Finally! Sorry about the ridiculously long delay. Hope everyone hasn’t completely forgotten where we are in this book.
The time has come to say goodbye to our little friends and I think Grahame ends his story pitch-perfectly. The friends have a quick victory and regain Toad Hall, sending the Weasels and Stoats back to the Wild [...]
Archive for the ‘Books’ Category
Chapter 12: The Return of Ulysses
Posted in Books, Chapter Days, Wind in the Willows on December 29, 2008 | 8 Comments »
Chapter 10: “Like Summer Tempests Came His Tears”
Posted in Books, Wind in the Willows on December 8, 2008 | 12 Comments »
Ah, Toad. What can you say? He is something else.
This is a humbling chapter for Toad and also one that reveals how hard it is to truly humble him.
Notice how he jumps right in to boasting as soon as the Rat hauls him out of the river. (” Such trials, such sufferings, and all [...]
Chapter 10: The Further Adventures of Toad
Posted in Chapter Days, Friday Chapters, Wind in the Willows on December 1, 2008 | 7 Comments »
Well, we’re back after that brief break.
Toad is just an amazing character. The fact that he is still likable after this chapter is a testament to how well Grahame writes him. Just to review:
He steals a horse.
He lies constantly.
He is amazingly conceited.
He wrecks the car that he previously stole.
And yet, somehow, he is totally [...]
Chapter 8: Toad’s Adventures
Posted in Friday Chapters, Wind in the Willows on November 7, 2008 | 6 Comments »
I think last week left everyone scratching their heads. If it did, this week should be a little more straightforward.
What can you say about Toad? Here’s just three thing I loved:
Toad’s instant remorse after being thrown in jail.
Every time I read the description of the buttered toast it makes me crave buttered toast.
hot buttered toast, [...]
Chapter 7: The Piper at the Gates of Dawn
Posted in Friday Chapters, Wind in the Willows on October 31, 2008 | 4 Comments »
This is one of the more interesting chapters in Wind in the Willows. Rat and Mole go looking for Otter’s lost son and encounter a God.
There’s a lot to think about in this chapter. Grahame is such an excellent writer and he rises to new highs in this chapter. This would be a very hard [...]
Chapter 5: Dulce Domum
Posted in Books, Chapter Days, Friday Chapters, Wind in the Willows on October 10, 2008 | 9 Comments »
It’s strange, but I used to not like this chapter. So much that I almost always skipped over it. Reading it now, I think I was crazy. I love this chapter.
Dulce Domum is latin for “Sweetly at Home”. Very appropriate. The entire chapter reminds of the feeling I get when I’ll walk by a [...]
Chapter 4: Mr. Badger
Posted in Books, Friday Chapters, Wind in the Willows on October 3, 2008 | 8 Comments »
In this chapter we are introduced to the last main character of Wind in the Willows, Mr. Badger.
Have you ever met someone who seemed rough or a bit intimidating at first and once you spent a bit of time with then, you found out that they were actually very easy going and pleasent? I [...]
Chapter 3: The Wild Wood
Posted in Friday Chapters, Wind in the Willows on September 26, 2008 | 22 Comments »
Sorry about the late post today. Had a busy morning.
This chapter is an interesting one. I’m never sure if The Wild Wood is haunted or what exactly happens when Mole ventures in. The “pit-pattering” and the whistling. I think there’s a couple of ways one might interpret it:
The Forest is Haunted. When the Rat says:
We [...]
Chapter 2: The Open Road
Posted in Books, Chapter Days, Wind in the Willows on September 16, 2008 | 11 Comments »
This chapter we are introduced to Mr. Toad–one of my favorite characters in literature. He’s interesting because he’s completely likable but also self-centered, conceited, and would be totally frustrating to have as a friend. Believe it or not, this chapter is only a taste of Toad’s character. He really comes into his own a [...]
The River Bank
Posted in Friday Chapters, Wind in the Willows on September 12, 2008 | 22 Comments »
Well, here we are. The first of hopefully many Friday Chapter Chats.
In The River Bank we’re introduced to all of the main characters–albiet some quite briefly. The focus is Ratty and Mole but Otter, Mr. Badger, and Mr. Toad all make appearences. But even though all the characters aren’t largely present, this is a great [...]
