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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-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:
No
adventurous
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A strange mix of childish, young, and simple combined with complex language for today made it feel quite clunky to read. At times felt impossible to get through the page, at other times a pleasing pace and enjoyable characters and events. I enjoyed the ending and much of the middle, however a lot of the story felt like a drag to get through. Personalities felt quite 1 dimensional, but I enjoyed the moral learnings they made
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The book overall is very cute and fun with toad being the only character I didn’t like because he’s made to be unfavorable in his boorish personality.
This is the first full-length novel I've read from start to finish with my little girl who is five. It was so wonderfully worth it. I loved every word as much as she did.
An unusual but endearing classic. The audio book version read by Terry Jones is also highly recommended!
Lots of out loud chuckles while following along Toads adventures and mishaps.
Today (7 Aug 2021) I finished this classic of children’s lit, though it doesn’t seem much like a book for children. I’m almost 66 and had never read it. I had an unreasoning prejudice against it in my youth because “I don’t like children’s books featuring animals.” Have gotten over that, mostly, though I still find fantasy as a genre a bit tiresome. The book is more of an adult’s fantasy of the free and open life of “messing about in boats” and appreciating spring and summer on the Thames river. As lots of other reviewers have noted, there’s a dispiriting class element, and there are virtually no female characters. On the other hand, the celebrations of spring time and animals and the river are unparalleled. The first half is a joy to read. As the book became more about Toad in the later chapters I felt my interest waning. I like hearing of the adventures of Rat and Mole and Badger and prefer those to Toad, who is set up as the target of satire and perhaps also as the exemplar of the kind of person NOT to be. Lots of mentions of food and picnics and such. Here is a fun English meal: “It was a simple but sustaining meal—bacon and broad beans, and a macaroni pudding…” Overall a very fun read and highly recommended.
Don't know how I'd never read this book. I found it quite amusing. The ending was a bit abrupt, and Toad's escape from justice did not sit well either. Also, how did they all come to be so idle? Listened to the free audio version of this on Librivox.