河岸風景

by Kij Johnson, 姬吉·強森, 林婉婷 (Translator)

雨果獎、星雲獎、世界奇幻獎得主
姬吉·強森（Kij Johnson）為百年經典文學《柳林風聲》書寫續篇

對人物塑造不僅保有原作的美感，女性新鄰居的加入更增添新視角，
讀者將再次重返與感受《柳林風聲》中的河岸生活與氣息。

這是個最適合和朋友坐在河岸邊消磨時光，絕不是用來決定重要事情的日子，
更別說是要再次討論該如何收拾那隻失控的蛤蟆。
但沒想到平靜一年的柳林河岸，在鼴鼠小姐和兔子入住後，
蛤蟆先生竟然故態復萌，還與兔子經歷了一段冒險、逃亡的生活！
故事中充滿了冒險、綁架、丟失的信件和家庭祕密有趣元素，
比《柳林風聲》多了不同的視角與閱讀樂趣！

　　▉ 河岸的日常插曲．小動物的生活哲學 ▉
◇蛤蟆：「河岸的生活太樸實了，我們都需要沾點城市的氣派。」
◇鼴鼠小姐：「生活和小說的相似之處，比大家願意承認的還要多，只是沒那麼有趣罷了。」
◇河鼠：「我們動物可不是這樣的，只要能避免，就不會自尋煩惱。日常生活裡已經有夠多麻煩了，沒必要再自己去找。」
◇兔子：「你哪裡不幸了！運氣是自己創造的！」
◇鼴鼠：「一天的難處擔心一天就夠了。」
◇老獾：「我一向不贊成婚姻。在我看來，婚姻是所有舒適的終結，一種不自然的狀態……」

續集在柳林故事結束一年後開始。柳林河岸來了新鄰居──貝兒（一位彬彬有禮的女作家）和兔子（一隻活潑愛冒險的兔子）。這給蛤蟆、獾、河鼠和鼴鼠帶來什麼衝擊？（不知看過《柳林風聲》的讀者，是否發現這本書裡的主角、其他角色都是男性？）

蛤蟆儘管不再開車當危險駕駛，但當他開始痴迷於摩托車，一連串不受控的故事就此展開......蛤蟆會再次入獄嗎？是否能真正得到教訓與領悟？

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Childrens, Animals, Middle Grade, Young Adult, Science Fiction Fantasy

248 pages, Paperback

First published September 12, 2017

About the author

Kij Johnson is an American writer of fantasy. She has worked extensively in publishing: managing editor for Tor Books and Wizards of the Coast/TSR, collections editor for Dark Horse Comics, project manager working on the Microsoft Reader, and managing editor of Real Networks. She is Associate Director for the Center for the Study of Science Fiction at the University of Kansas, and serves as a final judge for the Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award.

Johnson is the author of three novels and more than 38 short works of fiction. She is best known for her adaptations of Heian-era Japanese myths. She won the Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award for the best short story of 1994 for her novelette in Asimov's, "Fox Magic." In 2001, she won the International Association for the Fantastic in the Art's Crawford Award for best new fantasy novelist of the year. In 2009, she won the World Fantasy Award for "26 Monkeys, Also The Abyss," which was also a finalist for the Hugo and Nebula awards. She won the 2010 Nebula Award for "Spar" and the 2011 Nebula Award for "Ponies," which is also a finalist for the Hugo and World Fantasy awards. Her short story "The Evolution of Trickster Stories Among the Dogs of North Park After the Change" was a finalist for the 2007 Hugo, Nebula, Sturgeon, and World Fantasy awards. Johnson was also a finalist for the 2004 World Fantasy Award for her novel Fudoki, which was declared one of the best SF/F novels of 2003 by Publishers Weekly.

