Book Review: The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster (four stars)
“But we never choose which [words] to use, for as long as they mean what they mean to mean we don’t care if they make sense or nonsense.”
If Terry Pratchett had updated Pilgrim’s Progress. A morality tale for a post-modern world. Funny in a lame three-quarters-century old way. Lots of word jokers and puns.
“Infinity is a dreadfully poor place. They can never manage to make ends meet.”
Eighty years ago this was cutting edge. Readers would have marveled at the sophistication of Juster’s prose and Jules Feiffer’s illustrations. Better than many contemporary shots at the same target.
“I never knew words could be so confusing.” “Only when you use a lot to say a little.”
As a Matter of Fancy 