This page is guest edited by Ellie, since Tom is away.
We’ve been discussing the possibility of using a magic carpet to find Tom and Ruffy, and at our latest Book Club meeting, I suggested we should read all we can about them, to find out how they work.
Lopsy chose an episode from Calvin and Hobbes, by Bill Watterson. It makes it all look very simple.
Gibbs showed us his copy of The Little Lame Prince, by Dinah Maria Mulock Craik.
When he started to read it to us, we discovered that the little prince has a flying cloak, rather than a flying carpet. But it works in the same way as a carpet. Gibbs told us about the author, who was “a woman as modest, sweet, and wholesome as the story itself”. Points didn’t agree that the story was wholesome, with its acceptance of a despotic monarchy, and strong views were expressed, so we moved on quickly to the next book.
Jenny recommends The Phoenix and the Carpet, by Edith Nesbit. In this story the children are able to send the carpet to fetch people or things for them, which is what gave us the idea of asking any magic carpet that we may find, to go on its own to fetch Tom and Ruffy. However, whereas the Little Prince’s cloak turns up at the edges when it flies, presumably as a safety precaution, the phoenix’s carpet stays quite flat. This made us think that sending the carpet unaccompanied to fetch Ruffy and Tom might be risky. Perhaps someone should go to meet them, to remind them to sit very still, and keep away from the edge. The book reminds us to treat our carpets with respect, which I’m sure we would do anyway.
Strawberry says she used to like the story about Mickey Mouse and his magic carpet. But she admits that she can’t think of any good advice that she gleaned from it.
Bimbo suggests “My Friend Mr Leakey” by J.B.S. Haldane. He was extremely knowledgeable, so must have known whether carpets really can fly. In this book, you control the carpet by flapping your ears. That’s all very well for Bimbo, who has large ears, but not easy for most of us. The book has some useful warnings, such as that going up through the ceiling feels nasty, but doesn’t do you any lasting injury.
Walrus likes science fiction. He showed us some old copies of a science fiction magazine called The Magic Carpet. Contact him if you would like to borrow them. I don’t recommend them. Their depiction of women is unhelpful.
I’m very fond of the Winnie the Witch books by Valerie Thomas, one of which is about a flying carpet. It’s a thriller, in which the carpet kidnaps Winnie’s cat and takes it off to a scary fun-fair. A useful reminder that carpets may not always be cooperative.
Any other information about flying carpets will be gratefully received.