I don’t remember the exact date when I put my hand on this book. But what I remember was I was browsing around Borders at Rundle mall for a monthly book in 2006 . I went to “recommend” section located just behind the customer service desk. You probably well know how usually books are arranged in bookstore or even in you own library. The yellow thick sides cover (702 pages thick) with some curly font stroke my eyes. Once I opened it I saw some funny illustrations with big font, this was like reading kids book! Well it was actually a children book written for adults.
I read some of the pages and decided to buy it.
The book is called The 13 ½ lives of Captain Bluebear by Walter Moers. In the first chapter it tells about the first life of our main character, baby Bluebear, floating in a nutshell on an ocean then three minipirates found him and raised him. He learnt a lot on that boat; from making knots, knowing different shapes of waves and “good white lie is often considerably more exciting than the truth. Telling one is like dressing up reality in its Sunday best”.
Once Bluebear get too big for the ship – his butt literarily take out the whole ship! - being afraid that he will sink the ship, the minipirates marooning him on an island and his adventures start from there.
A Bluebear lives three times longer than a cat. But this books only tell half of them, the interesting and exciting 13 ½ live of this furry friendly Bluebear and other various imaginative characters he met along the way – Professor Abdullah Nightingale, Qwerty Uiop, Fredda the Alpine Imp, Mac the Vegetarian pterodactyl Roving Reptilian Rescuer and many more.
My favorite lives would be his 11th life where he became a famous Dream composer in a discarded head of a Megabollogg giant. The way Walter Moers described the orchestra was fantastic - even it is only for a short time (1 page long). I can almost imagine sitting there looking at Bluebear and his colourfull and tense yet flowing dream!!
This books is worth to read and like I wrote before I always imagining reading this book together with my future kid(s) before their night sleep – sigh, so much like in a Hollywood movie..
1 comment:
HI!! I read this book, too! I love it :) For me it's kind of hard to find someone else who has read it. Glad I know there's at least one other person out there. i think my favorite part might be the life where he participates in the battle of lies. Great book! I can see myself rereading it at least five times in the next few years haha
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