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How to Train Your Dragon #1
How to Train Your Dragon
Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, the quiet and thoughtful son of the Chief of the Hairy Hooligans, tries to pass the important initiation test of his Viking clan by catching and training a dragon. Can Hiccup do it without being torn limb from limb?
Join his adventures and misadventures as he finds a new way to train dragons--and becomes a hero. This action-packed, hilarious, and perfectly illustrated novel is a modern classic beloved by millions across the globe.
Join his adventures and misadventures as he finds a new way to train dragons--and becomes a hero. This action-packed, hilarious, and perfectly illustrated novel is a modern classic beloved by millions across the globe.
214 pages, Paperback
First published March 13, 2003
About the author
Cressida Cowell
207 books2,288 followersCressida Cowell grew up in London and on a small, uninhabited island off the west coast of Scotland. She was convinced that there were dragons living on this island, and has been fascinated by dragons ever since. She has a BA in English Literature from Oxford University, a BA in Graphic Design from St Martin's and an MA in Narrative Illustration from Brighton. Cressida loves illustrating her own work, but also loves writing books for other people to illustrate as the end result can be so unexpected and inspiring. Cressida has written and illustrated eight books in the popular Hiccup series. The unique blend of child centred humour and sublime prose made Hiccup an instant hit. How to Train Your Dragon is now published in over 30 languages. A DreamWorks Animation feature film is out in March 2010. Also the author of picture books, Cressida has won the Nestle Children's Book Prize 2006 and has been shortlisted for many others. Cressida lives in Hammersmith with her husband and three children.
Her Books:
1. How to Train Your Dragon (2003)
2. How to Be a Pirate (2004)
3. How to Speak Dragonese (2005)
4. How to Cheat a Dragon’s Curse (2006)
5. How to Twist a Dragon’s Tale (2007)
6. A Hero’s Guide to Deadly Dragons (2008)
7. How to Ride a Dragon’s Storm (2008)
8. How to Break a Dragon’s Heart (2010)
9. How to Steal a Dragon's Sword (2011)
10. How to Seize a Dragon's Jewel (2012)
Her Books:
1. How to Train Your Dragon (2003)
2. How to Be a Pirate (2004)
3. How to Speak Dragonese (2005)
4. How to Cheat a Dragon’s Curse (2006)
5. How to Twist a Dragon’s Tale (2007)
6. A Hero’s Guide to Deadly Dragons (2008)
7. How to Ride a Dragon’s Storm (2008)
8. How to Break a Dragon’s Heart (2010)
9. How to Steal a Dragon's Sword (2011)
10. How to Seize a Dragon's Jewel (2012)
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 5,842 reviews
July 2, 2019
What a delight to read! Or should I say listen to?
Please, please, PLEASE if you are able to, listen to David Tennant's narration. Not only does he narrate in his own Scottish accent, but he injects such enthusiasm into this already wacky story. His narration alone bumped my rating up half a star!
Now onto the book itself. I loved it! Don't let the fact that it's a children's story deter you from picking this up. Yes, it is a playful story about dragons and over-the-top Vikings, but it's imaginative and pretty self-aware in its wackiness (bordering on parody). The author doesn't talk down to the reader nor does she try to instill too many lessons into the text.
All in all, this was a satisfying, engaging story about becoming a hero the "hard way" brought to life by a superb narrator!
Please, please, PLEASE if you are able to, listen to David Tennant's narration. Not only does he narrate in his own Scottish accent, but he injects such enthusiasm into this already wacky story. His narration alone bumped my rating up half a star!
Now onto the book itself. I loved it! Don't let the fact that it's a children's story deter you from picking this up. Yes, it is a playful story about dragons and over-the-top Vikings, but it's imaginative and pretty self-aware in its wackiness (bordering on parody). The author doesn't talk down to the reader nor does she try to instill too many lessons into the text.
All in all, this was a satisfying, engaging story about becoming a hero the "hard way" brought to life by a superb narrator!
November 30, 2023
I saw the film a while back and really enjoyed it. I bought the book for my daughter Celyn's 9th birthday and read it to her (she's registered blind and couldn't watch the movie). We finished it last week in hospital. She did fall asleep a couple of times but to be fair she was recoving from a general anaesthetic.
The book is very different to the film. Both share some comical Vikings and a weedy 'hero' named Hiccup. Both contain dragons. That's about the end of the similarities. In the film the young Vikings are trained (in a mixed class) to battle dragons. In the book the young Vikings (boys only) own and train dragons.
Actually I lie. Hiccup is very similar in character. An outsider at odds with his societal norms. A thinker in a world that's all about fighting. Also as in the film there is a hostile uber-dragon (two in fact) that is truly gargantuan.
The book is good fun but a touch too silly for there to be any real emotional connection with the characters - always a minus for me. It has some clever bits, some funny bits, and Celyn and me certainly didn't waste our time reading it. A solid 3* for fun. I would rate the film more highly, and that's a rarity for me.
EDIT: In a nice update, Celyn got a young carer who was not only a huge fan of the books, but a skilled actor (doing theatre studies at university). So, she ended up having all 12 books read to her with excellent voice acting, complete with all manner of accents and booming deliveries.
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..
The book is very different to the film. Both share some comical Vikings and a weedy 'hero' named Hiccup. Both contain dragons. That's about the end of the similarities. In the film the young Vikings are trained (in a mixed class) to battle dragons. In the book the young Vikings (boys only) own and train dragons.
Actually I lie. Hiccup is very similar in character. An outsider at odds with his societal norms. A thinker in a world that's all about fighting. Also as in the film there is a hostile uber-dragon (two in fact) that is truly gargantuan.
The book is good fun but a touch too silly for there to be any real emotional connection with the characters - always a minus for me. It has some clever bits, some funny bits, and Celyn and me certainly didn't waste our time reading it. A solid 3* for fun. I would rate the film more highly, and that's a rarity for me.
EDIT: In a nice update, Celyn got a young carer who was not only a huge fan of the books, but a skilled actor (doing theatre studies at university). So, she ended up having all 12 books read to her with excellent voice acting, complete with all manner of accents and booming deliveries.
Join my Patreon
Join my 3-emails-a-year newsletter #prizes
..
November 3, 2023
2010:
Finally, finally! I found it!
Boy, where do I start? Okay, to make things clear: I did see the movie first (it was one of Dreamworks' best ever!) but that didn't necessarily mean I had expectations for this book based on that. I did check up on it before reading it, so I was fully prepared with the knowledge that it was completely different from the movie when I started. Still, no matter how much I loved the movie, I loved this book too. The characters are likable (as story-book characters, anyway; I doubt anyone would want to meet a real Gobber the Belch in person) and the idea and plot are original and entertaining. I think this version earns the title of How to Train Your Dragon alot more than the movie; Hiccup, who already isn't real Viking material, is set up to train an impossibly small yet needy, whiney, vain, ungrateful, disobediant, proud, cheeky, self-centered brat of a dragon Toothless (don't let all those adjectives set you off, he's still cute!), which he quickly understands could take alot more than just the simple advise of Yell At It to accomplish. It doesn't matter that he can speak Dragonese; luck just isn't on his side. He'll have to train dragons his own way.
