The 13 Clocks - James Thurber, Marc Simont, Neil Gaiman

I'm not sure why I put this one off so long.  Well, I'll admit the little blurb on the back annoyed me a tad:

 

How can anyone describe this book? It isn't a parable, a fairy story or a poem, but rather a mixture of all three. It is beautiful and it is comic. It is philosophical and it is cheery. What we suppose we are trying fumblingly to say is, in a word, that it is Thurber.

 

There are only a few reasons why everybody has always wanted to read this kind of story, but they are basic:

 

Everybody has always wanted to love a Princess.

Everybody has always wanted to be a Prince.

Everybody has always wanted the wicked Duke to be punished.

Everybody has always wanted to live happily ever after.

 

Annoying right?  Maybe it's just me.  Funny part is, it's really quite an apt little blurb. 

 

I'd add that it's delightful to read aloud - funny, creepy, bizarre, witty, lyrical and just plain fun! 

 

I wish the princess had a bit more to do, but I suppose the Golux makes up for that.

 

Also, love love love the illustrations by Marc Siomont. 

 

I'd recommend this for fans of Seuss, 'The Phantom Toll Booth' and the fairy tales of George MacDonald.