Final rating: 4.5 starsIf you didn't know by now, I'm a die-hard Studio Ghibli fan. It was a huge part of my childhood and thus far, has made all of my favourite movies. So last year when I heard that they were taking a hiatus, I was heartbroken. Fortunately, they made their (most probably) last film before the announcement. After looking into it, I found out that the film is based on this book. The English version of the film will be released in less than a month, and what better time to start the book than now?It's about a quiet girl named Anna who visits a small seaside village in England. I can't really say much else though as I'd be spoiling it, but if it sounds boring, it's probably because it is. I'm naturally very impatient, and it took a little over half of the book for things to get interesting. I griped and groaned, but that's me and I do that all the time anyway. The thing is, the story isn't at all climactic. I mean, you've got a quiet girl and a small village. What do you expect? The story is quite good, but if you like lots of action, it's probably best to stay away.It's weird, but I can hardly ever relate to any of the characters in most of the books I read. In this one, despite the fact (or maybe it's because of it) that it's a children's book, there were some really relatable characters. Anna's forever feeling of being on the 'outside', Priscilla's shyness, and Mr. Lindsays love for literature and chunky marmalade to name a few. One of my favourite quotes towards the end of the book: "She turned and began running back along the dyke, thinking how strange it was - about being 'inside' or 'outside'. It was nothing to do with there being other people, or whether you were 'an only', or one of a large family...she knew that now - it was something to do with how you were feeling inside yourself." I really enjoyed the postscript by the author's daughter. The story about the Japanese man was lovely. The book deeply influenced him as a teenager and he ended up visiting the village that the book is set in. His name isn't mentioned, but it isn't Miyazaki, because he was twenty-five when the book was published. I can only guess that it was the director.Overall a pretty decent book. I hate to leave.
While I have read this book after I watched the movie I will try to discuss the book itself on its own merits as much as I can.Anna is a very interesting character and very unique for a children's novel. His complex she has about not feeling loved and feeling on the outside of everyone else's interactions is relatable but I have not seen her type of psyche really portrayed in novels. Her gradual change from someone who blocks people out with her 'ordinary face' and avoids talking to anyone any longer than she possibly needs to, to a little girl with a lot of friends and who can express her love for her foster mother, is believable and to me did not feel rushed at all. Marnie and Anna's friendship is moving and sweet, with all the elements that I remember of my friendships when I was Anna's age; both the good and the bad. The book has a very haunting and ethereal tone which I quite enjoyed. However, particularly near the end of the book so much is being spelled out rather bluntly that it started to threaten the tone I had so much enjoyed up until that point. However, for the most part I let this pass, since this book is targeted at the younger crowd and if the bluntness is how you can assure that a child will understand the important lessons this books is teaching them, then I can put up with it. There was a couple of missed opportunities, I feel, with the book. Specifically with the the Peggs who pretty much all but disappear from the book at around chapter twelve. By showing more of Anna's interactions with the Peggs it could have reflected how Anna was changing through her friendship with Marnie. Also, Sandra was a shallow character who was inserted into the book for the express purpose of being hated by the and it was a little disappointing that the book relied on such a tired archetype of fat mean bully especially since the book as a whole is rather unique. Overall I believe this is a great book that deserves to be considered a classic.
Do You like book When Marnie Was There (2002)?
Quite by chance, I read about this book somewhere in connection with the Japanese film to be made from it. The book itself, a British children's novel, was published in 1967. It is a quiet, mysterious little book about a lonely little girl, living for the summer with an older couple, foster parents, at the British seaside. She is something of a misfit and is given a lot of freedom to roam the shore alone. She is fascinated with an old house, which appears to be uninhabited, near the water's edge. One evening, she meets a girl about her own age who lives in the house and they become fast friends. This is Anna's very first real friend and the summer becomes a magical time for Anna and Marnie, although there is always something a bit mysterious about Marnie. She appears at Anna's side unexpectedly and at odd moments; she doesn't disclose too much information about herself. The reader, along with Anna, is left to wonder about Marnie. The summer is a time of growth for Anna. She learns how to be a friend and how to accept the friendship of another. As suddenly as she appeared, Marnie is gone. Now, however, Anna is more open to other children and easily forms new bonds with a family of children who move into the old house. The ending reveals the surprising truth about Marnie, which I won't divulge. This was a quiet, enchanting book. I can imagine it may appeal to shy children who have also had trouble making friends; they may wish for their own Marnie.
—Caren
Title: When Marnie Was ThereAuthor: Joan G. RobinsonPublished: November 6 2014Publisher: HarperCollins Children's BooksGenre: Children's fiction, Classics, FantasyISBN: 9780007591350Pages: 288Ages: 12+Series? No.Buy: Book DepositorySynopsisAnna lives with foster parents, a misfit with no friends, always on the outside of things. Then she is sent to Norfolk to stay with old Mr and Mrs Pegg, where she runs wild on the sand dunes and around the water. There is a house, the Marsh House, which she feels she recognises - and she soon meets a strange little girl called Marnie, who becomes Anna's first ever friend. Then one day, Marnie vanishes. A new family, the Lindsays, move into the Marsh House. Having learnt so much from Marnie about friendship, Anna makes firm friends with the Lindsays - and learns some strange truths about Marnie, who was not all she seemed...Story ★★★Characters ★★★★Enjoyment ★★★★Overall ★★★★Recommend? Yes, especially for those planning on watching the Studio Ghibli movie adaptation.Reread? Definitely.Buy? Already own.
—Jessica
This took me by surprise, never shall I ever walk away from the children literature aisle in any book store. EVER. This has easily become my one of my Fav standalone , and fav book in general. They way the depict Anna , and her emotions and thoughts, really conveys a lot of lonely pre-teens or children in this world. How they are on the "outside" while everyone else is "inside" . It has a mysterious twist to it, which just draws you in further and further. The interactions in the novel is very believable, and the relationships in it. I did have a tear or two streak down my cheek.
—LegendofMat