The morals of this story are well-delivered. You can tell how Hiccup's methods pay off when, having treated Toothless with kindness and generosity such that no other Viking has, Toothless finally feels grateful enough to help him defeat the Green Death. This book is mainly aimed at nine-and-up-year-old boys, but I bought it for me, and I ended up reading it to my little sister, who enjoyed listening to it and surprisingly was able to overlook the fact that it was nothing at all like the movie she loved. Toothless was still her favorite character (and Hiccup mine!)
*****
2013:
I feel like I should update this review, given the amount of likes it's getting, and plus because the above review looks pretty mediocre to me now. Also, since then, I've read (and reread) the rest of the Hiccup books as well. Actually, this will be more like a list of reasons why you should read these books rather than an actual review of this one.
So, to get right to it:
Reasons to read the How to Train Your Dragon (series) by Cressida Cowell:
1. Our little Hero in Training, the smallish boy with the longish name of Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third, is in my opinion one of the sweetest protagonists in literature, alongside Bilbo Baggins, playing the excellent role of reluctant hero. He reminds me a little bit of Jim Hawkins from Treasure Island, although less inclined to thoughts of glory. He's a selfless, modest, polite, and extremely kind little kid just trying to stumble along in doing what's right. And although his overall personality doesn't go through any drastic change as the books progress, it's enjoyable to see his little moments of triumph, when he realizes there is still one last thing he can do. There is some character development in the last few books, when the story starts to get darker and Hiccup grows older, but in the end I like him the way he is. This is the kind of character who makes you smile when he's happy, cry when he cries, get mad when he gets mad, and cheer silently in your head when he stands up after falling. Although the books wouldn't be nearly as enjoyable or funny without his friends, who provide most of the comic relief (although Hiccup himself does make quite a few smart sarcastic comments), Hiccup is the real soul of the series.
2. The fantasy world Hiccup and his friends inhabit is filled with places as fantastic and incredible as they are treacherous. And they're filled with lots, and lots, and lots of dragons, of every shape and size, from the tiny Nanodragons, some of which glow like worms, to the Monstrous Seadragons the size of mountains, that can be found in the depths of the ocean or in dark underground tunnels and caves. The dragons in these books are unlike any other dragons I've read or watched. Oh sure, you'll find the occasional ultimately-smarter,-nobler,-high-and-mightier-than-thou dragon of the old fairy-tales (that conversation with the Green Death was reminiscent of Bilbo's little chat with Smaug), and there are quite a lot of blood-thirsty-no-mercy killing machine dragons equipped with weapons even worse than fire-breath; but the best of the dragons in these books are as distinctive as the human characters they share their world with - the ones that argue, pick a fight, pick on others, pick their noses, smirk, laugh, snort, show off, show up, groan, complain, play tricks, play with their masters, play with each other, and give the occasional helping hand (or claw) in a crisis the humans can't seem to solve on their own. In fact, you could describe these dragons like misbehaved little puppies. The relationship Hiccup has with his own dragon Toothless is one of more than just Master and Beast; it's one of a boy and his pesky younger brother, or a Model-A student and his trouble-maker friend. Mostly it's that of two companions who've been through a lot together and who stick together through thick and thin; not precisely out of loyalty or friendship, but because they wouldn't have it any other way.
3. The story itself is just plain fun to read through. The books start out as seeming completely disconnected, of The Whacky Adventures of So-and-So variety (Amazing World of Gumball? Misadventures of Flapjack? Well, some Cartoon Network show). You might even roll your eyes at the juvenile humor clearly aimed at the nine-and-under-year-olds these books were originally written for. In the last few books, however, everything gets sewn neatly together in ways that'll leave you gobsmacked, and then things start getting a bit more serious (and it's for this reason that, although they may say it's safe to do so, it's best not to read the books out of order, or at least not the last four). But yes, for the most part, How to Train Your Dragon is just great for laugh-out-loud-until-you-cry moments. Even the villains, though mad and dangerous when angry, provide much of the humor. The dragons too, as I've said, are hugely entertaining; besides Toothless, there's One Eye the Sabre-Toothed Driver Dragon who hates humans, or Ziggerastica the self-proclaimed god. Now that I think of it, in regards to the humor part of the series, I'd liken it most to the anime One Piece: it may seem childish in some parts and the characters don't feel like they're taking anything seriously, but when things get nasty they can pull their own, and you find yourself saving your laughs for later.
I can think of plenty more reasons if I sit here long enough, but the three I've given provide a nice long essay in themselves, so I'm sure they'll suffice. All that's left to say is that I give this series a strong recommendation. I'm not saying everyone who reads it will like it (the same way, I suppose, that not everyone who watches One Piece for the first time will instantly fall in love with it, although I certainly did), but I think all that matters is your ability to love adventure, to love the characters, and to tap into your inner hero. And if not a hero, there's always at least someone who appreciates heroism somewhere inside you, which is probably why you read books about them in the first place.
****
2014:
Hehe, me again. Well of course. So the second movie is out. I have to say, although it was amazing, I'm pretty sure I prefer the first movie better. The first film's poignant moments were treated with more subtlety, and it came off as an overall very charming film without really trying too hard. It's like the directors were so scared of tarnishing its reputation that they decided to take everything that was good about the first film and crank it up to overblown levels of 'epicness', without really paying it the amount of attention it deserved so that all these conflicting elements - comedy, drama, action, cutsey-ness - flowed easily from scene to scene.
Anyways...
I came up with a fourth reason, haha. You have to read more of this overlong review of a book series that's still probably only being bought because people loved the movie so much (that's me being a hypocrite, la di da da...)
So, reason number
4. Despite it being a children's book series, these books don't talk down to kids. And when I say that I don't only mean that the narrative is surprisingly very adult, using normal literary vocabulary rather than over-simplified written-like-you-say-it kid-speak (say, like, I don't know, The Lightning Thief). Some of the situations Hiccup gets himself in are truly intense. It's one of the reasons why, though I do love the films, I would love for a one-hundred-percent faithful cartoon animated series to be adapted from these books - I want to see these scenes! Watching Httyd 2 in cinema I got the feeling that the directors were trying to make Hiccup look a little more 'badass' (that awesome fire-sword though...). I'm not gonna say that book-version Hiccup is much of a badass himself (in the end he'll always be the nicey-nice guy) but because he's so unexceptional and pathetic-looking other characters get that much more shocked and afraid when he does manage to put one over on them. He doesn't always manage to keep his cool, and wins don't come easy - he panics, and gets scared, and very often has to fight for his life, but that's what makes the danger seem more real, and Hiccup more like a hero (especially considering that he's still a kid). Aside from the aforementioned sketch with the Green Death, my most favorite scene of the series, I would really love to see Hiccup looking for the witch in the dark of the tree-prison, or riding away on the back of the Windwalker with a murderous hundreds-strong dragon hoard on the chase, or scrambling up the mast of a sinking ship trying to get away from an axe-wielding madman in the midst of a storm, fully animated. Not like a regular kids' cartoon but something more along the lines of Avatar: The Last Airbender. On page a lot of these situations may sound ridiculous, but if you really allow yourself to picture it that way it's nothing short of astounding.
Plus Hiccup is an expert sword-fighter in this version.
****
December 2015
The final book has been released and I've read it and loved it, and a link to my review is right here.
