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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
So, as English isn't my strong suit, I opted to get back to the basics that I had never read to get a better grasp before going on to bigger and more complex books. And I won't lie, thought this was nuts. I didn't really know much about the book or that it was a series. So after reading this I went on to others and I have no idea why this is considered an English classic. White people are wild, then and now. What he did to Wendy as she got older was such f*** boy energy I can't even.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Racism, Rape
Sometimes classics are classics just because of the zeitgeist around the book.
This was my first time reading Peter Pan. I never had it read to me as a child and never bothered to find it before now. I had a Barnes and Noble copy on my shelf forever simply as a guarantee of having it on my shelf for my kids. Well, I have two now and while they are not of an age where they can really understand what I'm reading, I'm actively reading to them and trying to involve the classics as much as possible.
All that background to say that I completely get what this book is trying to do. I understand that it's intent is to be written as whimsically as a child's mind is; to make the reader look back at their childhood and remember the silly games of make believe they used to play in order to connect with what is inherently a very hard character to connect with. I totally get that. I don't think it's done well.
First and foremost, the entire concept of it is fine. I don't have issues with trying to captivate an adult audience to feel like a child, but the problem is tonal dissonance. Some of the things all the characters in this book do and especially Peter Pan are awful. They/him are mean spirited, active murderers, and spiteful. The concept of what happens at Neverland is incredibly brutal and does not lend itself to the whimsical nature of the story. This so much so, that it seems like Lord of the Flies is a direct antecedent to Peter Pan that shows the actual brutality of what would happen when 6-12 year old boys are left to their own devices on a deserted island.
In addition, there are numerous instances of racist language and implications throughout the book that should be used as a talking point for how exactly to not represent people of color. Obviously, the book shouldn't be "cancelled" for it's brash portrayal of Native Americans and African Tribes, but it shouldn't be glossed over to children that are able to understand.
Overall, I don't think the book is awful. I just do not have a desire to read it again. The Disney film provides enough substance of the story that I would use that as acceptable as an alternative to the story.
3/5
This was my first time reading Peter Pan. I never had it read to me as a child and never bothered to find it before now. I had a Barnes and Noble copy on my shelf forever simply as a guarantee of having it on my shelf for my kids. Well, I have two now and while they are not of an age where they can really understand what I'm reading, I'm actively reading to them and trying to involve the classics as much as possible.
All that background to say that I completely get what this book is trying to do. I understand that it's intent is to be written as whimsically as a child's mind is; to make the reader look back at their childhood and remember the silly games of make believe they used to play in order to connect with what is inherently a very hard character to connect with. I totally get that. I don't think it's done well.
First and foremost, the entire concept of it is fine. I don't have issues with trying to captivate an adult audience to feel like a child, but the problem is tonal dissonance. Some of the things all the characters in this book do and especially Peter Pan are awful. They/him are mean spirited, active murderers, and spiteful. The concept of what happens at Neverland is incredibly brutal and does not lend itself to the whimsical nature of the story. This so much so, that it seems like Lord of the Flies is a direct antecedent to Peter Pan that shows the actual brutality of what would happen when 6-12 year old boys are left to their own devices on a deserted island.
In addition, there are numerous instances of racist language and implications throughout the book that should be used as a talking point for how exactly to not represent people of color. Obviously, the book shouldn't be "cancelled" for it's brash portrayal of Native Americans and African Tribes, but it shouldn't be glossed over to children that are able to understand.
Overall, I don't think the book is awful. I just do not have a desire to read it again. The Disney film provides enough substance of the story that I would use that as acceptable as an alternative to the story.
3/5
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
relaxing
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