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I, Houdini: The Autobiography of a Self-Educated Hamster
Available now in a Yearling edition by the author of Indian in the Cupboard. This is a fascinating autobiography of a hamster who fancies himself a great escapologist in his quest to explore the great outdoors. One family's household has been in a state of disarray because of one small furry problem. Meet Houdini, an extraordinarily brilliant escapologist. No, not that Hou
...more
Paperback
,
158 pages
Published
February 1st 2010
by HarperCollins Children's Books
(first published January 1st 1978)
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Community Reviews
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1,049)
I had this book as a child and was rather fond of it, so when I came across it in the library lately I had to have another read.
It's still...yes, almost as good as it was 30 years ago. Okay, now I look at the intemperate behaviour of the Father and consider it iffy, but, well, it's also largely necessary for the plot.
The eponymous Houdini is a hamster who makes it his life's work to escape from everything he's confined in. The book starts with him coming home, presumably just old enough to leave ...more
It's still...yes, almost as good as it was 30 years ago. Okay, now I look at the intemperate behaviour of the Father and consider it iffy, but, well, it's also largely necessary for the plot.
The eponymous Houdini is a hamster who makes it his life's work to escape from everything he's confined in. The book starts with him coming home, presumably just old enough to leave ...more
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Reason for Reading: I enjoy the author and have always wanted to read this title. But specifically I was intrigued with the publisher's new list under the title of "First Modern Classics" aimed at younger readers. Originating from the publisher's UK house the titles on this list, which started last year (2009) are a unique selection for North American readers.
I, Houdini is a long time classic of the author's, though this is my first time reading it. This book includes new illustrations, which re ...more
I, Houdini is a long time classic of the author's, though this is my first time reading it. This book includes new illustrations, which re ...more
I've read this book too many times to count. Found it in a used bookstore downtown and after reading it, I never understor od why anyone would give it away to a used bookstore. Since then I've never come across it again in any store but I'm so glad to have found a copy of it in that used book store. It is one of the best books I've ever read, and although short, good things come in small packages. I loved how much it reminded me of one of my hamsters, who also seemed to be an amazing escape arti
...more
I bought this with 85p of my very own pocket money when I was at primary school and I've had it ever since. Over the years I've read it myself (obviously), to children I have taught and to my own litle Uncruliars. Now we've decided to send it out into the wide world.
It's an enjoyable children's story. As it says on the cover the 'autobiography of a self-educated hamster'. Houdini gets into some pretty scrapes as he enjoys his escapology. There are laughs and scares along the way to a satisfying ...more
It's an enjoyable children's story. As it says on the cover the 'autobiography of a self-educated hamster'. Houdini gets into some pretty scrapes as he enjoys his escapology. There are laughs and scares along the way to a satisfying ...more
Growing up I loved
The Indian In The Cupboard
series by Banks. This was a book written, I'm supposing, after she concluded that series - I'm not totally sure. It's about a escapist hamster told from the hamster's perspective. It's an interesting notion and a fair-to-do children's book. I never thought it held its weight against the superior series of
The Indian...
though and felt it came off rather lackluster, and truthfully, I always thought that hamster was a bit of an ungrateful jerk. However
...more
My eight year old daughter was assigned this for class in third grade. The other night, I skimmed through some of it to make sure she had done her assignment. What I read was appalling considering that this book was in the grades 1-3 classroom library. In chapter 10, Houdini (the hamster) tells Oggi (a female hamster) that he's going to mate with her whether she likes it or not (after she has said no.) Then at the beginning of chapter 11, it goes on to talk about how they both enjoyed it, but fo
...more
Listened to the author read this on a road trip long ago. Maybe I'm exaggerating the rating, but dang, I remember all of us, kids and adults, being enthralled.
I read this one years ago, but unfortunately didn't remember much of it, so I decided to read it again. And honestly, what could be more fun than reading the adventures of an escape-artist hamster in first person perspective?
Having always been fascinated by magic, and also having a pet hamster at the time, this book immediately grabbed my interest. It's also from the author of The Indian in the Cupboard, so it's full of miniature-sized adventure both inside and outside as Houdini manages to esca ...more
Having always been fascinated by magic, and also having a pet hamster at the time, this book immediately grabbed my interest. It's also from the author of The Indian in the Cupboard, so it's full of miniature-sized adventure both inside and outside as Houdini manages to esca ...more
I love this book. It appealed to me for the simple reason that not only was it about a hamster but it was written from the perspective of a hamster.
And not just any old hamster, either. Houdini is clever and he knows it – how many other self-educated hamsters with autobiographies do you know? Exactly.
The tales of his escapades are hilarious and the immense sense of adventure you get from seeing the world from his eye-view is incredible. Have you ever thought about what the inside of a piano must ...more
And not just any old hamster, either. Houdini is clever and he knows it – how many other self-educated hamsters with autobiographies do you know? Exactly.
The tales of his escapades are hilarious and the immense sense of adventure you get from seeing the world from his eye-view is incredible. Have you ever thought about what the inside of a piano must ...more
Sep 11, 2015
Nancy
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
childhood
,
middle-grade
Just as much fun as I remember. Houdini has adventures in every direction and is (endearingly) completely full of himself!
As a kid, the daughter of a musician, I was completely horrified when Houdini chewed the felt off the hammers in the piano. The rest of the damage he does - chewing up floorboards, carpet, and flooding the kitchen - went right by me. As an adult I still wince over the desecration of the piano, but true horror is reserved for the rest. Flooded kitchen, yikes! I'm afraid I have ...more
As a kid, the daughter of a musician, I was completely horrified when Houdini chewed the felt off the hammers in the piano. The rest of the damage he does - chewing up floorboards, carpet, and flooding the kitchen - went right by me. As an adult I still wince over the desecration of the piano, but true horror is reserved for the rest. Flooded kitchen, yikes! I'm afraid I have ...more
I read this back when I was a kid and it probably set the stage for me sending my brother across the highway to pick out a hamster. Repeatedly.