2023:
Read the whole series again aloud to my other sister this year, and yes, it is still just as good. I appreciate more and more things about this series each time I read it, and this time around it was the human relationships that stuck out to me; I love love love the friendship between Hiccup and Fishlegs, Camicazi is the most excellent supportive friend to have in your corner, Stoick is such a loving father even if he's not very bright or tactful, Gobber may be strict but he genuinely cares about his students, and Snotlout... wow. He's a worse bully than Draco Malfoy ever was, and yet somehow got an even better redemption arc! Seriously, he was Bakugo from My Hero Academia before MHA even existed!
Finally, finally! I found it!
Boy, where do I start? Okay, to make things clear: I did see the movie first (it was one of Dreamworks' best ever!) but that didn't necessarily mean I had expectations for this book based on that. I did check up on it before reading it, so I was fully prepared with the knowledge that it was completely different from the movie when I started. Still, no matter how much I loved the movie, I loved this book too. The characters are likable (as story-book characters, anyway; I doubt anyone would want to meet a real Gobber the Belch in person) and the idea and plot are original and entertaining. I think this version earns the title of How to Train Your Dragon alot more than the movie; Hiccup, who already isn't real Viking material, is set up to train an impossibly small yet needy, whiney, vain, ungrateful, disobediant, proud, cheeky, self-centered brat of a dragon Toothless (don't let all those adjectives set you off, he's still cute!), which he quickly understands could take alot more than just the simple advise of Yell At It to accomplish. It doesn't matter that he can speak Dragonese; luck just isn't on his side. He'll have to train dragons his own way.
The morals of this story are well-delivered. You can tell how Hiccup's methods pay off when, having treated Toothless with kindness and generosity such that no other Viking has, Toothless finally feels grateful enough to help him defeat the Green Death. This book is mainly aimed at nine-and-up-year-old boys, but I bought it for me, and I ended up reading it to my little sister, who enjoyed listening to it and surprisingly was able to overlook the fact that it was nothing at all like the movie she loved. Toothless was still her favorite character (and Hiccup mine!)
*****
2013:
I feel like I should update this review, given the amount of likes it's getting, and plus because the above review looks pretty mediocre to me now. Also, since then, I've read (and reread) the rest of the Hiccup books as well. Actually, this will be more like a list of reasons why you should read these books rather than an actual review of this one.
So, to get right to it:
Reasons to read the How to Train Your Dragon (series) by Cressida Cowell:
1. Our little Hero in Training, the smallish boy with the longish name of Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third, is in my opinion one of the sweetest protagonists in literature, alongside Bilbo Baggins, playing the excellent role of reluctant hero. He reminds me a little bit of Jim Hawkins from Treasure Island, although less inclined to thoughts of glory. He's a selfless, modest, polite, and extremely kind little kid just trying to stumble along in doing what's right. And although his overall personality doesn't go through any drastic change as the books progress, it's enjoyable to see his little moments of triumph, when he realizes there is still one last thing he can do. There is some character development in the last few books, when the story starts to get darker and Hiccup grows older, but in the end I like him the way he is. This is the kind of character who makes you smile when he's happy, cry when he cries, get mad when he gets mad, and cheer silently in your head when he stands up after falling. Although the books wouldn't be nearly as enjoyable or funny without his friends, who provide most of the comic relief (although Hiccup himself does make quite a few smart sarcastic comments), Hiccup is the real soul of the series.
2. The fantasy world Hiccup and his friends inhabit is filled with places as fantastic and incredible as they are treacherous. And they're filled with lots, and lots, and lots of dragons, of every shape and size, from the tiny Nanodragons, some of which glow like worms, to the Monstrous Seadragons the size of mountains, that can be found in the depths of the ocean or in dark underground tunnels and caves. The dragons in these books are unlike any other dragons I've read or watched. Oh sure, you'll find the occasional ultimately-smarter,-nobler,-high-and-mightier-than-thou dragon of the old fairy-tales (that conversation with the Green Death was reminiscent of Bilbo's little chat with Smaug), and there are quite a lot of blood-thirsty-no-mercy killing machine dragons equipped with weapons even worse than fire-breath; but the best of the dragons in these books are as distinctive as the human characters they share their world with - the ones that argue, pick a fight, pick on others, pick their noses, smirk, laugh, snort, show off, show up, groan, complain, play tricks, play with their masters, play with each other, and give the occasional helping hand (or claw) in a crisis the humans can't seem to solve on their own. In fact, you could describe these dragons like misbehaved little puppies. The relationship Hiccup has with his own dragon Toothless is one of more than just Master and Beast; it's one of a boy and his pesky younger brother, or a Model-A student and his trouble-maker friend. Mostly it's that of two companions who've been through a lot together and who stick together through thick and thin; not precisely out of loyalty or friendship, but because they wouldn't have it any other way.
3. The story itself is just plain fun to read through. The books start out as seeming completely disconnected, of The Whacky Adventures of So-and-So variety (Amazing World of Gumball? Misadventures of Flapjack? Well, some Cartoon Network show). You might even roll your eyes at the juvenile humor clearly aimed at the nine-and-under-year-olds these books were originally written for. In the last few books, however, everything gets sewn neatly together in ways that'll leave you gobsmacked, and then things start getting a bit more serious (and it's for this reason that, although they may say it's safe to do so, it's best not to read the books out of order, or at least not the last four). But yes, for the most part, How to Train Your Dragon is just great for laugh-out-loud-until-you-cry moments. Even the villains, though mad and dangerous when angry, provide much of the humor. The dragons too, as I've said, are hugely entertaining; besides Toothless, there's One Eye the Sabre-Toothed Driver Dragon who hates humans, or Ziggerastica the self-proclaimed god. Now that I think of it, in regards to the humor part of the series, I'd liken it most to the anime One Piece: it may seem childish in some parts and the characters don't feel like they're taking anything seriously, but when things get nasty they can pull their own, and you find yourself saving your laughs for later.
I can think of plenty more reasons if I sit here long enough, but the three I've given provide a nice long essay in themselves, so I'm sure they'll suffice. All that's left to say is that I give this series a strong recommendation. I'm not saying everyone who reads it will like it (the same way, I suppose, that not everyone who watches One Piece for the first time will instantly fall in love with it, although I certainly did), but I think all that matters is your ability to love adventure, to love the characters, and to tap into your inner hero. And if not a hero, there's always at least someone who appreciates heroism somewhere inside you, which is probably why you read books about them in the first place.
****
2014:
Hehe, me again. Well of course. So the second movie is out. I have to say, although it was amazing, I'm pretty sure I prefer the first movie better. The first film's poignant moments were treated with more subtlety, and it came off as an overall very charming film without really trying too hard. It's like the directors were so scared of tarnishing its reputation that they decided to take everything that was good about the first film and crank it up to overblown levels of 'epicness', without really paying it the amount of attention it deserved so that all these conflicting elements - comedy, drama, action, cutsey-ness - flowed easily from scene to scene.
Anyways...
I came up with a fourth reason, haha. You have to read more of this overlong review of a book series that's still probably only being bought because people loved the movie so much (that's me being a hypocrite, la di da da...)
