The Wind in the Willows

Talking animals that clean their little homes and run off on adventures The Wind and the Willows is a book that I picked up in a Costco as a child and read over and over again. I still remember picking it up out of the pile of books and thinking it must be the next book I must read. I may have just been old enough to have bought the book myself. I remember being intrigued by the cover, and the simplicity of the writing style. It seemed the kind of writing I liked to read and so I either begged my parents to buy it for me, or had enough bits of money put together to buy it myself. I remember I was quite young. Around seven years old or so. And the illustrations of animals dressed as humans and more scared me then brought me amusement. Even after reading the story multiple times I was still slightly disturbed by the upright frog walking around in a suit. But he was a most ridiculous and silly creature and finding out what happened to him on his misadventures had a positive impact on my understanding of the world.

There is the occasional basic “bad word” such as “d*mn” which for some reason didn’t bother me reading this book as it was used in an old fashion. Although I still prefer the method of blanking out the words like this “d–n” in old books. I like things to be left a little to the imagination. The creatures also drink alcoholic beverages and such.

The actual story itself I found to be marvelous. Soothing to the mind and cleansing to the soul. A nice little reset. There are many books I have re-read but precious few that I would immediately begin to read the moment I’d finished. The Wind in the Willows has the special privilege of being one of those books.

I find this story to be one that should be treasured. Perhaps if for nothing else, the simplicity of the language and content. Something we have truly lost in our progression of existence. Moving so quickly towards something, hoping for anything other than what we are. The Wind in the Willows is a charming read that will I warn you encourage the dismissal of chores and duties and have one desiring an afternoon of picnicking and fishing in a rowboat. Or going off on some wild spontaneous adventure.