. Something needs to drive the story forward and I'm getting tired of it being 'just because time passes'. This is really not a good enough reason for me. Existing is not plot. Even though this is a short story I'd have liked to see there be more purpose given to our characters (including the snake) so that it felt like the story was propelling forward.
Boring
Honestly, this was sooo boring. Even if I hadn't disliked the snake characterization I don't think I'd have liked this book. It was just dull, predictable and all around boring. It's not an original idea necessarily, we have lots of literary fiction about learning about love or pursuing a life built off love. And so I wanted more from this. There are a few quotable lines for sure; but this feels like a book written just to bore some poor future high school students into trying to find meaning behind the words. *yawn* I just don't want to work that hard. A book can be an analogy or allegory, written at a high literary standard and still be interesting and readable. Unfortunately, The Little Snake is not one of these.
Overall
The best part of this book is that it's short. So If you really want to read it (even if you end up hating it) not a lot of time is lost. Perhaps for someone besides me this is a life changing book that connects with them in an intimate way. And if that is the case then I'm very happy it was written and so important to others. For me it just misses the mark in a lot of ways. But hey, it's short and I can't complain about that.
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.
Obviously it's an allegory about life and circumstances in life but I just couldn't get into it. There may be one obvious issue that held me back here, and it's not the literary writing...
Personality of Snakes
I am a long time snake owner (10+ years). My husband and I have fostered over a dozen snakes over the years and had many of our own. Today we have 3 (an 18-yr-old cornsnake, a 4-yr-0ld ball python, a 4-yr-old boa) and so I intimately know that snakes have personalities, and they are all different. No one snake is the same as another.
While the snake is the star of A. L. Kennedy's book The Little Snake; what it's really missing is a feel for the snake. I wanted to love this snake (even if his purpose in the world is dark), I wanted to connect with him and feel alongside him. I believe you are meant to sympathize with the snake and connect with him. For me it fell flat.
There were too many weird descriptions of the way the snake moved, changed and otherwise interacted with the humans it encounters. Now, before you get all upset with me, yes I know it's a mythical talking snake; and yes I get that it's fiction. But imagine a book where a cat or dog is the lead character and where the descriptions of the animal don't match up to what you personally know about that type of animal. Say they describe a dog that can't swim or a cat that likes water; you'd be put off too right? This is the kind of feeling I got about the snake.
Plot
It seems to be a theme lately with literary books that they are seriously lacking in plot. Something needs to drive the story forward and I'm getting tired of it being 'just because time passes'. This is really not a good enough reason for me. Existing is not plot. Even though this is a short story I'd have liked to see there be more purpose given to our characters (including the snake) so that it felt like the story was propelling forward.
Boring
Honestly, this was sooo boring. Even if I hadn't disliked the snake characterization I don't think I'd have liked this book. It was just dull, predictable and all around boring. It's not an original idea necessarily, we have lots of literary fiction about learning about love or pursuing a life built off love. And so I wanted more from this. There are a few quotable lines for sure; but this feels like a book written just to bore some poor future high school students into trying to find meaning behind the words. *yawn* I just don't want to work that hard. A book can be an analogy or allegory, written at a high literary standard and still be interesting and readable. Unfortunately, The Little Snake is not one of these.
Overall
The best part of this book is that it's short. So If you really want to read it (even if you end up hating it) not a lot of time is lost. Perhaps for someone besides me this is a life changing book that connects with them in an intimate way. And if that is the case then I'm very happy it was written and so important to others. For me it just misses the mark in a lot of ways. But hey, it's short and I can't complain about that.
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.
Read
January 5, 2019OF COURSE Ms Kennedy can do anything. And OF COURSE I will home in IMMEDIATELY on anything with the name A.L. Kennedy on the cover, and a beautiful cover it is too, one that caught my eye on one of those rare, oh so rare occasions when I was in a real bookshop that offered real books made of real dead trees in a country where the books on offer are all in the language that I prefer to read. So here comes the but. And I have to whisper this in a very, very small voice. But I think Ms Kennedy sails verrry close to the wind here.
I'm sorry, but we're in simple myth territory.
(Even smaller whispery voice. Coelho???? It must be a send-up surely???? Ah no, she wrote it in honour of Saint-Exupéry)
And as I say, Ms Kennedy can do it, she can pull it off, she can pull anything off: the refreshing, the quirky,the universal, the moving, (ah yes, the moist eyes). She does all of that, there's no denying she does. And here it is: I discover (something I didn't know) that she has written tales for children. Uncle Shawn and Bill and the Almost Entirely Unplanned Adventure and Uncle Shawn and Bill and the Pajimminy Crimminy Unusual Adventure.
Aha.
So maybe I just was not the intended audience, ye ken?
I'm sorry, but we're in simple myth territory.
(Even smaller whispery voice. Coelho???? It must be a send-up surely???? Ah no, she wrote it in honour of Saint-Exupéry)
And as I say, Ms Kennedy can do it, she can pull it off, she can pull anything off: the refreshing, the quirky,the universal, the moving, (ah yes, the moist eyes). She does all of that, there's no denying she does. And here it is: I discover (something I didn't know) that she has written tales for children. Uncle Shawn and Bill and the Almost Entirely Unplanned Adventure and Uncle Shawn and Bill and the Pajimminy Crimminy Unusual Adventure.
Aha.
So maybe I just was not the intended audience, ye ken?
August 5, 2019
Zu meiner Überraschung handelt es sich um ein Kinderbuch. Ein Kinderbuch, das auch für Erwachsene durchaus lesbar ist, aber eben doch ein Kinderbuch. Dass dies beim Kauf nicht wirklich deutlich wurde und ich mir vor diesem Hintergrund ein anderes Format (mehr Illustrationen zum Beispiel) gewünscht hätte, führt zu kleinen Abstrichen bei dieser Bewertung.
