Book Loving Kiwis discussion

Use this thread to discuss King Matt the First by Janusz Korczak.
Our Young Adult group read for Jan/Feb 2012.

I began this book yesterday and have read about 1/4 of it. I am only just starting to get into it, but it promises to be a good read. The author was a very interesting man. He was an educator and paediatric doctor. He introduced a number of orphanages into Poland and trained teachers in 'moral' education. He also defended children's rights in juvenile courts. During WWII he refused to leave the children in his Warsaw ghetto orphanage when they were being marched to the Treblinka gas chamber. He stayed with them to the very last of all their breaths.

I finished this book this morning. The ending took me by surprise, considering it is a children's book. There are things about the book that I love and things that I thought were a bit silly. It is showing its age a bit in terms of the way the various races were described and portrayed. In saying that, I thought King Bum-Drum the African Cannibal King was a very cool character, as was his daughter Klu-Klu. Is anyone else thinking of reading this? I'd love to know what you think.

Yeah, I thought I might, but not until later in the month.

I've just picked it up to read this week. Not something I would normally read so putting myself out there. What I would normally read? lol I have to put down Harry Potter & Twilight at some point!

Good on you for giving it a go, Sharlene! It wasn't the sort of thing I would usually read either. I'm interested to see what you think. For a children's book it is very political. I have to admit that I am a Harry Potter fan too. Another group that I belong to (Coffee and Books) is re-reading the whole series over the course of this year. I signed up to that challenge as it has been a while since I have read them. The Twilight books have never appealed to me for some reason. Just can't bring myself to read them. It seems I like witches and wizards, but not vampires!

thanks Angie. Will see how I get on with this one & will keep ya updated. Snap! I too am re-reading Harry for the #HPRC2012. chat soon :) gotta get reading!

How are you getting on with this one, Sharlene?

I finished it. I was quite surprised with the ending. I was hoping that the relationship between King Matt & the oriental & sad Kings would pull through for a victorious battle.

I would've like to have known what happened to Felek & Klu Klu? They were at his side until the very end.