Jen’s Reviews > The Phantom Tollbooth > Status Update

Argh! I forgot to post that I finally finished my reread of this book on February 7th! I really love this book. It has my most favorite book quote in it! "Expect everything, I always say, and the unexpected never happens." This quote is found on page 20 and it explains how I travel!

Finished my reread, and it was wonderful. I actually cried towards the end. I'm not sure why. It's possible that I'm just tired - it's 4:30 in the morning, after all - but it's also just as likely that the book is THAT good. And in case you're wondering, I'm going with "the book was THAT good." :-)

Alec says, "But I suppose there's a lot to see everywhere, if only you keep your eyes open." -- And I caught myself going, "Indeed. Too true, that." lol ;-)

I just read another easily-shareable quote: "So, you see, the way you see things depends a great deal on where you look at them from." (Alec Bings says this.) And earlier, page 68, Faintly Macabre had a line I love, but it's not so easily shared (but I'll try when I write my updated review). :-)

I decided to reread this book, as I need a book with a child on the cover for a challenge, and I felt like it had been too long (though little more than year has passed) since I first read it. I've so far only read the "An Appreciation" by Maurice Sendak, but it was written in 1996, when this book was 35 years old. I was rather happy to realize that reading it in 2016 means I'm celebrating TPT's 55th birthday. :-)

"...so many things are possible just as long as you don't know they're impossible." There have been many statements in this book that have captured my attention, but except for the one I shared earlier, and now this one, all have been mixed in w/words of dialogue that dilute their quotability. But this one... This one about things being possible because you don't know they're impossible... Well, isn't it great? :-)

Well I really hate to stop here, with evil demons approaching Milo, Tock and Humbug from all sides, but my eyes are really starting to hurt from lack of sleep. So, sadly, I'll have to finish this truly delightful (despite the demons) story after I wake up

I found Milo's visit to Dictionopolis to be delightful, but Milo mostly found it to be confusing. But he at least had Tock w/him. Tock strikes me as being an eminently sensible Watchdog. (And I quite enjoyed his story of how a Watchdog who ticks was named Tock.) Now, accompanied by the Humbug, our intrepid heroes are off to save Princesses Rhyme & Reason. (I am loving all these character names! lol)

“Expect everything, I always say, and the unexpected never happens.” This quote really speaks to me. This is how I went to Russia for the first time, though though the years I have told myself and others that I went without any expectations beyond having a fabulous time despite any differences and difficulties. :-)