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Hook's Tale
A rollicking debut novel from award-winning playwright and screenwriter John Pielmeier reimagines the childhood of the much maligned Captain his quest for buried treasure, his friendship with Peter Pan, and the story behind the swashbuckling world of Neverland. Long defamed as a vicious pirate, Captain James Cook (a.k.a Hook) was in fact a dazzling wordsmith who left behind a vibrant, wildly entertaining, and entirely truthful memoir. His chronicle offers a counter narrative to the works of J.M. Barrie, a “dour Scotsman” whose spurious accounts got it all wrong. Now, award-winning playwright John Pielmeier is proud to present this crucial historic artifact in its entirety for the first time. Cook’s story begins in London, where he lives with his widowed mother. At thirteen, he runs away from home, but is kidnapped and pressed into naval service as an unlikely cabin boy. Soon he discovers a treasure map that leads to a mysterious archipelago called the “Never-Isles” from which there appears to be no escape. In the course of his adventures he meets the pirates Smee and Starkey, falls in love with the enchanting Tiger Lily, adopts an oddly affectionate crocodile, and befriends a charming boy named Peter—who teaches him to fly. He battles monsters, fights in mutinies, swims with mermaids, and eventually learns both the sad and terrible tale of his mother’s life and the true story of his father’s disappearance. Like Gregory Maguire’s Wicked , Hook’s Tale offers a radical new version of a classic story, bringing readers into a much richer, darker, and enchanting version of Neverland than ever before. The characters that our hero meets—including the terrible Doctor Uriah Slinque and a little girl named Wendy—lead him to the most difficult decision of his whether to submit to the temptation of eternal youth, or to embrace the responsibilities of maturity and the inevitability of his own mortality. His choice, like his story, is not what you might expect.
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First published July 18, 2017
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January 29, 2023
"To die, would be an awfully big adventure."
This has become the never ending theme to Peter Pan as we know it.
We know Peter Pans fictional story of a young boy who seeks adventure, kicks Hooks butt, is "so fly he never lands," and thinks of happy thoughts. However, the fictional side to one tale, is always masked when there is a villain in the mist.
James Cook (Hook), is our hero/villain. The story you think you know, but have no idea is told comically, profound, humbled and open minded through one man that everyone pins as their nemesis. However, "Hook" has a who knew meaning to "the hero wins in this one." The story follows a picture perfect time line to J.M. Barries fictional fairy-tale, but lives as a prequel to the 1900 classic.
I am at a loss for words when it comes to just how well this story was portrayed through the life of captain cook (hook). his story should be heard, and I am glad i decided to read it. It brought smiles to my face, tears to my eyes, adventure to my curiosity and closure to my conscience. Like every human, Hook has a messed up past which brings new meaning to symbolical poetry through darkness. A wolf in sheep's clothing, and a damn good lad!
I leave you all with this question, "if you could live forever, would you choose to?"
peter says, "To live would be an awfully big adventure." All boys, except one, grow up. But would you choose to stay young for the sake of your own adventitious happiness?
A must read for those who are fans of Peter Pan!
This has become the never ending theme to Peter Pan as we know it.
We know Peter Pans fictional story of a young boy who seeks adventure, kicks Hooks butt, is "so fly he never lands," and thinks of happy thoughts. However, the fictional side to one tale, is always masked when there is a villain in the mist.
James Cook (Hook), is our hero/villain. The story you think you know, but have no idea is told comically, profound, humbled and open minded through one man that everyone pins as their nemesis. However, "Hook" has a who knew meaning to "the hero wins in this one." The story follows a picture perfect time line to J.M. Barries fictional fairy-tale, but lives as a prequel to the 1900 classic.
I am at a loss for words when it comes to just how well this story was portrayed through the life of captain cook (hook). his story should be heard, and I am glad i decided to read it. It brought smiles to my face, tears to my eyes, adventure to my curiosity and closure to my conscience. Like every human, Hook has a messed up past which brings new meaning to symbolical poetry through darkness. A wolf in sheep's clothing, and a damn good lad!
I leave you all with this question, "if you could live forever, would you choose to?"
peter says, "To live would be an awfully big adventure." All boys, except one, grow up. But would you choose to stay young for the sake of your own adventitious happiness?
A must read for those who are fans of Peter Pan!
April 17, 2017
Peter Pan was eternally young having exciting adventures without the responsibilities of adulthood. Most children, arguably, follow Peter's escapades in Neverland and his time with Wendy, John and Michael Darling. Peter was always dueling with his arch enemy, Captain Hook. Why is that? There are two sides to every story. "Hook's Tale" explains Hook's side, how a friendship turned into a longstanding rivalry.
James' father, a Commander in The Royal Navy, was lost at sea. After the death of his mother, James (aka Hook) was orphaned. His Kensington home sold, he was permitted to claim his clothing and anything he could carry. He chose his mother's wedding ring and "History of the Voyages of Captain James Cook". Directionless and wandering, James found himself pressed into service in the Royal Navy as a cabin boy. Examining a loose corner in the binding of his father's book, a piece of sailcloth with a rendering of a treasure map was revealed. Knowledge of a treasure map led to mutiny aboard the ship.
Cabin boy James made a grievous error costing numerous lives. Sentenced to a Viking burial, he was rescued from "his burning house" by Peter Pan. Peter and James become fast friends, that is, until they were not! James continued to seek the buried treasure puzzled by a Latin phrase on his father's map that said "second star to the right". On this archipelago,"The Never-Isles", the sun spun backwards and whoever lived there never aged.
"Hook's Tale: Being the Account of an Unjustly Villainized Pirate Written by Himself" by John Leonard Pielmeier shows the sensitive side of the orphaned James. Poor, often bullied, then pressed into naval service made for a difficult upbringing.
As a member of an elementary school musical ensemble performing the show "Peter Pan", I became a Captain Hook aficionado. I was impressed and entertained by author Pielmeier's alternate version of a seemingly sensitive, often misunderstood adversary of Peter Pan. A fun read.....ahoy mates!
Thank you Scribner and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review "Hook's Tale".
James' father, a Commander in The Royal Navy, was lost at sea. After the death of his mother, James (aka Hook) was orphaned. His Kensington home sold, he was permitted to claim his clothing and anything he could carry. He chose his mother's wedding ring and "History of the Voyages of Captain James Cook". Directionless and wandering, James found himself pressed into service in the Royal Navy as a cabin boy. Examining a loose corner in the binding of his father's book, a piece of sailcloth with a rendering of a treasure map was revealed. Knowledge of a treasure map led to mutiny aboard the ship.
Cabin boy James made a grievous error costing numerous lives. Sentenced to a Viking burial, he was rescued from "his burning house" by Peter Pan. Peter and James become fast friends, that is, until they were not! James continued to seek the buried treasure puzzled by a Latin phrase on his father's map that said "second star to the right". On this archipelago,"The Never-Isles", the sun spun backwards and whoever lived there never aged.
"Hook's Tale: Being the Account of an Unjustly Villainized Pirate Written by Himself" by John Leonard Pielmeier shows the sensitive side of the orphaned James. Poor, often bullied, then pressed into naval service made for a difficult upbringing.
As a member of an elementary school musical ensemble performing the show "Peter Pan", I became a Captain Hook aficionado. I was impressed and entertained by author Pielmeier's alternate version of a seemingly sensitive, often misunderstood adversary of Peter Pan. A fun read.....ahoy mates!
Thank you Scribner and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review "Hook's Tale".
February 7, 2018
This Peter Pan retelling isn’t as “adventurous” as the original story is, but it is much more realistic. The entire story is told from Hook’s pov and is all prior to him garnering the moniker. Before he was Hook, he was just another 14-year-old boy, by the name of James Cook. I’m struggling to really review this since most people know the details of Neverland, Peter, and the folk of the Never Isles. So instead, I’m going to list some of the differences between this retelling and the original Peter Pan story, and how I felt about the differences in relation to the original story.
•This story isn’t about the Darlings (much), and isn’t about Peter. It’s James’ story of being born after his father had already been lost at sea as a notorious Captain. We get to see his childhood and all the events that leads up to his finding the Never Isle. It is entirely from his POV and the only things we learn in the book are things he could’ve learned. You never get a background on Peter or Tink because James never really learns anything of their past. Although this was sometimes difficult (I really wanted to know how Peter came to be who he was), it was better for this story to not focus on Peter at all. I mean, really, he’s always the focus and I’ve always hated that because I never liked Peter. He also came off like a psychopath to me and I never could figure out why everyone loved him.
