Winnie the Pooh - SPOILERS > Likes and Comments
I love all of the Winnie-the-Pooh stories and all of the characters. I watched the animated shows as a kid and read the books. Now as an adult, I have loved listening to the audiobook. I borrowed the book a few years ago from my library and loved it enough to purchase my own copy on Audible. I got the version narrated by Peter Dennis. This is the version authorized by Christopher Milne, and Christopher wrote that if you want to meet the Pooh he knew, the Pooh his father wrote about then listen to Peter Dennis. That's a good enough endorsement for me, so I will revisit these classic stories on audio this week.
Thank you Laurie for that information about the narrator. I found it on Audible for no extra cost beyond my membership. Looking forward to listening during a nice afternoon snooze time. The seasonal rains are coming. Comfortable timing for childhood memories.
I've always felt that AA Milne's humour was missed by the child and spotted only by the adult. As a child I liked the basics of the story but the observations, morals and quirky humour were lost on me. It'll be an interesting read to revisit.
Erin wrote: "I've always felt that AA Milne's humour was missed by the child and spotted only by the adult...."It is a bit Hans Christian Andersen-like in that way: There is a layer for the child and another layer for the adult.
Lots of excellent writing like that. When I was a child, I could tell my mother was more excited about Winnie the Pooh than I was. I was interested in the comfort of being with my mom and reading a book. But I did not really understand the story. So I am reading looking forward to comfort and some understanding.
It is often said that childhood today is different than it was in the past. After reading this book, what do you think Milne would say about your childhood? What about your children's?
A. A. Milne is one of my favourite writers, not only for Winnie the Pooh, although this is my all time favourite book. It just always makes me smile. I agree his humour is very satisfying for adults. I'm looking forward to doing a reread of this one, probably around the middle of the month.
I found this on my shelf - I forgot I had it. I've been reorganising my bookshelf of physical books that were just tall miscellaneous stacks of books.
Wobbley wrote: "A. A. Milne is one of my favourite writers, not only for Winnie the Pooh.."What non-Pooh A. A. Milne can you recommend?
J_BlueFlower wrote: "What non-Pooh A. A. Milne can you recommend?"There are so many good ones to choose from! Milne can really turn a phrase; whenever I read his stuff, I find myself thinking -- wow, they could really write back then!
My favourite non-Pooh Milne is Four Days' Wonder. One of his novels for adults, it is a slightly silly, very entertaining story, with witty writing.
Probably his most famous novel for adults is The Red House Mystery, which is a fun mystery novel.
For a more thoughtful, quiet story, try Two People. I didn't enjoy it as much as the others I'm recommending here, but the writing was very good.
He was also a prolific playwright. Among the plays I've read so far, my favourite is The Dover Road. The second act especially is full of his trademark wit.
Finally, I've read a book of his short stories for adults: A Table Near the Band. Like almost every book of short stories, it's uneven. But in the best stories his razor-sharp wit is absolutely on fire! I particularly enjoyed the stories: "The Rise and Fall of Mortimer Scrivens", "Christmas Party", "A Rattling Good Yarn", and "Before the Flood".
Enjoy!
Thank you.The Red House Mystery and some others can be found on Gutenberg
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/auth...
J_BlueFlower wrote: "Wobbley wrote: "A. A. Milne is one of my favourite writers, not only for Winnie the Pooh.."What non-Pooh A. A. Milne can you recommend?"
There's also non-A.A. Milne Pooh. I recommend The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff. The follow up book The Te of Piglet is OK but not as good as the first one.
It was really fun revisiting this :)
Inkspill wrote: "It was really fun revisiting this :)"Yay! Any time reading bring happiness it's a win!
Wobbley wrote: "Inkspill wrote: "It was really fun revisiting this :)"Yay! Any time reading bring happiness it's a win!"
absolutely, I had forgotten this and it was good to be reminded again :)
For a bear with very little brain, Pooh says some profound stuff. What are some of your favorite "Poohisms"?
So many to choose from! My choice for today is (though it's from the sequel: The House at Pooh Corner -- it's a few people talking, but it's Pooh being wise):For a long time they looked at the river beneath them, saying nothing, and the river said nothing too, for it felt very quiet and peaceful on this summer afternoon.
