Before I begin the review, let me say that I am very aware that I am not the intended audience and therefore my review is not really a concrete reflection of how a child would view the same book. In fact, I don’t want to review this book as much as I want to write my thoughts out about it.I remember watching the Pippi Longstocking cartoon when I was younger and enjoying it very much so I purchased the novel when I came across it and then it lingered on my shelf for a good while before I picked it up. It’s a short read and, on the surface of it, cute and innocent. What concerns me is Pippi herself. Of course, not having parents around to annoy you on a regular basis can seem like bliss initially but surely eventually the novelty wears off and there will be some realizations realized. Pippi’s tales are amusing but she admits frankly (ironically) that she lies a lot. Are we supposed to find that charming’? Her inability to read the mood, to behave are all constructed to impart humour but maybe because I read too much into things, I found it incredibly sad. And cynical of adults who couldn’t best a 9 year old. A nine year old who does not realize the wonderful world of books and disdains learning. What perhaps concerned me more than anything else in the novel is the way Pippi keeps giving people things. Gold watches, gold coins, lavish gifts to her friends – all as though she were buying friendship and the nerd in me kept on tripping over this fact wondering what it says about Pippi that she tries to secure goodwill and friendship with material things.I probably am overthinking things but I found Pippi Longstocking to be a sad portrayal of a girl left to navigate life alone. : Especially at the end when the two friends go home with their father and Pippi is left by herself in the great big house.
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