•Tiger Lily – I really can’t go into detail on this at all because it would be super spoilery, but suffice it to say her story is NOTHING like the original book, and it was so much better for it. She really gets to be her own character in this book, and we get a lot more details about her environment and family.
•James’ hand and how he garners a hook. Again, NOTHING like the original book but much more realistic. The idea of man-child Peter cutting Cook’s hand off is ridiculous, and this was a much better version of that.
•Daisy the crocodile. All I can say is that I LOVED this! Loved the change of the crocodile and the watch.
•The mermaids have sharp teeth and facial hair (regardless of gender).
•How the ‘magic dust’ works isn’t really explained because it isn’t really known. But, no, happy thoughts do not make you fly.
•The backstory of Peter’s shadow.
Again, I don’t really know what else to say on this as it’s all spoilerish, but this story isn’t as “fantastical” as the original Peter Pan. There’s more malevolence and real-world emotions and consequences. All-in-all, I thoroughly enjoyed it!
I received a hardback of this book through a GR Giveaway, as well as receiving an arc via Netgalley. Thank you both!!
•This story isn’t about the Darlings (much), and isn’t about Peter. It’s James’ story of being born after his father had already been lost at sea as a notorious Captain. We get to see his childhood and all the events that leads up to his finding the Never Isle. It is entirely from his POV and the only things we learn in the book are things he could’ve learned. You never get a background on Peter or Tink because James never really learns anything of their past. Although this was sometimes difficult (I really wanted to know how Peter came to be who he was), it was better for this story to not focus on Peter at all. I mean, really, he’s always the focus and I’ve always hated that because I never liked Peter. He also came off like a psychopath to me and I never could figure out why everyone loved him.
•Tiger Lily – I really can’t go into detail on this at all because it would be super spoilery, but suffice it to say her story is NOTHING like the original book, and it was so much better for it. She really gets to be her own character in this book, and we get a lot more details about her environment and family.
•James’ hand and how he garners a hook. Again, NOTHING like the original book but much more realistic. The idea of man-child Peter cutting Cook’s hand off is ridiculous, and this was a much better version of that.
•Daisy the crocodile. All I can say is that I LOVED this! Loved the change of the crocodile and the watch.
•The mermaids have sharp teeth and facial hair (regardless of gender).
•How the ‘magic dust’ works isn’t really explained because it isn’t really known. But, no, happy thoughts do not make you fly.
•The backstory of Peter’s shadow.
Again, I don’t really know what else to say on this as it’s all spoilerish, but this story isn’t as “fantastical” as the original Peter Pan. There’s more malevolence and real-world emotions and consequences. All-in-all, I thoroughly enjoyed it!
I received a hardback of this book through a GR Giveaway, as well as receiving an arc via Netgalley. Thank you both!!
July 16, 2017
"Hook's Tale" is probably my new favorite Pan retelling. In fact, it might just be my new favorite retelling. And its a debut novel!! Seriously, the writing is captivating, the perspective is unique, and overall the reading is pretty easy. In the Introduction, the book proclaims itself to be the Peter Pan/Hook version of The Wizard of Oz/Wicked Witch tale and I'd say that's pretty accurate. I actually am not a big fan of the Gregory Maguire books, but this was much easier to read.
James Cook (aka the character "the Scotsman" JM Barrie writes as Captain Hook) basically writes his own autobiography from his life as a young boy in school, to his voyage to Neverland, to his quest for a full life. It was really fun to hear the "real truth" behind James' family, how aging/not aging in Neverland works, what all of the pirates are like (hint: they're hilarious), how Hook really got his hook, the story of the crocodile, and several other Hook-isms.
This was a great fantasy read. Just a heads up, though: every time I started to think that this book could be for younger (middle grade?) readers, something violent or mildly gory would happen. So just be warned that there are a few descriptive scenes in the book and some very mild swearing. Overall if you like Peter Pan, if you are a fan of retellings, if you enjoy fantasy books, or just need a quick and fun read, give this book a go. I definitely recommend it!
James Cook (aka the character "the Scotsman" JM Barrie writes as Captain Hook) basically writes his own autobiography from his life as a young boy in school, to his voyage to Neverland, to his quest for a full life. It was really fun to hear the "real truth" behind James' family, how aging/not aging in Neverland works, what all of the pirates are like (hint: they're hilarious), how Hook really got his hook, the story of the crocodile, and several other Hook-isms.
This was a great fantasy read. Just a heads up, though: every time I started to think that this book could be for younger (middle grade?) readers, something violent or mildly gory would happen. So just be warned that there are a few descriptive scenes in the book and some very mild swearing. Overall if you like Peter Pan, if you are a fan of retellings, if you enjoy fantasy books, or just need a quick and fun read, give this book a go. I definitely recommend it!
September 24, 2020
3.5 Stars
Review:
This is the fourth Peter retelling I’ve read that focuses on Captain Hook, and so far, it’s the closest to the canon set forth by JM Barrie in regards to Hook, yet also a story that diverted from the canon in many ways, mostly in regards to the plot of Barrie’s novel, as the author put a lot of his own spin on things. This version of the story was a little less dark in terms of violence and cruelty, but a little darker in terms of realistic tragedy and sadness.
You’ll find all the important characters you know and (maybe) love here—James, Peter, Tink, Tiger Lily, Smee, the Darlings, even the tick-tocking crocodile. Although, one interesting thing about this retelling is that Peter was hardly in it. For the little bit that he was in it though, the author captured his childishness and innocence, while mostly leaving out his terrifying behaviors. And James’s relationship with the crocodile he raised from an egg was very cute; I really enjoyed that little twist on the original.
There were also some new characters, and I really enjoyed that the author created such a detailed backstory about James and his family. That was my favorite thing in the book. It added a lot of depth, some interesting relationships, and some surprising moments.
This portrayal of James himself was interesting because his character growth was really a journey with ups and downs, and the author did a great job of making James’s reactions and changes realistic and believable. He made James sympathetic, but not too perfect. He had growth that was both negative and positive. He developed some cruelness over time and kind of did become a villain, but he also didn’t, for lack of a better way of explaining without spoilers. This was a more sympathetic, compassionate version of the man than what you find in the original story.
In fact, I found everything about this story to be realistic and believable (you know, aside from magic sand and never growing old and whatnot). The way events unfolded and all the characters’ actions and reactions made sense. I also thought it was clever to situate Neverland inside the Bermuda Triangle to explain away its strangeness.
My complaint about this book, however, is that was slow. And since James was telling the reader a story, there was, well, a lot of telling, at times, rather than showing.
I’m always leery of audiobooks narrated by the author, but this was actually good. It sounded natural and emotive. Voices for different characters weren’t that different, but there was just enough difference to avoid confusion. The voices suited the characters. The female voices didn’t exactly sound feminine, but they weren’t so bad as to bother me, and there wasn’t much female dialogue anyway. The entire book was in a British accent that sounded good to me, though I don’t know if the author/narrator is British or not since he sounded American in the author’s note.
Overall, despite being a bit slow, I enjoyed the balance of canon and unique the author found with this story, as well as the realism, detailed backstory, and character growth given to one of my favorite literary characters. In the author’s note at the end, he talks about his love for JM Barrie and the story of Peter Pan, and you can feel that love in this book.
*Rating: 3.5 Stars // Read Date: 2020 // Format: Audiobook*
Recommended For:
Anyone who likes Captain Hook origin stories, character backstory, slow-paced stories, and character growth.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
Review:
This is the fourth Peter retelling I’ve read that focuses on Captain Hook, and so far, it’s the closest to the canon set forth by JM Barrie in regards to Hook, yet also a story that diverted from the canon in many ways, mostly in regards to the plot of Barrie’s novel, as the author put a lot of his own spin on things. This version of the story was a little less dark in terms of violence and cruelty, but a little darker in terms of realistic tragedy and sadness.
You’ll find all the important characters you know and (maybe) love here—James, Peter, Tink, Tiger Lily, Smee, the Darlings, even the tick-tocking crocodile. Although, one interesting thing about this retelling is that Peter was hardly in it. For the little bit that he was in it though, the author captured his childishness and innocence, while mostly leaving out his terrifying behaviors. And James’s relationship with the crocodile he raised from an egg was very cute; I really enjoyed that little twist on the original.
There were also some new characters, and I really enjoyed that the author created such a detailed backstory about James and his family. That was my favorite thing in the book. It added a lot of depth, some interesting relationships, and some surprising moments.
