Manny's Reviews > Pippi Calzelunghe
Pippi Calzelunghe
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by
![1713956](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1442491692p2/1713956.jpg)
Manny's review
bookshelves: children, spanish-and-italian, well-i-think-its-funny
Sep 04, 2018
bookshelves: children, spanish-and-italian, well-i-think-its-funny
Read 4 times. Last read August 21, 2018 to September 4, 2018.
[Original review, Sep 4 2018]
I'm trying to improve my miserable Italian, and when we were in Italy a couple of weeks ago I bought a bunch of children's books, intending to use my normal method of just reading them without a dictionary and picking things up. So far, it's working well. I loved Il Mago di Oz, and this one was also very enjoyable. I think I'd read about two-third of the episodes previously in Swedish or German, but some of them were new.
Reading in a language you're not familiar with forces you to slow down and think about what you're seeing. When I've read Pippi before, I've simply enjoyed the story, which is hilarious. But this time, crawling along in my Italian first gear, I started to wonder whether there was any underlying message beneath the non-stop stream of jokes. It seems to me that there is. Pippi cares deeply about children's rights. She is always on the child's side against the adults, and now she makes me think about how we don't, in fact, care very much about children's rights.
The fact that children have very few real rights is highlighted by the fact that it is, as far as I know, universally accepted that they should not have the right to vote. Of course, the adults have their arguments well prepared: children are too young to know how to use their votes intelligently, they'd just be manipulated by unscrupulous adult politicians, etc. These arguments would sit better if they hadn't also been used against the idea of enfranchising women. Switzerland was very late to the table here, and only gave women the vote in 1971. A few months ago, we saw an exhibition of posters from the two referendum campaigns. The No side kept making the point that those poor women just wouldn't know how to use the power they'd receive, and would be tugged in all directions by forces they didn't comprehend. Well, that may be true: but unfortunately, it applies equally well to male voters. In fact, giving women the vote seems to have worked out fine for Switzerland.
I wonder what would happen if the voting age were reduced to nine, the age that Tommy, Annika and Pippi are in the book. Maybe those kids would make crazy decisions, like voting to abolish homework and give themselves extra candy every day. Or maybe they'd do something even crazier, and vote for massive investment in renewable energy, better education, and higher taxes to pay for all of it. This strikes me as pretty sensible strategy for people who are expecting to spend the next sixty or seventy years living here: they'd be more inclined to think long-term. Why is it obvious that they would make worse decisions than voters at the other end of their lives, who tend to be equally hazy about the issues and won't have to deal with the consequences for very long? No one would dream of taking the vote away from pensioners; but somehow, it seems equally far-fetched to give the vote to children.
Of course, it won't happen: at the end of the day, the adult voters would never approve it, because it would mean giving up too much power. The only possible chance would be if a child emerged who had the charisma and strength to organise the kids, create the movement, and lead it to success. But there is no such child. Children aren't like that, and so the adults are safe.
Ah, if only the heroine of this book existed. Pippi for president!
___________________
[Update, Apr 24 2019]
Correction: Greta Thunberg for president!
Well, you gotta admit I was close.
I'm trying to improve my miserable Italian, and when we were in Italy a couple of weeks ago I bought a bunch of children's books, intending to use my normal method of just reading them without a dictionary and picking things up. So far, it's working well. I loved Il Mago di Oz, and this one was also very enjoyable. I think I'd read about two-third of the episodes previously in Swedish or German, but some of them were new.
Reading in a language you're not familiar with forces you to slow down and think about what you're seeing. When I've read Pippi before, I've simply enjoyed the story, which is hilarious. But this time, crawling along in my Italian first gear, I started to wonder whether there was any underlying message beneath the non-stop stream of jokes. It seems to me that there is. Pippi cares deeply about children's rights. She is always on the child's side against the adults, and now she makes me think about how we don't, in fact, care very much about children's rights.