Reviews

[Tijana]

Zapažanja o ovoj knjizi su mi prilično raznorodna pa da ih razvrstam ovako:
1. Kidž Džonson je BOGINJA pastiša rađenog bez namere da pređe u parodiju. BOGINJA. Kao što je u The Dream-Quest of Vellitt Boe bez greške preuzela Lavkraftovu retoriku i ljubav prema retkim rečima, tako je ovde bez ijednog iskliznuća ušla u duh i slovo Grejemovog Vetra u vrbaku sa sve dvostrukim adresatom i sveznajućim pripovedačem. Teško je zamisliti nešto s većim odmakom od njenih vlastitih priča.
2. Džen Nidl je pre nekih tridesetak godina napisao Wild Wood koja nudi jedan ozbiljno revizionistički klasni pogled na Vetar u vrbaku i subverziju sa stanovišta niže klase, pardon, kuna i lasica. Obala reke je ponegde najavljivana kao feministička verzija toga ali... ne. Ova knjiga odiše ljubavlju prema Grejemovom delu s nešto malo trezvene kritičnosti i maksimalno se suzdržava od subverzije. Iako su na par mesta pobodeni kočići čisto da se označi da je autorka svesna nekih temeljnih problema, nema ni hejta ni svetonazorskog apdejtovanja na prvu loptu. Uvedeni ženski likovi su svi odreda PREDIVNI i samostalni ali i potpuno, stoprocentno grejemovski zaokruženi i ne remete status kvo prikazanog mikrokosmosa niti ga preispituju sem što eto postoje.
3. Ženski likovi su PREDIVNI, ne zanima me ako se ponavljam, Beril zauvek.
4. Ilustracije Ketlin Dženings su sjajne i dopunjavaju tekst taman kako treba.
5. Da li je lisac koji se pojavi u drugoj polovini lep omaž Fantastičnom gospodinu Liscu? Ne znam, ali praviću se da jeste (iako ima rep, hue hue).
6. Zanimljivo dodatno pitanje bi bilo - koliko je ovo zapravo za decu a koliko za matore i nostalgične? Baš kao i kod Grejema, imam utisak da će deci biti super ali da će odrasli čitaoci zapravo dobiti više.

[Kathleen Jennings · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even if I weren't the illustrator I'd be telling you this is a charming, charming book.

[Debbie Notkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a completely fun romp through a more feminist, less classist version of Kenneth Grahame's The Wind in the Willows, featuring the well-loved characters of the original plus a couple of new ones: Beryl, the Mole authoress, and her feckless young Rabbit companion. Johnson does a good job of recreating the spirit and sensibility of the Grahame, and shifts smoothly from melodramatic to pastoral.

Reading it also encouraged me to reread the inspiration, which I was surprised to find out is far less about Toad and his arrogant adventures than it is about the beauties of the English countryside, with side trips into genuine pagan transcendence, things I must have missed completely as a child.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delight from start to finish. I first read Kij Johnson last year and she is a master of writing in different modes and tones. When I found out she was writing a sequel to a childhood favorite, The Wind in the Willows, it immediately became my most anticipated book of the year. It lived up to expectations. It captures the humor and wonder of the other book perfectly while subtly probing the class implications of the original and adding female characters to the mix. If that last sentence made you expect a lecture or something preachy, subtly was the operative word. It's a worthy sequel. Highly recommended, especially if you love the older book as much as I do.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved Johnson's intention to correct some of the failings of TWITW while still celebrating it. However I found the writing style neither Johnson's or Graham's and the story didn't have the same coziness as the original (I think this mainly due to Mole's bad attitude). I will continue to love Johnson's other works and TWITW, but I unfortunately didn't love The River Bank.

[Richard Levine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I greatly enjoyed Kij Johnson's "sequel" to The Wind in the Willows. It's obviously a tricky thing to write a follow up of a beloved hundred year old children's classic -- especially one like TWITW that is so old-fashioned as to seem almost archaic -- but Johnson does a nice job of it. At the outset, she matches pretty closely the tone and atmosphere of Kenneth Grahame's original; then as the book progresses, she begins to introduce a few new and different things of her own -- new characters, a slightly more wry and knowing (at times almost post-modern) authorial voice, a somewhat more contemporary social perspective. But nothing TOO disorienting, at least to my mind, and I can hardly blame her for not just wanting to slavishly imitate Grahame. She does maintain the character of Mr. Toad, in all his vain, boastful, comical glory, pretty much just as Grahame created him. And even more important is that throughout the book she continues the gentle and sweet spirit of the original.

