Gorgeous little book, 31 Jul 2007
I love this little book, have read it more than once, lent it more than once and given it as a present more than once. It is a really lovely story, amazing descriptions of the Outback, and beautiful depictions of children's thoughts and feelings. Lots to relate to as a fan of Australia and as someone who has been young! Go and get it and pass it on!

Perfect, just perfect, 26 May 2005
I have read this book several times and bought it for countless people as a present - I just love it. Heart-breakingly sad, genuinely moving, but not in a cringey way at all. The belief that fairy tales come true and that your imaginary friends are real is something we can all identify with. And the twist at the end is staggering.

Admittedly the second story in this book ('Parachutes') is disappointing, but don't let that put you off. 'Pobby And Dingham' may be short, but it's perfectly formed.

lovely and amazing, 12 Mar 2004
heartbreakingly beautiful and moving, this book is one of my very favorites. filmic descriptions of down under coupled with truly original characterizations serve the reader well and it all leads to a truly satisfying ending, without a hint of triteness. hope this book gets attention back here in america! rice deserves it.

Magical, 07 Jan 2004
Don't let the length of this book put you off. It is short, very short, more of an extended short story, but it is beautifully written, ideal for reading over a cup of tea one afternoon. The writing style is simplistic, which echoes wonderfully the thoughts of the child. It reads like a fairytale for adults, but there is nothing schmaltzy about this book. It is poignant, sad, heart-warming, thought-provoking.

A little gem, 30 Aug 2002
I read this in one sitting and enjoyed it much more than I thought I would. Ben Rice is a young writer who shows supreme confidence in his ability - most inexperienced writers Write "cleverly," pack their prose with unnecessary description and generally try to impress the reader with their skill as a writer. Rice does none of this. This is a simple tale, simply told, through a child's voice and he doesn't beat the reader over the head with subtext and metaphor. This is not to say that Pobby and Dingan is one-dimensional - far from it - it's just that Rice lets the story speak for itself. Ashmol, the young boy through whose eyes the story is told is superbly realised and his observations about the small mining town and its inhabitants are near perfect. With a very few changes to language this could have been marketed as a children's book - although suitable for adults also - and, given its short length I found myself wondering why it wasn't. I fully expect to see a movie based on this lovely novel in the not too distant future - hopefully it will be Australian/British low-budget and avoid Hollywood sentimentality. If you are looking for something that's simultaneously easy to read, thought-provoking and very moving I thoroughly recommend this.

Gorgeous little book, 31 Jul 2007
I love this little book, have read it more than once, lent it more than once and given it as a present more than once. It is a really lovely story, amazing descriptions of the Outback, and beautiful depictions of children's thoughts and feelings. Lots to relate to as a fan of Australia and as someone who has been young! Go and get it and pass it on!

Perfect, just perfect, 26 May 2005
I have read this book several times and bought it for countless people as a present - I just love it. Heart-breakingly sad, genuinely moving, but not in a cringey way at all. The belief that fairy tales come true and that your imaginary friends are real is something we can all identify with. And the twist at the end is staggering.

Admittedly the second story in this book ('Parachutes') is disappointing, but don't let that put you off. 'Pobby And Dingham' may be short, but it's perfectly formed.

lovely and amazing, 12 Mar 2004
heartbreakingly beautiful and moving, this book is one of my very favorites. filmic descriptions of down under coupled with truly original characterizations serve the reader well and it all leads to a truly satisfying ending, without a hint of triteness. hope this book gets attention back here in america! rice deserves it.

Magical, 07 Jan 2004
Don't let the length of this book put you off. It is short, very short, more of an extended short story, but it is beautifully written, ideal for reading over a cup of tea one afternoon. The writing style is simplistic, which echoes wonderfully the thoughts of the child. It reads like a fairytale for adults, but there is nothing schmaltzy about this book. It is poignant, sad, heart-warming, thought-provoking.

A little gem, 30 Aug 2002
I read this in one sitting and enjoyed it much more than I thought I would. Ben Rice is a young writer who shows supreme confidence in his ability - most inexperienced writers Write "cleverly," pack their prose with unnecessary description and generally try to impress the reader with their skill as a writer. Rice does none of this. This is a simple tale, simply told, through a child's voice and he doesn't beat the reader over the head with subtext and metaphor. This is not to say that Pobby and Dingan is one-dimensional - far from it - it's just that Rice lets the story speak for itself. Ashmol, the young boy through whose eyes the story is told is superbly realised and his observations about the small mining town and its inhabitants are near perfect. With a very few changes to language this could have been marketed as a children's book - although suitable for adults also - and, given its short length I found myself wondering why it wasn't. I fully expect to see a movie based on this lovely novel in the not too distant future - hopefully it will be Australian/British low-budget and avoid Hollywood sentimentality. If you are looking for something that's simultaneously easy to read, thought-provoking and very moving I thoroughly recommend this.

Gorgeous little book, 31 Jul 2007
I love this little book, have read it more than once, lent it more than once and given it as a present more than once. It is a really lovely story, amazing descriptions of the Outback, and beautiful depictions of children's thoughts and feelings. Lots to relate to as a fan of Australia and as someone who has been young! Go and get it and pass it on!

Perfect, just perfect, 26 May 2005
I have read this book several times and bought it for countless people as a present - I just love it. Heart-breakingly sad, genuinely moving, but not in a cringey way at all. The belief that fairy tales come true and that your imaginary friends are real is something we can all identify with. And the twist at the end is staggering.

Admittedly the second story in this book ('Parachutes') is disappointing, but don't let that put you off. 'Pobby And Dingham' may be short, but it's perfectly formed.

lovely and amazing, 12 Mar 2004
heartbreakingly beautiful and moving, this book is one of my very favorites. filmic descriptions of down under coupled with truly original characterizations serve the reader well and it all leads to a truly satisfying ending, without a hint of triteness. hope this book gets attention back here in america! rice deserves it.

Magical, 07 Jan 2004
Don't let the length of this book put you off. It is short, very short, more of an extended short story, but it is beautifully written, ideal for reading over a cup of tea one afternoon. The writing style is simplistic, which echoes wonderfully the thoughts of the child. It reads like a fairytale for adults, but there is nothing schmaltzy about this book. It is poignant, sad, heart-warming, thought-provoking.

A little gem, 30 Aug 2002
I read this in one sitting and enjoyed it much more than I thought I would. Ben Rice is a young writer who shows supreme confidence in his ability - most inexperienced writers Write "cleverly," pack their prose with unnecessary description and generally try to impress the reader with their skill as a writer. Rice does none of this. This is a simple tale, simply told, through a child's voice and he doesn't beat the reader over the head with subtext and metaphor. This is not to say that Pobby and Dingan is one-dimensional - far from it - it's just that Rice lets the story speak for itself. Ashmol, the young boy through whose eyes the story is told is superbly realised and his observations about the small mining town and its inhabitants are near perfect. With a very few changes to language this could have been marketed as a children's book - although suitable for adults also - and, given its short length I found myself wondering why it wasn't. I fully expect to see a movie based on this lovely novel in the not too distant future - hopefully it will be Australian/British low-budget and avoid Hollywood sentimentality. If you are looking for something that's simultaneously easy to read, thought-provoking and very moving I thoroughly recommend this.