Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie

I had not expected to like Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie.  It seems like "bad form" as Captain Hook would say to choose to read a book you don't intend to enjoy, but I really have disliked the personage of Peter since viewing the Disney film in my teen years (I would have characterized him as a misogynist).  As most folks know the story centers on the lives of the Darling children who are enchanted by a flying boy.  Wendy, John, and Michael often dream of a land filled with all kinds of characters like pirates, Indians, fairies, and mermaids where adventure is around every corner.  There children can fly and never grow old.  One evening while the children's parents are away from home, they are whisked off to the world of their dreams by Peter Pan, a boy who'd rather be young above all else.  The children fly into the night sky and take on new lives~ John and Michael become members of Peter's tribe of lost boys while Wendy becomes the mother of this brutish brood.  Over the course of their stay they begin to forget the home and family they left in England making it difficult to expect that they'll ever return and grow up.

I still hold reservations about Peter Pan, but I'd like to comment on the good before the bad.  First, I loved Barrie's writing style.  His language is rich and honestly a bit elevated for any child reader (my copy had plenty of footnotes with definitions for the ambitious youth who picks up this book).   Second, he has asides just to the reader which happens to be something I like very much.  Being addressed by a known or unknown narrator endears me to any writer, but I can't exactly explain why.  Third, I appreciate that there are real deaths in Neverland.  I am not impressed with watering down stories for the sake of guarding a sensitive child's psyche.  Besides, how can there be any truth to the adventure when the protagonists risk nothing?  For those who still like fluffy happy stories, the matter of death in this book is always dealt with concisely and modestly (re: it's not a gruesome gore-fest).

Now as for Peter himself~ he is a most unlikeable little fellow to me.  At times he reflects true childlike attributes especially when playing make believe.  However, he is filled with characteristics I find more appropriate for a very wounded and narcissistic individual than a boy.  Where I think Barrie aimed to capture the truth of real boyhood, he sacrificed the goodness often found in children for the depravity we are all capable of but hopefully endeavor to overcome.  For instance, Peter forgets nearly everything because he is consumed with himself at each and every moment.  He is stubborn and reckless with those around him when he has his mind set on doing what he wills.  He is prideful and envious of others.  The things he doesn't understand, he resents or belittles.  Altogether, you can't love his bravery because it serves his ego and you can't trust his affections because he is unlikely to remember his personal connections in just a short time.  It's a shame because I believe he reflects something very tragic in the author.  I haven't quite sorted it out in my head, and I'll not likely devote much more thought to it.  

I've rated the book low because I don't think I'd recommend it.  The writing, though lovely, can't compensate for the content.  I wish Peter had been written to be more noble or good (as Wendy was).  Since it was not meant to be, I believe there are other children's stories and fairy tales which encompass beautiful storytelling, timeless principles, and authentic and engaging characters.

Le Laboratoir aux serpents by Lemony Snicket

I read the second installment of Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate events in French (le titre est Le Laboratoir aux serpents). My first impression of the cover was that it was a bit of a copycat to Harry Potter's Chamber of Secrets (also the second book in its series); seriously, a story about orphans and dangerous snakes? Anywho, I wasn't wild about The Bad Beginning didn't have high expectations for this book. I'm delighted to report that it was more enjoyable. Violette, Klaus, and Prunille are once again homeless and under the supervision of Mr. Poe. He takes them to live with Professor Montgomery Montgomery, the brother of their cousin's wife. Uncle Monty, as they call him, is very kind to the children; he gives them each their own bedroom, takes them to the movies, bakes coconut cakes for them, and shares his love for herpetology with them. He even plans to take them on an expedition to Peru where each child is designated a specific task corresponding to their interests. Violette loves inventions, Klaus is a total bookworm, and Prunille is a baby who love to bite and chew things. Alas, their happy days are numbered as the fugitive, Count Olaf, reenters their lives under the pseudonym Stephano~a lab assistant hired by Uncle Monty. Olaf continues his greedy endeavor to steal the Baudelaire children's fortune.

