From the Bookshelf of Classics for Beginners…

The Wind in the Willows

Kenneth Grahame

Start date: April 1, 2018

Finish date: April 30, 2018

Discussion: Current Group Read

Why we're reading this: April Reading Selection
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The Prince
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April 2019: The Crucible
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What Members Thought

May 16, 2022 Noel rated it really liked it

Loved this story especially after I realized how different it was from the cartoon and abridged versions.

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Mar 28, 2011 Rosanna rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: classics, read-aloud

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This was a marvelous read. I recently read this out loud to my twelve year old sister; there are twelve years between us, so I had both an adult and child’s perspective of the book. It is a wonderful story featuring anthropomorphic characters and their many adventures. The book deals with many themes and life lessons, including: ideas of maturation, the grass is always greener proverb, friendship and loyalty, and the conflict of nature versus nurture.
The Mole and the Toad both experience comin This was a marvelous read. I recently read this out loud to my twelve year old sister; there are twelve years between us, so I had both an adult and child’s perspective of the book. It is a wonderful story featuring anthropomorphic characters and their many adventures. The book deals with many themes and life lessons, including: ideas of maturation, the grass is always greener proverb, friendship and loyalty, and the conflict of nature versus nurture.
The Mole and the Toad both experience coming of age stories throughout the novel. In the beginning, the Mole leaves his oppressive earthen burrow—which represents his childhood home—and has moved out into big world, with all of life’s new experiences. He learns that though he misses his childhood home, he does not want to remain there. However, he knows whenever he feels lonely he can return and derive comfort and safety from his old dwelling. This shows that though childhood may be comforting, one would rather experience some hardship and insecurity that comes with adulthood. Mr. Toad—an impulsive, high-spirited, conceited, rich, trickster—takes a much longer time to reach maturation, if he ever does . . . He gives the book life and is the most likable character, despite or because of his flaws. Throughout the book, Toad thinks only of himself and neglects and abuses his friends—Badger, Rat, and Mole—who try and reform him. He constantly breaks the law, steals, puts his and other people’s lives in danger, and brags constantly. Though at the end of the book he changes his ways and becomes a respectable, humble, and thoroughly ordinary toad.
Kenneth Grahame constantly references classical texts, including Homer’s the Odyssey. In the chapter The Return of Ulysses, Mr. Toad, Rat, Mole, and Badger go and avenge Mr. Toad’s house against the evil usurping weasels and stoats—referencing Ulysses return home and battle and revenge on the supplanting suitors. I like how Grahame chooses for the toad to be the mischievous, impetuous character. This references both medieval literature and Shakespeare, both of which write of toads being evil, cunning, and associated with trickery.
I think this book offers much for both children and adults alike, provides interesting insights about life and maturation, as well as being a highly entertaining and humorous book. I will keep this in my home collection and read it to my children. It remains a timeless classic and must read.
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May 04, 2018 ☯Emily Ginder rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2018, 20th-century-classics, classics, children-s-lit, 2018-classics-challenge

As a child, I avoided reading books with long descriptions. I thought I had overcome this problem, but I have to say that I did not appreciate the long-winded paragraphs in this book that is supposedly for children. I know that I would not have read this as a child and had great difficulty as an adult.

I did enjoy the adventures of Toad, but am unconvinced that Toad had changed by the end of the book.

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