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De Gnool
This is a fantasy novel with an awareness of and feeling for the environment. It involves colourful and quirky characters living on the fringe of the human world, with a hero in Fungle the gnole.
First published January 1, 1991
10 people are currently reading
274 people want to read
About the author
Alan Aldridge
44 books33 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Alan Aldridge was a British artist, graphic designer and illustrator.
His career began in 1965 when he happened to meet the art director of Penguin Books, and began producing illustrations for book covers. Over the next two years he took over as art director, and introduced his style which resonated with the mood of the time. In 1968 he moved to his own graphic-design firm, INK, which became closely involved with graphic images for the Beatles and Apple Corps.[1]
During the 1960s and 1970s he was responsible for a great many album covers, and helped create the graphic style of that era. He designed a series of science fiction book covers for Penguin Books. He made a big impression with his illustrations for the Beatles Illustrated Song lyrics. He also provided illustrations for "The Penguin Book of Comics", a history of British and American comic art. His work was characterised by a flowing, cartoony style and soft airbrushing - very much in step with the psychedelic styles of the times. In the theatre, in February 1969 he designed the graphics for controversial Jane Arden (director) play Vagina Rex and the Gas Oven at the London Arts Laboratory, Drury Lane.
He is possibly best known, however, for the picture book The Butterfly Ball and the Grasshopper Feast (1973), a series of illustrations of anthropomorphic insects and other creatures, which he created in collaboration with William Plomer, who wrote the accompanying verses. This was based on William Roscoe's poem of the same name, but was inspired when Aldridge read that John Tenniel had told Lewis Carroll it was impossible to draw a wasp in a wig.
Aldridge also created the artwork for Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy by Elton John in 1975.
Alan Aldridge was a British artist, graphic designer and illustrator.
His career began in 1965 when he happened to meet the art director of Penguin Books, and began producing illustrations for book covers. Over the next two years he took over as art director, and introduced his style which resonated with the mood of the time. In 1968 he moved to his own graphic-design firm, INK, which became closely involved with graphic images for the Beatles and Apple Corps.[1]
During the 1960s and 1970s he was responsible for a great many album covers, and helped create the graphic style of that era. He designed a series of science fiction book covers for Penguin Books. He made a big impression with his illustrations for the Beatles Illustrated Song lyrics. He also provided illustrations for "The Penguin Book of Comics", a history of British and American comic art. His work was characterised by a flowing, cartoony style and soft airbrushing - very much in step with the psychedelic styles of the times. In the theatre, in February 1969 he designed the graphics for controversial Jane Arden (director) play Vagina Rex and the Gas Oven at the London Arts Laboratory, Drury Lane.
He is possibly best known, however, for the picture book The Butterfly Ball and the Grasshopper Feast (1973), a series of illustrations of anthropomorphic insects and other creatures, which he created in collaboration with William Plomer, who wrote the accompanying verses. This was based on William Roscoe's poem of the same name, but was inspired when Aldridge read that John Tenniel had told Lewis Carroll it was impossible to draw a wasp in a wig.
Aldridge also created the artwork for Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy by Elton John in 1975.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
January 11, 2013
The adventures of Fungle the Gnole must surely appeal to a wide audience. This creature, who demonstrates a common sense far superior to ours, the inheritor of powers and understanding far beyond our own, charms thoroughly. I actually came across the book in a charity shop and bought it simply because I needed something new to read and there was nothing else even close to appealing to me - besides, there's a passing resemblance to moles, which I love.The book is obviously a plea for greater care of the environment but it is wrapped up in such a way that you would be hard pressed to be anything but entertained. If you're convinced by the message too - all the better!
Fungle has to brave the Human world, to attempt to recover a lost Stone, the possession of which would determine the fate of the world. Naturally, however clever and powerful he may be, things go awry and Gnole meets Humanity in unexpected ways. Aided by friends, new and old, he follows a tortuous route to the final climax of his mission. Success or failure, the outcome for Fungle looks like being anything but happy.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough!
September 10, 2016
Nostalgia - I read this book when I was a teenager and when I found a copy in a thrift shop I had to buy it. An ecological fairytale, with lovable characters and very quirky use of language - it's still very enjoyable.
February 17, 2010
I love the whole spiritual environmental perspective of the main character - Fungle. The writing was very humorous. I read the Swedish translation but I'm sure the English version is just as good.
