Review: Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie (Classic Literature, Children's, 9 years +, 6/10E)

 June 2018, Penguin, 160 pages, Paperback, Personal copy

Summary from Penguin

'All children, except one, grow up.'

It was Friday night. Mr and Mrs Darling were dining out. Nana had been tied up in the backyard. The poor dog was barking, for she could smell danger. And she was right - this was the night that Peter Pan would take the Darling children on the most breath-taking adventure of their lives, to a place called Neverland, a strange country where the lost boys live and never grow up, a land with mermaids, fairies and pirates - and of course the terrible, evil, Captain Hook. Peter Pan is undoubtedly one of the most famous and best-loved stories for children, an unforgettable, magical fantasy which has been enjoyed by generations.

Nayu's thoughts

I've grown up with the tale of Peter Pan, saw and disliked the Disney version. It is very firmly in my mind as I attended Great Ormand Street Children's Hospital, who has the rights to anything to do with Peter Pan. I adore the Disney Tinkerbell movies, but never read the actual original book published in the early 1900s, so when the friend I read classics with suggested it I hopped on board and spent July reading about Peter's tale chapter by chapter. 

I can tell you a summary: Peter is in fact a villain not a hero, I felt sorry for Hook and the pirates, Wendy had a lot on her hands but for the most part enjoyed playing mother and taking care of everyone. Sure it's not the most politically correct tale, but written over a century ago what do you expect? I didn't realise that Peter actually kills pirates. Like hunts them down and murders them. Admittedly they want to murder him, but he is so nonchalent about it, and feels it is normal! It is very not normal to kidnap children to have playmates and be taken care of. He doesn't even look after them that well on the journey to Neverland! 

I have a very low view of him, and while I'm thankful I have read the original novel, I don't expect I will read it again. The dog Nana is adorable, the children's parents are a bit eccentric but they stood by their beliefs. And Peter...lives on, forever kidnapping girls to take care of him, although after Wendy at least some had time limits on how long they could be away from home. Tinkerbell is a little madam, and not very likeable so for that I do thank Disney for creating a cuter, kinder version. 

Suggested read

My favourite classic read is A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett (Children’s, Audio book, 9 years +, 10E/10E) 

 

My Life As a Goldfish and other Poems by Rachel Rooney (Children's, Poetry, 6/10E, short 'n' sweet review)

You can see the cat thinking 'yummy!'

October 2014, Frances Lincoln Children's Books, 96 pages, Paperback, Review copy

Summary from Frances Lincoln

A monster’s lunch, a wolf boy, Monday mornings, monkeys, headlice, Christmas, making friends, goldfish – and lots more. Full of jokes, surprises and puzzles, but also sensitive and thought-provoking, this is a spellbinding new collection from the winner of the CLPE Poetry Award.

Nayu's thoughts

There were a few poems, including the title poem, which I enjoyed because of the humour and images they conjured up. I may not have enjoyed the majority of them, but I can see that they were all well written and memorable. They were a bit too odd for my liking, but with poetry I prefer less abstract and wacky ideas which I know younger readers love and will happy learn off by heart to recite perhaps adding suitable actions. A mixed read for me, but one I urge you to check it out to widen your poetry tastes. 

  

Blog Tour: Deeper by Robin York (New Adult, 6/10E)

6th March 2014, Piatkus Books, 400 pages, Paperback/ebook, ARC ebook

Content: frequent graphic adult relations and strong language, revenge p*rn, drug use, alcohol abuse,

Summary from Piatkus Books

In this New Adult debut by Robin York, a college student is attacked online and must restore her name - and stay clear of a man who's wrong for her, but feels so right.

When Caroline Piasecki's ex-boyfriend posts their sex pictures on the Internet, it destroys her reputation as a nice college girl. Suddenly her once-promising future doesn't look so bright. Caroline tries to make the pictures disappear; hoping time will bury her shame. Then a guy she barely knows rises to her defence and punches her ex to the ground.

West Leavitt is the last person Caroline needs in her life. Everyone knows he's shady. Still, Caroline is drawn to his confidence and swagger - even after promising her dad she'll keep her distance. On late, sleepless nights, Caroline starts wandering into the bakery where West works.

They hang out, they talk, they listen. Though Caroline and West tell each other they're 'just friends,' their feelings intensify until it becomes impossible to pretend. The more complicated her relationship with West gets, the harder Caroline has to struggle to discover what she wants for herself - and the easier it becomes to find the courage she needs to fight back against the people who would judge her.

When all seems lost, sometimes the only place to go is deeper.

Nayuleska's thoughts 

I was super eager to read this book because I thought it would be unofficial revenge like the kind in Mockingbird (see suggested read) where a girl is raped but the school students sort it out. I expected some adult relations, just not quite as graphic (Most New Adult's that I've read have tended to be graphic in some places) The story ended up not panning out as I'd hoped.

The characters are strong willed, which was sometimes positive as it got them through tough times, but this also meant Caroline & West both didn't ask for help when they needed it. I adored West's little sister Frankie, she was quite mischievous and there were touching scenes when she was in trouble and Frankie could only be on the phone instead of being there in person. 

I hate having to give a low grade for a blog tour book, but I didn't like a lot of it. I was shocked by the explicit nature of the adult relation scenes. I lost count of how many there were which lasted several pages. I didn't read them as they were too graphic and I skip blushables.

I'd wanted to see the support Caroline receives, and was sad to find what I expected to happen in regards to the legal and family side of things only at the very end. I'm baffled how her father didn't find out sooner because it was out there, just not really noticed by others. I'm equally struggling to understand why Caroline was stupid enough to take drugs., why she agreed to insane parties where she behaved in ways that could ruin her reputation more, but I did like the fact that she grew stronger as a person over the debacle and admitted she had made mistakes.  

I did like the side story of West's family life, the way he will do anything to protect his baby sister, but everything else was definitely too much info and extremely colourful for me. I will be wary of New Adult titles now, although in theory not all should be this explicit. I admire Robin for creating characters I feel strongly about, even if not in the way I expected to. She has written a powerful book about an important topic which sadly happens in our technological age. Personally people shouldn't put themselves in that position, but if they do then they at least ought to have support from those they love. 

Find out more on Robin's website.

Check out the last stop of the tour tomorrow which is on Daisy Chain Book Reviews
 

Suggested read

Check out a story of rape revenge told in The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney (Young Adult, 10E/10E)