“The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease for ever to be able to do it.”
The original telling of the Peter Pan story is so much more complex than the disney movie we all know and love.
For one thing, Peter is not portrayed as a loveable imp, but as a forgetful and uncaring boyish character, while the ever-hated Captain Hook is actually shown to be a morally fraught gentleman, with a vengeance.
For another thing, the subject of death is broached without much formality, and a Lost Boy could die as soon as any dastardly Pirate. Such is the way of things in Neverland.
If you are prone to falling in love with fantasy, and losing yourself in other worlds, then beware - this novel about Neverland will have you in a day dream for weeks.
The author, J. M. Barrie, writes in such a charming manner - speaking to the reader every now and again to make us aware of the twists and turns of the tale, while also diving us deep down into a legend of details - into a place where mermaids comb their hair and blow bubbles, but leave the hero to die a slow death by the tides; where a dog called Nanna can take care of three children; where a pirate can worry about right manners and 'good form'; and where children live freely in an underground bunker beneath a hollow tree trunk.
“Will they reach the nursery in time? If so, how delightful for them, and we shall all breath a sigh of relief, but there will be no story. On the other hand, if they are not in time, I solemnly promise that it will all come right in the end.”
WENDY'S TEST FOR THE BOYS:
1) Describe mother's laugh.
2) Describe father's laugh.
3) Describe the kennel and its inmate
* the beautiful illustration of Peter and Hook is by Robert Ingpen.
