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The Amazing Compendium of Edward Magorium
Enter the magical world of Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium!
What happens when a small, not very gifted boy named N.E. Bode gets lost on a class trip and stumbles into a toy store one rainy day? He is found by a man named Bellini who tells him the most wonderful tales -- from A to Z -- all about the beginnings of Mr. Magorium's now famous magical toy store. From the Age of Enlightenment to the Wright Brothers with stops along the way to play capture the Flag (for an entire year!) and meet Thomas Edison until finally ending up at Zen, this is is the story of Edward Magorium and his Wonder Emporium. And it's all true!
What happens when a small, not very gifted boy named N.E. Bode gets lost on a class trip and stumbles into a toy store one rainy day? He is found by a man named Bellini who tells him the most wonderful tales -- from A to Z -- all about the beginnings of Mr. Magorium's now famous magical toy store. From the Age of Enlightenment to the Wright Brothers with stops along the way to play capture the Flag (for an entire year!) and meet Thomas Edison until finally ending up at Zen, this is is the story of Edward Magorium and his Wonder Emporium. And it's all true!
160 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2007
1 person is currently reading
114 people want to read
About the author
N.E. Bode
8 books58 followersJulianna Baggott
aka
Bridget Asher & N.E. Bode
Borned on 30 September 1969, she teaches at Florida State University. She's married to David G.W. Scott and has four kids. Along with her husband, she is a co-founder of the nonprofit organization Kids in Need - Books in Deed., getting free books to underprivileged kids in Florida.
Today, she is a critically acclaimed and bestselling author, who wrote novels and poetry, and who has over fifty overseas editions of her books. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Washington Post, Boston Globe, Best American Poetry, Best Creative Nonfiction, NPR’s Talk of the Nation, All Things Considered, and Here & Now. For two years, her alter-ego, N. E. Bode was a recurring personality on XM Radio. Her work has been a People Magazine pick alongside David Sedaris and Bill Clinton, a Washington Post Book of the Week, a Girl's Life Top Ten, a Booksense selection, and a Starbucks Bookish Reading Club pick.
aka
Bridget Asher & N.E. Bode
Borned on 30 September 1969, she teaches at Florida State University. She's married to David G.W. Scott and has four kids. Along with her husband, she is a co-founder of the nonprofit organization Kids in Need - Books in Deed., getting free books to underprivileged kids in Florida.
Today, she is a critically acclaimed and bestselling author, who wrote novels and poetry, and who has over fifty overseas editions of her books. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Washington Post, Boston Globe, Best American Poetry, Best Creative Nonfiction, NPR’s Talk of the Nation, All Things Considered, and Here & Now. For two years, her alter-ego, N. E. Bode was a recurring personality on XM Radio. Her work has been a People Magazine pick alongside David Sedaris and Bill Clinton, a Washington Post Book of the Week, a Girl's Life Top Ten, a Booksense selection, and a Starbucks Bookish Reading Club pick.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 19, 2015
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This book is my childhood. This was the first book that I re read over and over and over again, each time more astonished than before. This book was so compelling that it spurred me to read more books. It is amazing and powerful and it deserves more than 5 stars.
March 7, 2019
Wow. I read this way, way back. (Like, before I entered my teens.) I used to consider myself an Edward Magorium, going around and inspiring people to do things. Sometimes I felt frustrated that I kept helping people around me become successful but didn't feel successful myself (as petty as it sounds for a 10-ish year old, it's true.) Yet this book was one that left a deep imprint on my younger self.
I still recall the goatskin water beds and giving Thomas Edison the ball bearings and pie pans so he could record his ideas before he fell asleep. I remember bicycles and the Wright brothers and aviaries, and perhaps the first telephone; Napoleon, and something about dolls, and maybe something about a multicolored piano. For a while I wasn't even sure if the book was fiction, even though I distinctly remembered reading that Edward Magorium was over 200 years old.
If anything, this book was very informative. I learned a lot from it, and I reread it a lot. However, as of late my reading style has matured quite a bit so I don't know how much my current self would enjoy the book.
