false 5659 350 When Kenneth Grahame first entertained his son with letters about a petulant character named Toad, he had no way of knowing that his creation—together with his friends Mole, Rat, and Badger—would delight children for nearly 100 years. Here they are once more, pursuing adventure in gypsy caravans, stolen sportscars, and prison, but always returning to their beloved Wildwood. And although Grahame's characters are unmistakably animals, they remain endearingly human in their eccentricity, folly, and friendship. 1061285 book 1908 The Wind in the Willows total:8384|5:2702|4:3017|3:2085|2:453|1:127| 8384 32866 10906 582 0 4 false false Sat Apr 21 03:02:59 -0700 2007 Sat Apr 21 03:07:17 -0700 2007 more...]]> 4 5 false false Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 1954 Tue Jun 02 15:32:30 -0700 2009 Thu Jun 04 09:53:45 -0700 2009 more...]]> 5 3 false false Sat Apr 05 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Wed May 07 08:31:58 -0700 2008 Wed May 07 10:21:49 -0700 2008 more...]]> 4 2 false false Fri May 16 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Thu May 01 07:31:49 -0700 2008 Wed May 21 09:02:48 -0700 2008 more...]]> 5 2 false false Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 1961 Mon Nov 24 02:21:59 -0800 2008 Sat Mar 07 21:24:59 -0800 2009 second time Hard to let go of a book like this especially when the illustrations so mirror the text.
Such lovable characters in humble Mole, caring and indulgent Ratty, and the daunting but fatherly Badger, except it is difficult to warm to the deceitful and conceited Toad whose transformation...more...]]> 5 1 false false Sat Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Sat Dec 22 03:29:44 -0800 2007 Fri Jan 11 15:42:51 -0800 2008 Perhaps it is the very Timelessness of the Tale that makes it so appealing.
I love the ambience; reminiscent of gentler times, unemcumbered by the material frippery, with which we surround ourselves in this rapid and relentless 21st Century.
I n...more...]]> 5 1 false false Sat Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Wed Oct 31 11:04:24 -0700 2007 Mon Mar 17 09:42:53 -0700 2008
At first the kids stared blankly off into space as I read, as the words are bigger and more complex...more...]]> 0 1 false false Fri Jan 16 13:59:09 -0800 2009 Fri Jan 16 13:59:09 -0800 2009
--Frog on au...]]> 4 4 false false Fri Nov 07 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Thu Sep 11 03:49:46 -0700 2008 Fri Nov 07 13:33:34 -0800 2008 The Wind in the Willows anymore.

Today's books for children are sly rhymes, action and social engineering. Wind belongs to an older, more innocent time when even accomplished men such as Kenneth Grahmane, A. A. Milne and J. R. r. Tolkien invented stories for t...more...]]> 5 1 false false Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 1968 Sun Jun 03 18:43:34 -0700 2007 Sun Jun 03 19:01:23 -0700 2007 more...]]> 5 0 false true Wed Mar 11 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Wed Mar 18 11:41:44 -0700 2009 Wed Mar 18 12:22:55 -0700 2009 26 more...]]> 5 0 false false Tue Jan 13 07:25:47 -0800 2009 Tue Jan 13 07:38:25 -0800 2009 has been a touchstone for me, and many other grown-ups!

The characters are all animals - Mole, Toad, Ratty, Badger & others —
who retain their intrinsic animal characteristics while being anthropomorp...more...]]> 5 0 false false Tue Dec 16 10:09:39 -0800 2008 Tue Dec 16 10:10:42 -0800 2008 http://www.salon.com/opinion/kamiya/2008...

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Dec. 16, 2008 | There are certain books that become a permanent part of your life, like an old tree that stands at the bend of a favorite path. You may not notice them, but if they were taken away, th...more...]]> 4 1 false false Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2003 Sat Jan 26 11:23:29 -0800 2008 Sat Jan 26 11:23:29 -0800 2008 more...]]> 5 0 false false Thu Oct 01 18:10:44 -0700 2009 Thu Oct 01 18:46:49 -0700 2009 Mole is cleaning his cozy little hole on a bright spring day. He feels the rush of spring air flutter through his home, and he bolts outside. Mole, being a rather unadventurous individual, has not often been out in the world. He makes his way to a beautiful river and lies in the grass. He sees a rat...

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I've been familiar with the basic story for years; however, I hadn't read it. I've decided to start filling in some of my literary gaps.

Mole: amiable, but not admirable. Sweet, and lucky. He enjoyed life and the opportunities he enc...more...]]> 5 0 false false Fri May 22 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Fri May 22 23:59:51 -0700 2009 Sat May 23 00:27:14 -0700 2009 more...]]> 0 0 false false Tue Apr 07 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Mon Apr 06 22:47:28 -0700 2009 Tue Apr 07 03:33:23 -0700 2009
I also took note of the basic inconsistencies in the animal/human realities. Toad being mistaken for a washerwoman and having h...more...]]> 3 0 false false Wed Jul 22 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Sat Jul 18 21:10:41 -0700 2009 Wed Jul 22 17:18:44 -0700 2009 1 more...]]> 2 0 false false Tue Sep 29 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Tue Sep 22 17:03:30 -0700 2009 Tue Sep 29 10:33:36 -0700 2009 more...]]>