This might be a super quick blog.

(A quick reminder, these are my first thoughts right after finishing the book.)

After reading ‘The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse’, I wanted to keep to the children’s animal stories.  I was feeling a little nostalgic, and I remember a story, ‘The Wind in the Willows’ cartoon movie that I watched as a kid. I attempted to find the movie but struggled.  So on the Kindle, I found a ‘free’ version, so I got it and started reading. 

I was super confused by the front cover…..

It looks more like a cover for The Three Little Pigs.

I was surprised to find out that the book was published in 1908? I think that’s right.  

Given how old that book is, I might struggle to read it. I attempted it, but after 2 chapters, it became challenging to read, so I got the audiobook instead. 

Also, bring an OLD book; there’s some confusion about certain words that had completely different meanings in the early 1900s.  (The Kindle really help me to find the old meanings.) 

A part of my trouble is that I was reading too fast and needed to slow down. Is this the trick with older classic books?  

Listening to the book made this a little easier; there were a few times when I got lost.  There’s a scene in chapter 3 where Mole is walking in the woods, and some eyes in a hole in the ground scare him, and he makes a run for it.  However, the eyes keep following him.  When Mole stops ot rest, the eyes are still watching him. Then a rabbit charges at Mole full speed, knocking him over.  

I did that with a couple of sentences; the book takes up two whole pages. And it leads to a ‘jumpscare’?? 

It reminds me of the most common viewpoint of The Lord of the Rings, which came out in 1954. 

It’s beautifully written. Just so difficult to read at my reading style/level.

 Is this the writing style of the time period, or is the (superfluous? thanks Google Docs?) 😵‍💫 super description wordy writing just a choice by the writer? 

I love how, even now, I still remember the movie versions in certain chapters. Mostly with Mr Toad. Where he first sees a motorcar. Then he buys one and gets caught speeding.  Even later, he steals someone else’s motorcar and then gets thrown in prison!

For some reason, Mr Toad is stuck in my mind, haha, I also remember Mr Badger just being a grumpy old animal!

Lastly, I was listening to the book while eating breakfast. Then, I sat down on the sofa to rest and listened to the book, just enjoying the story. (can’t remember parts of it!)  I’m not sure if I’m zoning out or falling asleep; however, all of a sudden, the book is talking about swords, daggers and other weapons!

I don’t remember any ‘civil war’ moment in The Wind in the Willows! 

THEN, the story ends! I was SUPER confused! That’s part of me thinking my audible version is a ‘short version’ rather than a full one!  

That took me by surprise! Yes, I was a little lost at points. I wanted to read more about these animals and their stories. 

That’s all!

I know it’s a super short blog, and there’s more I could say.  However, I can’t think of any insight into the book. Sorry!  

At some point, I try to get a super nice copy of the book, and if I do, I add a photo to the blog.

I would stay. I should attempt to draw something related to Wind in the Willows, but I’m not 100% comfortable with artwork!

I think im remembering more about the 1995 movie! I’m going to find that copy and rewatch it for nostalgic sake.  

The following blog would most likely be the yearly recap.

or

Can anyone recommend something for a December read?