The fact that children have very few real rights is highlighted by the fact that it is, as far as I know, universally accepted that they should not have the right to vote. Of course, the adults have their arguments well prepared: children are too young to know how to use their votes intelligently, they'd just be manipulated by unscrupulous adult politicians, etc. These arguments would sit better if they hadn't also been used against the idea of enfranchising women. Switzerland was very late to the table here, and only gave women the vote in 1971. A few months ago, we saw an exhibition of posters from the two referendum campaigns. The No side kept making the point that those poor women just wouldn't know how to use the power they'd receive, and would be tugged in all directions by forces they didn't comprehend. Well, that may be true: but unfortunately, it applies equally well to male voters. In fact, giving women the vote seems to have worked out fine for Switzerland.
I wonder what would happen if the voting age were reduced to nine, the age that Tommy, Annika and Pippi are in the book. Maybe those kids would make crazy decisions, like voting to abolish homework and give themselves extra candy every day. Or maybe they'd do something even crazier, and vote for massive investment in renewable energy, better education, and higher taxes to pay for all of it. This strikes me as pretty sensible strategy for people who are expecting to spend the next sixty or seventy years living here: they'd be more inclined to think long-term. Why is it obvious that they would make worse decisions than voters at the other end of their lives, who tend to be equally hazy about the issues and won't have to deal with the consequences for very long? No one would dream of taking the vote away from pensioners; but somehow, it seems equally far-fetched to give the vote to children.
Of course, it won't happen: at the end of the day, the adult voters would never approve it, because it would mean giving up too much power. The only possible chance would be if a child emerged who had the charisma and strength to organise the kids, create the movement, and lead it to success. But there is no such child. Children aren't like that, and so the adults are safe.
Ah, if only the heroine of this book existed. Pippi for president!
___________________
[Update, Apr 24 2019]
Correction: Greta Thunberg for president!
Well, you gotta admit I was close.
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Reading Progress
Finished Reading
Started Reading
(Unknown Binding Edition)
January 1, 1980
–
Finished Reading
(Unknown Binding Edition)
November 10, 2009
– Shelved
(Unknown Binding Edition)
November 10, 2009
– Shelved as:
children
(Unknown Binding Edition)
November 10, 2009
– Shelved as:
well-i-thi...
(Unknown Binding Edition)
November 10, 2009
– Shelved as:
swedish-no...
(Unknown Binding Edition)
September 12, 2015
–
Started Reading
(Hardcover Edition)
September 12, 2015
– Shelved
(Hardcover Edition)
September 16, 2015
– Shelved as:
children
(Hardcover Edition)
September 16, 2015
– Shelved as:
german-and-dutch
(Hardcover Edition)
September 16, 2015
– Shelved as:
well-i-think-its...
(Hardcover Edition)
September 16, 2015
– Shelved as:
swedish-norwegia...
(Hardcover Edition)
September 16, 2015
–
Finished Reading
(Hardcover Edition)
August 21, 2018
–
Started Reading
August 21, 2018
– Shelved
August 21, 2018
–
21.98%
"Swedish-Italian translation exercise:
multiplikationstabellen = la tavola pitagorica
pluttifikationstabellen = ?
<spoiler>la tavola piragotica</spoiler>"
page
60
multiplikationstabellen = la tavola pitagorica
pluttifikationstabellen = ?
<spoiler>la tavola piragotica</spoiler>"
August 22, 2018
–
23.81%
"Swedish-Italian translation exercise:
"Flyg, du fula fluga, flyg! Och den fula flugan flög" =
"Vola, brutta mosca, vola! E la brutta mosca volò""
page
65
"Flyg, du fula fluga, flyg! Och den fula flugan flög" =
"Vola, brutta mosca, vola! E la brutta mosca volò""
August 23, 2018
–
31.14%
""Ad ogni modo, tu non riusciresti a batterlo" disse Annika, "perché è proprio l'uomo più forte del mondo."
