A classic of children’s literature (published in 1908) that I never heard or read as a child and somehow never got around to reading until now. A great pity. I have no doubt whatsoever that I would have loved this as a child; one of my delights was the edition I read had absolutely wonderful illustrations. The storyline is simple: two friends, Mole and Rat—together with Badger and a small, assorted cast of others—devote their energies to saving Mr. Toad from his lack of judgment. There are a number of short adventures tucked in as well and a truly lovely, evocative paean to the English countryside runs throughout. The animals’ personalities are beautifully drawn and I cannot imagine any child (or adult, for that matter) who would not be enchanted by this gentle tale. Highly recommended. ( )

Enchanting and moving. This ageless classic (1908) with its Shinto-like quality embodies a deep respect for the spirits of nature, culminating in the presence of Pan. Here the river is a friend and not a resource. Yes, it can be regarded as a book for children, and I've read some of the Marxist, homoerotic, feminist critiques, but I found it spoke to me about community, kindness, civility, and above all - home.

We others, who have long lost the more subtle of the physical senses, have not even proper terms to express an animal’s intercommunications with his surroundings, living or otherwise, and have only the word ‘smell’ for instance, to include the whole range of delicate thrills which murmur in the nose of the animal night and day, summoning, warning, inciting, repelling. p.67

Home is the grounding force beyond which even migratory creatures feel lost and out of place. Home is augmented by food, and like Enid Blyton, Kenneth Grahame treats us.

...he took care to include a yard of long French bread, a suasage out of which the garlic sang, some cheese which lay down and creid, and a long-necked straw-covered flask contaning bottled sunshine ched and garnered on far Southern slopes. p. 139.

( )

I'm puzzled why this has been such an enduring classic. ( )

I have so many thoughts about this classic. I'd never read it before, then the audiobook came across my desk and I decided it was time. As I started listening, my mind completely wandered from the story and I had to start over. Again and again this kept happening (there's not a lot of action in the beginning to hold one's attention). I had to really concentrate to understand what was happening and when I did...

Is this a book about a bunch of gay men?

Mole, Water Rat, Toad and Badger are all animals with the characteristics and habits of humans--to be specific, well-to-do human males from the year 1908. They picnic, go boating, have luncheons, smoke and drink coffee. They wear waistcoats and own estates. They're all adults--they live on their own and make their own livings. None of them has a wife or children or any immediate family. They're fiercely loyal to each other and seem to be like a clique.

Seriously, if I didn't know that this was supposed to be a children's book, I'd swear Mole and Ratty were between-the-lines lovers, the bedrock couple of the group. Badger is the older, wiser, grumpier member, and Mr. Toad is obviously the wild and crazy kid that everyone loves but also can't stand.

So that's my reading of this book. It's basically Queer as Folk in a Downton Abbey setting. Only there's no sex because, duh, it's a children's book. ( )

This book has some incredibly beautiful passages about enjoying nature, food, and friends... but Toad's chapters were a slog for me. And hoo boy the highly-rated negative review about the presentation of the English class system is very much on point. ( )