[Mel · Rating 3 out of 5]

"... and it all made sense in that instant, for writing was a sort of divine madness, and who better to see the God of divine madness than one who wrote?"

The River Bank by Kij Johnson
3.5 /5 ⭐⭐⭐

The River Bank is a sequel (written by a different author) to The Wind in the Willows. Per the authors note in the back of the book: "As a child, I adored this book, and the animals that peopled the River Bank—staunch Mole, the sociable Water Rat, the severe Badger, and the ebullient, ever troublesome Toad. I didn't notice the entrenched assumptions about privilege, class, and gender. Later, as an adult, these things bothered me; this book is an imperfect attempt to open up the world of the River Bank a little."

I was quite impressed by how similar Kij Johnson's prose and writing style were to Kenneth Grahame. The whimsical descriptions and fantastical lives of the animals at the River Bank for seamlessly with the original.

Johnson introduced 2 new female characters: a naive but resourceful Rabbit, and a proper but free-spirited Mole named Beryl (who is an author!) to spice things up at the River Bank. I did love these characters and their interactions with our original crew.

Again, Toad is completely incorrigible. He's a narcissist, dumb-witted, and emotionally inept. But even more so than the original story, I found that Toad is a frequent subject of jest and laughed quite hard at many of the blunt statements regarding Toad (i.e. "The Toad was useless.").

There is a classic instance of the miscommunication trope in this book that I found quite funny. I typically hate this trope but did enjoy it this time around.

All that being said, I'm just not a huge fan of long, flowing descriptive prose. Ultimately, it was far too slow for me and I'd much rather sit on a river bank myself than read this book.

In terms of the author making this story a bit more inclusionary... it is to some extent. It does not include blatant, unchallenged sexism like the original. I also wouldn't call this book diverse. It will take a very cis-het Western view towards family and relationships. There definitely is not a focus on romantic relationships and instead most animals choose to just invest in their dear friends (unexpected ace rep?). I did find this unique and refreshing.

So this one was just okay for me. Not great, not awful. I would recommend it to people who did enjoy the origin or like descriptive prose.

[Peter Tillman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A charming update to "The Wind in the Willows," introducing two female animals to the River Bank community: Beryl, a Mole authoress, and her companion, a flighty young Rabbit who is seeking Adventure. She certainly gets that, and authoress Kij Johnson gently brings Kenneth Grahame's classic children's story more into line with 21st-century sensibilities.

My ebook copy likely doesn't do the art justice. A novella-length story. Highly recommended. I should reread the original, which was a family favorite when I was growing up.

[Susan]

DNF. I read a glowing review of this book and read the first chapter, but (in my opinion) The Wind in the Willows doesn’t need a sequel.

[Tanner Stern · Rating 5 out of 5]

A worthy sequel that succeeds in matching the linguistic charm of its predecessor! I had feared this book may try too hard to expose or redress the aging (or old-fashioned) perspectives and personalities of Grahame's original work, and would deal unkindly with characters and settings I have a deep fondness for. Indeed, Johnson states a desire to "open up the world of the river bank a little" (Author's Note) with this work. But this she does most impressively! Nowhere among the book's 180-odd pages does one catch a hint of "snark" or "disdain," but rather a gentle and gracious treatment that edifies the original text while taking the world, and the reader, to someplace new.

[Christian · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very accomplished sequel to the beloved children’s classic “The Wind in the Willows” by Kenneth Graeme, Kij Johnson creates a delightful story set in the summer after the events of the original. All the same characters of the original are present, along with two new characters- Beryl, a mole authoress, and her irresponsible companion rabbit- originally met with suspicion by the other characters and needing to work their way into the society of The River Bank, should they choose to.
The tone of the story is quite similar to the original but it is almost also a “postmodern update” to the story, the sort of thing that an English lecturer at a university might call a response to traditionalism. I don’t fully subscribe to that idea in this book however it is easy to see how, as an English teacher myself, how fellow English scholars might push to this conclusion. There is also a brilliant intertextuality that intriguingly you are aware of but shows the incredible talent of the author, as it never gets in the way of the story, in the same way that it challenges early 20th century ideas surrounding class, gender and privilege, but again it doesn’t get in the way of the story and if you weren’t aware that this was the author’s intention you wouldn’t be attuned to it whilst experiencing the story.
However without going into too much detail, it is also an exciting story with misadventures, kidnappings, ransoms and adventure throughout. Thoroughly worth the read or listen to.