This portrayal of James himself was interesting because his character growth was really a journey with ups and downs, and the author did a great job of making James’s reactions and changes realistic and believable. He made James sympathetic, but not too perfect. He had growth that was both negative and positive. He developed some cruelness over time and kind of did become a villain, but he also didn’t, for lack of a better way of explaining without spoilers. This was a more sympathetic, compassionate version of the man than what you find in the original story.
In fact, I found everything about this story to be realistic and believable (you know, aside from magic sand and never growing old and whatnot). The way events unfolded and all the characters’ actions and reactions made sense. I also thought it was clever to situate Neverland inside the Bermuda Triangle to explain away its strangeness.
My complaint about this book, however, is that was slow. And since James was telling the reader a story, there was, well, a lot of telling, at times, rather than showing.
I’m always leery of audiobooks narrated by the author, but this was actually good. It sounded natural and emotive. Voices for different characters weren’t that different, but there was just enough difference to avoid confusion. The voices suited the characters. The female voices didn’t exactly sound feminine, but they weren’t so bad as to bother me, and there wasn’t much female dialogue anyway. The entire book was in a British accent that sounded good to me, though I don’t know if the author/narrator is British or not since he sounded American in the author’s note.
Overall, despite being a bit slow, I enjoyed the balance of canon and unique the author found with this story, as well as the realism, detailed backstory, and character growth given to one of my favorite literary characters. In the author’s note at the end, he talks about his love for JM Barrie and the story of Peter Pan, and you can feel that love in this book.
*Rating: 3.5 Stars // Read Date: 2020 // Format: Audiobook*
Recommended For:
Anyone who likes Captain Hook origin stories, character backstory, slow-paced stories, and character growth.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
July 15, 2017
*3.75 stars
This was a cute and enjoyable re-telling of Peter Pan. Although, this is the "true" story of Captain Hook, nee Cook. He isn't the villain that the dubious scotsman wrote about. I liked the tale that James Cook told and the different outcomes that were different from the original story. Especially that Peter Pan isn't an innocent little boy that is often portrayed. Captain Cook was misunderstood and friendlier than what people know about him. It was nice to read a different side to Hook. I would definitely recommend this to any Peter Pan fans.
**Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a cute and enjoyable re-telling of Peter Pan. Although, this is the "true" story of Captain Hook, nee Cook. He isn't the villain that the dubious scotsman wrote about. I liked the tale that James Cook told and the different outcomes that were different from the original story. Especially that Peter Pan isn't an innocent little boy that is often portrayed. Captain Cook was misunderstood and friendlier than what people know about him. It was nice to read a different side to Hook. I would definitely recommend this to any Peter Pan fans.
**Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 20, 2017
"...the Truth is neither nice, clean, nor simple.”
I mentioned in my brief Instagram review that I love both playing Devil’s Advocate and cheering for the underdog. With those two things so close to my heart, this story was basically made for me! Hook’s Tale begins with an introduction to James Cook – with a father long ago lost at sea and the recent death of his mother, James struggles to fit in at his boarding school. Although his father was a well-known athlete and student leader at Eton, James doesn’t appear to be following in his footsteps.
“Viewed initially as a Boy With Great Promise, I was within weeks demoted to Unmitigated Disappointment.”
James is part of an unfortunate interaction that ends with him waking on a ship in the middle of the ocean, pressed into what amounts to indentured servitude. This is where his adventure really begins. James, of course, ends up in Neverland and has fantastic adventures with Peter Pan, Tiger Lily, and Tink, along with realizing unexpected connections to the Darling family. I loved meeting those familiar characters again, (I still love Smee) and seeing them from a brand new perspective. I also really enjoyed how the author fleshed out the time aspect between Neverland and “the real world” and was able to manipulate time seamlessly and believably within the storyline.
“We all waver. What’s important is making the right choice in the end.”
How It All Stacked Up:
🌟🌟🌟🌟
I really enjoyed this book – it felt familiar and comforting, but also brand new. It was a lovely escape - if you enjoy fractured fairy tales or classic retellings, give this one a go!
I mentioned in my brief Instagram review that I love both playing Devil’s Advocate and cheering for the underdog. With those two things so close to my heart, this story was basically made for me! Hook’s Tale begins with an introduction to James Cook – with a father long ago lost at sea and the recent death of his mother, James struggles to fit in at his boarding school. Although his father was a well-known athlete and student leader at Eton, James doesn’t appear to be following in his footsteps.
“Viewed initially as a Boy With Great Promise, I was within weeks demoted to Unmitigated Disappointment.”
James is part of an unfortunate interaction that ends with him waking on a ship in the middle of the ocean, pressed into what amounts to indentured servitude. This is where his adventure really begins. James, of course, ends up in Neverland and has fantastic adventures with Peter Pan, Tiger Lily, and Tink, along with realizing unexpected connections to the Darling family. I loved meeting those familiar characters again, (I still love Smee) and seeing them from a brand new perspective. I also really enjoyed how the author fleshed out the time aspect between Neverland and “the real world” and was able to manipulate time seamlessly and believably within the storyline.
“We all waver. What’s important is making the right choice in the end.”
How It All Stacked Up:
🌟🌟🌟🌟
I really enjoyed this book – it felt familiar and comforting, but also brand new. It was a lovely escape - if you enjoy fractured fairy tales or classic retellings, give this one a go!
August 26, 2017
I'm not quite sure what to say about this story. It wasn't a bad story. In fact, I think many people will find it entertaining. Unfortunately, it just wasn't for me. I gave it 3 stars, instead of 2, because when I discuss it, it sounds very entertaining. The problem is I was bored while reading it. I almost gave up a few times and I was glad when I finished. Maybe I just wasn't in the mood? Whatever the reason, I felt that it deserved more stars than my enjoyment of the book would indicate.
Where did it go wrong for me? I think just the fact that I hadn't considered that at it's core any story about Captain Hook is a pirate story. I read Treasure Island recently and that didn't work for me either. It seems that the theme just doesn't hold my interest.
Why might you like it? The writing is very good and I thought the author did a great job incorporating all the tidbits from Peter Pan and explaining the "real" story. I think it could be a really fun story for someone that enjoys pirates, ships, mermaids, a bit of romance, and a very cool crocodile.
Overall, I think I'd go with 2.5 stars, but I'm rounding up because I feel this is a case of me choosing the wrong book more so than any real problem with the book. Give it a try and see what you think.
Thank you to NetGalley and Scribner for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Where did it go wrong for me? I think just the fact that I hadn't considered that at it's core any story about Captain Hook is a pirate story. I read Treasure Island recently and that didn't work for me either. It seems that the theme just doesn't hold my interest.
Why might you like it? The writing is very good and I thought the author did a great job incorporating all the tidbits from Peter Pan and explaining the "real" story. I think it could be a really fun story for someone that enjoys pirates, ships, mermaids, a bit of romance, and a very cool crocodile.
Overall, I think I'd go with 2.5 stars, but I'm rounding up because I feel this is a case of me choosing the wrong book more so than any real problem with the book. Give it a try and see what you think.
Thank you to NetGalley and Scribner for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 3, 2020
4*
The story of Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie was all lies.
James Cook (aka Captain Hook) is not a villain, but is rather a misunderstood good guy. Even the crocodile is maligned. The crocodile, Daisy is in truth a sweet loving character.
Peter Pan is actually a shallow, stupid young boy rather than a hero.
Tinkerbell is in love with Hook, rather than Peter Pan, and is actually a vicious, jealous bitch.
J.M. Barrie has a lot to answer for. His desire to make money means that he twisted the truth.
Shame!! on him.
This story made me smile the whole way through.
I loved this alternative twist to the famous story. It was such an amusing and quaint story.
The story was so convincing that it becomes the preferred version for me. From now on, when I see a film about Peter Pan I will be saying "That's not right!" The story will never be the same.
I liked the writing style. It was easy to read and I was carried away with the plot.
The story is one that young adults would enjoy. There is some violence and adult concepts but would be suitable for teenagers around 14 or 15.
My rating criteria is..
I round down
5.0 - Amazing
4.5 - I loved it
4.0 - I liked it a lot
3.5 - I Liked it
3.0 - It was OK
2.5 - Just
2.0 - I wouldn't bother
1.5 - I didn't like it much
1.0 - I disliked it
The story of Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie was all lies.
James Cook (aka Captain Hook) is not a villain, but is rather a misunderstood good guy. Even the crocodile is maligned. The crocodile, Daisy is in truth a sweet loving character.
Peter Pan is actually a shallow, stupid young boy rather than a hero.
Tinkerbell is in love with Hook, rather than Peter Pan, and is actually a vicious, jealous bitch.
J.M. Barrie has a lot to answer for. His desire to make money means that he twisted the truth.