Dabei ist die Geschichte sehr reizvoll. Es geht um eine magische, uralte Schlange, deren Aufgabe es ist, die Menschen aus dem Leben zu holen. Eine Art Sensemann also. Dem entspricht der Name der Schlange: Lanmo. Was wohl im Kreolischen Tod bedeutet.
Lange hat sie ihre Arbeit ohne großes Nachdenken getan, aber die Begegnung mit dem Mädchen Mary lässt die Schlange im Laufe der Jahre viel über Liebe, Freundschaft und die Menschheit lernen. Kennedy erzählt diese Geschichte im Stil eines Märchens. Mir hat das sehr gut gefallen. So ganz nebenbei wird eine Gesellschaft kritisiert, in der die Unterschiede zwischen Reich und Arm immer größer werden, Menschen skrupellos und grausam sind – und einige von ihnen dennoch nie den Mut verlieren.
Dabei ist die Geschichte sehr reizvoll. Es geht um eine magische, uralte Schlange, deren Aufgabe es ist, die Menschen aus dem Leben zu holen. Eine Art Sensemann also. Dem entspricht der Name der Schlange: Lanmo. Was wohl im Kreolischen Tod bedeutet.
Lange hat sie ihre Arbeit ohne großes Nachdenken getan, aber die Begegnung mit dem Mädchen Mary lässt die Schlange im Laufe der Jahre viel über Liebe, Freundschaft und die Menschheit lernen. Kennedy erzählt diese Geschichte im Stil eines Märchens. Mir hat das sehr gut gefallen. So ganz nebenbei wird eine Gesellschaft kritisiert, in der die Unterschiede zwischen Reich und Arm immer größer werden, Menschen skrupellos und grausam sind – und einige von ihnen dennoch nie den Mut verlieren.
August 15, 2024
Moving and magical, 'The Little Snake' is a beautiful little fable for all ages. An experience that cannot be easily described, yet it will remain in my heart long after turning the final page.
August 30, 2018
This tiny novella lives somewhere in that realm of books which are between/both, neither/nor, children's/adults' stories, also inhabited by certain works of Neil Gaiman, Catherynne M. Valente, and other authors I could think of if I read more of this sort of thing.
It begins like a children's book, or maybe the sort of modern fairytale or fable that is very definitely meant to sound like one. I was wrongfooted. I didn't know what to say about a children's book qua children's book. I'd requested this ARC as a fan of A.L. Kennedy, not as someone who enjoys children's books, or works with or has children. (So should my verdict be whether I would, in theory, consider buying it as a present?) I'm still on some level the same person who unilaterally decided to stop watching Children's BBC before starting secondary school, and who found the introduction to a Penguin Classic more interesting than a Point Horror. I couldn't remember enjoying this sort of thing as a child or teenager, or if much was even written in this elaborately storytellerish manner in the 1980s and earlier.
In the acknowledgements, Kennedy thanks Saint-Exupéry, and the German blurb references his 'kleiner Prinz'. I didn't read The Little Prince until my twenties, and then only because of the BBC Big Read; it didn't make much of an impression, and it wasn't a book I heard others talk about (other than, more recently, one or two GR friends). Read outside the context of The Little Prince, the emphases in The Little Snake may seem somewhat different from what they would if the book is taken as a companion piece. Some readers will pick up The Little Snake without having read Exupéry, or having entirely forgotten his book, so I've left my reactions as they were before I read a plot summary of The Little Prince as a refresher.
The following contains potential spoilers about themes - which I started the book without knowing - but specific plot-points are in spoiler tags.
Regardless of its connection to the French classic, the tale of The Little Snake - and its heroine, Mary, the sort of very clever girl who might not have been able to be both such a swot and a heroine before Hermione - became quite engrossing, and there was plenty to analyse without fretting that I'd forgotten how to think about fiction like an eight-year-old.
There are one-off references to amuse older readers, such as the comical name given to a bloodthirsty dictator, which made me long to know exactly when in 2016 this story was written, and fourth-richest man in the world Lembit Quartak, whose name brings to mind weirder-than-Alan-Partridge UK media personality and former MP Lembit Öpik. Mary's school's preoccupation with National Assessment Tests will ring true with anyone, child or adult, aware of present conditions in English schools. On the other hand, I wasn't sure about the phrase initially used to describe the very richest, 'the people who run the city', which could imply that people who work for local councils are the wealthiest, rather than corporate fat cats - although it didn't continue in that vein.
The Little Snake seems somehow more profoundly, subtly dark than a lot of Neil Gaiman stories: there is definitely humour here (with lines that remind one that Kennedy is also a comedian), but the fable is partly about comfort and magic in a bleak world. Most Earth-bound protagonists of Gaiman short stories or children's books are materially quite comfortable, or you don't feel it this acutely, somehow, that they aren't. But The Little Snake is still 'suitable for children' in the same way as many children's novels set during wars and other tough historical times are.
There were points when I thought this was going to be an exploration of the interesting question of what if a magical creature that befriends a child in a story turned out not to be perfectly good. Not all bad in a rigid black-and-white sense, but complicated in the way that real people often are - and of how one might deal with that as part of learning about boundaries in friendship. It's also perhaps about how those who've had very different lives might sometimes make mistakes socially. (These are both part of a conversation it might make sense to have if reading this aloud with a child.)
I increasingly found myself wondering about that 'when in 2016'... or earlier?
Reading now, in late summer 2018, about the gradually worsening living conditions in Mary's home town, felt like the first artistic response I'd read to recent concerns about no-deal Brexit, and I was so caught up in the cathartic relief of actually seeing it that I would sometimes forget for a while that the story isn't brand new. (A.L. Kennedy is popular in Germany, and in recent years has won more awards there than in the UK. The Little Snake was published first in German, in 2016. Some minor characters have German names.) Maybe it was written just after the referendum - though a bit of a rush to get it translated and published in Germany for October. Later, though, I felt it may be part of the literary response to the refugee crisis, along with novels like Mohsin Hamid's Exit West. Whether it's kind-of-about Brexit anxieties, or refugees, or both, it also echoes the economic privations of Weimar, and the destruction of cities during the Second World War.
