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Loading... Peter Pan (100th Anniversary Edition) (original 1911; edition 2003)by J. M. Barrie
Work detailsPeter Pan by J. M. Barrie (1911)
teaches about going on an adventure. Students would love this book because it keeps going and going, never a dull moment. I can't believe I've never actually read Peter Pan until now. I'd seen the Disney version, but this is both more charming and more sinister than that. There are lots of sweet little details, like mothers tidying up their children's thoughts, and the kiss on the corner of Mrs Darling's mouth. But Peter is a monstrous sort of figure when you get past the romance of Neverland. He's a wild boy, selfish and cocky. Instead of being a kind of example of innocent childhood, he almost brings to mind the boys from Lord of the Flies. Near the end, it says that he nearly stabs Wendy's baby! And he steals other children. Of course, the moral of the story is that children need mothers. It's just charming enough to get away with the moralising. Another one I read as a teen. And I've always gone for this very specific edition, illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman, because it was the first copy I found. Of course, Peter Pan is magical in and of itself, but I will fully admit that the Disney version of Peter Pan had somewhat soured me on certain aspects . . . Tinkerbell, for instance. And a little bit on Tiger Lily. So I finally pick up the actual book (and we all know the book is always, always better than the movie), and it's fantastic. Fabulous. But in addition to how completely awesome the book is? This is Hyman's Tiger Lily. And all of her art is full of that sort of detail and energy, that pulse of wild beauty. It's incredible. She captures the mischievousness, the cruelty, the edginess of Neverland. This is a land of disorder, of pirates and Indians and wild children. This is not Disney's sing-along happy place, this is a land where scavenging, hungry boys fight like wild dogs with vicious pirates, but mermaids sing in lagoons and faeries skip through trees, laughing. Neverland is a magical, treacherous place -- and it's captured in Hyman's drawings and in Barrie's words in a way that Disney could never even hint at. I was curious to read the original story of Peter Pan, since I only knew the Disney version of it. I can now say I like the book more than the movie. The story itself was enchanting. There was action, caricate situations and some heart-touching moments all in one. Peter was a child in every sense of the way. I'd say my favourite character here was Hook though, I found him more interesting and deep than the rest (maybe because he was an adult). I wouldn't mind if the characters were explored a bit more in this book. I read some reviews saying this version was rather dark, racist and sexist. I mostly disagree, specially about the dark part. In my opinion there was no description that might be unsuitable for children. It does has some sexism, and something that some people may call racism, but I didn't found it nowhere near as bad as some opinions I've heard made me expect. The only reason why I didn't give it 4 stars was because I felt like there was something missing. I don't know exactly what, but I'm sure it has to do with the fact that this is a story meant specially for children (and a marvelous one at that). But since I'm not a child anymore, I think the "style" of the story doesn't appeal to me as much as it used to, although it remains a great tale for every age. no reviews | add a review Is contained inThe Little Prince and Other Stories by Wordsworth Editions Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens : Peter and Wendy (Oxford World's Classics) by J. M. Barrie The Hutchinson Treasury of Children's Literature by Alison Sage Is retold inIs a (non-series) sequel toHas the (non-series) sequelHas the (non-series) prequelPeter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry Peter and the Shadow Thieves by Dave Barry Has the adaptationReturn to Never Land (Disney's Wonderful World of Reading) by Disney Enterprises Inc. Peter Pan [Movie] by Clyde Geronimi Peter Pan: Vocal Selections from the Original Broadway Musical Hit by Mark Charlap Is abridged inIs an expanded version ofIs expanded inInspired
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Also, I loved the Disney Peter Pan, and Finding Neverland, but what in god's name was that horrendous live action effort they made a few years ago? Cheesy is not the word... (