So, reason number
4. Despite it being a children's book series, these books don't talk down to kids. And when I say that I don't only mean that the narrative is surprisingly very adult, using normal literary vocabulary rather than over-simplified written-like-you-say-it kid-speak (say, like, I don't know, The Lightning Thief). Some of the situations Hiccup gets himself in are truly intense. It's one of the reasons why, though I do love the films, I would love for a one-hundred-percent faithful cartoon animated series to be adapted from these books - I want to see these scenes! Watching Httyd 2 in cinema I got the feeling that the directors were trying to make Hiccup look a little more 'badass' (that awesome fire-sword though...). I'm not gonna say that book-version Hiccup is much of a badass himself (in the end he'll always be the nicey-nice guy) but because he's so unexceptional and pathetic-looking other characters get that much more shocked and afraid when he does manage to put one over on them. He doesn't always manage to keep his cool, and wins don't come easy - he panics, and gets scared, and very often has to fight for his life, but that's what makes the danger seem more real, and Hiccup more like a hero (especially considering that he's still a kid). Aside from the aforementioned sketch with the Green Death, my most favorite scene of the series, I would really love to see Hiccup looking for the witch in the dark of the tree-prison, or riding away on the back of the Windwalker with a murderous hundreds-strong dragon hoard on the chase, or scrambling up the mast of a sinking ship trying to get away from an axe-wielding madman in the midst of a storm, fully animated. Not like a regular kids' cartoon but something more along the lines of Avatar: The Last Airbender. On page a lot of these situations may sound ridiculous, but if you really allow yourself to picture it that way it's nothing short of astounding.
Plus Hiccup is an expert sword-fighter in this version.
****
December 2015
The final book has been released and I've read it and loved it, and a link to my review is right here.
2023:
Read the whole series again aloud to my other sister this year, and yes, it is still just as good. I appreciate more and more things about this series each time I read it, and this time around it was the human relationships that stuck out to me; I love love love the friendship between Hiccup and Fishlegs, Camicazi is the most excellent supportive friend to have in your corner, Stoick is such a loving father even if he's not very bright or tactful, Gobber may be strict but he genuinely cares about his students, and Snotlout... wow. He's a worse bully than Draco Malfoy ever was, and yet somehow got an even better redemption arc! Seriously, he was Bakugo from My Hero Academia before MHA even existed!
October 3, 2012
How do I rate this book? I rate it "Started reading it to my six year old but when he was too tired to continue I kept reading to myself and didn't put it down until I reached the last page."
August 23, 2023
4,5 Sterne
Ich habe das Hörbuch bzw. Hörspiel gehört und wei�� nicht, ob es stark vom Buch abweicht, aber das Hörspiel war auf jeden Fall sehr unterhaltsam und gut!
Fantasy ist nicht mein übliches Genre, aber ich liebe Drachengeschichten. Diese war sowohl lustig als auch spannend und hat mich sehr gut unterhalten können!
Ich habe das Hörbuch bzw. Hörspiel gehört und wei�� nicht, ob es stark vom Buch abweicht, aber das Hörspiel war auf jeden Fall sehr unterhaltsam und gut!
Fantasy ist nicht mein übliches Genre, aber ich liebe Drachengeschichten. Diese war sowohl lustig als auch spannend und hat mich sehr gut unterhalten können!
November 1, 2015
As we all know, movies often aren't much like the books they're based on, and that's incredibly true here. Now, the setting's the same: Vikings, dragons, characters and all that. However, there are a couple of major differences, based even on what I remember from the movie I saw once about three years ago. When you think of How to Train Your Dragon, I bet your first thought is something along these lines:
Certainly, I did. Awkward boy befriends adorable dragon. Cuteness abounds. Everyone learns things. Not really how it goes down, though. The actual story is definitely tailored to a little boy audience, with gross jokes, battles and such. Also, Toothless is creepy as all get out. And green.
No, seriously. Toothless is not remotely adorable. He's crude and gross, and purposely poops all over Hiccup's house. Also, he hates Hiccup for most of it, and Hiccup hates him, mostly because the Vikings actually use dragons as slaves after they DRAGONNAP them from their caves when they're babies. That's one of the tests to become a full member of the tribe. As is training the dragon to do what you say by yelling at it. Oh, AND Toothless is way smaller than in the movie. Hiccup can carry him around. If anything, Toothless reminded me of Gollum. Yeah.
Basically, I kept expecting the story to end with a realization that dragons need to be treated more equally, considering that they're smart and have their own language and everything, but that didn't really happen. Like, at the end, I think they respect dragons a little more, but still plan to make the dragons do what they say. I just didn't really feel that much sympathy with the Vikings when the HUGE dragon arrives with plans to eat them, yanno?
Also, just fyi, there was not a single female character in this story that I noticed. Not a one. Apparently the Vikings figured out a way to procreate with only men, or with dragons. Of course, I don't think that's true. Women are just so unimportant they're wholly unworthy of mention. Thanks, movie, for adding in a wholly not historically accurate female character who was in the same class as the boys. I mean, there are dragons, so are we really that big on historical accuracy?
Much as I didn't like the story, because it's just totally not for me, there is one reason I rated this three stars and did like listening to it:
WORTH IT. Oh, David Tennant. I love him as Doctor Who, of course, but now I got to hear him go full on Scottish, and I loved it. He's a delightful narrator, just as you would expect. He even did a voice that was rather reminiscent of Jeremy Irons for the giant, man-eating dragon. I just sort of tried to pay as little attention as possible to the story and to soak in the accents.
I wish I could say that I liked this enough overall to want to continue with the rest of the audiobooks he narrated (which is six or seven of the series), but I don't. As much as I love David Tennant, I would have to buy each one from Audible, and that's just too much money for books I don't like. If my library had them, well, that would be another story.
So, there you have it. Unless you're a huge David Tennant fan (why wouldn't you be?) or totally okay with the absence of women and treatment of the dragons, you'll probably want to skip this one. However, that's sad. Let's look at David Tennant one more time, huh?
Certainly, I did. Awkward boy befriends adorable dragon. Cuteness abounds. Everyone learns things. Not really how it goes down, though. The actual story is definitely tailored to a little boy audience, with gross jokes, battles and such. Also, Toothless is creepy as all get out. And green.
No, seriously. Toothless is not remotely adorable. He's crude and gross, and purposely poops all over Hiccup's house. Also, he hates Hiccup for most of it, and Hiccup hates him, mostly because the Vikings actually use dragons as slaves after they DRAGONNAP them from their caves when they're babies. That's one of the tests to become a full member of the tribe. As is training the dragon to do what you say by yelling at it. Oh, AND Toothless is way smaller than in the movie. Hiccup can carry him around. If anything, Toothless reminded me of Gollum. Yeah.
Basically, I kept expecting the story to end with a realization that dragons need to be treated more equally, considering that they're smart and have their own language and everything, but that didn't really happen. Like, at the end, I think they respect dragons a little more, but still plan to make the dragons do what they say. I just didn't really feel that much sympathy with the Vikings when the HUGE dragon arrives with plans to eat them, yanno?
Also, just fyi, there was not a single female character in this story that I noticed. Not a one. Apparently the Vikings figured out a way to procreate with only men, or with dragons. Of course, I don't think that's true. Women are just so unimportant they're wholly unworthy of mention. Thanks, movie, for adding in a wholly not historically accurate female character who was in the same class as the boys. I mean, there are dragons, so are we really that big on historical accuracy?
