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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Mole, Rat, Badger, and Toad and their seasonal adventures along the riverside. I first read this in high school, when I still found phantasmagorical fantasy very appealing. That glow has dimmed, but this book is still one of a handful of classics (those by Carroll, Tolkien, Adams, and maybe Milne being others) that appeal to both youth and adult. Its innocence might make it closest to Milne, although Grahame doesn’t shy from humanoid creations like motorcars, courts, jails, and battles with sidearms. (Thankfully, no animal gets shot.) Grahame perfectly captures that carefree, intoxicating pastoralism so unique to the English, and the “interlude” chapter “The Piper at the Gates of Dawn” is both strange and psychedelic…literally, as it was chosen by leader Syd Barrett as the title of the very first Pink Floyd album.
My edition has illustrations by Ernest H. Shepard, which were approved by Grahame and are regarded as the best illustrations of almost a dozen book editions. His Mr. Toad renderings are hilarious. I tried getting my daughter to read this thing years ago, but unfortunately she was satiated with her multiple re-readings of “Harry Potter.” Fortunately, I now have a second chance with my three granddaughters. I’ll just change name and date of the Xmas note I wrote on the title page.
My edition has illustrations by Ernest H. Shepard, which were approved by Grahame and are regarded as the best illustrations of almost a dozen book editions. His Mr. Toad renderings are hilarious. I tried getting my daughter to read this thing years ago, but unfortunately she was satiated with her multiple re-readings of “Harry Potter.” Fortunately, I now have a second chance with my three granddaughters. I’ll just change name and date of the Xmas note I wrote on the title page.
funny
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
medium-paced
lighthearted
fast-paced
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Wind in the Willows is one of those books that just feels like a warm, cozy hug.
It’s more than just a kids’ book. The writing is beautiful, full of poetic descriptions of nature that make you want to slow down and appreciate the world a little more.
The best parts? Definitely Rat and Mole’s friendship. Their peaceful riverbank life is so calming, and their little adventures together are sweet.
It’s not fast-paced—this is more of a book to savor, maybe with a cup of tea on a quiet afternoon.
It’s more than just a kids’ book. The writing is beautiful, full of poetic descriptions of nature that make you want to slow down and appreciate the world a little more.
The best parts? Definitely Rat and Mole’s friendship. Their peaceful riverbank life is so calming, and their little adventures together are sweet.
It’s not fast-paced—this is more of a book to savor, maybe with a cup of tea on a quiet afternoon.
adventurous
funny
reflective
medium-paced
It’s just lovely language. The opening descriptions of the river work as poetry by themselves. You could set this as a masterclass in using metaphor and simile. There is a lot more to it thematically than I remembered from childhood. As a kid I enjoyed the fun characters, but there’s actually a lot of commentary on class and naivety. I’ll read it again for the prosemetric in its proper season of some late Spring.