I LOVED this book, it was so clever. I'd definitely recommend it!

It was clever, it was interesting, it made for a GREAT book club discussion, it is thought-provoking and definitely to be recommended. In my opinion, it seems to be akin to James Thurber's kids/YA book, The Wonderful O.

This is NOT a spoiler, simply a short paragraph of how the story begins. Ella Minnow Pea is the story of a fictional island country whose most revered citizen was the man who came up with the sentence, "The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy brown dog." which is of course, the most well-known sentence to use each letter of the alphabet. This man has a big statue erected to him in the capital city in this country. His well-known sentence is printed around the statue's base. One day, a letter falls off. The town elders get together and think maybe their hero is speaking to them from the grave and they outlaw the use of that one letter... and the story takes off from there.

Run out and get it... it is a story you will remember and ponder well after you close the back cover.

PAM

We also used this book for book discussion and everyone loved it. The play on words and the use of English is wonderfully creative. Our group spent over an hour discussing useless and useful letters and what we could really do without!

You all are the BEST! Thank you!
I look forward to reading it.
Yvonne

And, based on this and some of the blurbs, I've ordered a copy on Amazon too...

Me too. I ordered a used copy the other day and it already arrived. As soon as I finish my current book, I'll turn my attention to Ella Minnow Pea.

now that i've read this thread and looked up a few other reviews, i will be ordering this book!

Let me tell you my experience with ella. I read this thread for the first time last week. Immediately, I fell in love with the whole idea of the way words were used in this book and the mind of the author and thought, My daughter will love this! I live in MA., she lives in Vt. I called her at work and read her an excerpt I found at amazon and told her she has to look this up. Thought that would be the end of it. This past Saturday evening she called me from the dark, cold parking lot of Boarders Bookstore in Keene N.H. hysterical and teeth chattering, to read me passages as she waited for friends to finish their shopping. We were rolling on the phones, so to speak. What a wonderful read! It comes to me next she promised. Thank you for this book, for making me aware! My daughter and I had a great phone call, great laugh and talked about other books we've read together when she was younger and I thought she had forgotton. All because of Ella...and you. Now, can you help us remember the title of another book? It was by Roald Dahl. It was a book of what I call 'fractured' fairytales. I would read them and use different voices and crack my kids and myself up. Now, they are in their 20's and still remember that the Prince in Cinderella got fed up with one of the stupid stepsisters and cried 'Off with her nut! Off with her nut!' We loved it and want to read it again.
Thank you, thank you,
Kim

The writer of Ella also has written IBID which comes with great reviews as well......and apparently in the same vein.

I just ordered Ella and am eagerly awaiting it's arrival!

Don't you just love RP! It is my primary source for literary information.

My copy has finally arrived from Amazon. I did try the local bookshops - once I'd heard about it, I wanted it NOW! - but there were no copies to be found.

Kim

Just noticed your question. I think you're referring to Roald Dahl's Revolting Rhymes which were poetry versions of the standard fairy tales. I particularly liked Red Riding Hood, myself.

Just started Emma Minnow Pea. Thoroughly enjoying it so far. I'm really quite angry and upset on behalf of our heroes....

...Ella, Ella, I meant Ella!

Ella Minnow Pea was part of today's library haul and started it, so far love it.

gbg

Reading this thread last night, I remembered having seen this book in the clearance rack at the nearest Half Price Books last week. I stopped there this afternoon, between errands, and it was still there for $1.00. Got it right away.

A dollar is a bargain for that book! (Actually, it's a rare book that a dollar isn't a bargain for, but...)

Finished Ella Minnow Pea last night. Oh, I did enjoy that. Very clever, without being too clever-clever, if you know what I mean. Loved it.

RP's one and all - thanks again!

I'm waiting for mine to arrive from Amazon - 45p!

I'm picking up mine from the library tomorrow. After all this discussion on it, how could I resist such a book? I am just about to start a new book as well, so it will be top of the pile. I can't wait.

With so many people reading this, it would be nice to start a separate discussion thread where we could properly discuss it, spoilers and all. As I'm running a separate discussion on The Gathering, starting tomorrow, I don't really want to volunteer. But I'd join in with one....!

Anyone?

I just finished "Ella Minnow Pea" last night and found it to be very original and well done. I enjoyed it so thanks to all who recommended it. I would never have found it without my friends at RP!!

I picked this up at the library for my DD, but I may re-read it myself before she gets to it.

I'm sorry to be so out-of-step with everyone, but I did not particularly like Ella Minnow Pea. It was indeed quite clever; but clever does not necessarily make for good reading. Overall, I found it silly and a bit tedious, but thankfully short.

I checked this book and while I don't think I'll read it, I remembered that the letters Z and W are forbidden in Turkey as un-Turkish. These letters are used in the forbidden Kurdish language, for instance in the word newroz, the celebration of the spring equinox.

I just ordered an art book for DD for Christmas, and ordered ella minnow pea as a gift for myself and to make the items total more than $25.00 to get free shipping!!