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drskaninchen's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Racism
Minor: Sexism
katebella's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.25
Audiobook
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, and Sexism
Minor: Death, Violence, and Murder
readingoverbreathing's review against another edition
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Let me first say that this is definitely between two and three stars for me, but as I truthfully didn't get that much enjoyment out of it, I think I'm going with two.
Peter Pan is one of those stories that is so deeply embedded in popular culture that it's difficult to come to the original text without any preconceptions or expectations. I've never been a huge Pan fan in any respect, but I would say that I generally knew what to expect in terms of story and plot but otherwise had no strong emotions or feelings tied to this story.
This definitely turned out to be a good thing, as, regardless, I was pretty disappointed.
Unfortunately, this is just one of those classics that has not aged very well: racism and sexism certainly abound here, as does a surprising and rather distasteful amount of Freudism. I had absolutely no sympathy for Peter as a character and much prefer the glittery Disney version to the much darker undertones that reign here.
In terms of plot, there was a lot less true adventure than I was expecting. Most of the time in Neverland is spent in the Lost Boys' den describing Wendy's domestic playacting. The climax felt anti-climactic and the ending was unnecessarily sad.
Unfortunately, there was just not much here to redeem the problematic aspects for me. I think I now have to put my feelings for Pan in the same basket that I have for Alice in Wonderland — both I find to be borderline creepy, and it just baffles me how both have become so deeply ingrained in the popular imagination.
Peter Pan is one of those stories that is so deeply embedded in popular culture that it's difficult to come to the original text without any preconceptions or expectations. I've never been a huge Pan fan in any respect, but I would say that I generally knew what to expect in terms of story and plot but otherwise had no strong emotions or feelings tied to this story.
This definitely turned out to be a good thing, as, regardless, I was pretty disappointed.
Unfortunately, this is just one of those classics that has not aged very well: racism and sexism certainly abound here, as does a surprising and rather distasteful amount of Freudism. I had absolutely no sympathy for Peter as a character and much prefer the glittery Disney version to the much darker undertones that reign here.
In terms of plot, there was a lot less true adventure than I was expecting. Most of the time in Neverland is spent in the Lost Boys' den describing Wendy's domestic playacting. The climax felt anti-climactic and the ending was unnecessarily sad.
Unfortunately, there was just not much here to redeem the problematic aspects for me. I think I now have to put my feelings for Pan in the same basket that I have for Alice in Wonderland — both I find to be borderline creepy, and it just baffles me how both have become so deeply ingrained in the popular imagination.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Misogyny, Racism, and Sexism
oceanwriter's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I've seen the Disney movie, I've seen two different productions of the musical, I've watched Peter Pan Goes Wrong, and I've watched/read other movies and books that retold the story, yet until now, I'd never actually read the source material. I have to admit, I've liked many of the other versions/adaptions better.
I feel as though a book like this needs no recap, so I'll go right into it.
I never expected the pacing to be so fast even though it's a children's book. Maybe being familiar with the plot is part of the reason, but I felt like whenever I blinked I was on a new scene. A lot of the material hasn't aged well, either, which being a classic comes to little surprise yet never fails to catch me off guard. Still, I adore the premise and always have, so I'm glad to have finally read the original novel.
I feel as though a book like this needs no recap, so I'll go right into it.
I never expected the pacing to be so fast even though it's a children's book. Maybe being familiar with the plot is part of the reason, but I felt like whenever I blinked I was on a new scene. A lot of the material hasn't aged well, either, which being a classic comes to little surprise yet never fails to catch me off guard. Still, I adore the premise and always have, so I'm glad to have finally read the original novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Sexism
Moderate: Death, Misogyny, and Violence
Minor: Child death, Kidnapping, Murder, and Abandonment
paigehf's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Xenophobia, Cultural appropriation, and Colonisation
Moderate: Death, Violence, Murder, and Classism
Minor: Animal cruelty and Death of parent
timmytunter's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Sexism
bishop_504's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book has such a unique narrative voice that it is practically begging to be read aloud.
I loved all the unique fantastical facts, like the whispering stars and mothers organizing their children’s thoughts.
Unfortunately, I can’t ignore the racism in this book. If I ever chose to read this aloud to a child I would have to change the words and descriptions about the native people in Neverland.
Aside from this major flaw, the book managed to capture the joyfulness and sometimes cruelty of childhood in a way that I didn’t expect.
I loved all the unique fantastical facts, like the whispering stars and mothers organizing their children’s thoughts.
Unfortunately, I can’t ignore the racism in this book. If I ever chose to read this aloud to a child I would have to change the words and descriptions about the native people in Neverland.
Aside from this major flaw, the book managed to capture the joyfulness and sometimes cruelty of childhood in a way that I didn’t expect.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Sexism
mdwsn27's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? No
2.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Kidnapping, Abandonment, and Colonisation
kirstencholewa's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, and Kidnapping