Much as I didn't like the story, because it's just totally not for me, there is one reason I rated this three stars and did like listening to it:
WORTH IT. Oh, David Tennant. I love him as Doctor Who, of course, but now I got to hear him go full on Scottish, and I loved it. He's a delightful narrator, just as you would expect. He even did a voice that was rather reminiscent of Jeremy Irons for the giant, man-eating dragon. I just sort of tried to pay as little attention as possible to the story and to soak in the accents.
I wish I could say that I liked this enough overall to want to continue with the rest of the audiobooks he narrated (which is six or seven of the series), but I don't. As much as I love David Tennant, I would have to buy each one from Audible, and that's just too much money for books I don't like. If my library had them, well, that would be another story.
So, there you have it. Unless you're a huge David Tennant fan (why wouldn't you be?) or totally okay with the absence of women and treatment of the dragons, you'll probably want to skip this one. However, that's sad. Let's look at David Tennant one more time, huh?
October 15, 2019
What a fun little series! I read this book in a sitting and I enjoy it. It's very much a fantasy Roald Dahl type writing. I've never seen the movies so I enjoyed the fresh perspective.
April 25, 2019
I love these movies. They are wonderful. I expected the book to be somewhat similar and they really aren’t. I think the movie captured the spirit of the books and how kooky and zany they are, but the story is totally different with some new characters. Hiccup is mostly the same but most others are different. The biggest difference is that Toothless is a totally different dragon. They are nothing alike really. I like the toothless of the movies much more. I did not like the toothless from the book much at all. He was rather annoying and did little to help out.
I am so amazed at just how different this story was from the movie. I mean, they completely made up their own story. In the book, everyone owns their own dragon and initiation is stealing your dragon from the wild dragon caves. I did enjoy this story, but in my mind they are 2 different stories that happen to have the same name and some similar characters. I think I prefer the movie, but I did enjoy the book too in its own way. It’s a special book with outlandish viking characters which mostly made it to the screen.
The giant hell dragon is here, but there are actually 2 of them and it’s very different than the movie. I do want to read more of this series. It was fun in it’s own way and Cressida Cowell is a fun and fantastic author. I enjoy how she tells a story. Is the movie better? Yes. I feel it’s much more rounded and has a better story in many ways. I love the relationship between Toothless and Hiccup and what an dragon expert Hiccup is. It works so much better.
I am so amazed at just how different this story was from the movie. I mean, they completely made up their own story. In the book, everyone owns their own dragon and initiation is stealing your dragon from the wild dragon caves. I did enjoy this story, but in my mind they are 2 different stories that happen to have the same name and some similar characters. I think I prefer the movie, but I did enjoy the book too in its own way. It’s a special book with outlandish viking characters which mostly made it to the screen.
The giant hell dragon is here, but there are actually 2 of them and it’s very different than the movie. I do want to read more of this series. It was fun in it’s own way and Cressida Cowell is a fun and fantastic author. I enjoy how she tells a story. Is the movie better? Yes. I feel it’s much more rounded and has a better story in many ways. I love the relationship between Toothless and Hiccup and what an dragon expert Hiccup is. It works so much better.
May 19, 2020
I read this alongside watching Cressida Cowell's reading of this book on her YouTube channel. It was such a wonderful reading that really transported me back to being in primary school and listening to my form teacher reading a story before school started. I laughed and couldn't stop smiling throughout Cowell's reading of her wonderful first book.
Hiccup is the son of a Viking chief and he truly believes he isn't a hero. However, in a world where dragons exist, Hiccup finds himself with the ability to be able to talk to dragons, befriending a tiny dragon called Toothless, and eventually becoming a hero of his viking village.
This is definitely very different to the Dreamworks movie and I knew this going into it. I read this as a totally separate story and this helped me to enjoy this loads. I just love Cressida Cowell's writing, she's so imaginative and I love all the silly bits in this that got me laughing. Her illustrations are also rather wonderful. I can't help but love Hiccup and I look forward to seeing more of his adventures.
Hiccup is the son of a Viking chief and he truly believes he isn't a hero. However, in a world where dragons exist, Hiccup finds himself with the ability to be able to talk to dragons, befriending a tiny dragon called Toothless, and eventually becoming a hero of his viking village.
This is definitely very different to the Dreamworks movie and I knew this going into it. I read this as a totally separate story and this helped me to enjoy this loads. I just love Cressida Cowell's writing, she's so imaginative and I love all the silly bits in this that got me laughing. Her illustrations are also rather wonderful. I can't help but love Hiccup and I look forward to seeing more of his adventures.
August 25, 2008
review pake bahasa naga
uuuuuuuuuuuuy, akkui.. kutukkaaaaa skalle bukkkuw inni. dobleh yammihi krauk-krauk hahahihi. winglesh viking kiccil kiccil, hiccup & fishleg kambrratui. snotlout & dogsbreath brengsshik hicup, tittak rammakh, tukka hiaat-hiaat, tukka keshruppan maggabuk kambrratui shanashini, guccuh.
toothles naga kiccil, tattukka shi ikanbusshuk, inni yakkih, inni dobleh dobleh yakkih. tatukka kangkang bikkhin muwwal-pushing-prut. tukka gaga allas bokkong & flip-flop. hrrap tittaak puppa diddamdam rokkum
review buat yang gak ngerti bahasa naga
buku pertama dari petualangan seorang anak ceking bernama hiccup; putra seorang stoick agung, kepala suku viking hooligan berbulu. diawali dengan sebuah inisiasi, anak-anak kaum barbar viking ini harus melewati ujian agar diterima sebagai bagian dari suku hooligan berbulu. ujian pertama yang dipimpin gober the belch adalah anak2 ini wajib masuk ke gua naga dan menangkap seekor anak naga untuk dipelihara. semua anak (kecuali fishlegs) meledek hiccup yang hanya berhasil menangkap naga kebun biasa yang amat sangat kecil! naga ini gak cuman kecil tapi kelakuannya bener menyebalkan dan nyusahin aja. tak hanya itu, naga sotoy ini gak punya gigi! sehingga dinamai toothless. hiccup dan fishleg selalu jadi bulan-bulanan snotlout sepupunya dan temennya sesama preman cilik viking si dogsbreath.
keadaan jadi kacow ketika si jail toothles memancing perkelahian yang menyebabkan para naga2 peliharaan anak2 ini seperti fireworm, seaslug, killer, brightclaw, alligatiger saling berkelahi sehingga anak2 ini harus dihukum. tetapi keadaan jadi genting karena ditemukannya dua ekor naga raksasa segede gaban dari jenis lautus gigantismus maksimus. ada adegan yang bikin gw guling2 yaitu ketika gober dan 400 orang viking dengan sotoynya berusaha mengusir naga2 raksasa tsb (gagal total tentu saja) dan pada akhirnya anak2 ini bersatu untuk "mengadu domba" kedua naga raksasa tersebut dengan "rencana busuk yang cerdas." hahahaha. berhasilkah rencana busuk yang cerdas" mereka? baca aja deh. oiya, ilustrasi dibuku ini juga bikin hahahihi. denger2 sih dreamworks lagi menggarap proyek animasi buat buku ini, dah kelar blom ya? musti nonton nih filmnya.