[Martha Meyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Are you a The Wind in the Willows fan? Here at long last is a worthy sequel seemingly written by Kenneth Graham himself after being gently enlightened about women and privilege. The River Bank is incredibly funny yet full of detailed delight in nature as well as an exciting kidnapping for ransom. It does not require any real familiarity with The Wind in the Willows, either -- it can stand alone beautifully.

The irrepressible Toad has another madcap adventure; he is again rescued by his good friends Water Rat, Badger and Mole. However, now they are joined by two bachelor women, Beryl Mole and her intrepid friend Rabbit! Beryl is an "Authoress" come to the River Bank for time and space to write, but what happens in life more than competes with her supernatural crime novels.

This book is even more effective when read aloud. I read it to my husband, (and yes, we laughed till we cried together) but reading this aloud to your kids one chapter a night before bed will make for a magical 12 days. Enjoy!

[Colin MacDonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely sequel to Wind in the Willows. It stays true to the feel of the original while introducing female characters (which previously were entirely absent) and gently poking fun at some characters for their bachelor misogyny. It's a loving "yes, and..." update. (Though I am hoping that one day we get to see China Mieville's take, which presumably will be told entirely from the perspective of the servants in Toad Hall as they plot rebellion.)

[Marianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I was so anxious for this to be good that it cut into my enjoyment of the book somewhat. Suspect it will be a 5-star read next time, since I know it won't fail me.

[Stephanie Griffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. It makes me happy to read about all the critters and their adventures. This book is one of my prized possessions. I’ll never give it up!

[Kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beryl is a beauty

Beryl Mole, authoress, is a delightful creature who brings new charm to the River society. I’m happy to have had this time with her.

[Jennifer Louden · Rating 3 out of 5]

Feminist populist sequel to one of my favorite children's books. I loved aspects of it - the writer character and how The Novel she is writing dogs her; the descriptions of the river and the picnics! so comforting. But for me Toad became too much of a caricature of wealthy stupid people to sustain my interest.

[Blue · Rating 3 out of 5]

And so my time spent reading and reviewing unauthorized sequels to The Wind in the Willows has come to an end. Just in time, too, as my interest has faded as quickly as it began. But never mind that, what did I think of the book?

The River Bank is the most recent sequel to The Wind in the Willows that I've found, and as such, it delicately touches on modern social issues of gender and class. The story begins when two female characters move to the male-dominated River Bank- a mole author named Beryl, and her adventurous rabbit companion, Lotte. Reactions to their presence are mixed, from the Water Rat, Badger, and Otter taking a cautious yet neutral approach, to Mole's outright dislike. However, it's the incomparable (some might say incorrigible) Toad who gets along with them the best, particularly the Rabbit, and their shared lust for adventure and fast-moving vehicles lands them both in the inevitable trouble, from which they are forced to bail themselves out (with some help from the other River Bankers).