Shame!! on him.
This story made me smile the whole way through.
I loved this alternative twist to the famous story. It was such an amusing and quaint story.
The story was so convincing that it becomes the preferred version for me. From now on, when I see a film about Peter Pan I will be saying "That's not right!" The story will never be the same.
I liked the writing style. It was easy to read and I was carried away with the plot.
The story is one that young adults would enjoy. There is some violence and adult concepts but would be suitable for teenagers around 14 or 15.
My rating criteria is..
I round down
5.0 - Amazing
4.5 - I loved it
4.0 - I liked it a lot
3.5 - I Liked it
3.0 - It was OK
2.5 - Just
2.0 - I wouldn't bother
1.5 - I didn't like it much
1.0 - I disliked it
February 8, 2018
Barely started it before it utterly lost my interest.
November 24, 2020
Absolutely delightful and a very entertaining read about Captain Hooks origin story. One of the better retailings out there and a book I will definitely reread time and time again.
July 18, 2017
*I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
I’m a sucker for Peter Pan retellings, so I was super excited to be approved for this book — I haven’t read any novels about Hook, so it’s a new, interesting take on the typical Peter Pan fairy tale.
I enjoyed learning about Hook’s backstory and general history; it was interesting to have the idea of an innocent Hook put into a 19th-century England. My favorite parts were being able to get a different perspective about his story in general, with the pirates and the crocodile; I especially enjoyed the conflicts with Hook’s father and how his father was the one who led him to Neverland in the first place. Seeing Neverland and Peter Pan himself viewed through a different perspective was also really fun. It’s not as dark as the TV show Once Upon a Time made the Peter Pan story, but it’s different, which is what I look for in retellings.
With that said, I do feel like the story is lacking *something.* The writing style wasn’t my favorite; it leaned too heavily on cliffhangers where Hook would say something foreboding about the future and then we’d get a chapter break. While this is a fun technique when used sparingly, I feel like it happened almost every chapter break, which I was not a fan of. And while I understand it’s Hook’s memoir, I wish there were more about the overall Neverland legend and more story building in general rather than Hook’s reminiscences. There’s also a surprising amount of references to sex. While I understand he’s a teenage boy, I’m not sure what Hook having a wet dream or him obsessing over a mermaid with large boobs really added to the story. Instead of that, I wanted more adventure or maybe even just more worldbuilding regarding Neverland itself.
Regardless of the weaknesses, I think it’s an interesting book that some might enjoy. The ending is the strongest part of the book, and it was interesting to see how it was ultimately Hook’s responsibility for Peter finding the Darlings and for Peter’s general shenanigans in London. Overall, I thought it was interesting, but it wasn’t as good as I thought it was going to be. Some of the more interesting things were glossed over and some uninteresting things were given way too much page time. Check it out if you’re intrigued, but it’s not a must-read.
Also posted on Purple People Readers.
I’m a sucker for Peter Pan retellings, so I was super excited to be approved for this book — I haven’t read any novels about Hook, so it’s a new, interesting take on the typical Peter Pan fairy tale.
I enjoyed learning about Hook’s backstory and general history; it was interesting to have the idea of an innocent Hook put into a 19th-century England. My favorite parts were being able to get a different perspective about his story in general, with the pirates and the crocodile; I especially enjoyed the conflicts with Hook’s father and how his father was the one who led him to Neverland in the first place. Seeing Neverland and Peter Pan himself viewed through a different perspective was also really fun. It’s not as dark as the TV show Once Upon a Time made the Peter Pan story, but it’s different, which is what I look for in retellings.
With that said, I do feel like the story is lacking *something.* The writing style wasn’t my favorite; it leaned too heavily on cliffhangers where Hook would say something foreboding about the future and then we’d get a chapter break. While this is a fun technique when used sparingly, I feel like it happened almost every chapter break, which I was not a fan of. And while I understand it’s Hook’s memoir, I wish there were more about the overall Neverland legend and more story building in general rather than Hook’s reminiscences. There’s also a surprising amount of references to sex. While I understand he’s a teenage boy, I’m not sure what Hook having a wet dream or him obsessing over a mermaid with large boobs really added to the story. Instead of that, I wanted more adventure or maybe even just more worldbuilding regarding Neverland itself.
Regardless of the weaknesses, I think it’s an interesting book that some might enjoy. The ending is the strongest part of the book, and it was interesting to see how it was ultimately Hook’s responsibility for Peter finding the Darlings and for Peter’s general shenanigans in London. Overall, I thought it was interesting, but it wasn’t as good as I thought it was going to be. Some of the more interesting things were glossed over and some uninteresting things were given way too much page time. Check it out if you’re intrigued, but it’s not a must-read.
Also posted on Purple People Readers.
August 17, 2017
First sentence: When I was six years old or thereabouts, I had a horrific nightmare that I still remember quite clearly.
Premise/plot: Hook's Tale is the long-lost, recently-found "memoir" of Captain James Cook. I recommend it to anyone who loves or hates Peter Pan. It is a retelling. Mind you, it is not a silly retelling, or an overly romantic retelling, or an obnoxious retelling. It is a CLEVER retelling. The adventure really begins when our hero--at age of 14--is kidnapped at an inn and forced into the Navy. In his possession--hidden in a book--is a map, a treasure map. He shares this map, and, well, the results are mixed. His life will NEVER be the same again.
My thoughts: I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this one. I didn't love everything about it. (There were a few scenes that led to it being a bit adult in content.) But overall, I LOVED it. I loved the hero. I loved him as a young boy, as a teen, as a man, as an old man. (Not that he was perfect mind you.) I love the contrast between him and Peter. The character of Peter is so chilling, so creepy, so ODD. There were so many FANTASTIC scenes in this one. It was just a great read. I loved how time worked--or didn't work--in this one.
Premise/plot: Hook's Tale is the long-lost, recently-found "memoir" of Captain James Cook. I recommend it to anyone who loves or hates Peter Pan. It is a retelling. Mind you, it is not a silly retelling, or an overly romantic retelling, or an obnoxious retelling. It is a CLEVER retelling. The adventure really begins when our hero--at age of 14--is kidnapped at an inn and forced into the Navy. In his possession--hidden in a book--is a map, a treasure map. He shares this map, and, well, the results are mixed. His life will NEVER be the same again.
My thoughts: I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this one. I didn't love everything about it. (There were a few scenes that led to it being a bit adult in content.) But overall, I LOVED it. I loved the hero. I loved him as a young boy, as a teen, as a man, as an old man. (Not that he was perfect mind you.) I love the contrast between him and Peter. The character of Peter is so chilling, so creepy, so ODD. There were so many FANTASTIC scenes in this one. It was just a great read. I loved how time worked--or didn't work--in this one.
September 27, 2023
This book is. . . odd. Clever. A bit bleak. Strangely humorous at times and occasionally dark.
I’m not even sure how to describe it, which is funny given that it’s not actually that bizarre/out there compared to what I’ve heard about other Peter Pan retellings. It has a weird feel to it is all I can say, but boy did I find it interesting.
This is the first Peter Pan spinoff I’ve read. It features, in no particular order:
-a pet crocodile, Daisy, who casually gnaws on the hand of her owner and licks the blood, which isn’t cause for alarm at all
-a whirlwind romance & engagement with Tiger Lily (like bro you met her 24 hours ago chill out)
-a vivisectionist who does not limit his practice to members of kingdom animalia
-an old man who, in a Dickens-esque twist and the greatest WTH moment of the book, burns to a crisp in his own bed
-a Jack the Ripper subplot that isn’t expounded upon enough
So if that's your thing.
As you might imagine, this was a ride. And whatever else it may be, it sure as heck was intriguing. I’ll start with things I liked.
1. The way Neverland and similar elements were handled. I loved the idea of Neverland being in the Bermuda Triangle, and the way it warped latitude & longitude, as well as time in general. It was very much in the vein of the original.
2. The portrayal of Peter. A lot of retellings from Hook’s perspective make Peter the villain—and though that is how our main character views him, this isn’t really how it feels from a reader's perspective. In this version Peter is less of a bloodthirsty sociopath and more of a clueless, forgetful kid who doesn’t have the maturity to be empathetic. When Hook referred to him as his sworn enemy at the beginning, I was actually expecting him to have, you know, intentionally hurt him with malicious intent. Which. . . really isn’t the case at all.
3. Hook’s early life in general—and how he even ended up at sea—was believable and realistic to the time period. For this reason, it was a bit less whimsical and a little more grounded. And more pirate-centric, which was cool.