bottom line, this book cracked me up! and I hope the movie too
udhah ah, mo byur byur dimukmuk, glek glek shi byur byur
kutatukka gaga dim prutprut, tittak bolle bolle!
kutukka presshiprut-wek-wek, muah muah yakkih
aiyaiiiiih laggiihhh
erie
pakar bahasa naga (bukan cacing)
uuuuuuuuuuuuy, akkui.. kutukkaaaaa skalle bukkkuw inni. dobleh yammihi krauk-krauk hahahihi. winglesh viking kiccil kiccil, hiccup & fishleg kambrratui. snotlout & dogsbreath brengsshik hicup, tittak rammakh, tukka hiaat-hiaat, tukka keshruppan maggabuk kambrratui shanashini, guccuh.
toothles naga kiccil, tattukka shi ikanbusshuk, inni yakkih, inni dobleh dobleh yakkih. tatukka kangkang bikkhin muwwal-pushing-prut. tukka gaga allas bokkong & flip-flop. hrrap tittaak puppa diddamdam rokkum
review buat yang gak ngerti bahasa naga
buku pertama dari petualangan seorang anak ceking bernama hiccup; putra seorang stoick agung, kepala suku viking hooligan berbulu. diawali dengan sebuah inisiasi, anak-anak kaum barbar viking ini harus melewati ujian agar diterima sebagai bagian dari suku hooligan berbulu. ujian pertama yang dipimpin gober the belch adalah anak2 ini wajib masuk ke gua naga dan menangkap seekor anak naga untuk dipelihara. semua anak (kecuali fishlegs) meledek hiccup yang hanya berhasil menangkap naga kebun biasa yang amat sangat kecil! naga ini gak cuman kecil tapi kelakuannya bener menyebalkan dan nyusahin aja. tak hanya itu, naga sotoy ini gak punya gigi! sehingga dinamai toothless. hiccup dan fishleg selalu jadi bulan-bulanan snotlout sepupunya dan temennya sesama preman cilik viking si dogsbreath.
keadaan jadi kacow ketika si jail toothles memancing perkelahian yang menyebabkan para naga2 peliharaan anak2 ini seperti fireworm, seaslug, killer, brightclaw, alligatiger saling berkelahi sehingga anak2 ini harus dihukum. tetapi keadaan jadi genting karena ditemukannya dua ekor naga raksasa segede gaban dari jenis lautus gigantismus maksimus. ada adegan yang bikin gw guling2 yaitu ketika gober dan 400 orang viking dengan sotoynya berusaha mengusir naga2 raksasa tsb (gagal total tentu saja) dan pada akhirnya anak2 ini bersatu untuk "mengadu domba" kedua naga raksasa tersebut dengan "rencana busuk yang cerdas." hahahaha. berhasilkah rencana busuk yang cerdas" mereka? baca aja deh. oiya, ilustrasi dibuku ini juga bikin hahahihi. denger2 sih dreamworks lagi menggarap proyek animasi buat buku ini, dah kelar blom ya? musti nonton nih filmnya.
bottom line, this book cracked me up! and I hope the movie too
udhah ah, mo byur byur dimukmuk, glek glek shi byur byur
kutatukka gaga dim prutprut, tittak bolle bolle!
kutukka presshiprut-wek-wek, muah muah yakkih
aiyaiiiiih laggiihhh
erie
pakar bahasa naga (bukan cacing)
August 15, 2016
BEHOLD MY FIENDISH YELL OF APPROVAL™!
June 24, 2018
Edit: 2nd reading *** The book is good, but the audio book just opened the characters up for me. It made the book more dynamic and the characters seem more fun. I was more enthusiastic this time. I will be seeking out more books read by Tennant, whom seems to come up with an endless amount of voices and energy to back them.
************
I now have the audio book to go with this one. So far I’m thinking this will change my rating. It adds a lot to it.
************
I now have the audio book to go with this one. So far I’m thinking this will change my rating. It adds a lot to it.
June 11, 2019
David Tennant reads the audiobook. Need I say more? But I will. I really enjoy how this book is about using your intelligence and compassion to bridge gaps between groups. Toothless is a delight to read about. Hiccup just might be a little too good, but not unrealistically so. Tennant brings the characters to life. I don’t think I’ll ever physically read these books, the audiobook is just too wonderful!
May 10, 2024
BookTube channel with my awesome brother, Ed - The Brothers Gwynne
My personal BookTube channel - William Gwynne
Dived into this as there is something VERY exciting happening on the channel, The Brothers Gwynne, linked to How to Train Your Dragon...... Also, I love the films, so I was very intrigued to discover what is within the source material, despite having heard the books are very different to the adaptation.
How to Train Your Dragon has many of the same characters as the films. It has dragons. It has a specific dragon named Toothless. And there is a monstrous threat.
That is where the similarities to the films end.
But that is not a bad thing. This is written for a younger demographic, but I still got a lot out of it. A charming and engaging story with twists and turns that was very nice to read. Also, a very quick story that is throughly enjoyable but not too time consuming, not including the next ten instalments...
Of course, this book is not aimed at readers of my age. But, if you want to choose a book for a younger audience, this is one to choose. Also, if you love the films, this feels very nostalgic, despite its vast differences.
4/5 STARS
My personal BookTube channel - William Gwynne
Dived into this as there is something VERY exciting happening on the channel, The Brothers Gwynne, linked to How to Train Your Dragon...... Also, I love the films, so I was very intrigued to discover what is within the source material, despite having heard the books are very different to the adaptation.
How to Train Your Dragon has many of the same characters as the films. It has dragons. It has a specific dragon named Toothless. And there is a monstrous threat.
That is where the similarities to the films end.
But that is not a bad thing. This is written for a younger demographic, but I still got a lot out of it. A charming and engaging story with twists and turns that was very nice to read. Also, a very quick story that is throughly enjoyable but not too time consuming, not including the next ten instalments...
Of course, this book is not aimed at readers of my age. But, if you want to choose a book for a younger audience, this is one to choose. Also, if you love the films, this feels very nostalgic, despite its vast differences.
4/5 STARS
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April 25, 2019
[First read: 3rd June, 2011. Three stars.
Second read: 8th April, 2017. One star.]
Apparently I read this in 2011 and gave it three stars. I do remember that I had read it, but had no recollection of it at all. Six years is a long time...
I will first of all say disregard the film altogether with this book. It is nothing like it, they may as well have just paid Cowell for the title and character names, which they seemingly did. However, the film did not hinder my enjoyment-or lack thereof-of this book as I consider them to be two completely different mediums that there's no comparison between words and pictures.
How to Train Your Dragon follows Hiccup Horrendous the Third, heir to the leadership of an island of 'orrible Vikings and his venture in to becoming a proper Viking, by getting a dragon pet and
rescuing his fellow inhabitants of the isle of Berk from a very large dragon indeed. I'm glad Cressida had the decency to note at the beginning of the book that this has no relation to real-life history because it really doesn't. It was a little difficult to assimilate this at first, as every little thing we think we know about Vikings but is wrong is right here in this book. Horns on helmets and that kind of thing.
