Eloise isn't "precocious" she's not "a scamp." Not unless you're trying to show your kids a good example of how to act like total little unlovable bastards. The book wouldn't have been a success without those things.īut is it a good book for children in this day and age? I'm not saying this book doesn't has it's charming parts. No one ever even speaks a hard word to her. She is loud, spoiled, rude, and entitled.Īnd she never, *ever* gets in trouble. The sort of American that people believe in over in Germany and Spain and China. You know what Eloise reminds me of? She reminds me of a stereotypical American. A little girl living a wish-fulfillment life where she does whatever she likes, never gets in trouble, everyone has to be nice to her, and she eats room service ever day.īut today, in 2013? Do you honestly think that's something kids need to learn? Fuck no. Back when it was written, in the early 50's, it was probably wonderfully refreshing for little girls to see a little girl misbehaving. At the end of the book she thinks to herself, "Maybe tomorrow I'll pour a pitcher of water down the mail chute." There's no moment when she feels compassion for anyone.
A nanny who apparently spends most of the day up in the penthouse sniffing glue, because Eloise is never supervised when she's running around the hotel. A father is never mentioned at all, and her mother is away somewhere, busy meeting important people. That's the whole story, just her running around, amusing herself, making up games, and being a little monster.
But he says it with a forced smile on his face? Why? Because Eloise tells us that her mom knows the *owner* which is apparently why she lives in the penthouse and gets to do whatever she wants.Īnd that's it. The manager of the hotel says she's a nuisance. She says one of her favorite things to do is run down the hallway with sticks, hitting the doors of other guests. She's six years old, and uses the Plaza as her personal playground. I just looked online and found hundreds of reviewers *gushing* about how charming and *Mawhvelous* a character Eloise is. I'm guessing a lot of you grew up reading it. What bothers me more than anything is that this is a *classic* book. Books that were obviously just a vehicle for someone to poke their religion into an unsuspecting child.īut this one actually made me want to rage-quit. Books that were nausiating with sweetness and love. Too much repetition can get wearying to me.īut this book. I'd never read it before, which is fine with me. I asked my little boy if he's like to read some books the other day, and he brought over this one, asking if I'd read it next. This book should be titled: "How to be a spoiled little bitch."
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