Regardless of potential subtext, it is an absorbing, sometimes wry and moving modern fairy tale following the main character through her life, and it appears to be printed in a very nice gift edition.
I received a free advance review copy from Netgalley and the publisher, Canongate Books.
It begins like a children's book, or maybe the sort of modern fairytale or fable that is very definitely meant to sound like one. I was wrongfooted. I didn't know what to say about a children's book qua children's book. I'd requested this ARC as a fan of A.L. Kennedy, not as someone who enjoys children's books, or works with or has children. (So should my verdict be whether I would, in theory, consider buying it as a present?) I'm still on some level the same person who unilaterally decided to stop watching Children's BBC before starting secondary school, and who found the introduction to a Penguin Classic more interesting than a Point Horror. I couldn't remember enjoying this sort of thing as a child or teenager, or if much was even written in this elaborately storytellerish manner in the 1980s and earlier.
In the acknowledgements, Kennedy thanks Saint-Exupéry, and the German blurb references his 'kleiner Prinz'. I didn't read The Little Prince until my twenties, and then only because of the BBC Big Read; it didn't make much of an impression, and it wasn't a book I heard others talk about (other than, more recently, one or two GR friends). Read outside the context of The Little Prince, the emphases in The Little Snake may seem somewhat different from what they would if the book is taken as a companion piece. Some readers will pick up The Little Snake without having read Exupéry, or having entirely forgotten his book, so I've left my reactions as they were before I read a plot summary of The Little Prince as a refresher.
The following contains potential spoilers about themes - which I started the book without knowing - but specific plot-points are in spoiler tags.
Regardless of its connection to the French classic, the tale of The Little Snake - and its heroine, Mary, the sort of very clever girl who might not have been able to be both such a swot and a heroine before Hermione - became quite engrossing, and there was plenty to analyse without fretting that I'd forgotten how to think about fiction like an eight-year-old.
There are one-off references to amuse older readers, such as the comical name given to a bloodthirsty dictator, which made me long to know exactly when in 2016 this story was written, and fourth-richest man in the world Lembit Quartak, whose name brings to mind weirder-than-Alan-Partridge UK media personality and former MP Lembit Öpik. Mary's school's preoccupation with National Assessment Tests will ring true with anyone, child or adult, aware of present conditions in English schools. On the other hand, I wasn't sure about the phrase initially used to describe the very richest, 'the people who run the city', which could imply that people who work for local councils are the wealthiest, rather than corporate fat cats - although it didn't continue in that vein.
The Little Snake seems somehow more profoundly, subtly dark than a lot of Neil Gaiman stories: there is definitely humour here (with lines that remind one that Kennedy is also a comedian), but the fable is partly about comfort and magic in a bleak world. Most Earth-bound protagonists of Gaiman short stories or children's books are materially quite comfortable, or you don't feel it this acutely, somehow, that they aren't. But The Little Snake is still 'suitable for children' in the same way as many children's novels set during wars and other tough historical times are.
There were points when I thought this was going to be an exploration of the interesting question of what if a magical creature that befriends a child in a story turned out not to be perfectly good. Not all bad in a rigid black-and-white sense, but complicated in the way that real people often are - and of how one might deal with that as part of learning about boundaries in friendship. It's also perhaps about how those who've had very different lives might sometimes make mistakes socially. (These are both part of a conversation it might make sense to have if reading this aloud with a child.)
I increasingly found myself wondering about that 'when in 2016'... or earlier?
Reading now, in late summer 2018, about the gradually worsening living conditions in Mary's home town, felt like the first artistic response I'd read to recent concerns about no-deal Brexit, and I was so caught up in the cathartic relief of actually seeing it that I would sometimes forget for a while that the story isn't brand new. (A.L. Kennedy is popular in Germany, and in recent years has won more awards there than in the UK. The Little Snake was published first in German, in 2016. Some minor characters have German names.) Maybe it was written just after the referendum - though a bit of a rush to get it translated and published in Germany for October. Later, though, I felt it may be part of the literary response to the refugee crisis, along with novels like Mohsin Hamid's Exit West. Whether it's kind-of-about Brexit anxieties, or refugees, or both, it also echoes the economic privations of Weimar, and the destruction of cities during the Second World War.
Regardless of potential subtext, it is an absorbing, sometimes wry and moving modern fairy tale following the main character through her life, and it appears to be printed in a very nice gift edition.
I received a free advance review copy from Netgalley and the publisher, Canongate Books.
December 31, 2020
This book hits right in the feels. What a beautiful story of love and friendship, really the best that humanity has to offer. Throughout the book, I was reminded of another all-time favourite book of mine - The Little Prince by Antoine De Saint-Exupéry (if you haven't read it, you should read it!)
Definitely a book that should be read by both, children and adults alike. Such a beautiful story!
Definitely a book that should be read by both, children and adults alike. Such a beautiful story!
December 29, 2018
When someone pointed this out to me, I was intrigued--but the moment they mentioned it was about the snake from The Little Prince, I needed it. I started this on Christmas Eve, and I've slowly digested it over the last few days as it's such a wonderful little book that I sorely needed. Kennedy could have easily dissolved into mimicking Antoine de Saint-Exupery, jarring her readers by digging them in the ribs with her elbow to raise her eyebrows and wink ("See, see what I did there?") but she didn't. This is a love letter to The Little Prince...without a doubt, yet it is also a beautiful piece all of its own. The writing is gorgeous; delicate, witty, touching all at once, and the characters and story are precious, making it a delightful albeit heartbreaking reading experience. I loved this book and it will be one I revisit when I need it most.
December 26, 2022
— 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 —
𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: The Little Snake
𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬: N/A
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫(𝐬): A.L. Kennedy
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Fantasy
𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝: 8th November 2018
𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 5/5
This was a strong, elegant novella. The narrative is almost childlike in it's prose; and also like a child, it grows and develops into something more. Once I was fully immersed - which did not take long - it felt like I was reading an old fable, one that was simultaneously saddening and comforting.
