Peter Pan (100th Anniversary Edition) by J. M. Barrie
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Book Reviews of Peter Pan (100th Anniversary Edition)
Book Review: Pure fantasy the way it should be told
Summary: 5 Stars
Excuse me for sounding crazy and mushy, but this is truly a children's classic of the most fantastic and best sort. Is it any wonder that this incredible story has the fanatic following that it does? I have read this book several times over the course of my life and am still blown away by its sheer power.
Barry writes the story like he is speaking in a conversation with all the whimsy, character, and vocabulary of any educated British gentleman who happens to be privy to the adventures of Pan and his band. Which sadly makes this a little difficult for a read-aloud to first graders (is it just me, or is our society getting dumber and dumber?) Sigh, maybe if they were a grade up. Anyway, it is the very style of writing that instantally grabs you and pulls you to Neverland.
While the story does have a smattering of deep adult philosophies, it is primary in a "What you see is what you get" state that simply tells the story of some children, mad at their father, who fly away to Neverland to have adventures with Lost Boys, Indians, and pirates. And that's that and that is why we love it so: the simple magic of childhood. In fact, the aforementioned smattering of deep adult philosophies pretty much revolve around the longing for the magic of childhood.
Barry also provides wondrous characters--it is interesting to see just how many people are irritated with Peter Pan's cockiness (just as was Captain Hook!). Contrary to popular opinion, they are hardly one-dimensional. Even Hook, while never sympathetic, is shown as a human who is "not wholey evil".
The intertwining mini-plots are also rivaling adult stories in their imagination and intricacy. This is nothing but a fantastic story intended to delight children and maybe provide adults a little reminiscence.
Book Review: Wonderful Read-Aloud
Summary: 5 Stars
I just finished reading this book to my kindergartner and 3rd grader. They both loved it, especially my 3rd grade son. They were confused at first by the differences between the Disney version and this one, and by the illustrations that are so different from Disney. But what a great way for them to learn that the characters don't need to look like Disney OR the book, it's all about their own imaginations!
I admit that the beginning was slow and at times the narrative rambled, but I hope my children will grow to recognize the differences between stories written 100 years ago and modern stories...and learn to celebrate the differences in pace and vocabulary. (Some of this could be easily paraphrased if you want to read ahead a little before bedtime and prepare ahead of time!)
As for Tink's repeated use of the phrase, "you silly @ss", my kids thought it was funny...it's not like they haven't heard the word before, and they aren't going to walk around saying it now just because they heard it in a book. Again, this is something you can easily change on the fly while reading out loud. The only thing I did skip entirely was the one sentence about the faeries having an orgy! It was unnecessary in the context of the book and I certainly didn't need my kids asking me what that word meant...
My kids marveled at how different the book was from the movie (i.e., how evil and self-centered Peter was) and they loved the ending which was not presented in the movie. The adventures were great and kept them wanting more. Many nights we stayed up past bedtime to read "just one more" page.
This book should be part of every child's collection, we adored it!
Book Review: Why it took a hundred year anniversary to bring the real book back is a mystery.
Summary: 5 Stars
Even more bastardized than Oliver Twist, J.M. Barre's original work of mind-boggling creativity and brilliance seemed to be lost under the Disney cloud until the 100 year anniversary came up, and even then I'm not sure so many people read it--but they should.
The writing is not as complex as Alice in Wonderland--again, the non-Disney version--but the world and characters created here are astounding, vivid, and will no doubt invade your dreams night and day alike.
Perhaps we can blame our v-chip American society for forgetting this great work of children's literature, perhaps our lack of imagination, or the youth of our culture which doesn't reach back to common beliefs in magical worlds that cannot be explained in so many words--nor should. Our fragile sensibilities shunning stories which do not spare us the occassional nastiness of long history or the mythology it was based on, or the stories it fed such as this one.
Our children will not turn into axe murderers for reading Peter Pan, Harry Potter, Alice in Wonderland, Lord of the Rings, or for reading period. Kids who read books which may be too sophisticated for them at the time can only benefit from having the seeds of thought planted in them for later harvesting.
Read the book. Don't see the movie first. And please spare you children the bubble-gum version popularized for so many years in stead of this great classic which is entirely digestible by young minds.
Book Review: How can you pass this up?
Summary: 5 Stars
There is no way I can pass this book up everytime I'm in the bookstore. And I own two different copies of this fantastic tale. Yet, I still pick the book up and flip through the first few pages, smiling ear to ear at the wonderment that makes up Peter Pan. Peter is a boy that refuses to grow up. He lives in Neverland with his fairy, Tinkerbell, and the Lost Boys. He visits the nursery of Wendy, Michael, and John Darling to hear Wendy's marvelous stories, and one night loses that pesky shadow. When he comes back to get it and tries to stick it back on, Wendy discovers this new boy in their nursery and soon learns about his amazing lifestyle. Entranced by thoughts of pirates, mermaids, and fairies, Wendy, Michael, and John embark on an amazing adventure into a world so unlike ours.
It's bittersweet, it's insightful, it's magical, it's everything and more a child or an adult could ask for in a story. You won't want to leave Neverland, and some days, you may find yourself staring out the window, looking for that hint of light that is Tinkerbell or the boy effortlessly flying between trees and buildings.
Without a doubt the greatest children's story of all time, one that we've all heard, whether it was through a movie or a stage production. Experience the real magic though, and read Barrie's brilliant novel about the boy who won't grow up.
Book Review: enchanting, haunting
Summary: 5 Stars
yes, I used the word haunting to describe this book, thats because, well, it is. The book has many metaphores for death, youth, and evil. Death is metaphored in many places, such as Mrs. Darlings fear for her children, and also in the crocodile, with his ticking down until the day we all die.
But, more important, Peter Pan is an enchanting journey you'll love to take time and time agian, Finding Neverland was my favorite movie of 2004 for good reasson. Mr. Barrie was a genious who understood the fears, emotionals, and dreams of children, and summed them all up in his masterfully written text.
The book, more or less, follows that of the Disney version. one of my favorite aspects is that you don't see all their adventures on Neverland. Mr. Barrie might discuss how Peter fooled Captian hook in Canibal Cove, ect. but he goes along with the story, until you get to the big showdown with captian hook.
All in all, the books last sentance will stay with you forever, a reminder of youth and innocence, the ending is fairly bittersweet, and kind of makes you sad and happy at the same time. One of the finest stories ever penned, and no danm Jacko is going to ruin its rep. for me.