And yes, one was named Houdini in honour of this book.
I was curious to see how well this held up and so I read it to the Widget a few years ago. He preferred Humphrey, his first foray into talking hamsters, but enjoyed it all the same.
Adult me found Houdini way more smug than kid me did, but it still holds up very, very well.
And yes, one was named Houdini in honour of this book.
I was curious to see how well this held up and so I read it to the Widget a few years ago. He preferred Humphrey, his first foray into talking hamsters, but enjoyed it all the same.
Adult me found Houdini way more smug than kid me did, but it still holds up very, very well.
Really a strange little book. Not at all what I thought it would be. It's a pretty straightforward look at the duality of a domesticated vs. wild hamster, from a rather precocious hamster's POV. What could be a delightful children's tale of a hamster's life is marred by some unsavory adult themes. I guess I was hoping for a little more magic.
Oct 10, 2013
Books Kids Like
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
banks-lynne-reid
This intrepid hamster's owners change his name from Goldy to Houdini when it becomes obvious that he has a talent for escaping. Houdini learns to understand human speech. He also becomes obsessed with freedom. His little escapades result in chewed carpet, splintered wooden molding, and punctured water pipes. Houdini chews the felt from the piano hammers to make a nice bed. When the family goes on vacation, Ben, the boy-next-door, takes care of him. Houdini has his first taste of the outside worl
...more
Jul 08, 2015
Erikka
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
before-lists
,
fantasy-paranormal
This book made me want a hamster. So I got a hamster. She bit me on the way home from the pet store and, from that day on until her kidneys exploded and she died (good riddance), she was mom's hamster. And I never had a pet again other than fish until I got married.
This was a well-written story but I don't think many kids I know would choose to read it.
Kids' book. Clever story of a hamster escapologist. Writing is still a little off, but it's a decent rea
This is the first book I ever remember reading when I was a child, and read it numerous times! I'm not sure if I should re-read it as an adult as it may ruin my fond memories of it? :P
I remember liking this as a kid. But I'm reading it now as an adult to my kids, and it's dragging on and on. Plus I had to paraphrase and skip over all the hamster lust parts when Houdini meets a girl hamster and is in her cage for a bit because my kids are 7 and 5. I think my son (5) sort of likes it. My daughter (7) just read I, Freddy (a newer hamster diary book) and can't wait for us to be done with this one so I'll read I, Freddy aloud to her brother claiming I, Houdini is long and boring.
I read this book dog-eared and shredded when I was little, and I found a copy at a used book store recently. I think as a kid, I loved the premise of looking at the world from the perspective of a tiny animal. As an adult, I was SO ANNOYED by the pompous hamster voice! It reads like the most condescending lecture ever. Which, I think, is just the character of Houdini, but I guess as a grown up it's annoying instead of interesting. Oh well. It's a good book for kids who like animal based stories.
I houdini is a fantasy book about a hamster with skills like Houdini's.It's about the hamsters life; is really funny.This book is an amazing one.
Children's fiction it may be, this gem of a book explores the social constructs of gender through the lens of one hamster, Houdini, who also happens to be quite the escape artist. I think it satisfies a range of ages, from those looking for the typical house pet story full of thrills to freshman sociology students looking to score extra credit for evaluating the text for gender and sex role constructs.
Truthfully I didn't - scratch that! COULDN'T finish this book. It dragged on and on! And its only a 100 or so paged book. I only made it to page 86. I kept having to force myself to pick it up and tell myself I only had a bit more to go but I just couldn't anymore. Houdini was annoyingly cocky and snobby. And the mating part was very weird.
I found this to be an odd mixture of realism and anthropomorphic pet story. It was a bit too weird to me to have a hamster narrating in a very human style his life as a hamster: complete with all the animal instincts (procreation included, ew) in such an offhand way.
Apr 24, 2014
Alenna
rated it
1 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
books-read-with-the-kids
,
quit
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Dec 14, 2008
Elaine
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
whatever-everyone-else-is-reading
It was a long, long time ago, and yes, it's one of those cute anthropomorphized-animal books, but it's (in hindsight) missing a lot of writing. What happens between the scenes is quite lacking. Still, good for little kids.
After reading her other books, The Fairy Rebel, and The Farthest Away Mountain, I decided to read this one. It was a delightful book and it must had made an impression on me because when I got a hamster, I named her Houdini.
May 14, 2010
Bryan457
added it
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
those who like hamsters or tales of escape
Houdini is a little more true to life than say Ralph in The Mouse & the Motorcycle. He spends his time trying to escape and does not enjoy being a pet. He wants to be free. He is also not as likable, being very self focused.
A very silly children's book but I have a weird thing for chubby hamsters. The only hamster-narrated book out there that I know of. Great stuff for kids to read for imagination growing =]
Houdini's adventures and perspective are interesting though somehow I didn't find his voice to be that of a convincing hamster (as if I know how hamsters speak).
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Lynne Reid Banks is a British author of books for children and adults. She has written forty books, including the best-selling children's novel
The Indian in the Cupboard
, which has sold over 10 million copies and been made into a film.
Banks was born in London, the only child of James and Muriel Reid Banks. She was evacuated to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada during World War II but returned after ...more
More about Lynne Reid Banks...
Banks was born in London, the only child of James and Muriel Reid Banks. She was evacuated to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada during World War II but returned after ...more
