Changes

|title=The Elephant Keepers' Children

|sort=Elephant Keepers' Children

|borrow=Yes

|isbn=9781846555848

|pages=400

|publisher=Harvill Secker

|date=September 2012

|summary=Eccentric, madcap, zany, magical and above all great fun, with a surprisingly profound depth to it. And it contains a character called Leonora Ticklepalate - that alone makes this book from the author of ''Miss Smilla's Feeling For Snow'' well worth reading. Not for those seeking a gritty realistic novel.

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Danish writer Peter Høeg is best known for his third novel [[Miss Smilla's Feeling For Snow by Peter Hoeg|Miss Smilla's Feeling For Snow]], partly because it was made into one of the more beautiful movie adaptations of modern fiction. While his latest book, ''The Elephant Keepers' Children'' is unlikely to change that association, it is a magical, story told through the eyes of the charmingly precocious fourteen year old Peter, full of farcical events, zany chases and brilliantly named characters. If you are looking for a gritty, realistic novel, this won't fit the bill, but for all its madcap events, Høeg continues his arch view of events and has surprising depth in the form of philosophical consideration of religions and faith.

For more zany fun, albeit without the deeper elements, [[If You're Reading This, I'm Already Dead by Andrew Nicoll]] is terrific while an altogether less madcap but equally magical and charming book, [[The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey]] should definitely be on your reading list if you have enjoyed this book. Of course, you should also check out [[Miss Smilla's Feeling For Snow by Peter Hoeg|Miss Smilla's Feeling For Snow]] but don't expect this to be completely in the same style - it's much more moody and lyrical than ''The Elephant Keepers' Children''.

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