November 25, 2018
Ένα μαγικό βιβλίο ! Μια υπέροχη γραφή που καταφέρνει να σε κάνει μέρος της περιπέτειας που διαβάζεις ! Πλουσιο λεξιλόγιο , κατανοητό, σου δημιουργεί απίστευτες εικόνες .. ένα βιβλίο που σιγουρα θα διαβάσω στα παιδιά μου! Ένα παραμύθι για μικρούς και μεγάλους !
January 17, 2012
I loved this book! I reluctantly read this to shut my other half up but I throughly enjoyed it.
September 26, 2024
Had a smile on my face half the time. One of my favourite books.
November 23, 2020
3.5 ⭐
Questo libro l'ho trovato nella libreria di mia mamma.
Letta la sinossi, mi ispirava tanto.
Ho riscontrato una divisione di pagine in questo romanzo; nel senso che ci sono interi capitoli in cui non succede proprio nulla o poco e l'autore si dilunga molto su particolari inutili e invece capitoli dove succedono un sacco di azioni molto rapide e molto poco dettagliate.
Sono rimasto un po' deluso sotto questo aspetto.
La trama è carina, secondo me andava sviluppata un po' meglio soprattutto nella prima parte dove è molto statica rispetto alla seconda parte.
Ho dovuto per impegni universitari mettere in pausa il libro pero' arrivato a pagina 285 ho avuto un blocco, volevo veramente piantarlo li' pero' grazie anche al consiglio di 2 persone care sono riuscito a finirlo e devo dire che poi ho trovato una seconda parte molto piacevole.
Peccato per la presenza di queste parti noiose presenti in diversi punti che non trasmettono curiosità nel proseguire.
Questo libro l'ho trovato nella libreria di mia mamma.
Letta la sinossi, mi ispirava tanto.
Ho riscontrato una divisione di pagine in questo romanzo; nel senso che ci sono interi capitoli in cui non succede proprio nulla o poco e l'autore si dilunga molto su particolari inutili e invece capitoli dove succedono un sacco di azioni molto rapide e molto poco dettagliate.
Sono rimasto un po' deluso sotto questo aspetto.
La trama è carina, secondo me andava sviluppata un po' meglio soprattutto nella prima parte dove è molto statica rispetto alla seconda parte.
Ho dovuto per impegni universitari mettere in pausa il libro pero' arrivato a pagina 285 ho avuto un blocco, volevo veramente piantarlo li' pero' grazie anche al consiglio di 2 persone care sono riuscito a finirlo e devo dire che poi ho trovato una seconda parte molto piacevole.
Peccato per la presenza di queste parti noiose presenti in diversi punti che non trasmettono curiosità nel proseguire.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 25, 2009
I read this a year or so ago, I bought it in a charity shop because it looked good and I certainly wasn't disappointed. It's a lovely little adventure story that's funny and very well written. The world of the gnole and his tribe was really absorbing, almost like something Terry Pratchett might have written. The end was a bit of a disappointment, but I think that's just me and endings, I'm almost never completely satisfied with an ending.
July 16, 2022
Hard to grade and classify this one – as close as I can remember is Duncton Wood, although there are X-files type conspiracy and supernatural/horror elements..
Fungle the Gnole is the ultimate new age environmental Dalai Lama. He’s a laughing rustic who benignly cuts through pretensions. Almost (but not quite) cloying sentimentality in presenting the beatific integration with nature, various spirits of the wood, and with the simple community. Also a background something akin to the sadness of the Elves gradually giving over to the teaming nature-despoiling chaotic spread of humanity.
Starts setting up a standard fantasy baddie-goodie sorcery story (although the baddie is more from the horror genre, being a demon and all – a strength of the book is its underlying pantheon), then cuts to a million pop-culture references as Fungle encounters TV personalities and evil covert Govt. departments. Some OK playing with the innocent’s alternative perspective on our everyday, but it’s basically pretty self-indulgent.
But finally Aldridge lost me with his rough-diamond underground gangsters: we’re supposed to enjoy their high spirits, but the fact that they enjoy throwing defenceless people to be torn to pieces by crocodiles as an afternoon’s amusement made me unclear on the difference between them and the villain. Moreover one minute our hero can effortlessly use telepathy, astral travelling, levitation and sorcery, the next he’s inexplicably running scared from any old security guard or mugger.
Some original ideas, generally capably presented, an OK overall plot/world, and some likeable central characters - but the book is inconsistent thematically and qualitatively. A bit lax in bothering for coherency: characters are added fairly randomly as we go on.
Fungle the Gnole is the ultimate new age environmental Dalai Lama. He’s a laughing rustic who benignly cuts through pretensions. Almost (but not quite) cloying sentimentality in presenting the beatific integration with nature, various spirits of the wood, and with the simple community. Also a background something akin to the sadness of the Elves gradually giving over to the teaming nature-despoiling chaotic spread of humanity.