4. All of the parallels to the original! I read Peter Pan last month, and it was fun to see the connections—even in a few sentences that I recognized, albeit used in different situations. The way the author mixed things up and made a plausible explanation for (almost) everything was impressive. The “pirates”, Hook’s connection with the Darlings, the real reason he kidnapped Wendy and the Lost Boys—it was all very well-done.
That being said, I feel like there’s something lacking about this story—like it could have been so much more. It came just shy of having that certain spark, if that makes any sense. And part of that, I think, was the narrative voice. It felt off sometimes, a bit emotionally distant. There was emotion in it, yes, but some scenes seemed very glazed-over and indifferent.
For example—back to I mean, yeah, he isn’t a fan of the guy, and that’s understandable. Thing is, he barely blinked an eye at the whole disaster. Given that that’s such a horrible way to die, you’d expect a certain degree of. . . horror from our MC? Remorse? But his reaction is basically “oops imma head out” and I’m sorry but no. He should at least be disturbed. Good grief.
This isn’t the only moment that caused me to raise an eyebrow. There were some parts in this book that were just. . . weird. The story started pretty solidly, but in Part Two—which is where the scene mentioned above took place—it kinda became a little wacky. I’m almost positive that this has to do with, again, the MC’s reactions. Another example because I’m generous like that—after thinking he’s lost his crocodile for good (long story), he enters a room to find said crocodile eating someone alive. The guy is screaming, blood is spraying everywhere, et cetera. So naturally, after the demise of the unfortunate chap, Hook promptly runs to hug his pet, thrilled to see her again and unfazed by the mess. Granted, . But it’s mostly a matter of the possible trauma and shock seeing an event like that would cause, and while Hook says it was a horrible sight, he does not succeed in convincing the reader that he means it. I don’t know, guys. It was bizarre.
If more time had been taken to process these events in a slightly more believable fashion, I think they would have worked. The thing is that his main objective is to show what really happened with him and Peter Pan, so the events in the middle of the book don’t get as much attention. *cough* like the Jack the Ripper subplot *cough*
It really is difficult to say what I thought of this one, although I'm not terribly fond of it overall. I might also add that it’s not completely clean content-wise; it’s classified as adult fiction and kinda rides the line between YA and adult, but it’s definitely not a kids’ book. What keeps me from rating this any lower, frankly, is the strong ending. I had very mixed feelings while reading the middle of the book, but the last quarter was much, much better. It felt less odd and more of what I was expecting in a Peter Pan retelling. It wrapped up in a slightly gloomy yet satisfying manner, which is more than I can say for many novels.
I don’t unreservedly recommend this unless you’re genuinely interested in Peter Pan spinoffs, but it was undeniably fascinating.
2.5 stars.
I’m not even sure how to describe it, which is funny given that it’s not actually that bizarre/out there compared to what I’ve heard about other Peter Pan retellings. It has a weird feel to it is all I can say, but boy did I find it interesting.
This is the first Peter Pan spinoff I’ve read. It features, in no particular order:
-a pet crocodile, Daisy, who casually gnaws on the hand of her owner and licks the blood, which isn’t cause for alarm at all
-a whirlwind romance & engagement with Tiger Lily (like bro you met her 24 hours ago chill out)
-a vivisectionist who does not limit his practice to members of kingdom animalia
-an old man who, in a Dickens-esque twist and the greatest WTH moment of the book, burns to a crisp in his own bed
-a Jack the Ripper subplot that isn’t expounded upon enough
So if that's your thing.
As you might imagine, this was a ride. And whatever else it may be, it sure as heck was intriguing. I’ll start with things I liked.
1. The way Neverland and similar elements were handled. I loved the idea of Neverland being in the Bermuda Triangle, and the way it warped latitude & longitude, as well as time in general. It was very much in the vein of the original.
2. The portrayal of Peter. A lot of retellings from Hook’s perspective make Peter the villain—and though that is how our main character views him, this isn’t really how it feels from a reader's perspective. In this version Peter is less of a bloodthirsty sociopath and more of a clueless, forgetful kid who doesn’t have the maturity to be empathetic. When Hook referred to him as his sworn enemy at the beginning, I was actually expecting him to have, you know, intentionally hurt him with malicious intent. Which. . . really isn’t the case at all.
3. Hook’s early life in general—and how he even ended up at sea—was believable and realistic to the time period. For this reason, it was a bit less whimsical and a little more grounded. And more pirate-centric, which was cool.
4. All of the parallels to the original! I read Peter Pan last month, and it was fun to see the connections—even in a few sentences that I recognized, albeit used in different situations. The way the author mixed things up and made a plausible explanation for (almost) everything was impressive. The “pirates”, Hook’s connection with the Darlings, the real reason he kidnapped Wendy and the Lost Boys—it was all very well-done.
That being said, I feel like there’s something lacking about this story—like it could have been so much more. It came just shy of having that certain spark, if that makes any sense. And part of that, I think, was the narrative voice. It felt off sometimes, a bit emotionally distant. There was emotion in it, yes, but some scenes seemed very glazed-over and indifferent.
For example—back to I mean, yeah, he isn’t a fan of the guy, and that’s understandable. Thing is, he barely blinked an eye at the whole disaster. Given that that’s such a horrible way to die, you’d expect a certain degree of. . . horror from our MC? Remorse? But his reaction is basically “oops imma head out” and I’m sorry but no. He should at least be disturbed. Good grief.
This isn’t the only moment that caused me to raise an eyebrow. There were some parts in this book that were just. . . weird. The story started pretty solidly, but in Part Two—which is where the scene mentioned above took place—it kinda became a little wacky. I’m almost positive that this has to do with, again, the MC’s reactions. Another example because I’m generous like that—after thinking he’s lost his crocodile for good (long story), he enters a room to find said crocodile eating someone alive. The guy is screaming, blood is spraying everywhere, et cetera. So naturally, after the demise of the unfortunate chap, Hook promptly runs to hug his pet, thrilled to see her again and unfazed by the mess. Granted, . But it’s mostly a matter of the possible trauma and shock seeing an event like that would cause, and while Hook says it was a horrible sight, he does not succeed in convincing the reader that he means it. I don’t know, guys. It was bizarre.
If more time had been taken to process these events in a slightly more believable fashion, I think they would have worked. The thing is that his main objective is to show what really happened with him and Peter Pan, so the events in the middle of the book don’t get as much attention. *cough* like the Jack the Ripper subplot *cough*
It really is difficult to say what I thought of this one, although I'm not terribly fond of it overall. I might also add that it’s not completely clean content-wise; it’s classified as adult fiction and kinda rides the line between YA and adult, but it’s definitely not a kids’ book. What keeps me from rating this any lower, frankly, is the strong ending. I had very mixed feelings while reading the middle of the book, but the last quarter was much, much better. It felt less odd and more of what I was expecting in a Peter Pan retelling. It wrapped up in a slightly gloomy yet satisfying manner, which is more than I can say for many novels.
I don’t unreservedly recommend this unless you’re genuinely interested in Peter Pan spinoffs, but it was undeniably fascinating.
2.5 stars.
July 13, 2017
It is easiest to say that this book is the Captain Hook version of Wicked by Gregory Maguire but that does a disservice to both Mr. Maguire and Mr. Pielmeier (or theoretically Mr. Cook himself as this is presented as a memoir). Similar to many of Maguire's books, this book is a different version of a well-known and loved tale. But, after that the similarities end. Maguire's work is much more intricate and high brow (in a good way). Pielmeier (or Cook, you pick) presents the tale as a memoir and in a much more casual, accessible format. I really enjoyed how Cook showed that he isn't the villian we all think of him as but is in fact the maligned hero of the story. This is definitely a fun book and one that would be great to read with/to a younger reader.
A copy of this book was provided by NetGalley and Scribner in exchange for an honest review.
A copy of this book was provided by NetGalley and Scribner in exchange for an honest review.
March 23, 2023
I knew I would love this book. I listened to it on Audible. It is read by the author himself and he did fantastic. This is a very interesting take on the classic Peter Pan. It is told in the first person. I haven’t read anything in that style in a long time so it was cool. I highly recommend this one. I will probably buy it to put on my bookshelf.
June 15, 2018
Really enjoyed this book!!!
January 5, 2019
Loved it! Such a refreshing take and angle from the regular Peter pan story.
July 9, 2021
Officially my most favorite Peter Pan retelling of all time. We’ve been lied to… and Captain Hook sets the record straight in a way that absolutely captures the imagination. I’ll never look at him (or the crocodile) the same way again.
