A volte mi è sembrato di leggere qualcosa di non adatto alla mia età però c'era sempre ilpiacere di scoprire cosa inventavano quei dentini da latte! ( )

I read this a long time ago as a little girl (10 years old, I think), but having just read it again, I find that it's even richer and much funnier than I remember!

Of course, it's a good story, but it also presents a satirical critique of Victorian culture in several respects, including, the Darlings' attempt to keep up the appearance of middle-class comfort by keeping a governess, but saving money because the governess is a dog, Nana. Victorian gender roles also find themselves coming under Barrie's satirical gun.

But I'll say no more--you must find it all out for yourself. And you'll be glad you did. ( )

"'You see, Wendy, when the first baby laughed for the first time, its laugh broke into a thousand piecs, and they all went skipping about, and that was the beginning of fairies.'"

I had, sadly, never before experienced the true Peter Pan. Only the Disneyfied version. Which I always enjoyed, I mean, who doesn't love the frivolous forever-child and the jealous little pixie fairy? But of course, we all know Disney's track record for authenticity.

"'Tink,' said Peter amiably, 'this lady says she wishes you were her fairy.'
Tinker Bell answered insolently.
'What does she say, Peter?'
He had to translate. 'She is not very polite. She says you are a great ugly girl, and that she is my fairy.'
He tried to argue with Tink. 'You know you can't be my fairy, Tink, because I am an gentleman and you are a lady.'
To this Tink replied in these words, 'You silly ass,' and disappeared into the bathroom. 'She is quite a common fairy,' Peter explained apologetically, 'she is called Tinker Bell because she mends the pots and kettles.'"

I had no idea that the real Tink was such a terrible little wretch! She's so mean and her language! In a children's story! There were times I would have liked to be able to reach in and swat her for the stuff she did. Even still, she also was managed to be rather entertaining. I mean, imagine, a pretty little fairy, whose catch-phrase appears to be "silly ass"! It made me laugh every time.

"For a moment the circle of light was broken, and something gave Peter a loving little pinch.
'Then tell her,' Wendy begged, 'to put out her light.'
'She can't put it out. That is about the only thing fairies can't do. It just goes out of itself when she falls asleep, same as the stars.'
'Then tell her to sleep at once,' John almost ordered.
'She can't sleep except when she's sleepy. It is the only other thing fairies can't do.'
'Seems to me,' growled John, 'these are the only two things worth doing.'
Here he got a pinch, but not a loving one."

So while I was a little displeased at just how selfish Peter and Tink were, I thought the story was a lot of fun. It's more random chapters of his/their time in Neverland than an actual chronological story, but it's whimsical adventure (and a bit darker than Disney would have you believe), with both lovely sweet notions (such as the first quote) and thoroughly amusing laugh-out-loud bits (such as the other quotes) and the ending was perfectly done.

Then we have Peter's original book, Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens. He made his first appearance in Barrie's adult novel [The Little White Bird] in 1902, and then starred in the play of Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up in 1904. But Barrie didn't turn the play into a novel until 1911 (then titled Peter and Wendy), while he wrote about Kensington Gardens in 1906.

"He would not eat worms or insects (which thy thought very silly of him), so they brought him bread in their beaks. Thus, when you cry out, 'Greedy! Greedy!' to the bird that flies away with the big crust, you know now that you ought not to do this, for he is very likely taking it to Peter Pan."

I actually liked this one better than the other. There's a couple things that contributed to this. One, there was no terribly naughty Tink, and Peter was far more innocent (he's merely 7 days old) so more pleasant. Two, there were no prior experiences with it so no discrepancies between childhood enjoyment and actual story. And then, it is an entirely different story, unique and completely fresh, with all sorts of delightful entertaining tidbits. Plus there are more like two or three stories overlapping and intertwining amongst each other and they're all a bit silly and amusing and fun. I would strongly recommend reading this one!

"'O Tony,' she would say with awful respect, 'but the fairies will be so angry!'
'I dare say,' replied Tony carelessly.
'Perhaps,' she said, thrilling, 'Peter Pan will give you a sail in his boat!'
'I shall make him,' replied Tony; no wonder she was proud of him.
But they should not have talked so loudly, for one day they were overheard by a fairy who had been gathering skeleton leaves, from which the little people weave their summer curtains, and after that Tony was a marked boy. They loosened the rails before he sat on them, so that down he came on the back of his head; they tripped him up by catching his bootlace, and bribed the ducks to sink his boat. Nearly all the nasty accidents you meet with in the Gardens occur because the fairies have taken an ill-will to you, and so it behoves you to be careful what you say about them."

I really liked both these books, and I'd definitely recommend them to everyone, of all ages. Especially if you find a copy with the nice original illustrations! ( )

1906 - 1911 -

I read this a while back and somehow forgot to write anything whatever about it, or mark it as read, or anything. I remember liking it; it was fairly dark, moved fast. Can't remember if I thought there were weird sexual undertones or was surprised to find there weren't.

Humph. I hate when I don't document properly. ( )

When I started reading this book I thought I would love it. It turned out to bore me a lot.
I thought neverland would be a magical place where you'd want to go back again and again. But London seemed rather cozier and less deadly (children killing pirates?).
Peter isn't a hero, he's just very selfish boy.
This book made me believe that Peter Pan is only famous because of Disney. It's very well written and full of creative sillyness, but the fights against the pirates are long and boring and got me sleeping a couple of times. ( )