I wanted to like this book more than I actually did. Certainly the presence of female characters was much-needed and enjoyable, especially because said characters were so likable. As a writer myself, I related to Beryl's creative process and her relationship to her Novel, and I admired the Rabbit for her ingenuity and take-charge attitude after being captured, and also for outright stating that she had no desire to take a husband (I love that for any female character, really). The plot was well put-together- I particularly liked the misunderstanding regarding the ransom, and the reveal of Beryl & Mole's past, obvious as it may have been. However, there were several drawbacks, the biggest one being that the writing style was so flowery and descriptive and overwrought that it became stifling at times (although I did enjoy frequently reaching for my dictionary, as I love to learn through books). I also had the same feeling that I do every time I read anything related to The Wind in the Willows, which was that Toad's plotline was a drag to read (though mitigated by Lotte's presence). I will say, Kij Johnson wrote Toad perfectly in character (even if his emotional theatrics were a bit much) and I didn't loathe him the way I did when I read The Willows in Winter by William Horwood. My feeling is, if Toad has to be in the story at all, don't separate his plotline from the rest of the characters'. Keep him on the River Bank and have him interact with the others more often. Otherwise I spend the rest of the time flipping pages until I can get back to my beloved Water Rat, Mole, and Badger. (As long as we're on the subject of those characters... this version of Ratty seemed a bit more generic than I'm used to, like he could have been any Water Rat and not necessarily THE Water Rat, though I don't feel the need to drag out the #NotMyWaterRat that I invented when I read Return to the Willows by Jacqueline Kelly. I do need to point out, though, that "Water Rat" was used a few too many times- the original book tended to call him "the Rat." Mole seemed uncharacteristically bad-tempered and the reveal of his past with Beryl only slightly saved that for me- I felt it would have been much more in character for Toad or even Badger to complain about "females." Badger had a moment of foolishness towards the end, but he was written pretty well and I have no complaints.) I also found the moment where Beryl and the Rat visit the sacred island to be completely unnecessary, somewhat of a letdown compared to "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn." Finally, while many reviews and summaries of this book mentioned its commentary in terms of social class, that must have flown over my head, because I didn't get the sense of it very well. Then again, I suppose I was expecting something to do with humanizing the lower class Weasels and not necessarily critiquing Toad's lifestyle.

I'm glad I read this book, and I'm glad my little project is finally over. I just wish I had enjoyed it a bit more than I did.

[Janice · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been a big fan of Kij Johnson for a long time. I've had this book on my TBR shelf for a few years now, but I couldn't get motivated to read it.

When our BritLit book club decided to read The Wind in the Willows for September 2024, I figured this was a good chance to read Johnson's book.

It's nice and well done. I did get really tired of Toad, though. Bragging and grandiloquence aren't funny to me, and I was pretty sick of it about half way through. I didn't mind the additional characters, Beryl and Rabbit too much.

But for me, she didn't quite get the lyrical love of the English countryside in the original book, or the bits that made tears start to my eyes in a few places. Still, it's a solid, competent book with many, many nods and homages to the original work. Just not quite as magical.

Solid 3.5 stars.

[Alison C · Rating 5 out of 5]

The subtitle to Kij Johnson’s "The River Bank" is “A sequel to The Wind in the Willows,” and that’s just what it is. Taking place the summer after the events in that classic, we again encounter Mole, Water Rat, Badger, Otter and, of course, Toad of Toad Hall, who is up to his usual shenanigans. Newcomers to the neighbourhood are Beryl (a female Mole and an Authoress) and her companion, a young Rabbit; initially the objects of suspicion from the old inhabitants, they slowly are integrated into the world of the River Bank…. Whether one would like this book depends largely on his or her relationship to the original; me, I loved it. I think Ms. Johnson did a great job of continuing Kenneth Grahame’s story in a voice similar to his, while at the same time updating the attitudes described in the earlier book. Recommended!

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a charming and excellent sequel to the Wind in the Willows! Like the author, KU Professor Kij Johnson, I loved Wind in the Willows as a kid, but it is very set in it’s time and very male and classist. I love her solution in the sequel to ameliorate things a bit with some new female residents of the riverbank who appear alongside all of our old familiar friends including the pompous, prone-to-trouble Toad.
The author’ language is very colorful and descriptive and you can really picture the vegetation and the scenery, etc. As you could in Graham’s original work.
I just can’t say enough good about this fun, short, very well written book! A bonus for me is I got to meet Kij at the World Fantasy 2023 Convention and have her sign a copy of the book for me and a copy for another person for a gift!

