Catching up on Classics (and lots more!) discussion

Our July 2024 Old School Classics Group Read is The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame. This is a spoiler thread.

No spoilers from me yet, but I wanted to share how much I look forward to reading one of my favorites from when I grew up.

I have actually never read this book; I did pick up a lovely illustrated version to read. So I am looking forward to it.

My copy doesn't arrive until mid-month, but I do plan on joining the read then. I have never read this one before.

What a lovely book filled with adventures and lessons. I like it far more than Winnie the Pooh. The characters are more human-like and more like people I have met and known.

Cynda wrote: "What a lovely book filled with adventures and lessons. I like it far more than Winnie the Pooh. The characters are more human-like and more like people I have met and known."

Good to hear Cynda!

I love the friendship and support that the characters show each other. They also know how to have fun--picnics, parties, rowing boats, hikes. Toad's adventures with motorcars--the latest thing when the book was published in 1908--is sure to keep the attention of children. The book also shows the author's love of nature in the countryside of Edwardian England.

I just finished and really enjoyed it. So adventurous and whimsical and fun. I agree with Connie that the friendship theme is so strong and powerful in the novel, especially as they are trying to keep our guy Toad out of trouble all the time! I'll have more thoughts later but I really loved picking up this book each day to see what new development unfolded. Thanks for selecting this one!

Greg wrote: "My copy doesn't arrive until mid-month, but I do plan on joining the read then. I have never read this one before."

I have not read this one before, either.

I will be starting this in a couple of days. Seeing the reviews, I hope I will enjoy it as much.

Franky wrote: "I just finished and really enjoyed it. So adventurous and whimsical and fun. I agree with Connie that the friendship theme is so strong and powerful in the novel, especially as they are trying to k..."

I agree. And this is a book that is as fresh and tantalising when you are 75 as it was when you were seven!

This is one of my favorites! I have read it with each of my older children and I look forward to reading it again in a few yearsbto my youngest. This is my first time since gradeschool reading solo. I chose an audio version this time! Such a classic piece of beauty of friendship.
So glad this was a choice for a summer month!

Carole wrote: "This is one of my favorites! I have read it with each of my older children and I look forward to reading it again in a few yearsbto my youngest. This is my first time since gradeschool reading solo..."

Carole, I agree that this is one of the novels that needs to be read aloud. I found an audiobook reading and it was awesome and really made for a nice experience, especially with a good reader. This would be an excellent book for parents to read to their children, totally agree.

The Wind in the Willows is a longtime favorite of mine. I checked out an audiobook version narrated by Terry Jones of Monty Python fame. I too a peek at other editions, and it looks as if a number of excellent actors have done readings of this book. Anyway, it was treat to reread this classic, and Carole is quite right about it being a lovely summer read!

I am very much enjoying this so far, for reasons already summed up in these two descriptions from other members:
Connie: "I love the friendship and support that the characters show each other."
Franky: "So adventurous and whimsical and fun."

I just finished reading a chapter I especially looked forward to: Chapter 7 The Piper at the Gates of Dawn. I got curious as soon as I saw that it was a chapter title in this book as I remembered it as the title of rock bank Pink Floyd's first album.
Wikipedia explains the connection:

The Piper at the Gates of Dawn is the debut studio album by English rock band Pink Floyd, released on 4 August 1967 by EMI Columbia. It is the only Pink Floyd album made under the leadership of founder member Syd Barrett (lead vocals, guitar); he wrote all but three tracks
. . .
The album title was derived from referencing the god Pan in chapter seven of Kenneth Grahame's 1908 children's novel The Wind in the Willows, a favourite of Barrett's.

I was also curious as The Piper at the Gates of Dawn was one of the few chapters chosen to be deleted in their entirety in a lightly abridged version with lovely illustrations by illustrator Inga Moore .

Inga Moore's illustrations were gorgeous enough for me to consider buying her edition but I rejected it when I saw that her edition deleted that chapter.
In her or her publisher's defense, if you are deleting chapters as an abridgement, I understand the logic for choosing that chapter as it is a side adventure from the main plot thread which, at the time, involves TOAD's problems.
EDIT: I am enjoying the illustrations in my Robert Ingpen edition:

Despite pressures, I managed to complete the book today ahead of schedule. Had read it first way back in 1987.

I also enjoyed the book, especially chapter 7 as Brian E already mentioned. It is almost a story unto itself and quite mystical and beautiful.

I finished my reread last Friday afternoon. Though I have a print copy, I listened to a free audio version on YouTube this time. The narrator did a good job with the different voices.


https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AU3L62O...

Heather L wrote: "I finished my reread last Friday afternoon. Though I have a print copy, I listened to a free audio version on YouTube this time. The narrator did a good job with the different voices.


https://m...."

That was the same one I was listening to when I read. I recommend that one too on You Tube.

The adventure vs. home theme was interesting to me but basically I didn't like this book. I rant a little more in my review, but not much more.

A nice story, better than I anticipated. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...