"Uomo, può anche darsi" ribatté Pippi, "ma io sono la bambina più forte del mondo, non dimenticarlo!""
page
85
"Uomo, può anche darsi" ribatté Pippi, "ma io sono la bambina più forte del mondo, non dimenticarlo!""
August 24, 2018
–
36.63%
"La veranda era deserta e il cavallo non si vedeva. Tommy bussò educatamente alla porta, e dall'intero una voce tenebrosa rispose:
page
100
"Chi arriva nella notte scura"No, Pippi, siamo noi!" strillò Annika. Allora Pippi aprì."
a bussare alla mia porte?
È un fantasma per farmi paura,
o un topino mezzo morte?"
August 30, 2018
–
54.95%
""You can't write 'We've had no tobacco for the last two days'!" says Annika, "People will think we smoke,"
"Look," says Pippi, "who's more likely to have had no tobacco for the last two days? Someone who smokes, or someone who doesn't smoke?"
"Someone who doesn't smoke," says Annika.
"Well then," says Pippi."
page
150
"Look," says Pippi, "who's more likely to have had no tobacco for the last two days? Someone who smokes, or someone who doesn't smoke?"
"Someone who doesn't smoke," says Annika.
"Well then," says Pippi."
August 31, 2018
–
67.77%
"Pippi says she's going to leave and become a princess of a South Sea island (six months a year) and an apprentice pirate (six months a year). Poor Annika almost has a nervous breakdown. Even though I've read it before and knew Pippi was going to change her mind at the last minute, I feel emotionally all wrung out. I think I'm going to have to lie down for the rest of the day."
page
185
September 2, 2018
–
80.59%
""You have to eat up your semolina pudding!" says Pippi severely. "Otherwise you won't grow up big and strong, and you won't have the energy to tell your own children to eat up the semolina pudding that they don't like. Where would we be if everyone carried on like that?""
page
220
September 3, 2018
–
87.91%
"Gli indigenti vi avevano eretto un cippo commemorativo in ommagio a quel fatto eccezionale. Sulla pietra stava inciso in lingua cip-cipoide:
page
240
ATTRAVERSO IL GRANDE, VASTO MARE ARRIVÒ IL NOSTRO GRASSO, BIANCO SOVRANO. QUESTO È IL LUOGO DOV'EGLI APPRODÒ, MENTRE L'ALBERI DEL PANE FIORIVA. CHE EGLI POSSA CONSERVARSI SEMPRE COSÌ GRASSO E COSÌ FORTE COM'ERA QUANDO ARRIVÒ."
September 4, 2018
–
97.07%
"Swedish-Italian translation exercise:
Snälla lilla krumelur
jag vill aldrig bliva stur ->
Piccole e belle Cunegunde
non voglio mai diventare grunde"
page
265
Snälla lilla krumelur
jag vill aldrig bliva stur ->
Piccole e belle Cunegunde
non voglio mai diventare grunde"
September 4, 2018
– Shelved as:
children
September 4, 2018
– Shelved as:
spanish-and-italian
September 4, 2018
– Shelved as:
well-i-think-its-funny
September 4, 2018
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-50 of 55 (55 new)
message 1:
by
Peter
(new)
Sep 04, 2018 04:42PM
![Peter](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1481428707p1/32760730.jpg)
reply
|
flag
![Manny](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1442491692p1/1713956.jpg)
Indeed. Or perhaps the Red Zora would even be a better choice."
Damn! I actually picked up that book in a Berlin bookshop, considered buying it, and put it down again. Should have stuck with my first impulse :(
![Manny](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1442491692p1/1713956.jpg)
![Manny](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1442491692p1/1713956.jpg)
Now there's a radical idea. I love it! The world would be a better place!
![Jim](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1614704501p1/6020795.jpg)
![Ms. Smartarse](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1670500664p1/13703358.jpg)
![Manny](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1442491692p1/1713956.jpg)
![Jim](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1614704501p1/6020795.jpg)
What Would Pippi Do?
I think I'm going to order a t-shirt that says that.....