However, unlike any older fairytales, like the Hans Christian collection, or the Grimm brothers' stories, this novella avoids anything lewd, anything unnecessarily violent, and instead decides to relay a message, as with so many other tales, I thought that the moral of the story I was getting with this book was less of a moral and more of a one-word practice;
balance.
This book was engaging and I feel like it will be enjoyed by both adults and children.
Thank you to Net Galley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
🧚🏻♀️
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𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: The Little Snake
𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬: N/A
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫(𝐬): A.L. Kennedy
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Fantasy
𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝: 8th November 2018
𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 5/5
"They should fly kites, he thought. They should play with cats and eat ice cream and bake bread and dance with each other and sing and they should marry each other and perhaps make intelligent children who understand things, or adopt children who are orphans and have nobody for them in the world. But he knew that he could not change the humans against their will and that the humans could only choose to change themselves and so he must leave them to be lost in their own ways."
This was a strong, elegant novella. The narrative is almost childlike in it's prose; and also like a child, it grows and develops into something more. Once I was fully immersed - which did not take long - it felt like I was reading an old fable, one that was simultaneously saddening and comforting.
However, unlike any older fairytales, like the Hans Christian collection, or the Grimm brothers' stories, this novella avoids anything lewd, anything unnecessarily violent, and instead decides to relay a message, as with so many other tales, I thought that the moral of the story I was getting with this book was less of a moral and more of a one-word practice;
balance.
"'I do not understand humans. Some of you will steal anything all the time and some of you will steal nothing all the time. Couldn't all of you just steal something more of the time - if you need it?'
'I don't think so.'
'But you are hungry and other people have more food than they can eat.'
'Yes, but that is the way of the world.'"
This book was engaging and I feel like it will be enjoyed by both adults and children.
Thank you to Net Galley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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September 25, 2018
This is a subtle and deeply moving fable that although ostensibly at first sight may appear to be an enchanting children's tale in reality it is something far more universal that will appeal to all ages. A.L Kennedy in the acknowledgement thanks Saint-Exupéry and like his timeless The Little Prince it is observational about the essence of human nature for as the fox famously states "One sees clearly only with the heart. The essential is invisible to the eye."
Kennedy's novella resolves around the relationship between a young girl called Mary and a shinning magical golden snake called Lanmo. Their friendship and love will endure through the entirety of Mary's life and it is not only Mary that changes but also Lanmo's perceptions and attitudes towards humankind. Many themes are covered including friendship, education, war, greed, poverty, honesty and forced relocation. There is much humour to be found including critiques of much that can be found in modern society including Mary's school's preoccupation with National Assessment Tests as a replacement for real teaching and learning.
The world that Kennedy presents is very much divided between the haves and have nots and as the story progresses Mary's family situation deteriorates to such an extent that they are forced to leave her city to seek a better life elsewhere, this may be alluding to the refugee crises that was at its height when the book was first published in 2016. Throughout the story Lanmo leaves Mary and travels around the world to remove those humans "whose time has come" but he always returns to her although one day it will be for the last time.
This lovely book has both delicacy, moral conviction and strength. It certainly left an impression of both sadness and hope in relation to the human condition. Although slight in length there is a lasting profundity about it that adds to A.L Kennedy's already impressive catalogue of work.
Kennedy's novella resolves around the relationship between a young girl called Mary and a shinning magical golden snake called Lanmo. Their friendship and love will endure through the entirety of Mary's life and it is not only Mary that changes but also Lanmo's perceptions and attitudes towards humankind. Many themes are covered including friendship, education, war, greed, poverty, honesty and forced relocation. There is much humour to be found including critiques of much that can be found in modern society including Mary's school's preoccupation with National Assessment Tests as a replacement for real teaching and learning.
The world that Kennedy presents is very much divided between the haves and have nots and as the story progresses Mary's family situation deteriorates to such an extent that they are forced to leave her city to seek a better life elsewhere, this may be alluding to the refugee crises that was at its height when the book was first published in 2016. Throughout the story Lanmo leaves Mary and travels around the world to remove those humans "whose time has come" but he always returns to her although one day it will be for the last time.
This lovely book has both delicacy, moral conviction and strength. It certainly left an impression of both sadness and hope in relation to the human condition. Although slight in length there is a lasting profundity about it that adds to A.L Kennedy's already impressive catalogue of work.
November 25, 2018
A random pick from the library - why can't I resist a black and gold cover?! - and what a charming and touching read it turned out to be!
Only 144 pages long but feels longer as you connect immediately to the character of Mary - a young girl who is a rare soul who sees only good in people and things. She's happy with her lot it seems, and that's despite living on the poor side of town and never having much. When in her beloved garden she meets a snake, who becomes a close friend to her and they both learn so much from one another. The snake sees many bad things going on in the world so to find this kind hearted young girl fills him with feelings he rarely experiences and their friendship is both touching and quite profound. It follows their friendship and lives over a number of years and it becomes quite emotional to see how their bond strengthens even after time apart.
This is a dark fable filled with hope and all that I love in fairy stories. It's aimed at children but is rewarding to readers of all ages as you can see beyond the simple story with many mentions to the modern world we live in - how wealth is idolized, the way chidren are taught things to conform - and I was pleasantly surprised with how much I got from this story.
Only 144 pages long but feels longer as you connect immediately to the character of Mary - a young girl who is a rare soul who sees only good in people and things. She's happy with her lot it seems, and that's despite living on the poor side of town and never having much. When in her beloved garden she meets a snake, who becomes a close friend to her and they both learn so much from one another. The snake sees many bad things going on in the world so to find this kind hearted young girl fills him with feelings he rarely experiences and their friendship is both touching and quite profound. It follows their friendship and lives over a number of years and it becomes quite emotional to see how their bond strengthens even after time apart.