I think a young child would find the disgusting bits disgusting and the funny bits funny and, whilst I'm well aware I am not the intended market, I don't think it's the snappiest thing ever written. It features nothing particularly astounding or even mediocre, it just flows along in it's own little world. Which is fine, maybe, for kids. Kids who don't really read that much and probably liked the film.
For me, and probably for kids who do actually like reading and have already devoured half the kid's section of the local library, I'd say it was probably not something they should be tackling. I don't recall any of the things I enjoyed on my first read-through all those years ago, so can't even think of any positives. It is fun and I suppose it is lovely to have a protagonist and hero who is a bit "nerdy" and "normal" and who stands up to bullies as much as he can, but there's a distinctive propulsion of fate to help him along which never exists in the real world.
Second read: 8th April, 2017. One star.]
Apparently I read this in 2011 and gave it three stars. I do remember that I had read it, but had no recollection of it at all. Six years is a long time...
I will first of all say disregard the film altogether with this book. It is nothing like it, they may as well have just paid Cowell for the title and character names, which they seemingly did. However, the film did not hinder my enjoyment-or lack thereof-of this book as I consider them to be two completely different mediums that there's no comparison between words and pictures.
How to Train Your Dragon follows Hiccup Horrendous the Third, heir to the leadership of an island of 'orrible Vikings and his venture in to becoming a proper Viking, by getting a dragon pet and
rescuing his fellow inhabitants of the isle of Berk from a very large dragon indeed. I'm glad Cressida had the decency to note at the beginning of the book that this has no relation to real-life history because it really doesn't. It was a little difficult to assimilate this at first, as every little thing we think we know about Vikings but is wrong is right here in this book. Horns on helmets and that kind of thing.
I think a young child would find the disgusting bits disgusting and the funny bits funny and, whilst I'm well aware I am not the intended market, I don't think it's the snappiest thing ever written. It features nothing particularly astounding or even mediocre, it just flows along in it's own little world. Which is fine, maybe, for kids. Kids who don't really read that much and probably liked the film.
For me, and probably for kids who do actually like reading and have already devoured half the kid's section of the local library, I'd say it was probably not something they should be tackling. I don't recall any of the things I enjoyed on my first read-through all those years ago, so can't even think of any positives. It is fun and I suppose it is lovely to have a protagonist and hero who is a bit "nerdy" and "normal" and who stands up to bullies as much as he can, but there's a distinctive propulsion of fate to help him along which never exists in the real world.
June 18, 2019
3 stars
I listened to this book because it was on a list of best children's audiobooks, and it was narrated by David Tennant so I had to listen. I enjoyed this book as much as I did because of the audio, but since it's a children's book about dragons that borders on the silly humor, it just isn't my taste. I can totally see myself recommending this book to kids in the future.
I listened to this book because it was on a list of best children's audiobooks, and it was narrated by David Tennant so I had to listen. I enjoyed this book as much as I did because of the audio, but since it's a children's book about dragons that borders on the silly humor, it just isn't my taste. I can totally see myself recommending this book to kids in the future.
February 28, 2016
The Good:
Such a fun children's book. Great setting, great ideas about dragons, and it's often funny and quite rugged.
The Bad:
Your kids might hate how different it is to the animated movies. Plus it is a children's book, so adults aren't likely to find it very deep.
'Friends' character the protagonist is most like:
Just like Ross, Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III is a smart but reluctant protagonist, and his pet uses him without pity.
Such a fun children's book. Great setting, great ideas about dragons, and it's often funny and quite rugged.
The Bad:
Your kids might hate how different it is to the animated movies. Plus it is a children's book, so adults aren't likely to find it very deep.
'Friends' character the protagonist is most like:
Just like Ross, Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III is a smart but reluctant protagonist, and his pet uses him without pity.
February 12, 2019
Had to dock two stars for crudity / grossness, which is a pity, because this book tickled my funny bone and appealed to my appreciation for the absurd.
February 9, 2018
At the moment, I'm reading an intense historical fiction novel set in Italy during WWII. After awhile I need a break from such a serious subject. I came across this lovely audiobook narrated by David Tennant, and knew that was just the thing I needed to listen to! I'm glad I did! Before now, I had only seen the animated movie of this story. I had never read the book. I love the movie.....but the book is so much better!
Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III is the son of a chief. While that's pretty cool in itself, he still has to prove that he can catch and train his own dragon to become a real member of the Hairy Hooligans Tribe. He's a bit worried about it. The other boys have given him some great nicknames like "Useless''....so anyone can understand why he is a bit afraid of failing and being exiled. He and all the other Boys go on their adventure to capture their dragons.....and he does manage to get one. But, it's the smallest dragon anyone has ever seen.....and it won't listen to him. Somehow he has to train Toothless before the ceremony.....will he manage?
OMG! This story is soooooo cute! And, listening to David Tennant do all the voices is such a hoot!! This unabridged audiobook version is just a bit over 3.5 hours long. David Tennant reads at a nice even speed, and acts out the action very well. I have hearing loss, but I was easily able to hear and understand everything.
I had a great time listening and rooting for Hiccup & Toothless! :) There were some scenes that actually had me laughing out loud. :) Great book! I'm going to rewatch the movie now......both are very enjoyable.
Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III is the son of a chief. While that's pretty cool in itself, he still has to prove that he can catch and train his own dragon to become a real member of the Hairy Hooligans Tribe. He's a bit worried about it. The other boys have given him some great nicknames like "Useless''....so anyone can understand why he is a bit afraid of failing and being exiled. He and all the other Boys go on their adventure to capture their dragons.....and he does manage to get one. But, it's the smallest dragon anyone has ever seen.....and it won't listen to him. Somehow he has to train Toothless before the ceremony.....will he manage?
OMG! This story is soooooo cute! And, listening to David Tennant do all the voices is such a hoot!! This unabridged audiobook version is just a bit over 3.5 hours long. David Tennant reads at a nice even speed, and acts out the action very well. I have hearing loss, but I was easily able to hear and understand everything.
I had a great time listening and rooting for Hiccup & Toothless! :) There were some scenes that actually had me laughing out loud. :) Great book! I'm going to rewatch the movie now......both are very enjoyable.
March 16, 2017
Read this one with my sons - the eldest loved it (and immediately went to find the second in the series at the local library).
The humour in this book is outstanding, love the creation of the world of Berk, and the way the author brings to life this hostile, alarming terrain. The characters are hilarious, their names alone had my boys laughing - and the illustrations perfectly complement the plot.
Definitely a great read for kids aged from 7 upwards.
The humour in this book is outstanding, love the creation of the world of Berk, and the way the author brings to life this hostile, alarming terrain. The characters are hilarious, their names alone had my boys laughing - and the illustrations perfectly complement the plot.
Definitely a great read for kids aged from 7 upwards.
May 12, 2015
"How to train your dragon" je jedna sasvim OK knjižica koja će na momente nasmejati svoje čitaoce. Verovatno sam prestar za nju i verovatno je animirana verzija ostavila na mene mnogo veći utisak, tako da ne mogu da dam više od tri zvezdice.
December 27, 2015
My, my.
I knew the movie and LOVED it for Toothless and his cat-like quirky appearance as well as all the great prejudices and jokes. By coincidence I then discovered the audiobook was read by none other than "Ten" aka David Tennant and HAD to try listening to it. "Try" because I usually fall asleep. ;p
I fell asleep here too (last night) so I had to backtrack and find the spot where I had stopped actively listening ... this, amongst other things, is why I don't like audiobooks too much.