"Tigger is all right really," said Piglet lazily.
"Of course he is," said Christopher Robin.
"Everybody is really," said Pooh. "That's what I think," said Pooh. "But I don't suppose I'm right," he said.
"Of course you are," said Christopher Robin.”
Laurie wrote: "I love all of the Winnie-the-Pooh stories and all of the characters. I watched the animated shows as a kid and read the books. Now as an adult, I have loved listening to the audiobook. I borrowed t..."Thank you Laurie. I got this Audible version and you are correct. It is perfectly done.
I do have a history of reading Winnie-the-Pooh and watching film and television versions of the story. I thought I had read the original complete Winnie-the-Pooh, but I realize I had not. There is an adult narrator voice that was missing from the versions I read.
I currently have a week off from school - Fall Break - and my son, granddaughters and I went to a local Aquarium. This meant 4 hours in the car in heavy traffic. At first the girls were getting grumpy and about to argue. We started Winnie-the-Pooh on Audible. The younger girl immediately fell asleep and the older happily listened to the first 4 stories (chapters) with us. It was very nice to have that close at hand when needed.
Again, I am surprised that I had not read the complete version before.
As for Poohisms, right now it's more of a Christopher Robin saying. I love the "Tut, tut looks like rain."
and
"Silly old bear."
I think what I have always enjoyed about this book is the love that flows through it. There is Christopher Robin's love for Pooh, but also the narrator's love for Christopher Robin. You only have to say Hundred Acre Wood and I tear up.
ahhh 'silly old bear' that makes my heart melt.
@ LynnCried out in 19th-century melodramatic fashion: 🎭
Sadness and Despair
I finished my reread today. What a joy this book is to read!Here's a good piece of wisdom from Pooh:
Nobody can be uncheered with a balloon.
And one from Piglet:
It's so much more friendly with two.
Christopher Robin calls to mind older more experienced brothers who are close enough in age to sympathize and who are kind spirits. . . . .The animals characters--except for Kanga who is wiser--show how children learn through play. . . .Now that children so often play virtually, I wonder what they will make of this story when they encounter it.
All children engage in pretend play when they’re young. Biologists and psychologists tell us that play is an important way that children learn about the world—from how things work to how to interact in social situations. What do you think Christopher Robin learned during his play with the animals in the Hundred Acre Wood?
https://lakesuperiorcircletour.info/l...This link tells the story of the bear who ended up
In London Zoo and inspired A.A. Milne to write the stories
White River is a small town in Northern Ontario Canada on the north shore of Lake Superior There is also a plaque showing young Christopher Milne visiting Winnie in the London zoo.
Katy wrote: "All children engage in pretend play when they’re young. "... and not only children, if I may add (a bit off-topic). In a research project on human-robot interaction, I could observe people interact with a toy-like robot advisor in just such a role-play mode: they knew, of course, that it was just a primitive robot interface, but they pretended to play along. We don't lose this ability as grown-ups.
Christopher also seems to view himself as the wiser of the group, but he doesn't pretend to know everything. He took Owl aside and asked him about the North Pole when they went searching for it because he couldn't remember exactly what it looked like. And when Piglet needed saving from the flood, it was Pooh who suggested using Christopher's umbrella as a boat. Christopher seems to be learning patience and kindness because he is never mean and doesn't lecture when Pooh or the others do silly things.
Erin wrote: "ahhh 'silly old bear' that makes my heart melt."Do you know this song? Kenny Loggins singing Return to Pooh Corner
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztDPA...
Cynda wrote: "Christopher Robin calls to mind older more experienced brothers who are close enough in age to sympathize and who are kind spirits. . . . .The animals characters--except for Kanga who is wiser--sho..."We just had a Fall Festival at the school where I teach. My classroom was puzzles and coloring. I was playing the Winnie the Pooh audiobook and had Pooh coloring sheets. The children happily sat there and some parents laughed out loud at Peter Dennis snorting while saying Piglets lines.
Lynn wrote: "Erin wrote: "ahhh 'silly old bear' that makes my heart melt."Do you know this song? Kenny Loggins singing Return to Pooh Corner
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztDPA..."