This is a dark fable filled with hope and all that I love in fairy stories. It's aimed at children but is rewarding to readers of all ages as you can see beyond the simple story with many mentions to the modern world we live in - how wealth is idolized, the way chidren are taught things to conform - and I was pleasantly surprised with how much I got from this story.
May 4, 2020
A cozy and lovely little story. Definitely one of those things that you should read while you are between some heavier stories and you need a little breather. Vaguely a children's story, but also very timeless, since it deals with something we all have to deal with in a beautiful and fragile way.
I listened to the audiobook on my walks to the sea and the author's voice carried gently over the waves and it was a beautiful day out and I had a really great time.
P.S. The snake's name is Lanmo and my brain apparently couldn't help and repeat it as "Lanmower" every time it was mentioned. A little annoying, to be fair!
I listened to the audiobook on my walks to the sea and the author's voice carried gently over the waves and it was a beautiful day out and I had a really great time.
P.S. The snake's name is Lanmo and my brain apparently couldn't help and repeat it as "Lanmower" every time it was mentioned. A little annoying, to be fair!
August 27, 2020
Charming and deceptively clever. Oh. Like a Snake!
April 18, 2021
The Little Snake is about a little girl called Mary, who lives in an unnamed town where they have rose gardens snd fly kites from the rooftops. A snake comes to visit Mary and her kindness to him forges a lifelong bond between the two, eventually causing the snake’s lifeless heart to start beating. The snake reveals his name is Lanmo and usually his appearance means the end of a life. We follow him to a number of victims, some of them evil, some good, however, he confides in Mary that humans have recently been doing his job for him and taking death into their own hands. As Mary grows older, wars are fought and the city where she lives in grows shabbier and darker and Lanmo knows he needs to to help Mary escape.
This short fable is about the need for kindness to strangers, greed and politics, migration, and the acceptance of death as a part of life. It is beautifully written and Lanmo is a lovely little snake.
This short fable is about the need for kindness to strangers, greed and politics, migration, and the acceptance of death as a part of life. It is beautifully written and Lanmo is a lovely little snake.
November 8, 2018
Blog Post: https://museofnyxmares.wordpress.com/...
This book is proof that a story doesn’t need to be pages and pages long in order to leave a lasting impression, to make you fall in love with characters, to teach you what you thought you knew and confirm what you did know deep down. I am head over heels in love with this story and it means a great deal to me, and surprisingly, I’m actually not upset that it wasn’t longer, it was perfect exactly the way it was. As you can probably tell this is going to be a very gushy review and I’m sure I still won’t be able to do it justice, but bear with me as I attempt to.
The story starts with us being introduced to a very young Mary, who from the outset is so clever and unique. She understands that sometimes there is a big disconnect between children and adults and has her own way of looking at the world, “Because she was very sensible, the little girl had not yet acquired the silly habit of talking only to people and would happily address objects and animals that seemed to be in need of conversation or company”. She is also very aware of the class divide in her country, where people either have too much that they don’t know what to do with it, or are struggling to make ends meet, “She could look one way and see the very many sad, tiny houses of the squashed-in people. If she looked the other way, she could see the tall, sparkling buildings full of crocodiles and meadows”. It is evident that her family don’t have much, but they are very rich in terms of love. Mary is a somewhat lonely child though, as she doesn’t have many friends at school. So when The Little Snake comes into her life she is offered companionship for the very first time and this friendship is one that will change both Mary’s and The Little Snake’ s life forever.
Mary and The Little Snake don’t necessarily hit it off at first, but they establish an initial mutual respect for each other that leads to an everlasting friendship. The Little Snake, Lanmo, does not make it a habit to converse or even concern himself with humans, outside of his duties, but Mary intrigues him and she sets him on a path of self discovery. The Little Snake is everything you would expect a snake to be, he’s cunning, regal, self important and powerful. But as the story progresses he begins to experience things he never has before, like caring for someone. This is all new to him and it was so endearing to see him go on this journey, “I am going because I feel guilty and I have never felt guilty before. I harmed you. I have to think about this until I understand it”
As Lanmo grows mentally and emotionally, Mary also grows up, with Lanmo returning to her at several instances in her life, sometimes with a two year gap. Lanmo finds Mary changed each time and he has to adapt to who and where she is. But no matter what, she is still the same good hearted girl from their first encounter. He is with her when she is picked on at school, when she falls in love and through the deterioration of her country and her families financial situation worsening. He is fiercely protective over Mary and wants to exact revenge on those who have wronged her, but Mary and others teach him how to control his rage and he does, for her, “To be very angry, you must have loved very much, or have been very much afraid”.
I believe that this charming story is influenced by The Little Prince by Antoine De Saint-Exupery and I can definitely see how. The Little Snake also heavily looks at how children can be a lot wiser than adults and how dismissive of them they can be “Children are good at understanding grown-ups, but grown-ups are rarely able to understand children, which is odd because they have already been children and ought to remember what it’s like”. It also examines humanity’s morals and values, especially in regards to greed. The writing was just as beautiful and poignant as The Little Prince, with a lot of lessons threaded throughout. Both also have an air of sadness about them, whilst also displaying the power of love and hope. The ending of this book was so moving and I couldn’t think of a better way to end it, this was utterly brilliant, I heartily recommend it!
This book is proof that a story doesn’t need to be pages and pages long in order to leave a lasting impression, to make you fall in love with characters, to teach you what you thought you knew and confirm what you did know deep down. I am head over heels in love with this story and it means a great deal to me, and surprisingly, I’m actually not upset that it wasn’t longer, it was perfect exactly the way it was. As you can probably tell this is going to be a very gushy review and I’m sure I still won’t be able to do it justice, but bear with me as I attempt to.
