Reviews - The Wind in the Willows

3.16k reviews for:

The Wind in the Willows

Kenneth Grahame

3.83 AVERAGE

heartwoodhollows's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous funny fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

zeldaah's review against another edition

5.0

Five Stars! Or something! (I always hate that stars part.)

I read this book aloud, nightly, to my kids who are 4 and 6. I read the unabridged version, not knowing until later that there is an abridged version lurking out there that doesn't relate the Piper at the Gates of Dawn chapter, a hallucinatory romp if there ever was one! (Was the chapter eliminated from the abridged versions because it isn't suitable for children, lest it inspire them to run off to the forest and eat mushrooms? Maybe!)

This story is timeless in that it relates themes of friendship and adventure and the beauty of nature. However, it's so very much of a certain time and place... it is permeated by a rigid class structure that seems perfectly normal to everyone in the story. (Yet, ironically, it holds up no barriers to relationships between species and sizes!) Very British, very Victorian, yet also reckless and Gatsby-esque in the character of Toad, one of the most strangely nuanced hyperboles I've ever read.

Anyway, if you're wondering, the four-year-old was largely disinterested; I think the language was too foreign. My older son, though, really was interested and very engaged with most elements of the story. I think he learned many new words, too!

chloensmith's review against another edition

3.75

funny inspiring lighthearted slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

slelswick's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous funny lighthearted reflective medium-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

meagangrace's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous funny lighthearted reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Content Warnings

eddyinikea's review against another edition

4.0

do people know all of the animals in this book are gay and very much in love? i need people too to know that ratty had been around before he settled down and married moley.