![Aravindakshan Narasimhan](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1706154890p1/62878026.jpg)
![Ms. Smartarse](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1670500664p1/13703358.jpg)
It's precisely because I did this with German, that I know how much effort it requires of me. For about half a year, I all but hated reading in German... :\
![Manny](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1442491692p1/1713956.jpg)
I totally recommend the German translation... get some payback for all that pain...
![ephyjeva](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1664533673p1/70202633.jpg)
![Jim](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1614704501p1/6020795.jpg)
As soon as she's old enough to hold public office, I'm sending a donation!!
![Théo d'Or](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1595517509p1/98232817.jpg)
Btw, in my district I reached to collect 1016 signatures for Manny - president. Curiously, they are all women. The thing is - would you really wear a tie ?
![Maren](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1692616835p1/165163947.jpg)
Since I'm already over 9, I even have the right to vote!
![Manny](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1442491692p1/1713956.jpg)
My legal staff is currently determining whether I would need to transition to female, they promise to let me know soon. 8-year-old lawyers with AI backup are smart and efficient.
![Maren](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1692616835p1/165163947.jpg)
Your (digital) ears will hopefully always be open to our concerns 🙏
Your eight-year-olds in the legal department should use their breaks at school to work hard on your cause.
If you really have to switch to a woman, please promise us voters that you will still look just as good afterward!!
![Manny](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1442491692p1/1713956.jpg)
![Maren](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1692616835p1/165163947.jpg)
![Manny](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1442491692p1/1713956.jpg)
![Maren](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1692616835p1/165163947.jpg)
Prognosis?
That's really a very good word, because it can be seen as both a medical and political term (at least in German).
So, she already knew (subconsciously) that one day she would work for the future president, Baron Manny Raynor, and beautify him.
![Manny](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1442491692p1/1713956.jpg)
![Maren](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1692616835p1/165163947.jpg)
If you’re busy preparing the next revolution in physics, I don’t want to distract you with my silly questions.
But I am very curious about what you’re planning.
Who knows, maybe the Nobel Prize will come sooner than expected?!
![Manny](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1442491692p1/1713956.jpg)
Anyway, Madison says they're silly, politics is more interesting.
![Théo d'Or](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1595517509p1/98232817.jpg)
![Théo d'Or](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1595517509p1/98232817.jpg)
![Maren](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1692616835p1/165163947.jpg)
I must admit that Madison and the kids understand more about Loop Quantum Gravity than I do, since I was unfortunately raised by humans.
Théo's thoughts are important (as always).
A suitable tie can decide the election.
So can hairstyle (Trump!!).
By the way, another question:
How well do you play Chess 960?
It could be used for the campaign.
![Manny](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1442491692p1/1713956.jpg)
![Maren](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1692616835p1/165163947.jpg)
This will impress the voters.
They can also be influenced by photos in a hero's pose.
Think about it....
![Théo d'Or](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1595517509p1/98232817.jpg)
![Maren](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1692616835p1/165163947.jpg)
Since Manny certainly doesn't want to recreate this situation just to get a similar photo, your Superman suit wouldn't be a bad idea.
It will depend on what these clever AI kids advise him....
![Théo d'Or](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1595517509p1/98232817.jpg)
![Maren](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1692616835p1/165163947.jpg)
That's the price of heroism in times of strict traffic regulations :-(
By the way, Théo, was it your cat up in the tree again?
![Manny](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1442491692p1/1713956.jpg)
The various AIs involved are doing their best to smooth things over, but a number of six-year-olds have already said that other six-year-olds aren't their best friends anymore.
![Théo d'Or](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1595517509p1/98232817.jpg)
![Maren](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1692616835p1/165163947.jpg)
Perhaps the clever kids might even discover a new theory for the unification of physics and politics ;)
Manny, luckily your superpowers in loop quantum gravity theory are still sufficient to maintain world peace; someone has to continue ensuring that the world is safe from evil forces and boring physics lessons!