'Friendly Rat, mild-mannered Mole, wise Badger, and kind—but conceited—Toad all live on the banks of the Thames. While Mole and Rat are content to go out in a row boat or travel the roads in a caravan, Toad prefers the excitement of motor cars. He’s already wrecked seven! While his friends try to keep him out of trouble, his passion for cars eventually results in his being caught and kept prisoner in the remotest dungeon of the best-guarded castle in all the land. Somehow, he has to escape and get home but what will he find when he gets there?'
I didn't love this book.
I don't remember reading this book as a child but I do remember watching one of the movie adaptations. This may have effected how I felt about this book as I went into it with pretty high hopes.
I know that this is a classic book, but I found it a little weird and a bit on the silly side of things. I am wondering if not reading it as a child means that as I don't have any nostalgia attached to this book I wasn't able to overlook or get enjoyment from the silliness.
I also found the story to have a really strong English element to it. I understand where and when this book was written so some sort of English-ness is expected but I feel like this might be a book that resonates better with the English then with anyone else.
One thing this book did have going for it was its elegant and poetic writing. The way in which the writing just flows over you is just magical. As or the beautiful cinematic descriptions; they were utterly breathtaking.
While I didn't love this book, I am glad that I finally read it. I just wonder if I would have liked it more if I had read it as a youngster.
The Wind In The Willows by Kenneth Grahame is a children's classic that is worth a read.
Published by Geramie Kate Barker