Reviews - The Wind in the Willows

3.14k reviews for:

The Wind in the Willows

Kenneth Grahame

3.83 AVERAGE

becreads's review against another edition

3.0

lighthearted reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

fiction_ality's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous funny lighthearted relaxing slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I watched the 1988 animated film adaptation of this when I was a child, so when I saw this nice edition in a bookshop I had to get it! (It was also a great excuse to rewatch the film)

For one thing, the book contains a lot more plot than the film, which only focuses on the Toad storyline. Funnily enough, I found that I much preferred the non-Toad plotlines; whether this be due to higher-quality or perceived novelty on my part, I am not sure. However, I particularly enjoyed the coziness of this book, and how it wraps you up in a blanket of homeliness that sets you completely at ease. It felt like reading a love letter to nature's beauty, and the quiet magic of being 'at home', whatever that may mean to you on a personal level.

As for the Toad plotline: Toad is an absolute dickhead and he's the luckiest animal alive to have such good, loyal friends who only want what's best for him despite him constantly lying to them and treating everyone as though he is above them. Talk about narcissistic! One clear difference between the book and the 1988 film, however, is that at least in the book Toad does eventually come around and change his ways (albeit in the literal last few pages), whereas in the film it is implied that he's only pretending to have changed and will start on his BS again 😂

lizzie_purplephoenix's review against another edition

4.0

The chapters of this book are oddly put together. I think it would have worked better if all of Toad's chapters were together one after the other as one story in the second half of the book, and the rest together in the first half, in order of season.

I have a cute hardback Wordsworth classics edition that was lovely to read. My feelings about the story (stories) is split pretty cleanly between the Toad chapters and the rest. I LOVED chapters 1-7, they get 5 stars from me - I fell in love with the Mole and the Rat, and loved the descriptions of nature and the countryside around them, including the The piper at the gates of dawn. These chapters (with the exception of ch6, the Intervention for Toad) feel like a love letter to Mother Nature and the changing of the seasons.

But I didn't enjoy ch 8 & 10-12 as much, Toad's adventures (and ch9 with the Sea Rat's story I basically skimread, as I was bored!). I don't find Toad a likeable character, entertaining though he is, partly I think

Spoiler

because he doesn't even really redeem himself or want to, he is only forced to by friends who are way too loyal to him!

Those chapters I think would get 3 stars or even less from me.

Therefore, my overall rating is 4 stars. If I ever reread it - because I am sure to - I will probably only read chapters 1-5 & 7....

inesparis's review against another edition

2.75

hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: N/A

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

kimonly's review against another edition

3.0

3.5 stars A delightful and very humorous read. The author's use of language is beautiful and lyrical. I had to stop and read portions to my husband.

prmckinley's review against another edition

3.5

adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

I’d love the chance to go back to a time when my kids were younger, so that I could read this to them. This was a fun jaunt into the lives of four creatures who aren’t so very different from us.