Starts setting up a standard fantasy baddie-goodie sorcery story (although the baddie is more from the horror genre, being a demon and all – a strength of the book is its underlying pantheon), then cuts to a million pop-culture references as Fungle encounters TV personalities and evil covert Govt. departments. Some OK playing with the innocent’s alternative perspective on our everyday, but it’s basically pretty self-indulgent.
But finally Aldridge lost me with his rough-diamond underground gangsters: we’re supposed to enjoy their high spirits, but the fact that they enjoy throwing defenceless people to be torn to pieces by crocodiles as an afternoon’s amusement made me unclear on the difference between them and the villain. Moreover one minute our hero can effortlessly use telepathy, astral travelling, levitation and sorcery, the next he’s inexplicably running scared from any old security guard or mugger.
Some original ideas, generally capably presented, an OK overall plot/world, and some likeable central characters - but the book is inconsistent thematically and qualitatively. A bit lax in bothering for coherency: characters are added fairly randomly as we go on.
January 21, 2019
I started to read this book, but the new age spiritualist 'religion' lost me; asking and thanking plant food. Do you mind if I eat you. No problem, go ahead and eat me. If there is no survival reason for the plant to be eaten, such as spreading seeds in faeces, it would be against its survival, so a plant is more likely to scream (if it could) than agree to be eaten. If the leaves were eaten for instance there would be less chlorophyll to absorb energy from light, so why would a plant be oh-so-happy to let its potential be reduced. Some plants produce more of an unappealing chemical when exposed to the vibrations caused by caterpillars chewing for instance, so in nature they are not keen on being eaten.
I stopped reading when a group of real and imaginary (nothing wrong with having fantasy creatures in a story) creatures walked together, including prey and hunter, a rabbit and fox. At that point I decided the author didn’t know much about the nature of the wild world (except cute fluffy creatures) and closed the book. If they are knowledgeable, they should know better and how silly this scene was.
Shame, as I like a good fantasy. However, for a fantasy to work, in its way, it must have logic. One might argue, even more than a non-fantasy book. Perhaps this develops, but the beginning didn't indicate this, and because of this I didn't get far.
I stopped reading when a group of real and imaginary (nothing wrong with having fantasy creatures in a story) creatures walked together, including prey and hunter, a rabbit and fox. At that point I decided the author didn’t know much about the nature of the wild world (except cute fluffy creatures) and closed the book. If they are knowledgeable, they should know better and how silly this scene was.
Shame, as I like a good fantasy. However, for a fantasy to work, in its way, it must have logic. One might argue, even more than a non-fantasy book. Perhaps this develops, but the beginning didn't indicate this, and because of this I didn't get far.
April 10, 2022
Bu kitapla birlikte çok güzel şeyler öğrendiğimi açıkça söyleyebilirim. Bir takım yanılgılarımızı kendimizden gizlediğimiz gerçekleri yüzümüze düşündürterek vuruyor. Bir takım şeylere tek başımıza hükmediyor olmamızın ne kadar acizce bir yaşayış biçimi olduğunu anlıyorsunuz. Bizden olmayını da en az bizim kadar sevmemiz gerektiğini her şeyden öte saygı duymamız gerekliliğini anlıyorsunuz. Çok fazla kitap içeriği ile ilgili konuşup heyecanı kaçırmak istemem ama acaba sizde bu dünyanın Gnole Fungle Foxwith'imisiniz ? :)
March 30, 2025
Ha sido un libro precioso de leer. Me ha dado mucho que pensar sobre la forma de vida en la ciudad y me ha hecho convencerme de ciertas cosas sobre cómo quiero vivir mi vida en el futuro.
--- a partir de aquí spoilers ---
El final me ha dado mucha tristeza, me habría gustado que Fungle hubiera vuelto con Neema y Ka al bosque a vivir tranquilamente. Pero entiendo porque el final es como es. Si Fungle vuelve a vivir como al principio el mensaje del libro se diluye. Por eso Fungle no acaba su misión y los gnopos siguen extinguiéndose. Así quien lea el libro puede proponerse el cambio.