March 17, 2017
Who is Captain Hook? Where did he come from? This book seeks to answer your questions!
Hook’s Tale was hard for me to get into at first because of the style that it is written, frilly and long winded like Treasure Island or Robinson Crusoe, which is fine because some people like that but for me it’s hard to pay attention. If you can hang in there for the first 75 pages or so you are in for a real treat though because the story itself is very cleverly woven around the things we already know about Captain Hook.
One thing I enjoyed about the story was that Neverland was actually a “Bermuda triangle” of sorts, where ships would sail in on accident and then couldn’t find their way out again. The mystery of the slowed aging was also an excellent aspect of the book. Ok, cool, no more sailing into outer-space on a pirate ship, I dig.
The characters themselves are expertly written, building on what Barrie had written already and adding to what may have made them, them. Peter is a child obviously, always living in the moment as we know that children do. ‘Yesterday’ could be the day before or years ago, ‘tomorrow’ having the same span of time. I loved the dynamics with the Indians and the mermaids. You get to find out where all the other crew mates of the Jolly Roger came from, the Lost Boys, uuhhgg *gasp* it was a wonderful continuation, and hard to talk about without spoiling it!
This book is all about the imagery so there are long passages of description, clothing, scenery, ships rigging, lots of time spent describing, especially in the first 20% of the book or so. Once the characters arrive in Neverland there is much more action and less narration happening which is great for the story. The world created by the author has the look and feel, even the smell of the Neverland that we know and love. Even though I haven’t read it, it is how I would imagine the real Peter Pan story would be written, which is great.
One thing I loved so much about this story is the END!! OMG the end was so amazing, because you know that somehow we have to get from this young, fun loving friend of Peter Pan to the hardened, horrible angry Captain Hook. But HOW?! We arrive there in a heartbreaking fashion, which is extra special for me because I enjoy it when a book rips my heart out. And I’m not just saying that either, I truly love it.
I think this story is exactly what a young adult or adult reader would crave to read when they wanted to further explore Neverland and how the story that we know with Wendy began. If you enjoyed Wicked by Gregory Maguire or Heartless by Melissa Meyer, or anything to do with Peter Pan and Neverland, than I think that you would enjoy this book as well.
*I received this book for free in exchange for a fair and honest review from NetGalley*
Hook’s Tale was hard for me to get into at first because of the style that it is written, frilly and long winded like Treasure Island or Robinson Crusoe, which is fine because some people like that but for me it’s hard to pay attention. If you can hang in there for the first 75 pages or so you are in for a real treat though because the story itself is very cleverly woven around the things we already know about Captain Hook.
One thing I enjoyed about the story was that Neverland was actually a “Bermuda triangle” of sorts, where ships would sail in on accident and then couldn’t find their way out again. The mystery of the slowed aging was also an excellent aspect of the book. Ok, cool, no more sailing into outer-space on a pirate ship, I dig.
The characters themselves are expertly written, building on what Barrie had written already and adding to what may have made them, them. Peter is a child obviously, always living in the moment as we know that children do. ‘Yesterday’ could be the day before or years ago, ‘tomorrow’ having the same span of time. I loved the dynamics with the Indians and the mermaids. You get to find out where all the other crew mates of the Jolly Roger came from, the Lost Boys, uuhhgg *gasp* it was a wonderful continuation, and hard to talk about without spoiling it!
This book is all about the imagery so there are long passages of description, clothing, scenery, ships rigging, lots of time spent describing, especially in the first 20% of the book or so. Once the characters arrive in Neverland there is much more action and less narration happening which is great for the story. The world created by the author has the look and feel, even the smell of the Neverland that we know and love. Even though I haven’t read it, it is how I would imagine the real Peter Pan story would be written, which is great.
One thing I loved so much about this story is the END!! OMG the end was so amazing, because you know that somehow we have to get from this young, fun loving friend of Peter Pan to the hardened, horrible angry Captain Hook. But HOW?! We arrive there in a heartbreaking fashion, which is extra special for me because I enjoy it when a book rips my heart out. And I’m not just saying that either, I truly love it.
I think this story is exactly what a young adult or adult reader would crave to read when they wanted to further explore Neverland and how the story that we know with Wendy began. If you enjoyed Wicked by Gregory Maguire or Heartless by Melissa Meyer, or anything to do with Peter Pan and Neverland, than I think that you would enjoy this book as well.
*I received this book for free in exchange for a fair and honest review from NetGalley*
February 20, 2017
If you’re a fan of Gregory Maguire then you should like what John Leonard Pielmeier did for the infamous Captain Hook AKA Captain James Cook. I was curious to see what he could do with a man who has always been depicted as a bit psychopathic but this author wanted to show his ‘softer side’. I figured it had to be interesting after the TV show Once Upon a Time on ABC turned Peter Pan into an evil antisocial villain.
I liked that Pielmeier wrote it in first person so we get James’ story through his own eyes so to speak. One of the nice things also about the way he started this is that you get to see his beginnings and remember even the most ‘evil’ of us started out as innocent children before circumstances turned them into the villain of stories.
James is not only portrayed as someone with a seemingly normal, healthy (for the era at least) upbringing but also quite intelligent and with a loquacious vocabulary which would make sense because despite how Disney portrays his role, to captain a ship of the type he did takes complex cognitive skills.
You can see the first stirrings in his psychological development begin to change when he became an orphan, essentially homeless, most of his belongings taken away, then finally became the target of bullying. All of which would of course leave permanent scarring on even the strongest of us.
The elements of Peter Pan’s story we’ve all come to know such as The Mermaid’s Lagoon, Tink, the Jolly Roger, Smee, Tiger Lily and more but the perspective obviously is different. It’s a very adult way of looking at the childhood classic which of course it would be considering how Hook fit into the story in the first place. There were moments you had to feel for Hook such as when he found his boyhood shadow and felt a little tug at your heart knowing he’s right that at some point we outgrow our childhood. Others when he seemed to blame himself for Pan’s inability to stop committing felony kidnapping, at least that was how Hook viewed his actions.
I found Pielmeier’s character development and implied psychoanalysis of Hook interesting as you get to see how he was formed into the man who would one day be an infamous captain. The dialogue felt realistic for the piece, the plotline ran smoothly and there was a fun “Where’s Waldo” like feel whenever familiar places, people and events popped up.
Since we’ve always seen what Peter Pan was doing, reading this aspect we get to imagine what Hook was doing when Pan wasn’t around. It’s not like he just sat on his ship nearby waiting for Pan to give his life meaning. Just like in ABC’s version, Pan comes off not so much as the quintessential hero but as an equally flawed character who from the Captain’s point of view was not a saint to be worshipped but a sinner who should face the consequences of his actions.
If you’ve ever been interested in an alternate view of the classic stories we grew up with then you should check this out and let Hook be your guide to where time stops.
I liked that Pielmeier wrote it in first person so we get James’ story through his own eyes so to speak. One of the nice things also about the way he started this is that you get to see his beginnings and remember even the most ‘evil’ of us started out as innocent children before circumstances turned them into the villain of stories.
James is not only portrayed as someone with a seemingly normal, healthy (for the era at least) upbringing but also quite intelligent and with a loquacious vocabulary which would make sense because despite how Disney portrays his role, to captain a ship of the type he did takes complex cognitive skills.
You can see the first stirrings in his psychological development begin to change when he became an orphan, essentially homeless, most of his belongings taken away, then finally became the target of bullying. All of which would of course leave permanent scarring on even the strongest of us.
The elements of Peter Pan’s story we’ve all come to know such as The Mermaid’s Lagoon, Tink, the Jolly Roger, Smee, Tiger Lily and more but the perspective obviously is different. It’s a very adult way of looking at the childhood classic which of course it would be considering how Hook fit into the story in the first place. There were moments you had to feel for Hook such as when he found his boyhood shadow and felt a little tug at your heart knowing he’s right that at some point we outgrow our childhood. Others when he seemed to blame himself for Pan’s inability to stop committing felony kidnapping, at least that was how Hook viewed his actions.
I found Pielmeier’s character development and implied psychoanalysis of Hook interesting as you get to see how he was formed into the man who would one day be an infamous captain. The dialogue felt realistic for the piece, the plotline ran smoothly and there was a fun “Where’s Waldo” like feel whenever familiar places, people and events popped up.
Since we’ve always seen what Peter Pan was doing, reading this aspect we get to imagine what Hook was doing when Pan wasn’t around. It’s not like he just sat on his ship nearby waiting for Pan to give his life meaning. Just like in ABC’s version, Pan comes off not so much as the quintessential hero but as an equally flawed character who from the Captain’s point of view was not a saint to be worshipped but a sinner who should face the consequences of his actions.