I enjoyed this book much more than the first because the author gave a little time of happiness for us to enjoy before the misadventure began. He also addresses some really important elements of loss that would be easily understood by children. In other books where there is an orphan or a child dealing with a death in their life, the grieving isn't always clearly illustrated. For the Baudelaire children, they think of how much they miss their parents as well as the lives they enjoyed before their deaths. I think its very natural and good; they also band together in times where they feel especially low (typically when cornered by the malicious Count Olaf). The author is also smart to warn his young readers when something unpleasant will soon occur and often gives them the option to put down the book and choose a happier diversion. There are never any moments where the reader is taken by surprise at the unfortunate parts of the story. I believe this one may have won me over; I'm curious as to who the children will encounter in the next book and how they will defy all the terribly odds. I will say, however, that I'm not fully prepared on recommending them to others nor saving them for the day I have kids. Read Narnia and Harry Potter before the Baudelaire books.

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi caught my eye a few months ago because it was the winner of a Newbery Honor. As a child, I used this seal found on the covers of books to steer clear as I believed Newberys were terribly boring and potentially educational. Now I believe in giving those books a second chance seeing as how R.L. Stine's Goosebumps series hasn't really withstood the test of time in terms of cherished books from my youth. Anywho, this book is about a young American girl named Charlotte Doyle (as the title indicates) whose father works for a company that does transatlantic shipping in 1832. Her family has just moved from England back to their home in Rhode Island, and she is to make the journey at the completion of her school year on a ship named the Seahawk. While aboard Charlotte must adapt to an unusual and dangerous way of life. She discovers there is a great division between the captain and his crew and must decide to whom she is loyal.

This story was very interesting and at times very suspenseful. Charlotte struggles with the clash of her proper upbringing while becoming friends a group of rugged, crass sailors. As I alluded to earlier, this book had two educational factors. First, the reader had to learn sailing vocabulary and the anatomy of a ship to really enjoy the tale. Thankfully there was an index in the back for this part. Second, the author promotes the vision of indiscriminate friendship; Charlotte must overlook her social position as well as race to befriend the sailors. I will note there was a not-so-subtly distaste for those of her class~ her family and the captain of the ship were narrow-minded. All (including Charlotte's younger brother and sister) were depicted as arrogant and at times cruel. Though acceptance of people in different stations in life is a very important lesson for children, I don't find it becoming to vilify those who are better off. At least I could have done without that part.

On a final note, is the author's name a first or a last? Is he famous? I'm curious if anyone knows whether or not he was hoping for single name recognition like Madonna, Oprah, or Prince...

Tout Commence Mal (The Bad Beginning) by Lemony Snicket

Alright, so I have only completed the first book of the Lemony Snicket series, but I couldn't select just the first book (not an option for the French reader). Like all the books I've read in the last couple of months, I found this on the communal bookshelf at school. I love children's books, and hoped this wouldn't be the exception... sad to say that it was. The Baudelaire orphans (Violette, Klaus, and Prunille in the French edition) are doomed from the front cover to the back. While at the beach one day, they are approached by a banker named Mr. Poe who bears the unfortunate news that the Baudelaire parents have been killed in a house fire. Not only are the children left orphans, they are also homeless. A mysterious relative, Count Olaf, volunteers to take in the children with a devious plan to claim their family's fortune. He divines a devious and criminal plot to achieve his goal, and the children must fend for themselves with very little help from the adults in their lives.
 

Perhaps it's just me; I love to see principle characters triumph in a story especially when they are children. It makes my heart heavy to read about such hardship for little ones (even if they are completely fictitious...) Even though the writing was simple and easy to read, I took a long time to get through it because I dreaded the next misfortune that would inevitably fall in the laps of these children. I have the second book on my shelf, but I'm going to put it off after I read something I know I'll enjoy. If you're looking for a good children's series to read~ stick with Narnia or Harry Potter. If you like stories of misfortune for kids, read Matilda by Roald Dahl instead.

The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams

This is the loveliest children's book in the history of time.

