Book Review: Tiger Skin Rug
Originally written 9/12/23
What's it about?
Lal and his brother Dilip are not as excited for the move to Scotland from India as their parents are. They certainly are not as excited about the old creepy house his father found for them to live in.
Lal just wants to go back to India and live in his old neighborhood, in his old house and be with his best friend again! But then his brother discovers something magical about the tiger skin rug in the lounge...it comes to life!
At first Lal is unsure about this crazy development, and then he's a little jealous that his brother seems to be able to do things that he can't. But then it becomes clear that the tiger has secrets of his own and the only way to make things right is to get help from Lal, Dilip and their new friend Jenny. Hopefully they can avoid the man with the snake suite, too many questions from adults and....flying?
Favorites:
Favorite Character: I liked most of the characters but I think, if I have to pick a favorite it would be...Jenny maybe? I liked that she was bubbly and happy. She supported Lal and Dilip and was happy to help them. Sure, she could be a little bossy, but can't we all? (haha) I also liked her grandmother and kind of wish we saw more of her.
Menon was also a character that stole my heart. He was patient and sweet and he treated the kids with respect.
Least Favorite Character: The man with the snake suit. First of all, he has a black suit with a silver snake on it. I can appreciate the color scheme but I can't get behind the design. I'm not a fan of snakes. On top of that, he's kind of creepy.
Favorite Part: I like the times when the kids were with Jenny's grandmother. She's really such a side character but I she has this eccentric, fun woman who might have some magic in her, too. I feel like she'd believe the kids if they told her about their adventure and might even have some of her own magical adventure for them to embark on some day, too. Plus, I love her stories.
Least Favorite Part: I honestly can't think of one.
Other thoughts:
This book gave me a strangely nostalgic feeling. I know, it sounds crazy because it's copywrited 2020, but it it almost feels like like a family movie from the 80's or 90's. It just had that feel to it, the magical friend who just happens to have all the answers to the biggest problems (like their parents finding that the kids are gone and travel), nobody questions anything like why and how a rug comes to life, how it speaks to Dilp, why only Dilip and the like. The bad guys are scarier in anticipation then in reality and don't really threaten the kids. Then, somehow, there's this happy ending, the parent have no idea that it ever happened and the kids now have this magical secret. Oh and let's not forget that the tiger just knows things.
Ok, it sounds kind of cheesy when I put it like that, and it kind of is, but I couldn't help it. I enjoyed it and I anticipated going back to Lal and Dilip to see what more the Tiger could do and how everything would come together. It just felt....comfortable. Like home. Like my childhood.
With that being said, I felt like there were some holes in the plot (which, again, almost feel like that family movie). I felt like technology was kind of ignored here. We live in a world of cell phones and computers and all but they rarely used them. Then there's Jenny who the brothers just trust without a second thought. That might be because they were young but I still found it odd they never question if they can trust her with such a big secret. And why does no one question why three kids that are 12 and younger running around cities by themselves with no adults?
But, all in all, I just found this book fun to read, even with plot holes and cheese.
Ratings:
I give this book a
5
out of
10 locked boxes
But that's just what I think. What do you think? Did you love it? Do you want a magical tiger skin rug now? Let us know what you thought in the comments.