If you’ve ever been interested in an alternate view of the classic stories we grew up with then you should check this out and let Hook be your guide to where time stops.
February 13, 2017
I was drawn to the story, the idea of a sympathetic depiction of a classic childhood villain (the older I get, the more Peter Pan strikes me as a nasty little psychopath). Unfortunately, I didn't feel that the author delivered...I didn't find any true character development. I thank the publisher and Edelweiss for the opportunity to read the eARC.
February 16, 2018
Bloody hell. Loved it :)
July 8, 2017
Hook’s Tale: Being the Account of an Unjustly Villainized Pirate Written by Himself by John Pielmeier is a reimagining of the famous play Peter Pan, this time from the point of view of Captain Hook. Mr. Pielmeier is an award winning playwright and screenwriter.
The story begins as our protagonist is kidnapped into the naval service as a cabin boy. He soon discovers a treasure map, as all good pirate kids do, and manages to get his ship into the archipelago.
During his adventures, the boy manages to fall in love, learn to fly, grow a pet crocodile and befriend a forgetful boy that never ages named Peter.The Captain Hook we all think about in our heads is the one from the Disney movie, even recent adaptations have the trademark Hook features which Disney ingrained in our collective memories.
To be fair, the Disney adaptation is not far off the mark and Dustin Hoffman’s Hook in the 2003 movie is spot on, as if right out of J.M. Barrie’s play.
I always thought of Captain Hook as the allegory for the quintessential English father. A humorless disciplinarian, whose word is the law in his castle, who thrives on punishments and gets riled up at the smallest infraction from his family.
The character I always equated with Captain Hook, in my childish mind, was Mr. Banks, the patriarch of the Banks family from the popular books by P. L. Travers and movie by Disney who hires a magical nanny by the name of Mary Poppins.
I know only two English fathers, both living in the US and both are great fathers.
The two characters are in a similar profession (Mr. Banks “robs” his kids of their savings, after all) but unlike Captain Hook, Mr. Banks sees redemption at the end of his story. I say “his story” because Mary Poppins is, after all, the story of Mr. Banks, a realist in a world of dreamers. Captain Hook is also a realist, living in a world which is ready for the plunging, only to be stopped by a mischievous boy who never grows up.
In his book Hook’s Tale: Being the Account of an Unjustly Villainized Pirate Written by Himself, John Pielmeier takes it upon himself to turn the Barrie’s tale upside down. After all, not all antagonists are evil, not all protagonists are champions, and we are all the heroes in our own stories.
Unlike Mr. Banks, Captain Hook starts out as an optimist, a man whose world is at his feet for the taking through hard-work, perseverance and integrity. Hook is a man of integrity and fierce loyalty – how exactly did he become the stone cold, hardened pirate of legends is what this book is about.
To enjoy this book, it’s good to be familiar with the character of Hook from the original play. Mr. Pielmeier took the character, from the play not the movie, and expended on him. A highly educated man, poor but from a prominent sea-fairing family (To reveal who he really was would even at this date set the country in a blaze”) and a scalawag of the seas. Even pirates are afraid of Captain Hook.
I enjoyed the style of writing very much, long winded, wordy but with a certain charm and rhythm that works. Much like the books of old which were meant to be read aloud, to an audience, and not to oneself in privacy. The language tells a story which is rich and clever, takes advantage of things the audience knows, expands on them or turns them on their heads.
You never know.
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The story begins as our protagonist is kidnapped into the naval service as a cabin boy. He soon discovers a treasure map, as all good pirate kids do, and manages to get his ship into the archipelago.
During his adventures, the boy manages to fall in love, learn to fly, grow a pet crocodile and befriend a forgetful boy that never ages named Peter.The Captain Hook we all think about in our heads is the one from the Disney movie, even recent adaptations have the trademark Hook features which Disney ingrained in our collective memories.
To be fair, the Disney adaptation is not far off the mark and Dustin Hoffman’s Hook in the 2003 movie is spot on, as if right out of J.M. Barrie’s play.
I always thought of Captain Hook as the allegory for the quintessential English father. A humorless disciplinarian, whose word is the law in his castle, who thrives on punishments and gets riled up at the smallest infraction from his family.
The character I always equated with Captain Hook, in my childish mind, was Mr. Banks, the patriarch of the Banks family from the popular books by P. L. Travers and movie by Disney who hires a magical nanny by the name of Mary Poppins.
I know only two English fathers, both living in the US and both are great fathers.
The two characters are in a similar profession (Mr. Banks “robs” his kids of their savings, after all) but unlike Captain Hook, Mr. Banks sees redemption at the end of his story. I say “his story” because Mary Poppins is, after all, the story of Mr. Banks, a realist in a world of dreamers. Captain Hook is also a realist, living in a world which is ready for the plunging, only to be stopped by a mischievous boy who never grows up.
In his book Hook’s Tale: Being the Account of an Unjustly Villainized Pirate Written by Himself, John Pielmeier takes it upon himself to turn the Barrie’s tale upside down. After all, not all antagonists are evil, not all protagonists are champions, and we are all the heroes in our own stories.
Unlike Mr. Banks, Captain Hook starts out as an optimist, a man whose world is at his feet for the taking through hard-work, perseverance and integrity. Hook is a man of integrity and fierce loyalty – how exactly did he become the stone cold, hardened pirate of legends is what this book is about.
To enjoy this book, it’s good to be familiar with the character of Hook from the original play. Mr. Pielmeier took the character, from the play not the movie, and expended on him. A highly educated man, poor but from a prominent sea-fairing family (To reveal who he really was would even at this date set the country in a blaze”) and a scalawag of the seas. Even pirates are afraid of Captain Hook.
I enjoyed the style of writing very much, long winded, wordy but with a certain charm and rhythm that works. Much like the books of old which were meant to be read aloud, to an audience, and not to oneself in privacy. The language tells a story which is rich and clever, takes advantage of things the audience knows, expands on them or turns them on their heads.
You never know.
For more reviews and bookish posts please visit: http://www.ManOfLaBook.com
November 4, 2017
I love it when the villain gets to tell their side of the story .... and in this instance, it is the tale of Captain James Cook - of Captain Hook as he became known.
Yes, this is the story one that famous piratical character that has terrified children worldwide - Captain Hook! Here, the story is told through the eyes of young James Cook, who following misfortune, finds himself pressed into service with the Royal Navy. A treasure maps leads the mutinous crew to Neverland where ".. the rules - the laws of astronomy and geography and physics - even Time - all broken.."
Suffered to perish for abandoning his post and allowing the enemy (pirates) to attack, young James is rescued by none other than one Peter Pan. From this point on, James meets the characters of the traditional story - Tiger-Lily, Tinkerbell, the Darling family. The story behind James' loss of this hand, his revenge, and the tales of the lost boys is revealed.
It is a charming story of Pan's nemesis Captain Hook as told by Hook himself, or rather James Cook. It is quite captivating in its narration, keeping the story peppered with elements of JM Barrie's original work.
Simon & Schuster: A rollicking debut novel from award-winning playwright and screenwriter John Pielmeier reimagines the childhood of the much maligned Captain Hook: his quest for buried treasure, his friendship with Peter Pan, and the story behind the swashbuckling world of Neverland.
Kirkus Review: The author's thorough, affectionate knowledge of both the original book and the historical period grounds this fantasy in rich detail.
Yes, this is the story one that famous piratical character that has terrified children worldwide - Captain Hook! Here, the story is told through the eyes of young James Cook, who following misfortune, finds himself pressed into service with the Royal Navy. A treasure maps leads the mutinous crew to Neverland where ".. the rules - the laws of astronomy and geography and physics - even Time - all broken.."
Suffered to perish for abandoning his post and allowing the enemy (pirates) to attack, young James is rescued by none other than one Peter Pan. From this point on, James meets the characters of the traditional story - Tiger-Lily, Tinkerbell, the Darling family. The story behind James' loss of this hand, his revenge, and the tales of the lost boys is revealed.
It is a charming story of Pan's nemesis Captain Hook as told by Hook himself, or rather James Cook. It is quite captivating in its narration, keeping the story peppered with elements of JM Barrie's original work.
Simon & Schuster: A rollicking debut novel from award-winning playwright and screenwriter John Pielmeier reimagines the childhood of the much maligned Captain Hook: his quest for buried treasure, his friendship with Peter Pan, and the story behind the swashbuckling world of Neverland.
Kirkus Review: The author's thorough, affectionate knowledge of both the original book and the historical period grounds this fantasy in rich detail.