--- a partir de aquí spoilers ---
El final me ha dado mucha tristeza, me habría gustado que Fungle hubiera vuelto con Neema y Ka al bosque a vivir tranquilamente. Pero entiendo porque el final es como es. Si Fungle vuelve a vivir como al principio el mensaje del libro se diluye. Por eso Fungle no acaba su misión y los gnopos siguen extinguiéndose. Así quien lea el libro puede proponerse el cambio.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 18, 2025
It starts as a poetic fairy tale somewhat in the style of The Hobbit, continues as an ecological odyssey, and ends with deep philosophical questions. A perfect story that gradually gains momentum, a bit sad, touching, and certainly thought-provoking, not only about what civilization gives us and what it takes away.
August 28, 2018
What a truly wonderful adventure involving some of the little people of folklore trying to save the world from demons and creatures with ill intent, and especially trying to save it from us.
Another book which should be right up there with Tolkien, Watership Down, Duncton Wood, etc.
Another book which should be right up there with Tolkien, Watership Down, Duncton Wood, etc.
May 15, 2025
Storia molto carina e ben strutturata. Però è datata e si vede, il lessico è abbastanza vecchio stile e le descrizioni sono troppo prolisse per i miei gusti. Però la storia è bella e ha un bel messaggio!
March 18, 2023
Slow 🐌 start, but once it gets underway you find yourself drawn into the world 🌎 from Fungle's point of view. He is set a task which turns into an epic quest.
Read
December 12, 2023DNF @ 200 pages. I just could not keep my mind on the story.
November 9, 2024
I read this book 20 years ago. It has always stuck in my memory as a story that should have been more influential than it was. Anyway, highly recommended
April 21, 2015
De Gnool is een boek dat ik al eerder gelezen heb, jaren geleden. Het was van mijn moeder en ik kan me nog goed herinneren dat zij het eerst las en heel leuk vond. Ik vond het toentertijd ook een heel erg leuk boek, nu ik het opnieuw lees jaren later, ben ik niet volledig onder de indruk meer helaas. Het verhaal van dit boek blijft heel leuk en de gedachten erachter blijven relevant, alleen de manier waarop het geschreven is valt tegen. Het boek is vrij langdradig en alles wordt tot in het detail beschreven, kan leuk zijn als je ervan houdt, maar soms was het voor mij wat te veel. Daarnaast is het woordgebruik niet super origineel en maakt de schrijfstijl niet direct dat je in het verhaal gezogen wordt. Nou zou dit natuurlijk kunnen omdat dit een Nederlandse vertaling is!
Toch weet ik zeker dat ik ooit dit boek nog eens op zal pakken om het opnieuw te lezen en opnieuw samen met Fungel de Gnool zijn avontuur te beleven. Laat mijn negatieve punten je dus zeker niet weerhouden van het oppakken van dit boek!
Toch weet ik zeker dat ik ooit dit boek nog eens op zal pakken om het opnieuw te lezen en opnieuw samen met Fungel de Gnool zijn avontuur te beleven. Laat mijn negatieve punten je dus zeker niet weerhouden van het oppakken van dit boek!
August 3, 2014
A cute little story. This book has a good spiritual atmosphere with an enchanted forest and some wired magical creatures. This book reminds me of 'The Wind in the Willows' a bit. I hated the book first but after forcing myself to read 100 pages or so I found it interesting story to read and even got mesmerized at times. But this's not as great as 'Watership Down' or 'Duncton Wood'. An average read for me. Ya, I'm not easily satisfied...
August 12, 2016
Over the years I've read this book twice now and while it may seem an odd recommendation by me is definitely worth a look. I lent it to my brother-in-law and upon its return was told 'once I gave the Gnole an English accent it made so much sense, and I immediately fell in love with the little guy'.
Nature has a new hero in the shape of the most lovable warrior you'll never meet!
Nature has a new hero in the shape of the most lovable warrior you'll never meet!
February 15, 2009
This book was written by Stephen R. Boyett, not Alan Aldridge. A cute book.
March 25, 2011
Bleh. Plodding, superflously descriptive and confusing. The whole 'epic journey to save the world from evil' thing has been done so many time before, and so much better.
June 17, 2013
Maybe for kids?
September 22, 2013
No mamar, mi infancia fue otra con este libro, me cambió algo.
June 25, 2016
Está buena la historia y muchas cosas que pasan, pero la narración lo vuelve algo frustrante.
March 14, 2021
3,5 stars. I read it to G (9) and C (8) before bed; the book started agonisingly slow but paced up in the second half. The ending was even rather hurried. However, the kids loved it.
August 18, 2014
Ah, the first book that N ever bought me. More!
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April 14, 2017This is a book that bears re-reading. The story is your average generic quest adventure, reluctant, unlikely hero sets out to save the world. It's the characterisation that makes it sing. There's a magnificent villain too. It does skate on the edge of twee at times but just avoids it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews