I've finally read The Wind in the Willows, the classic children's tale about friendship. I don't know what it was about it that never really appealed to me before, but I know that I had opportunities to read this when I was younger and just never took advantage of them. But this was one of my choices for my Children's Lit class, so I figured I had better get to it. The story follows Mole, and his adventures and friendships with Rat, Mr Toad and Mr Badger. There are plenty of adventures to be had along the river bank and in the Wild Wood, and plenty of tests of their friendship and loyalty - particularly when it comes to Toad. The thing is, and I should probably just get this out of the way so you can all react, is that I really didn't love this book all that much. I sort of liked it - it was all right, but I really didn't love it and will not call it a favorite. It was too slowly paced for me, and I just found it too easy to put down. I should also mention that I read the majority of this while also battling the flu - which is sure to have an impact. I've found that when I'm feverish, I can be ever more awkwardly literal than usual, so I had trouble letting my imagination run with the idea of Toads driving cars, or figuring out how these animals in their world co-exist with humans in their world. I started to think about the characters as if they were Muppets in The Muppet Movie and that kind of helped... but really, I struggled. Then I started trying to gauge the age group this sort of book would be geared toward; and it would have to be an older child given the length and the vocabulary but I wonder if a 3rd grader today would get into it? Is this something intended for an adult to read aloud to a child? I'm sure this is something we will discuss in class, and I'll be curious to see what comes of that sort of discussion.
So, what did I like about it? I liked how each chapter was constructed, almost as if they were individual stories linked together by the overall tale. This would benefit the younger reader in giving them easy places to break up their reading. I also liked how well crafted the characters were developed - with distinct characteristics that played off of each other well. Of course the over all message of true friendship is always nice to read, and the illustrations were pretty cute too. There is no question that this is a very well written book, and clearly a classic of children's literature, but just not my favorite. I wonder if I'd feel differently had I read this first as a child?
*****
The Wind in the Willows
by Kenneth Grahame
Scholastic, 1988. First Published 1908.
208 pages
Source: Library
*****
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10 comments:
I read this with my kids when they are in about fourth grade. I start my younger ones out with abridged versions so they become familiar with it. We even have a video version that they like to watch. But I admit, the vocab is trying at times. And it takes us awhile to read through it. Otherwise, the story is just plain silly and outlandish.
I've tried to read A Wind in the Willows several times. I have a beautifully illustrated edition which I received as a present when I was a child, and I feel awful that I haven't been able to finish. I think you've hit it--it's a difficult story to get into. Maybe next time I'll finish. :)
I don't think I ever read this story as a child, but I was familiar with it. So I was rather shocked when I read it as an adult. The behavior of Toad may seem funny to children, but it really made me cringe when I read it as an adult. I guess too much "adult" experience has introduced me to people like this - alcoholics, for instance - and I just couldn't find his behavior as light-hearted as I had before.
I thought it was a cute book...but I had my reservations about Toad!
I think a lot of it has to do with the slower time when it was written. We can no longer go back and appreciate it, especially children who need action and impact and noise and booms and bangs to survive today! It also might have to do with gender, I remember loving the story as a little boy (or at least the film) because it was about frogs and toads and rats and moles and dirty things, that are actually clean and civil. And even though I didn't care for the friendship or the society portion, it was cool that these gross things were normal and average and a part of society too :-D
This one is very slow. I looked at it as a collection of short stories rather than a novel and it worked a little better for me. I also grew up watching the animated version, so I already had a love for the characters.
Geoff - I think you make many good points here, and a lot of which I had not considered... Thank you!
Yesterday Diana Gabaldon posted a photo on FB with Mr. Toad....
I tried to read this book with my oldest who used to watch the TV when she was little - I don't believe we ever finished it.
I can't remember if I read this myself or if it was one my mom read to me. Either way, I know the book and story, and my memory is of being totally charmed. Then again, I've always had a thing for talking animal stories!
My dad read this book to me many times when I was young, and I can still hear his voice when I reread it. I always loved Ratty and his "messing about" with boats, and Mole's worrying disposition and lovely warm coat, and I remember being fascinated by Badger and really wanted a nice, snug house in the forest like his. Toad, I could do without, personally, and the weasels in Toad Hall used to scare me, but Wind in the Willows is part of my childhood and helped make me who I am.
I loved the animated version of this when I was a kid. But I think you may be right, that children grow up too quickly to ever really have the right age for this. As an adult reader, I'm mostly fascinated by that one chapter which has been omitted from a lot of editions because it was too pagan, as I recall.
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