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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
fast-paced
This week, it was interesting to read the original Peter Pan by JM Barrie for the first time. Some details were so clear to me because of the adaptations I have read/seen, and some were jarring because the adaptations changed them. It was also surprising to me that so much of the book read like a series of short stories, rather than a novel. The narrator almost talks directly to the reader, hemming and hawing about which of Peter's adventures to tell us about next. I'm glad that I read it, but I think it makes me more critical of other creative versions that changed too much from the original. (I also didn't really see the allure of Peter himself.)
Found this copy in a café in Gothenburg when I was there for the film festival last week. It had sticker on it that said "This book is free! Open and read more about it on the inside of the cover" and on the inside of the cover was a hand-written message from the person who owned the book that said to check out this website called bookcrossing.com and make a quick entry about where I'd found the book, and once I'd read it, what I thought about it, then I should pass it on... this is the entry that I wrote on the website:
"I love this book. I think J. M. Barrie's language is witty, perceptive and constantly flickering between grown-up and child-like. The story is sweet, amusing and also dark. I obviously don't care much for the gender roles, but for its time, I suppose those are to be expected. In fact, this book is very daring in that regard considering the time it was written and published (I'm convinced that Barrie, were he alive today, would be a feminist) There's something sad and melancholy about Peter Pan in the original, that I don't believe I've sensed in any other adaptation of the story, which I think lends it another dimension and room for interpretation.
All in all, it's a classic for a reason, and it definitely goes on my list of favourites!
I brought it to Stockholm with me, thought I'd let it travel a little, and see if I can pass it on to someone in these parts!"
"I love this book. I think J. M. Barrie's language is witty, perceptive and constantly flickering between grown-up and child-like. The story is sweet, amusing and also dark. I obviously don't care much for the gender roles, but for its time, I suppose those are to be expected. In fact, this book is very daring in that regard considering the time it was written and published (I'm convinced that Barrie, were he alive today, would be a feminist) There's something sad and melancholy about Peter Pan in the original, that I don't believe I've sensed in any other adaptation of the story, which I think lends it another dimension and room for interpretation.
All in all, it's a classic for a reason, and it definitely goes on my list of favourites!
I brought it to Stockholm with me, thought I'd let it travel a little, and see if I can pass it on to someone in these parts!"
UGH, another disappointing classic. Look, this book is meant to be spoken or seen on stage, not read. I understand that Barrie was most of a theatre guy, and that shows in this one. The story is the same as you usually see in the movies, but so annoying to read.
Sorry Lily, the narration was not it for me.
I read this primarily because I like the various movie versions, so I wanted to read the source material. It gets three stars mostly for childhood nostalgia, because the storytelling style is kind of annoying, but the story itself is pretty much what I remember.
I want to read more classics and children’s lit/middle grade this year so I thought this book was a fitting first book of the year. Very enjoyable to read, though definitely darker than the movies and the ending was a bit more sad.