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Mary Poppins (Mary Poppins, #1)

P.L. Travers

Start date: October 1, 2015

Finish date: October 31, 2015

Discussion: New School Classics- 1915-2005

Why we're reading this: October 2015 New School Group Read
[close] October 2015 New School Group Read

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New School Classics- 1915-2005

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What Members Thought

Jul 16, 2020 Kelly_Hunsaker_reads ... rated it really liked it

Shelves: childrens, adventure, classics, read-in-2020, fantasy, middle-grade

I went into this book thinking I knew what to expect thanks to my childhood favorite movie starring Julie Andrews. And I was completely surprised to find that this Mary Poppins is ill-tempered, priggish, grumpy and very strict. The magical elements are there, and the writing is witty and entertaining, but Mary herself isn't nearly as likable as the movie version. In this case, I actually like the movie better. ...more

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Sep 23, 2019 Rachel rated it liked it

Shelves: and-lucy-too

Is it satirical, or did middle-class British children typically have such perverse attachments to their grouchy nannies? Surprisingly, my daughter didn't seem bothered by Mary Poppins' haughtiness- or by the fact that she floated away on her umbrella without saying good-bye, so I guess she could relate.

Lucy and I started reading this on vacation last spring after she became captivated by the stop action animation in "Spoonful of Sugar" and could sing all the words to "Let's Go Fly a Kite." I ha ...more

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Nov 06, 2013 Christine rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: christine-s-50-in-2013

This is NOT the Disney version Mary Poppins!! MP is a superstar in our house, but we've only experienced the Julie Andrews version. The book is bizarre and twisted and downright trippy at times, but the kids and I LOVED every word of it! Upon finishing the book this afternoon, my 5 year old immediately requested that we read it again! The book is vastly different from the movie, but as almost always is the case, it's better by far. Such a great book to read aloud and we are very much looking for ...more

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Dec 14, 2012 Emily rated it liked it

A quick read. Mary Poppins is much more severe in the book than she is in the movie, which was off putting at first. By the end I grew to appreciate her character for what she was. I might even go on to read the next Mary Poppins book.

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