The story is that of a Viking boy named Hiccup and how he became master of a dragon named Toothless. The story is VERY funny and David Tennant is a master at making different sounds and voices and breathing life into this audiobook. He made the story being even more hilarious. I might even go so far as to say that he did a better job than Stephen Fry with the Harry Potter books! But maybe it was just his Scottish accent and they are both equally brilliant.
Anyway, he's done such a great job that I will listen to the 2nd book soon (no matter how many times I have to backtrack).
Now I know there are a lot here who, like me, know the movie but not the book. To all of you I can say that the story is almost completely different. Toothless is an entirely different breed of dragon, which makes him being Hiccup's dragon so funny. The way the Vikings of Berk live with dragons is completely different to the first movie as well which results in a completely different adventure. Much like with Neil Gaiman's Stardust, I have to say that both, book and movie, are very good BUT *drumroll* the movie is slightly better.
I don't know exactly what it is, maybe that the movie had an important message (that thing about ), but there is a certain charm to the movie that the book lacked - despite David Tennant (which is also why I deducted one star).
Other than that I'd like to point out how old these books are! Cressida Cowell published this first book back in 1988 - a time, I believe, when dragons were not all that popular (especially not compared to nowadays). The humour as well as how the story is constructed, the names, the worldbuilding ... it seems as if the story had been written only a couple of years ago and I'm sure they were pretty unique in the 80s ... innovative and fantastic!
I knew the movie and LOVED it for Toothless and his cat-like quirky appearance as well as all the great prejudices and jokes. By coincidence I then discovered the audiobook was read by none other than "Ten" aka David Tennant and HAD to try listening to it. "Try" because I usually fall asleep. ;p
I fell asleep here too (last night) so I had to backtrack and find the spot where I had stopped actively listening ... this, amongst other things, is why I don't like audiobooks too much.
The story is that of a Viking boy named Hiccup and how he became master of a dragon named Toothless. The story is VERY funny and David Tennant is a master at making different sounds and voices and breathing life into this audiobook. He made the story being even more hilarious. I might even go so far as to say that he did a better job than Stephen Fry with the Harry Potter books! But maybe it was just his Scottish accent and they are both equally brilliant.
Anyway, he's done such a great job that I will listen to the 2nd book soon (no matter how many times I have to backtrack).
Now I know there are a lot here who, like me, know the movie but not the book. To all of you I can say that the story is almost completely different. Toothless is an entirely different breed of dragon, which makes him being Hiccup's dragon so funny. The way the Vikings of Berk live with dragons is completely different to the first movie as well which results in a completely different adventure. Much like with Neil Gaiman's Stardust, I have to say that both, book and movie, are very good BUT *drumroll* the movie is slightly better.
I don't know exactly what it is, maybe that the movie had an important message (that thing about ), but there is a certain charm to the movie that the book lacked - despite David Tennant (which is also why I deducted one star).
Other than that I'd like to point out how old these books are! Cressida Cowell published this first book back in 1988 - a time, I believe, when dragons were not all that popular (especially not compared to nowadays). The humour as well as how the story is constructed, the names, the worldbuilding ... it seems as if the story had been written only a couple of years ago and I'm sure they were pretty unique in the 80s ... innovative and fantastic!
November 30, 2016
মুভিটা বেশি ভাল। এটাও সুন্দর কিন্তু সিনেমার কাহিনী বেশি ভাল লেগেছে। সেখানে ড্রাগনরা কথা বলতে পারেনা, বইয়ের টুথলেসের এত ট্যান্ট্রাম! বাবারে বাবা! মাঝখানে মনে হচ্ছিল, ভিক্ষা চাইনা, কুত্তা সামলা! দরকার নাই আমার ড্রাগনের! কিন্তু ছোটদের জন্য দারুণ একটা বই নিঃসন্দেহে। মূল বইয়ে সম্ভবত ছবি আছে, আমি ইপাব পড়েছি- সেটায় ছিল না। এই কষ্ট কই রাখি!
July 7, 2017
Listened to the audiobook with my grandson. I thought it was really cute and he enjoyed it. It was a great opportunity to explain how movies can be very different from the books.
January 21, 2020
So fun, so hilarious. David Tennant narrated the audiobook and was fantastic!
August 10, 2022
Some cool dragony things, a lot of thoughtless Englishy things, and generally not anywhere as good as the movie adaptation.
October 2, 2017
cuuuuuuuute ^ ^
well, it was a cute and refreshing book after all, i wasn't quite sure it would be suitable for my age, but it went right through my heart.
well, it was a cute and refreshing book after all, i wasn't quite sure it would be suitable for my age, but it went right through my heart.
June 8, 2018
3,3/5
Very funny and cute 😌 A delight
Very funny and cute 😌 A delight
August 9, 2023
خیلی با انیمیشن معروفی که از روش ساختن متفاوت بود ولی این موضوع چیزی از بامزگیش کم نکرد.
December 10, 2017
Full (mini) review now posted!
I’ve loved the movie inspired by this book for years. Longer, in fact, than I knew that the book even existed. However, I had heard that the book was far different than the movie. So when I saw the audiobook was narrated by David Tennant, my favorite Doctor from Doctor Who and the fabulous new voice of Scrooge McDuck, I took the plunge.
This was a fun story, made even more entertaining through the incredibly Scottish narration of Tennant. I love the idea of Viking villages using dragons the size of dogs to fish for them. It’s a cute concept. As is the idea of boys having to train their own dragons, and having very little guidance to help them do so. I enjoyed Hiccup as a protagonist just as much in the book as I did in the movie. However, I did not enjoy Toothless as much, unfortunately. While he was funny, and I liked the addition of dragon dialogue, he wasn’t nearly as epic as his silver-screen counterpart.
Cressida Cowell’s little novel was funny and entertaining and even sweet at times. I can see where this would be a wonderful book to read to kids before bed, or to listen to as a family on a road trip. I highly suggest the audiobook, as David Tennant is an absolutely fabulous narrator. And once you read it with your kids, definitely watch the movie, as I still consider it just a bit superior.
I’ve loved the movie inspired by this book for years. Longer, in fact, than I knew that the book even existed. However, I had heard that the book was far different than the movie. So when I saw the audiobook was narrated by David Tennant, my favorite Doctor from Doctor Who and the fabulous new voice of Scrooge McDuck, I took the plunge.
This was a fun story, made even more entertaining through the incredibly Scottish narration of Tennant. I love the idea of Viking villages using dragons the size of dogs to fish for them. It’s a cute concept. As is the idea of boys having to train their own dragons, and having very little guidance to help them do so. I enjoyed Hiccup as a protagonist just as much in the book as I did in the movie. However, I did not enjoy Toothless as much, unfortunately. While he was funny, and I liked the addition of dragon dialogue, he wasn’t nearly as epic as his silver-screen counterpart.
Cressida Cowell’s little novel was funny and entertaining and even sweet at times. I can see where this would be a wonderful book to read to kids before bed, or to listen to as a family on a road trip. I highly suggest the audiobook, as David Tennant is an absolutely fabulous narrator. And once you read it with your kids, definitely watch the movie, as I still consider it just a bit superior.
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