Pojken och lånarna

There's an old house where a little family of little people live under the kitchen floor: Pod and Homily Clock, and their daughter Arrietty. At thirteen, Arrietty longs to see what the world is like outside of her home, but Pod is the only one who ever ventures out to "borrow" what they need from the house. The danger of being "seen" by a "human bean" is too great—but a human boy who comes to stay at the house changes everything in The Borrowers by Mary Norton.

My, what a cozy and delightful adventure this classic children's fantasy story is! I first discovered and read it nearly thirty years ago, then I found the sequel, and then I saw two movies based on the books. Of course, that means the books' and movies' dialogue and happenings got a little jumbled in my memory...

So it was great to go back and reread the first novel. Even as much as I loved the story as a kid, it resonates with me on an even deeper level now, especially the differences between the two generations under the floor, the nature of Arrietty's longings, Pod's uneasiness with his wife's excited doings, and the impending need for greater change.

The climax is poignant and incredible, and goodness—now I wish I could remember just how well I understood the book's last line those decades ago. I don't recall its irony, its mystery, hitting me quite like this!

I'm looking forward to revisiting the sequel sooner than later. ( )

I loved this book! After reading this as a kid, I decided to leave things out like buttons and safety pins and little odds and ends. Then I'd check a few days later and see if those items were taken. Alas, they never were. I was so bummed. ( )

The borrowers live beneath the kitchen clock and use the things they are able to borrow from the household to furnish their cozy home. This is the adventurous story of their life in a house and the child who finds them. ( )

Fun British children's fantasy, but a little dated. ( )

What a beautifully crafted and fantastical tale! Mary Norton constructs a wonderful world set in the bygone Victorian era and depicts the struggle to adapt to abrupt, unexpected changes. It's a story that tickles the imagination and let's soar the inner child within us all. Read this timeless classic, for you will not be disappointed! ( )