Review Detail

Reader reviewed by FlooCrookshanks

I read this book because, simply, it's a classic. I've seen numerous film adaptations, and after seeing Peter Pan (2003), loving it, and hearing that it's probably the closest adaptation to the original novel, I was excited to read it.

My first thought was, 'My my, Peter's a bit of a nasty so-and-so, isn't he?'. I know he's meant to be mischievious and so on, but the book portrays him as being quite the heartless, spiteful little brat and I found him to be not the least bit endearing.

I'm glad the book was written because it prompted so many other versions of it which I enjoy very much, but the original itself just didn't gel with me. I didn't feel compelled to read to the end - I've never liked the fact that Wendy decides to leave Neverland and grow up. Seriously, what was she thinking?! Growing up is boring and Peter's awesome - I can't believe she actually convinced herself that living a normal humdrum life without pirates, faeries, swordfights and flying would be better.

Tsk tsk, Wendy. And I'd thought so highly of you until then.

I can't bring myself to give this book a rating of one or even a two, because it's NOT a bad book, it's just that I didn't like Peter's character at all, and that really put me off it because he's my favourite part of the whole thing.

It's worth reading if only just to see how it all started. But if you've seen movies and loved the character of Peter, I do warn you that you might hate him after reading this book!