Wednesday 21 December 2016

Norton Juster: The Phantom Tollbooth (1961)

    For Milo, everything’s a bore. When a tollbooth mysteriously appears in his room, he drives through only because he’s got nothing better to do. But on the other side, things seem different (Goodreads).

    Filled with hilarious puns and jokes based on the English language and numerical system, The Phantom Tollbooth is an enjoyable read, however by the end of it the jokes wear a bit thin and readers are left looking for an actual plot (however finding Rhyme and Reason is a great play on things). The first chapter gets readers right into it and does not give much room to get to know the protagonist, and Milo does not change much throughout until the very end in a satisfying finish that still leaves readers wanting more. The rest of the cast is quite flat although their various quirks make them endearing still. While sometimes confusing, The Phantom Tollbooth is an entertaining and hilarious read. 6.8/10

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