Le Lion, La Sorciere, et L'Armoire Magique by C.S. Lewis

This was my first time reading a Narnia book in French (though I've read The Magician's Nephew in Spanish). The translation was very good and felt very much like the English version. By that, I mean that the moments where Lewis addresses the reader directly are clear, and his humor is still present. One thing in particular I noticed this time through was the many lines that reminded me of scripture. I didn't note them as I was going so I don't have any to share at the moment.

My favorite part of the whole book is when Peter and Susan speak with the professor (Diggory) about Lucy and her tale of meeting a fawn in a world she wandered into by the wardrobe in the spare room. They're afraid she's lying or going crazy. The professor gives them a brief lesson in logic~ he reasons that Lucy rarely lies and she clearly isn't mad, so for the time being it must be assumed that she is telling the truth. It perplexes little Susan to hear an adult accept the premise of something that seems so imaginary. I love how Diggory is dumbfounded by how little Peter and Susan will believe, and he incessantly asks what is being taught in school these days. I still don't think logic or imagination are encouraged in schools. It was great to reread this little book (meme en francais!).

Harry Potter y la piedra filosofal by J.K. Rowling

I've read this one a few times, but reading it in Spanish has revealed more details that I had overlooked while reading it in English. Harry Potter is always good....

The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling

This is a fantastic quick read. It is especially valuable to those who have read the complete Harry Potter series as it refers to lots of elements of the wizarding world that would be unusual and downright confusing to someone new to JK Rowling's books. She has beefed up her short fables with notes written by Albus Dumbledore; he provides a contextual understanding that we "muggles" could not normally acquire. It is fun and whimsical. It gives me a desire to reread some common fairy tales that I cannot remember thoroughly from childhood.

At the Back of the North Wind by George MacDonald

At the Back of the North Wind is a beautiful book. It is a story rich in imagery, truth, and goodness. The main character is a boy named Diamond who begins an adventurous friendship with the North Wind, a beautiful lady who transforms into different shapes to accomplish the tasks set before her. Diamond accompanies her all over, but eventually makes a request to go to a place she cannot--at her back. There Diamond discovers a glorious country filled with beauty and music. When he returns to his home, he faces a number of challenges. His time in the country at the back of the North Wind sustains him and contributes to his kindness and thoughtfulness.

Many know that George MacDonald inspired CS Lewis through his fiction. George was a Scottish minister a generation before Clive began writing. This book is the first I've read by George in which I can draw parallels to Clive's Narnia books. The country at the back of the North Wind is the same as Narnia (farther up and farther in for those who know...). Where Clive is more obvious in explaining the Heavenly realm through storytelling, George relies on a more opaque method of conveying his understanding of the world. Throughout the whole book the reader has to search for the Christian elements, but at the end we get the gratification of a "dumbledore-esque" explanation of all things that may not have been clear throughout all the action in the book. The North Wind helps Diamond along in his understanding of the bigger things in this world.

My favorite part of the whole book is Diamond's explanation of how different people belong to us based on how we love them. His love for his brother, sister, parents, and even the North Wind makes them his very own. There is a lot of truth and grace in all the Diamond says and does. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone--especially Christians who love fiction.

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll

Lewis Carroll has so much imagination; Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass are full of absurdities, humor, fantasy, and plays on words. In Alice's dream worlds down the rabbit hole and on the reverse side of a mirror, she encounters all sorts of creatures and living objects who defy her reason at every turn. Though many times she is thwarted in conversations and achieving what she aims to do, Alice holds on to each moment like a treasure as only a child could. At the end of both tales, Alice tells her big sister of all the wonders she encountered. Her memories shape her activities in her normal life.

I personally love that Carroll mixes prose and poetry to add interest to the dialogue. As a child, I memorized his poem Jabberwocky as well as illustrate it. It is filled with all sorts of nonsense words and pushed me to create my own Carroll-inspired creatures. What a phenomenal assignment for children.

Alice's stories, songs, and poems are wonderful for little children to adults. It certainly has given me a fresh perspective on logic as an adult reader yet maintains the whimsy and simplicity for the littlest reader to love.