nemyp's review
3.75
Very good, fairly cute, though the writing varies and can be quite dense at times.
The afterword was probably my favourite part.
There were a few parts that I (generation z) find “absolutely baffling” in that I have never known a world where those actions would be normal or acceptable.
The afterword was probably my favourite part.
There were a few parts that I (generation z) find “absolutely baffling” in that I have never known a world where those actions would be normal or acceptable.
Spoiler
(Thinking of how they let their 8 year old stay alone, over night, above a bar in an unfamiliar country… wack) also, small moments that are racist by the standards of 2023. I know I shouldn’t judge it by that but my heart did kinda stutternita83's review
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
4.0
This book takes you on an adventure through England, discovering story settings and the homes of authors. I especially enjoyed the places from books I have read and now have a list of books to read that I have not read.
couillac's review
3.0
I enjoyed this one, though it made me want to do more research into early British children's literature. Beatrix Potter and the Wind in the Willows I know, but many others are just not familiar enough for me to visualize the artwork and stories that inspired this journey. Still, I envy them their experiences and enjoyed the humor and obvious joy they found in their trip. This edition is also nice for the afterword in which the author discusses life after the trip and how this book was received.
austen_to_zafon's review
3.0
In the late 50's, when her children were, I believe, 2 or 3 and 9, she and her husband took them to England for an extended trip during which they visited places relevant to the many children's books they had all read. Some of them are books you don't hear much about these days (such as Kipling's "[b:Puck of Pook's Hill|571197|Puck of Pook's Hill|Rudyard Kipling|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328863881s/571197.jpg|1815837]," "[b:Johnny Crow|17194781|The Johnny Crow Omnibus Featuring Johnny Crow's Garden, Johnny Crow's Party and Johnny Crow's New Garden (in Color)|L. Leslie Brooke|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/book/50x75-a91bf249278a81aabab721ef782c4a74.png|23667086]," and Caldecott's illustrated verses), but many are familiar: "[b:The Wind in the Willows|5659|The Wind in the Willows|Kenneth Grahame|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1423183570s/5659.jpg|1061285]," "[b:The Tailor of Gloucester|345188|The Tailor of Gloucester|Beatrix Potter|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1447722022s/345188.jpg|870737]," "[b:The Chronicles of Narnia|11127|The Chronicles of Narnia (Chronicles of Narnia, #1-7)|C.S. Lewis|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1449868701s/11127.jpg|781271]," and "[b:Swallows and Amazons|125190|Swallows and Amazons (Swallows and Amazons, #1)|Arthur Ransome|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1277148503s/125190.jpg|231599]," for example.
Joan Bodger eventually became a world-class oral storyteller, but this book keeps us at a bit of a distance. I learned why later. Still, I really enjoyed hearing about their adventures and mishaps trying to find King Arthur, Toad Hall, and Beatrix Potter's farm.
My one warning is don't do what I did and read about her before you read the book. Just enjoy the book for what it is. By knowing what happened after the book, it was hard for me not to read into every page the signs of the future. Wait until you're done with the book, if you're curious.
Joan Bodger eventually became a world-class oral storyteller, but this book keeps us at a bit of a distance. I learned why later. Still, I really enjoyed hearing about their adventures and mishaps trying to find King Arthur, Toad Hall, and Beatrix Potter's farm.
My one warning is don't do what I did and read about her before you read the book. Just enjoy the book for what it is. By knowing what happened after the book, it was hard for me not to read into every page the signs of the future. Wait until you're done with the book, if you're curious.
emmkayt's review
5.0
A wonderful memoir of an American family's trip to Britain in the 1950s with their young children, to seek out the places represented in British children's books. They drive about staying in inns and B and B's, they camp in a caravan for a couple of weeks, they "mess about in boats" Swallows-and-Amazons-style, they hunt for Toad Hall and Avalon and The Enchanted Place in Winnie-the-Pooh. There are digressions (for example, about thatch), and frustrations (rain, laundry, dead ends), and it is clear that doing research on the fly before the Internet with a 9 and a 2 year old in tow was sometimes less than reliable. I was familiar with some but not all of the books, but it didn't matter. I enjoyed it tremendously. Quite magical.
scenicvista's review
4.0
A pleasant enough travelogue and recounting of visits to real places associated with some of our favorite children’s British literature. I realized I’ve been to several of the places described herein, and I was happy to revisit and get a new appreciation for said places (Stowe, Windermere, etc.). I’m kicking myself for not finishing a read-aloud of Swallows and Amazons yet but on the other hand thoroughly proud we all read or listened to all of the Pooh books and The Wind in the Willows in particular and hope those hours spent doing so lodged deeply into my children’s memories as they have in mine.
katevrst's review
2.0
Oh, this sounds lovely!
After reading: this book really dissapointed me. It was more like a personal journal than an analyse of the environments and influences of childrens books. Too bad.
After reading: this book really dissapointed me. It was more like a personal journal than an analyse of the environments and influences of childrens books. Too bad.
eleneariel's review
4.0
Lovely, nostalgic, charming - but skip the epilogue unless you want to be sad.