I still recall the goatskin water beds and giving Thomas Edison the ball bearings and pie pans so he could record his ideas before he fell asleep. I remember bicycles and the Wright brothers and aviaries, and perhaps the first telephone; Napoleon, and something about dolls, and maybe something about a multicolored piano. For a while I wasn't even sure if the book was fiction, even though I distinctly remembered reading that Edward Magorium was over 200 years old.
If anything, this book was very informative. I learned a lot from it, and I reread it a lot. However, as of late my reading style has matured quite a bit so I don't know how much my current self would enjoy the book.
January 28, 2013
Came sooooooo close to giving this 5 stars. I'd call it a 4.798245319 star read. This book stands alone, but work as a wonderful companion to one of my favorite family-friendly movies (Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium---watch it... love it).
It is a personal bias that keeps me from rating this book 5 stars. I'm not much into Zen, and as the book is a compendium, it ends with Z. The subject chosen was Zen. Just seemed an odd note to end the book on.
Nonetheless it is cleverly written and had me captivated in the first few pages. The narrator speaks of having attended a school for the remarkably giftless, and his description of the giftless nature of his classmates (and himself) endeared him to me immediately (or rather endeared her to me immediately since N. E. Bode is really Juliana Baggott).
I personally enjoy reading books where the narrator seems to be a story teller. That is definitely the case here. Edward Magorium comes through just as lovably as he did in the movie and the narrator was rather loveable too.
To put the best complement on it that I know how... I wish I'd thought of it. I wish I'd written it.
If you want a comical exploration of a fictional character that delves deep into the character's psyche while delivering a great many snippits of valuable real-life advice and encouragement... I say read this book.
To put a cheesy (but honest) touch here at the end... I laughed, I cried (well teared up), I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
It is a personal bias that keeps me from rating this book 5 stars. I'm not much into Zen, and as the book is a compendium, it ends with Z. The subject chosen was Zen. Just seemed an odd note to end the book on.
Nonetheless it is cleverly written and had me captivated in the first few pages. The narrator speaks of having attended a school for the remarkably giftless, and his description of the giftless nature of his classmates (and himself) endeared him to me immediately (or rather endeared her to me immediately since N. E. Bode is really Juliana Baggott).
I personally enjoy reading books where the narrator seems to be a story teller. That is definitely the case here. Edward Magorium comes through just as lovably as he did in the movie and the narrator was rather loveable too.
To put the best complement on it that I know how... I wish I'd thought of it. I wish I'd written it.
If you want a comical exploration of a fictional character that delves deep into the character's psyche while delivering a great many snippits of valuable real-life advice and encouragement... I say read this book.
To put a cheesy (but honest) touch here at the end... I laughed, I cried (well teared up), I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
June 2, 2013
Terrific light read!! I absolutely enjoyed reading this story, especially because i'm a fan of the film, Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium. A great film about imagination, music, and finding meaning in life. This compendium as N.E Bode tells it, is a fantastic prequel to the film. I'd recommend this to anyone who has seen the film and loved it or who hasn't yet seen the film. It's a fun light read and if you haven't watched the film, i'd say read this compendium beforehand. And then watch the movie as the story continues to unfold and as Mr. Magorium influences the the people around him to see the wonders in the simplest things of life or the greatness in the wondrous things of life!
February 19, 2009
I enjoyed this book it was fun, light, easy and I great little tie-in to the movie. The book was Mr. Magorium's life up until where the movie starts, clever I thought. If I was a teacher my lesson plan would be to read the book to the class and then have them pick out someone that Edward met and do a biography on them. Or to have them freewrite what their special talent is cause we all can't make Jerklin dolls.
December 18, 2011
At first I thought this was another situation where the film-makers took the idea of a children's book and change it about completely to make the movie. But, by the end of the book, you learn that it's really a prequel to the movie. And what a lovely set-up it is.
April 20, 2009
I love this author so I was a little disappointed in the book.
January 17, 2016
find your way in the world
April 21, 2017
this book is the most messeed up book and they screwed up my god dam shipping I suggest you no longer use amazon.ca
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews