Also the water rat was very good at swimming. Water rat: A large semiaquatic rat-like rodent. Mole: A small burrowing mammal with dark velvety fur, a long muzzle, and very small eyes, feeding mainly on worms, grubs, and other invertebrates. I think I really enjoyed reading this book, anyone can read it, very funny, exiting, in some parts of the story it sort of gets suspenseful and you can make it into a play! The wind in the willows is a very good book for children to read. The reader need to know that the beautiful written, richly inventive adventures chronicled in Kenneth Grahame’s. It was book and somewhat brutal read that you won’t be sleep. The “wind in the Willows” is Kenneth Grahame’s write. Like I said, I could be trying too hard to pull strings here and there, but I think this piece of classic children's literature is a much deeper, or darker, story than first meets the eye. If that wasn't a metaphor for a depressive episode with an interrupted suicide attempt, Idk what is. Once Rat wakes up, Mole can see that he's more of himself again and he sits and talks with Rat until he realizes that he actually loves his life where he is. He impulsively tidies & packs his things, intending to leave for 'the South' until Mole tearfully begs him to stay, even to the point of physically restraining Rat while he cries and cries until he falls asleep.

Most notably, when Rat speaks to the traveler & birds about heading south. Lol, call me crazy.Īlso, there are many undertones of depression and mental health issues throughout. The way the friends subdue Toad's incessant 'need' to drive motorcars- isolating him at home for a few days while he 'crashes' and 'gets all of that out of his system' seems a direct reference to drug use and interventions. Because this story was written in early 1900s, Homosexuality was a taboo subject, but because they're cute animals instead of adult men, it flew under the radar. They love each other, like more than friendses.

The characters care so deeply about one another, championing each other even when they call Bullshit.

I think all four main characters (male, single, live alone or move in and out with each other frequently, lots of food and sleepovers) exhibit characteristics of the modern gay man. I mean, Mole and Rat were definitely getting it in, let's be honest. Turns out, The Wind in the Willows was right up my alley in those terms! 🤣įrom this simple story, even in this condensed version, I took away a lot of adult themes in costume of the simple hijinks of some forest animals.įirstly, and most obvious, is homosexuality. I chose to read it after it was gifted to my daughter, and I needed something light and happy to read between all my usual disturbing novels. This is a very watered down version of the original novel.

The wind in the willows book