The story starts with us being introduced to a very young Mary, who from the outset is so clever and unique. She understands that sometimes there is a big disconnect between children and adults and has her own way of looking at the world, “Because she was very sensible, the little girl had not yet acquired the silly habit of talking only to people and would happily address objects and animals that seemed to be in need of conversation or company”. She is also very aware of the class divide in her country, where people either have too much that they don’t know what to do with it, or are struggling to make ends meet, “She could look one way and see the very many sad, tiny houses of the squashed-in people. If she looked the other way, she could see the tall, sparkling buildings full of crocodiles and meadows”. It is evident that her family don’t have much, but they are very rich in terms of love. Mary is a somewhat lonely child though, as she doesn’t have many friends at school. So when The Little Snake comes into her life she is offered companionship for the very first time and this friendship is one that will change both Mary’s and The Little Snake’ s life forever.
Mary and The Little Snake don’t necessarily hit it off at first, but they establish an initial mutual respect for each other that leads to an everlasting friendship. The Little Snake, Lanmo, does not make it a habit to converse or even concern himself with humans, outside of his duties, but Mary intrigues him and she sets him on a path of self discovery. The Little Snake is everything you would expect a snake to be, he’s cunning, regal, self important and powerful. But as the story progresses he begins to experience things he never has before, like caring for someone. This is all new to him and it was so endearing to see him go on this journey, “I am going because I feel guilty and I have never felt guilty before. I harmed you. I have to think about this until I understand it”
As Lanmo grows mentally and emotionally, Mary also grows up, with Lanmo returning to her at several instances in her life, sometimes with a two year gap. Lanmo finds Mary changed each time and he has to adapt to who and where she is. But no matter what, she is still the same good hearted girl from their first encounter. He is with her when she is picked on at school, when she falls in love and through the deterioration of her country and her families financial situation worsening. He is fiercely protective over Mary and wants to exact revenge on those who have wronged her, but Mary and others teach him how to control his rage and he does, for her, “To be very angry, you must have loved very much, or have been very much afraid”.
I believe that this charming story is influenced by The Little Prince by Antoine De Saint-Exupery and I can definitely see how. The Little Snake also heavily looks at how children can be a lot wiser than adults and how dismissive of them they can be “Children are good at understanding grown-ups, but grown-ups are rarely able to understand children, which is odd because they have already been children and ought to remember what it’s like”. It also examines humanity’s morals and values, especially in regards to greed. The writing was just as beautiful and poignant as The Little Prince, with a lot of lessons threaded throughout. Both also have an air of sadness about them, whilst also displaying the power of love and hope. The ending of this book was so moving and I couldn’t think of a better way to end it, this was utterly brilliant, I heartily recommend it!
December 5, 2018
Magical garden, and magical thoughts and feelings, with a little social satire thrown in. Many others have attempted to create a magical, self contained world; I believe this is one of the successful ones.
August 29, 2023
What a lovely little story I absolutely recommend it. It was so beautiful and sweet and interesting.
August 13, 2020
Rating: 1.5 stars
Aaaaaaaah. The Little Snake was quite boring. I guessed basically every occurrence long before it took place, and overall, the story just fell really flat for me. A.L. Kennedy's style of writing was not particularly memorable, but it wasn't especially bad either. I listened to the audiobook, which was narrated by the author, and Kennedy's narration had a similar feeling to her writing to me.
There is nothing I can say and point out that is distinctly wrong with The Little Snake, which is probably why I gave it an extra 0.5 of a star in the end, but it was obviously not for me. What probably happened was that the book was full of deep and metaphorical meaning that completely went over my oblivious head.
Aaaaaaaah. The Little Snake was quite boring. I guessed basically every occurrence long before it took place, and overall, the story just fell really flat for me. A.L. Kennedy's style of writing was not particularly memorable, but it wasn't especially bad either. I listened to the audiobook, which was narrated by the author, and Kennedy's narration had a similar feeling to her writing to me.
There is nothing I can say and point out that is distinctly wrong with The Little Snake, which is probably why I gave it an extra 0.5 of a star in the end, but it was obviously not for me. What probably happened was that the book was full of deep and metaphorical meaning that completely went over my oblivious head.
January 17, 2024
3.5*
i may have cried
i may have cried
February 12, 2019
Geez! People loved this little book. It was either way over my head or beneath me. If you like allegories, this may interest you: a little snake wanders into a garden and meets a lovely girl named Mary. Not surprisingly, only Mary can see the snake, which, curls up around her neck and kisses her sweetly and yet turns into a demon to protect her from other obnoxious children on the playground. And so on and so forth. Not my cuppa tea but read on if you fancy that sort of thing.
June 16, 2020
Maybe a brilliant piece of literature for others but not for me.. I barely crawled up my way through this...
May 24, 2025
Enllaç al blog: https://llegirperviurealtresvides.blo...
La petita serp és la història de la Mary, una nena de ciutat que es fa amiga d'una serp molt especial, la Lanmo. La serp, que és una metàfora de la mort, ha de fer llargs viatges per complir amb els seus deures: anar a visitar humans en les seves últimes hores, però sempre té un pensament per la Mary i torna a visitar-la sempre que pot. Tanmateix, el pas del temps és inevitable i la Mary es va fent gran i ha de deixar enrere la ciutat quan, després d'esclatar-hi una guerra, es torna grisa i trista.
Aquesta faula té un aire a El petit príncep d’Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, ja que hi trobem un animal que es fa amic d'una nena, la incomprensió de la majoria d'adults, que no veuen la serp, així com diversos personatges paral·lels que exemplifiquen comportaments humans.
El tema principal és l'amistat. D'entrada, la innocència de la Mary fa que deixi enrere la por i el rebuig que la majoria d'humans senten per les serps, així com els prejudicis de fer-se amiga d'una serp. La seva amistat perdura amb el pas dels anys i, malgrat la distància, es tenen ben presents. La serp, al seu torn, troba en la Mary una nena dolça i plena d'amor, una mena d'esperança en un món on els humans es maten entre ells en guerres i discussions, i no deixen que la Lanmo faci la seva feina.
Aquesta faula, però, també ens parla del carpe diem, de viure la vida, l'amistat o l'amor tot i saber que tindrà un final.
