You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
emotional
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Maybe I just hate this book because I didn't read it until I became a parent? The writing isn't bad; I just don't want my son to get any bad ideas when he's old enough to read it!
When I was a young teenager I read Peter Pan and was quite enchanted by the writing of it. I loved the playful second person perspective, and really still do. Unfortunate to admit that my brain didn’t store how very racist the book gets, so I’m taking off a couple stars from my initial rating.
A funny thing happened this time, where I spent the entire read imagining how I might read it to a child of mine, what parts I might omit, which might need explaining. It’s strange to be reading something about childhood and the fear of growing up while so clearly recognizing yourself to have done so. Not too bad of a thing, though, though like Wendy I found myself smiling a little wetly towards the end.
I still love the little hints towards Peter Pan being such a brutal little child. As much as it’s about the glory of childhood, it’s also about the heartlessness and cruelty of children, and the way that Peter Pan embodies that to the extent of becoming a pretty horrifying little creature is great. An amazing character, and a great story for children.
A funny thing happened this time, where I spent the entire read imagining how I might read it to a child of mine, what parts I might omit, which might need explaining. It’s strange to be reading something about childhood and the fear of growing up while so clearly recognizing yourself to have done so. Not too bad of a thing, though, though like Wendy I found myself smiling a little wetly towards the end.
I still love the little hints towards Peter Pan being such a brutal little child. As much as it’s about the glory of childhood, it’s also about the heartlessness and cruelty of children, and the way that Peter Pan embodies that to the extent of becoming a pretty horrifying little creature is great. An amazing character, and a great story for children.
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Maybe it was to be expected, but this was very different from Disney's Peter Pan.
It was so brutal, I really didn't expect this much violence and it took away some of the magic for me. There wasn't that much plot, the story jumps from one thing to another in a whimsical manner. But it just didn't work for me, I wasn't at all invested. I also didn't really care for the characters. The writing was fine, and I liked the beginning and ending. But I felt indifferent to most of the book.
2/5.
It was so brutal, I really didn't expect this much violence and it took away some of the magic for me. There wasn't that much plot, the story jumps from one thing to another in a whimsical manner. But it just didn't work for me, I wasn't at all invested. I also didn't really care for the characters. The writing was fine, and I liked the beginning and ending. But I felt indifferent to most of the book.
2/5.
I don’t know how to feel right now. I think I feel sad. Yes, that’s it.
Before I get to why it makes me sad in a bittesweet way, I want to say that this book is significantly darker that Disney’s movie. I mean, Peter kills the Lost Boys when they get to old, and the narrorator decided to kill a pirate just to demonstrate Hook’s method.
But death is just mentioned so carelessly. It will comment that someone died, and then move on.
Example:
‘The boys on the island vary, of course, in numbers, according as they get killed and so on; and when they seem to be growing up, which is against the rules, Peter thins them out; but at this time there were six of them, counting the twins as two.’
But it is the end that is more or less sad.
In the end, Wendy, John, and Michael return to the Darlings for a heartfelt reunion. Mr. and Mrs. Darling also adopt all six of the Lost Boys; rhis is also fine. What wasn’t fine was that Peter looked in through a barred window onto something tht he would never have, and when Mrs. Darling invited him in, he refused. He refused to grow up.
He left to live with Tink, who soon died and was forgotten by Peter, as was Hook, and oftentimes he also forgot to return for Wendy in the Spring, when she was allowed to go away with him. So Peter has forgotten this entire adventure.
Soon, the Lost Boys regret their decision to live in the real world, and tried to fly away, but they were tied to their bedposts. Their belief soon vanished and they were gone.
The author referred to the adult versions of the Lost Boys and John and Michael as completely other people. A judge who used to be Tootles, a man who had used to be John, as is they were no longer themselves. And, I suppose, they weren’t. They had died.
It was only Wendy who remembered, and who told the story of her adventures with Peter to her daughter. One day Peter comes to take Wendy away in the Spring, but she is all grown up. She leaves in distress when he begins crying, and Jane wakes up. Mimicing her mother’s exact words, she says, “Boy, Why are you crying?” Soon she is up and flying around the room, and Peter takes her away for Spring cleaning. And so it continues with Jane’s daughter Margaret, and Margaret’s daughter, and so on.
But Peter? I doubt that Peter even remembers.
Also, there are things in this book that are never quite explained. Like this concept here:
Mrs. Darling has many kisses on her mouth, but there is one in the corner of it that nobody can ever quite reach. The kiss is similar in many ways to Peter.
And that is what many things in the book are like. They aren’t fully explained and it leaves room to wonder.
These unexplained parts create a beautiful, mysterious air to the story.
I loved this book. I want to re-read it immediately.
Before I get to why it makes me sad in a bittesweet way, I want to say that this book is significantly darker that Disney’s movie. I mean, Peter kills the Lost Boys when they get to old, and the narrorator decided to kill a pirate just to demonstrate Hook’s method.
But death is just mentioned so carelessly. It will comment that someone died, and then move on.
Example:
‘The boys on the island vary, of course, in numbers, according as they get killed and so on; and when they seem to be growing up, which is against the rules, Peter thins them out; but at this time there were six of them, counting the twins as two.’
But it is the end that is more or less sad.
In the end, Wendy, John, and Michael return to the Darlings for a heartfelt reunion. Mr. and Mrs. Darling also adopt all six of the Lost Boys; rhis is also fine. What wasn’t fine was that Peter looked in through a barred window onto something tht he would never have, and when Mrs. Darling invited him in, he refused. He refused to grow up.
He left to live with Tink, who soon died and was forgotten by Peter, as was Hook, and oftentimes he also forgot to return for Wendy in the Spring, when she was allowed to go away with him. So Peter has forgotten this entire adventure.
Soon, the Lost Boys regret their decision to live in the real world, and tried to fly away, but they were tied to their bedposts. Their belief soon vanished and they were gone.
The author referred to the adult versions of the Lost Boys and John and Michael as completely other people. A judge who used to be Tootles, a man who had used to be John, as is they were no longer themselves. And, I suppose, they weren’t. They had died.
It was only Wendy who remembered, and who told the story of her adventures with Peter to her daughter. One day Peter comes to take Wendy away in the Spring, but she is all grown up. She leaves in distress when he begins crying, and Jane wakes up. Mimicing her mother’s exact words, she says, “Boy, Why are you crying?” Soon she is up and flying around the room, and Peter takes her away for Spring cleaning. And so it continues with Jane’s daughter Margaret, and Margaret’s daughter, and so on.
But Peter? I doubt that Peter even remembers.
Also, there are things in this book that are never quite explained. Like this concept here:
Mrs. Darling has many kisses on her mouth, but there is one in the corner of it that nobody can ever quite reach. The kiss is similar in many ways to Peter.
And that is what many things in the book are like. They aren’t fully explained and it leaves room to wonder.
These unexplained parts create a beautiful, mysterious air to the story.
I loved this book. I want to re-read it immediately.
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
This is so incredibly sad. It is a classic for a reason. It is a rough trial of storytelling from its time but explores ideas of death and childhood so well.
Also - it is so violent (same as Treasure Island). Innocent children literally kill grown men and run around glorifying it. But children are selfish by nature, so it's fine, right?
BUT obviously we must mention the horrific butchering of native/indigenous cultures here.
Also - it is so violent (same as Treasure Island). Innocent children literally kill grown men and run around glorifying it. But children are selfish by nature, so it's fine, right?
BUT obviously we must mention the horrific butchering of native/indigenous cultures here.