I’ve had this song in my head all month since rereading the book. 🙃
The title of this discussion thread makes me smile - I keep wondering what kind of "spoilers" we are going to get regarding Winnie-the-Pooh. ;-)
Lynn wrote: "We just had a Fall Festival at the school where I teach. My classroom was puzzles and coloring. I was playing the Winnie the Pooh audiobook and had Pooh coloring sheets. The children happily sat there and some parents laughed out loud at Peter Dennis snorting while saying Piglets lines."You can't help but laugh at the snorting. My favorite voice is Roo, especially when he is floating down the river claiming he is swimming. That made my day when I was listening.
RJ - Slayer of Trolls wrote: "The title of this discussion thread makes me smile - I keep wondering what kind of "spoilers" we are going to get regarding Winnie-the-Pooh. ;-)"Thanks for this. I hadn't thought of it this way, and I always like having something new to smile about!
Lynn so nice to hear that children enjoy multi-sensory learning. . . .It seems to work on getting the imagination and reason working together. . . Yep. I am reading A Defense of Poetry this month. :-(
I had been waiting for Tigger's entrance. But it seems that I will have to read The House at Pooh Corner also by A.A. Milne. . . . .Seems my mother read that book to me too. . . . Yet I did not read these stories to my own child. For me these stories were about being with my mother. Like others here have said, the humor in the stories might best understood by adults.If the group decides to read The House at Pooh Corner, I will read with.
Tigger is the character who's design is the most different between the original E. H. Shepard drawings and the later Disney books/cartoons. He's so cute in the original drawings! The House at Pooh Corner also has many people's favourite Winnie the Pooh story: "In Which Pooh Invents a New Game and Eeyore Joins In". For me, this story is the perfect blend of silly and charming. This story also invented the game "Poohsticks", which I've seen children (and adults, ahem) still play, nearly 100 years later.
I am going slowly. I just read the story where Kanga and Roo come to the forest. I like that one and remember it from childhood.
I've just finished rereading the sequel, The House at Pooh Corner (something I often do after reading Winnie-the-Pooh). Here's another piece of Pooh wisdom, from the sequel:"Rabbit's clever," said Pooh thoughtfully.
"Yes," said Piglet, "Rabbit's clever."
"And he has Brain."
"Yes," said Piglet, "Rabbit has Brain."
There was a long silence.
"I suppose," said Pooh, "that that's why he never understands anything."
Lovely! I finished reading this last night! It was so delightful! These stories are full of fun, excitement, love, friendship, joy and humor. I love how they help one another. Christopher Robin knows just how to make Pooh’s small brain work big wonders! I loved when Pooh thought of using the umbrella as a boat!
Yes, the umbrella as a boat is great! I used to imagine using an umbrella boat when I was a kid.
Lynn wrote: "...went to a local Aquarium. This meant 4 hours in the car in heavy traffic. ..."Local?! Wow. 4 hours here (Denmark) would mean leaving the country.
RJ - Slayer of Trolls wrote: "The title of this discussion thread makes me smile - I keep wondering what kind of "spoilers" we are going to get regarding Winnie-the-Pooh. ;-)"You say! For one thing I am starting to get a little anxious about the pooh stick not being in this volume at all.... ;-)
I just finished reading chapter 7 where Roo is abducted. I very clearly remember how upset and angry I was as a child with how badly Kanga and Roo are being treated. It makes an even bigger impression because it is never addressed in the story. I guess that is exactly why it is written so.
What books would you have read to Pooh when he was stuck in the hole?
J_BlueFlower wrote: "I just finished reading chapter 7 where Roo is abducted. I very clearly remember how upset and angry I was as a child with how badly Kanga and Roo are being treated. It makes an even bigger impress..."I admit to feeling the same as you J. I was concerned for Kanga and Roo and couldn't understand why Pooh et al would behave that way. However, in the end, it's a gentle story to demonstrate our human nature. We are naturally skeptical of those who are different than we are and is can be hard to learn to be accepting and loving toward others despite the perception we have that their strangeness (i.e. being a kanga roo with a pouch who does things way different than any of the others) is the only barrier to becoming friends! And that's what they do in the end!
Katy wrote: "What books would you have read to Pooh when he was stuck in the hole?"Honestly, he'd probably be most diverted by a book of children's poetry written by A.A. Milne! For example: When We Were Very Young.
This is the Spoiler Thread.