La petita serp, com El petit príncep o Un cor ple d'estrelles, és un d'aquells llibres d'argument senzill, aparentment infantils, que ofereixen diferents lectures en funció de l'edat i el moment en què es llegeixen. En la meva primera lectura he tingut la sensació que se m'escapava alguna cosa. Potser les meves ganes que el llibre m'encantés com a la meva cosina m'han condicionat, no ho sé. Ho sabrem quan el rellegeixi d'aquí uns quants anys 🤭😊.
Sigui com sigui, si llegiu La petita serp descobrireu una història d'una amistat llarga i ben especial.
La petita serp és la història de la Mary, una nena de ciutat que es fa amiga d'una serp molt especial, la Lanmo. La serp, que és una metàfora de la mort, ha de fer llargs viatges per complir amb els seus deures: anar a visitar humans en les seves últimes hores, però sempre té un pensament per la Mary i torna a visitar-la sempre que pot. Tanmateix, el pas del temps és inevitable i la Mary es va fent gran i ha de deixar enrere la ciutat quan, després d'esclatar-hi una guerra, es torna grisa i trista.
Aquesta faula té un aire a El petit príncep d’Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, ja que hi trobem un animal que es fa amic d'una nena, la incomprensió de la majoria d'adults, que no veuen la serp, així com diversos personatges paral·lels que exemplifiquen comportaments humans.
El tema principal és l'amistat. D'entrada, la innocència de la Mary fa que deixi enrere la por i el rebuig que la majoria d'humans senten per les serps, així com els prejudicis de fer-se amiga d'una serp. La seva amistat perdura amb el pas dels anys i, malgrat la distància, es tenen ben presents. La serp, al seu torn, troba en la Mary una nena dolça i plena d'amor, una mena d'esperança en un món on els humans es maten entre ells en guerres i discussions, i no deixen que la Lanmo faci la seva feina.
Aquesta faula, però, també ens parla del carpe diem, de viure la vida, l'amistat o l'amor tot i saber que tindrà un final.
La petita serp, com El petit príncep o Un cor ple d'estrelles, és un d'aquells llibres d'argument senzill, aparentment infantils, que ofereixen diferents lectures en funció de l'edat i el moment en què es llegeixen. En la meva primera lectura he tingut la sensació que se m'escapava alguna cosa. Potser les meves ganes que el llibre m'encantés com a la meva cosina m'han condicionat, no ho sé. Ho sabrem quan el rellegeixi d'aquí uns quants anys 🤭😊.
Sigui com sigui, si llegiu La petita serp descobrireu una història d'una amistat llarga i ben especial.
May 17, 2020
2,5
gelesen für die Sommerchallenge
Aufgabe 4 cover lustige Farben
Leises Schlängeln von A. L. Kennedy (112)
A.L. Kennedy hat die Schlange aus Antoine de Saint-Exupérys "Der Kleine Prinz" entführt und in ihre eigene Geschichte gesetzt. Wer ist dieses Wesen, das doch mit dem Tod ein Bündnis hat?
Erzählt wird amüsant und poetisch die Freundschaft des Mädchens Mary zur Schlange Lamno, die Mary eines Tages in ihrem winzigen Garten aufspürt und ein Leben lang mit ihr verbunden ist.
Die Erzählung spielt zu keiner friedlichen Zeit, die Menschen hungern und versuchen, an einem anderen, besseren Ort zu reisen. Die Schlange Lamno begleitet Mary durch diese oft traurige Zeit, heitert sie auf und entdeckt in sich dieses seltsame Gefühl, das sich Liebe nennt. Lamno ist häufig unterwegs, die Schlange hat viel zu tun. Doch sie kommt Mary oft besuchen, denn „Sie wäre noch viel beschäftigter gewesen, wenn die Menschen ihr nicht bei der Arbeit geholfen hätten. Wenn die Nacht sich über die Krümmung der Erde wälzte, über das Land, das sie gerade besuchte, konnte die Schlange sich gelegentlich ausruhen, sich zusammenrollen und die schlaue Zunge in den Wind strecken, um festzustellen, wie viele, viele Male die Menschen eines jeden verdunkelten Landes an ihrer Stelle ihre Arbeit taten. Oft ersparten sie ihr die Mühe, diesen oder jenen Menschen zu besuchen und ihre elfenbeinweißen Nadelzähne zu zeigen und ihre wunderschöne Stimme hören zu lassen und in ihre ehrlichen roten Augen zu schauen.“
Frage 1: Was hat dir besonders gut an dem Buch gefallen?
Die Sprache war schon stellenweise poetisch
Frage 2: Was hat dir weniger gut gefallen?
Mich hat die Geschichte nicht wirklich interessiert.
Frage 3: Was war dein Lieblingscharakter?
Eben wusste ich es noch. Ist schon wieder vergessen.
Frage 4: Würdest du das Buch/eBook weiterempfehlen?
Für bestimmte Menschen, zum Beispiel solche, die den kleinen Prinz oder Coelho u.ä mögen, ja.
gelesen für die Sommerchallenge
Aufgabe 4 cover lustige Farben
Leises Schlängeln von A. L. Kennedy (112)
A.L. Kennedy hat die Schlange aus Antoine de Saint-Exupérys "Der Kleine Prinz" entführt und in ihre eigene Geschichte gesetzt. Wer ist dieses Wesen, das doch mit dem Tod ein Bündnis hat?
Erzählt wird amüsant und poetisch die Freundschaft des Mädchens Mary zur Schlange Lamno, die Mary eines Tages in ihrem winzigen Garten aufspürt und ein Leben lang mit ihr verbunden ist.
