January 2013: Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie
There are a few books on my "mental to-read list", that list includes Les Miserables, Peter Pan, The Grapes of Wrath...and I'm sure a few more that I have thought about from time to time, but I just can't recollect at the moment.
On our first Valentines Day together in 2008, Brandon sent me on a scavenger hunt around Buena Vista and Lexington and each stop had a different gift for me. One of the stops was Community Bank in Lexington where we (as we still do) banked, the present they had for me was a beautiful copy of Peter Pan, complete with illustrations and a beautiful jacket cover. Now, if you know much about me, you know that I am in love with British culture, especially the time frame under Edward VII and George V. I don't know if I care much about them as monarchs in particular, but that era of time is so appealing to me (btw, that's 1901-1936 if you didn't know). Peter Pan was published just after the Edwardian Era and just before the first World War (which is my favorite of the favorite) in 1911 and everything about it just makes me want to squeal with joy. It took me a little bit to understand his humor (it's rather amusing once you get the hang of it) and the only thing I had against it was that I wished that there had been a little more time spent in London than Neverland! Ha! I love the idea of a Nursery where all of the children sleep, and a Nanna (although I'm not sure I want to employ a dog for the job), and just...everything. I was a little taken aback by the fact that the lost boys killed so many pirates, though. Disney glossed over that part if I remember correctly - although it has been a long long time since I've seen the movie, so they may not have.
Regardless, this is another story that I can put back on my shelf and I thoroughly look forward to the day when I can read it aloud to my children while sitting by the fire in the nursery.
I found it interesting and good timing that we watched Marry Poppins (which takes place in 1910) at the same time I was reading Peter Pan.
"You, boy," [Hook] said, addressing John, "you look as if you had a little pluck in you. Didst never want to be a pirate, my hearty?"
Now John had sometimes experienced this hankering at maths. prep.; and he was struck by Hook's picking him out.
"I once thought of calling myself Redhanded Jack," he said diffidently.
"And a good name too. We'll call you that here, bully, if you join."
"What do you think, Michael?" asked John.
"What would you call me if I join?" Michael demanded.
"Blackbearded Joe."
Michael was naturally impressed. "What do you think, John?" He wanted John to decided, and John wanted him to decide.
"Shall we still be respectful subjects of the King?" John inquired.
Through Hook's teeth came the answer: "You would have to swear, 'Down with the King.'"
Perhaps John had not behaved very well so far, but he shone out now.
"Then I refuse," he cried, banging the barrel in front of Hook.
"And I refuse," cried Michael.
"Rule Britannia!" squeaked Curly.
from Chapter 14 "The Pirate Ship"
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