The Mennyms

I am currently re-reading my all-time favorite book series, The Mennyms, by Sylvia Waugh, and i have simply been DYING to analyze each of the characters for you (very generous of me, i know!).

The Mennyms are a large family of life-size, living, breathing rag dolls.

If thats not awesome, you tell me what is!

They come to life after the death of their maker, Kate Penshaw, and take over her house and live there for over 40 years. Each of the characters is differant, vibrant, lovable, hate-worthy, and epic, and i have taken it upon myself to dig deep into each of their personalities and roles in the series, as i absolutely adore them and have been dying to do this ever since i read book 1 around five years ago.

I'll go oldest to youngest...be warned, i do play favorites and some characters will be giving far more attention than others.

Granpa Magnus Mennym: He's very annoying, yet amusing. He lays in his bed 99.99% of the time, and as he is supposedly very wise, he takes it upon himself to admonish and council his family on all matters. His main role is the protector of the family; he is constantly aware of what everyone does (thanks to his wife) and keeps the family from being discovered by the outside world.

Granny Tulip: She's bossy and very business-like. She disaproves of much her family does, and is detirmined to keep everything running smoothly. She is mediater between her husband and the rest of the family.

Joshua: Joshua is Magnus and Tulip's son. I love Joshua very very dearly. He is quiet, patient, refuses to argue, and loves peace and quiet. He is frustrating at times when he acts somewhat childish, but he is so simple a man, one could never remain angry with him. Usually very weak, at the lowest times, he rises up and is strong for, if not himself, the ones he loves.

Vinetta: Vinetta is Joshua's wife. She is loving, kind, generous, and faithful. She is far more independant and complex than Joshua, but they make a good match. So Kate Penshaw made them.

Miss Hortensia Quigly: Not a member of the Mennym family, but a friend of Vinetta's. She bothers me sometimes, because she's always either unbearably flustered or annoyingly cool and self-assured. She's moody, but she is a good nanny for the baby and she is very much herself. All of them are.

Soobie: Here we shall have to talk for a while. Soobie is my very favorite character. He is complex yet simple, and differant from all the other Mennyms, because he is entirely blue. He is 16, or 18, depending on the book. He refuses to pretend anything, and takes everything as it is. At times his family, and even himself, believe that he is a freak. But he is the one character who is able to understand his family members when things are ugly. He is the one who goes out to save his sister, comforts his mother, and discovers his unfinished twin sister in the attic. I love him. I would love to meet him, but it is highly unlikely i ever would (even if he were real). He wouldn't let me meet him. I often wonder if Soobie ever loved someone outside his family, because i feel he would be so easy to love.

Pilbeam: Soobie's twin sister. Pilbeam is totally honest, even when her honesty offends people. Like her brother, she hates to pretend, but its easier for her. She is lovely and loving, and i imagine she had a very lovely singing voice.

Appleby: Applyby is irritating, dishonest, rude, obstinent, and bratty, and yet her family always loves her. Even when she terrifies them with lies and tales and insists on having her own way, they still can't imagine being without her. I still find her terribly abraisive, but she's doomed to be perpetually 15, so i can sympathize with her.

Poopie: Yes, there is a character named Poopie. He is 10, and i have very little to say about him. He is almost exactly like my own 10 year old brother.

Whimpey: Whimpey is Poopie's twin. Also i have little to say about her. She is endearing and sweet and much like my younger sisters. So there.

Googles: The baby. She hasn't much personality, but she is often referred to as 'the worlds best baby'. She rarely cries, and as she is only 9 months old, she never advances much. The family would be empty without her, though.

Nuff said. READ. THIS. SERIES.

Thank you.