August 20, 2020
This summer, I read the fictional book “Hook’s Tale: Being the Account of an Unjustly Villianized Pirate Written by Himself” by John Leonard Pielmeier. The book is written from the perspective of James Cook, more well known as Captain Hook, as he retells his tragic life story and corrects the common notions about his journey. He starts the story with his childhood and describes his complicated relationship with Peter Pan, the character we incorrectly believe to be the heroic protagonist of this often inaccurately portrayed story. I found this book in a Half Price Bookstore. I was drawn to it because of its interesting and new perspective on one of my favorite tales.
This book has certainly changed my perspective on society and how it commonly takes what it is told at a young age to be the truth and never learns to question it. Many fairy tales that we remember as we age have been told to us our entire lives in one way. We tend to continue to believe that the way we were originally told the story is the only correct way of portraying it. This book helped me to look past this wall in our brains and explore a story and its characters deeper. For example, since most of us had been told that the main character of this book was named Captain Hook, most of us never bothered to question that or consider the possibility that his name wasn’t that. In “Hook’s Tale”, “Hook” writes, “I will begin with my name. It is Cook, it always has been Cook, I was christened Cook, confirmed Cook, and Cook shall remain.” (Pielmeier 21-22). We also assume that Cook looked like King Charles II, as he is most commonly depicted as such. Cook writes on the contrary stating, “I will always be depicted as bearing an unfortunate likeness to King Charles II. Frilly shirts, long curly hair, high-heeled pumps (ye gods!) are my affected wardrobe in all depictions of the Pirate Moi, though I have never dressed as such in my entire life.” (Pielmeier 22). I appreciate that this book reminds me to question what I believe to be true so that I can continue to develop as an observer and a reader.
This book has certainly changed my perspective on society and how it commonly takes what it is told at a young age to be the truth and never learns to question it. Many fairy tales that we remember as we age have been told to us our entire lives in one way. We tend to continue to believe that the way we were originally told the story is the only correct way of portraying it. This book helped me to look past this wall in our brains and explore a story and its characters deeper. For example, since most of us had been told that the main character of this book was named Captain Hook, most of us never bothered to question that or consider the possibility that his name wasn’t that. In “Hook’s Tale”, “Hook” writes, “I will begin with my name. It is Cook, it always has been Cook, I was christened Cook, confirmed Cook, and Cook shall remain.” (Pielmeier 21-22). We also assume that Cook looked like King Charles II, as he is most commonly depicted as such. Cook writes on the contrary stating, “I will always be depicted as bearing an unfortunate likeness to King Charles II. Frilly shirts, long curly hair, high-heeled pumps (ye gods!) are my affected wardrobe in all depictions of the Pirate Moi, though I have never dressed as such in my entire life.” (Pielmeier 22). I appreciate that this book reminds me to question what I believe to be true so that I can continue to develop as an observer and a reader.
June 1, 2021
What started out as a knee jerk reaction to reading this after finishing Lost in the Never Woods - a Peter Pan novel with no Captain Hook present - ended with thorough enjoyment and pleasure that I had finally picked this book up.
It's written in the style of Wicked, from the point of view of the villain character who would like to redeem themselves. It begins with a summary of James' time in Eton prior to being abducted onto a ship that would then take him to Neverland. James and Peter were friends long before the Darling children, or even Tootles, first came to Neverland.
Interestingly enough, the word 'Neverland' is never used in this novel; James calls it only the Never-isles. He does this with a few things. JM Barrie is never mentioned, only named 'the Scotsman', and Peter Pan is only ever named when necessary.
I loved such details as how people who have been in Neverland don't age even once back in London, unless they are there after the sun rises, at which time their whole age catches up to them. Also, the real treasure of Neverland being the Flying Sand was a stroke of genius that had nothing to do with belief in fairies.
Honestly, there wasn't anything that was bad about this novel. It was funny and light in all the right places, weaved around the plot of the original novel skilfully, didn't shy away from the tough moments and had enough plot that I wanted the story to keep going even after the final page was done.
It's written in the style of Wicked, from the point of view of the villain character who would like to redeem themselves. It begins with a summary of James' time in Eton prior to being abducted onto a ship that would then take him to Neverland. James and Peter were friends long before the Darling children, or even Tootles, first came to Neverland.
Interestingly enough, the word 'Neverland' is never used in this novel; James calls it only the Never-isles. He does this with a few things. JM Barrie is never mentioned, only named 'the Scotsman', and Peter Pan is only ever named when necessary.
I loved such details as how people who have been in Neverland don't age even once back in London, unless they are there after the sun rises, at which time their whole age catches up to them. Also, the real treasure of Neverland being the Flying Sand was a stroke of genius that had nothing to do with belief in fairies.
Honestly, there wasn't anything that was bad about this novel. It was funny and light in all the right places, weaved around the plot of the original novel skilfully, didn't shy away from the tough moments and had enough plot that I wanted the story to keep going even after the final page was done.
December 1, 2017
I have a difficult time with these little book report stars. I enjoyed this book a lot, but I get so stressed out trying to quantify that. Was it just "okay"? Did I "like it" or "really like it"? I feel like I can't rate it higher than the Anthony Doerr I just read, because his sentences were so beautiful and the prose was just so...prosaic (sorry). But I'm starting to feel I've been a little too lenient in giving them out. So far, my philosophy has basically been that if I enjoy the book, it gets 4 stars. And I reserve 5 stars for books that just blow me out of the water (I'm talking a soul-rending and cathartic level. A tall order.) I thoroughly enjoyed this book but honestly, it wasn't on the same level as a lot of my other 4 star books. I may need to rethink my rating system. The trials I have to endure...why is life so difficult?!
Overall, the concept of the book is fun and the voice is clear. Some might disagree, but I enjoyed the Victorian- sounding dialect throughout the book and truly thought it added to the story. If you like fractured fairy tale stories like Wicked or Maleficent or Once Upon a Time, then you will enjoy this book. I think the biggest struggle of retellings is that it will always be compared to the original and unfortunately, I have yet to find one that beats it.
Overall, the concept of the book is fun and the voice is clear. Some might disagree, but I enjoyed the Victorian- sounding dialect throughout the book and truly thought it added to the story. If you like fractured fairy tale stories like Wicked or Maleficent or Once Upon a Time, then you will enjoy this book. I think the biggest struggle of retellings is that it will always be compared to the original and unfortunately, I have yet to find one that beats it.
April 4, 2018
having never read Barrie's "Peter Pan" (oh, the humanity!) i can't/won't compare the two tales... as a child we watched 'Wonderful World of Disney' every Sunday night and saw 'Peter Pan' at least three times, AND i have seen 'Hook' (with Dustin Hoffman and the beloved Robin Williams) several times, so i can say i am "familiar" with the tale... having said all that, i don't see this book as a retelling, but an honest document of what really happened, a tome that carves the "original" to pieces... hah! we all knew Peter Pan was a total asshat, liar, and all-around sadist, and quite likely a drug-using cad with psychopathic tendencies and delusions of grandeur... finally, the truth can be told... fact wins out over fiction! or something... hahahahaha! maybe this is "Peter Pan for Adults", meaning it is full of woe and heartache and violence and drug use and philandering and hatred and love and mystery and lies and all those things that children just don't want to acknowledge (hell, some adults don't!)... i found the book an easypeasy read, it just gets right to the action, slowly spinning out the bloodyhonesttruth about Peter, his pals, his adventures, and his lieslieslies!!! hah! enjoy!
October 29, 2022
My mom saw this book at the library and checked it out for me. She thought I would like it, and boy was she right. I started reading it while we were on vacation and I couldn't really get into it. It took me at least a week to pick it up again. It helped that my mom wanted to read it too. We both readd it at the same time. She finished a lot quicker than I did though. Haha. This book was just incredible. Peter Pan is one of my favorite stories and I think I liked James Cook's (Hook) version the best. It felt so real. Almost like he was telling me this story in person.
I have to say many parts of this book shocked me: Peter stealing James's shadow, killing Tiger Lily, and abducting the kids. Not to mention Raleigh actually being James's father and George Darling being his HALF BROTHER! Wendy was his half-niece!!! Oh and Daisy was just an amazing part of the story and now I want a pet crocodile :)
I have to say many parts of this book shocked me: Peter stealing James's shadow, killing Tiger Lily, and abducting the kids. Not to mention Raleigh actually being James's father and George Darling being his HALF BROTHER! Wendy was his half-niece!!! Oh and Daisy was just an amazing part of the story and now I want a pet crocodile :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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