[Kiwi Carlisle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an utterly charming book. Kij Johnson has done an admirable job of capturing the tone and feel of a book I’ve loved all my life, and expanding it with intensely believable female characters. The new adventures of my old friends were true to their characters and the settings were perfect. My only disappointment was the chapter in which Miss Beryl Mole and the Water Rat pay a totally unnecessary trip to Pan Island. I don’t know that I would have been able to resist writing in a visit to the Friend and Teacher either, but without the truly transcendent writing of the original chapter, this seemed like an unnecessary distraction from the story. Otherwise, it’s a lovely novel that I will want to read again.

[Miz Lizzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kij Johnson's sequel to The Wind in the Willows pays tribute to the original with the same lush language and bucolic setting while mixing it up a bit with a feminine, if not somewhat feminist, point of view. Two ladies, a Mole authoress and her good friend Rabbit, move to the River Bank and make inroads into the old boys club. They come in rather handy when Toad, of course, gets into trouble again. It is the sort of book, like the original, that requires a certain leisurely approach to reading as well as a willingness to suspend disbelief like a child and enter a British countryside in which talking animals and humans co-reside, rather like Narnia though with less exciting adventures. A good book to read in depths of winter to remind oneself of summer.

[Jani · Rating 4 out of 5]

The River Bank is a wonderful sequel to The Wind in the Willows capturing the originals spirit wonderfully, but updating it and remaining its own work instead of imitation.

The life on the River Bank is disturbed or rather the bachelors' life is disturbed by the arrival or two female animals, Beryl and the Rabbit to the area. However, much like in the Grahame's novel this results in wild adventures: after all, the Toad is still on the loose.

The River Bank catches much of the magic of the earlier novel with its wit, fun and loving hand Johnson uses. However, it brings welcome more modern elements to the world as well as a small dose of politics, which is quite nice, at least to me who mostly agrees with the sentiments.

[Erik Tolvstad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

An exceptionally well done continuation of the Wind In The Willows. This tale introduces two new female characters central to the story. The one is a sensible mole author, the other an alternately flighty, or canny, and resilient rabbit.

As expected Toad gets himself in trouble, deep, deep trouble. As expected, Toad's mood manically swings from hubris contributing to his troubles to despondency on recognizing his own foolishness in getting himself in trouble. The flighty, canny, resilient rabbit is his enabler in these troubles.

The story brings the idyllic River Bank to life in a way that Kenneth Grahame would love, and also the bang up rousing adventures throughout

[Madalene · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful "sequel" to The Wind in the Willows - this seems like a concept that just shouldn't work, a sequel written by someone else, more than 100 years after the original. However, the characters fit in smoothly and there are some pleasant twists throughout. I would imagine this would be a nicer treat for those who really loved the original, but even if you don't, a step into a tweed filled river bank neighborhood for a couple afternoons is a nice way to pass the time.

[Jude-marie Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is too adorable. I've begun reading it to my grandson, in lieu of The Wind in The Willows. Johnson does a masterful job working in the manners of that British century, with her female characters not exactly conforming to expectations and the aghast but accepting reactions of the males that populate the original. Fun adventures are had by all, including a visit with the river god. Descriptions of possessions, furnishings, and food excel. And now I'm craving biscuits with jam.

[Yul Winter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Evokes the same feelings of cosiness and wholesomeness as the Wind in the Willows with the added benefit of new (imagine that, female!) characters, both delightful and NOT there to be love interests. They live their lives independently and enrich the river bank with their presence. Lovely illustrations, captivating writing, for some reason I really enjoy physically holding this book, nice sturdy hardcover with a satisfying texture.

[Llamaraptor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Wind in the Willows story - it's been a very long time since I read the original, so I can't tell how much this one departs from the character of the original. It's described as subversive, but it seems subtle (unlike Dream-Quest of Vellit Boe). Nice gentle, lazy adventure story in the hands of a skillful storyteller.

[Lindi · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are many classics I love, but I also love how modern writers can update a classic while staying true to the feel of the original. This is an excellent example. We’ve still got sturdy Badger, loyal Mole, contemplative Rat, and the one and only Toad, and Johnson has pried open their male domain with two females who truly are worthy additions. Well done!