Die Erzählung spielt zu keiner friedlichen Zeit, die Menschen hungern und versuchen, an einem anderen, besseren Ort zu reisen. Die Schlange Lamno begleitet Mary durch diese oft traurige Zeit, heitert sie auf und entdeckt in sich dieses seltsame Gefühl, das sich Liebe nennt. Lamno ist häufig unterwegs, die Schlange hat viel zu tun. Doch sie kommt Mary oft besuchen, denn „Sie wäre noch viel beschäftigter gewesen, wenn die Menschen ihr nicht bei der Arbeit geholfen hätten. Wenn die Nacht sich über die Krümmung der Erde wälzte, über das Land, das sie gerade besuchte, konnte die Schlange sich gelegentlich ausruhen, sich zusammenrollen und die schlaue Zunge in den Wind strecken, um festzustellen, wie viele, viele Male die Menschen eines jeden verdunkelten Landes an ihrer Stelle ihre Arbeit taten. Oft ersparten sie ihr die Mühe, diesen oder jenen Menschen zu besuchen und ihre elfenbeinweißen Nadelzähne zu zeigen und ihre wunderschöne Stimme hören zu lassen und in ihre ehrlichen roten Augen zu schauen.“
Frage 1: Was hat dir besonders gut an dem Buch gefallen?
Die Sprache war schon stellenweise poetisch
Frage 2: Was hat dir weniger gut gefallen?
Mich hat die Geschichte nicht wirklich interessiert.
Frage 3: Was war dein Lieblingscharakter?
Eben wusste ich es noch. Ist schon wieder vergessen.
Frage 4: Würdest du das Buch/eBook weiterempfehlen?
Für bestimmte Menschen, zum Beispiel solche, die den kleinen Prinz oder Coelho u.ä mögen, ja.
December 2, 2018
3.5 stars
If you're ever looking for a sweet little tale in the vein of The Little Prince this is the book for you. I think there are people that could even like The Little Snake better than The Little Prince because, while both treat on the same path, their steps are a little different. I, however, am the opposite. While I enjoyed The Little Snake I couldn't quite connect with it as well as I would have expected knowing what little I'd heard about this book.
I couldn't really tell you why it is that this tale didn't really have the impact it had on so many others (as I gather). I enjoyed the modern fairy tale vibe and the setting but sometimes it all felt a little overdone. I enjoyed what Lamno's character was, it's alway nice to read a good book about, you know (I won't say it out loud because of spoilers) but I never understood why he came to Mary in the first place? I enjoyed a lot of things, however, I enjoyed a lot of these things with a little, tiny "but".
That being said, I'd totally recommend anyone else who's even slightly interested in this to check it out. It's a charming little book and it has the potential to break your heart if you connect to it meaningfully. It simply wasn't quite up my alley (at least not enough to make me fall in love with it), which is to say that I recognize this as "my loss" for, in an objective manner, the craft behind this book is certainly fine.
My Blog
This is almost, but not quite, the whole of the story about a remarkable, wise little girl. She was called Mary. Everything I will tell you here began when Mary went walking in her garden on one particular afternoon.
If you're ever looking for a sweet little tale in the vein of The Little Prince this is the book for you. I think there are people that could even like The Little Snake better than The Little Prince because, while both treat on the same path, their steps are a little different. I, however, am the opposite. While I enjoyed The Little Snake I couldn't quite connect with it as well as I would have expected knowing what little I'd heard about this book.
I couldn't really tell you why it is that this tale didn't really have the impact it had on so many others (as I gather). I enjoyed the modern fairy tale vibe and the setting but sometimes it all felt a little overdone. I enjoyed what Lamno's character was, it's alway nice to read a good book about, you know (I won't say it out loud because of spoilers) but I never understood why he came to Mary in the first place? I enjoyed a lot of things, however, I enjoyed a lot of these things with a little, tiny "but".
That being said, I'd totally recommend anyone else who's even slightly interested in this to check it out. It's a charming little book and it has the potential to break your heart if you connect to it meaningfully. It simply wasn't quite up my alley (at least not enough to make me fall in love with it), which is to say that I recognize this as "my loss" for, in an objective manner, the craft behind this book is certainly fine.
My Blog
So this is almost, but not quite, the whole of the story of how a snake's heart learned to beat. And this is almost, but not quite, the whole of the story about a remarkable, wise little girl called Mary and the friend that she called Lanmo. And this is almost, but not quite, the whole of the story of something wonderful and terrible and strange.
March 21, 2022
This was such a beautiful book, as charming in its small size and glittering cover as it is in the heartwarming and sometimes heartbreaking story within. This is a parable suitable for both children and adults, that tells of a girl who meets a golden talking snake. During the harsh rations and war-torn poverty of her youth to her coming of age and then elderly years, the snake and Mary share a tender friendship the likes of which neither has experienced before.
I grabbed this off the library shelf on a whim, so I knew next to nothing about it going in. I think that's the way it's best enjoyed so I won't share any other details. Bless the librarian who decided to give this book its turn in the spotlight so it could catch my eye!
I grabbed this off the library shelf on a whim, so I knew next to nothing about it going in. I think that's the way it's best enjoyed so I won't share any other details. Bless the librarian who decided to give this book its turn in the spotlight so it could catch my eye!
April 26, 2021
This little book is wonderful. The Little Prince is one of my favourite books of all time. This story is a nod to and an expansion on that one snake that appears as a hat to adults (and the snake in the desert). But this snake is so much more interesting.
It's been a long time since a story made me cry at the end. I loved it. I'm very happy and very sad at the same time.
The only other book by A.L. Kennedy that I have read is Paradise. I was not expecting this.
It's been a long time since a story made me cry at the end. I loved it. I'm very happy and very sad at the same time.
The only other book by A.L. Kennedy that I have read is Paradise. I was not expecting this.
November 14, 2025
Es increíble cuánta belleza y cuántas emociones pudo meter la autora en tan pocas páginas. Me recordó mucho a El principito, aunque no por la historia, sino por la vibra, por la finalidad con que está escrita la novela: para recordarnos que lo esencial es invisible a los ojos, que sólo se ve bien con el corazón.
Un libro que seguramente acabará por convertirse en un clásico del siglo XXI.
Un libro que seguramente acabará por convertirse en un clásico del siglo XXI.
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