Kay's Bookshelf

Sort of too short a story for me to manage to see any actual depth in the characters. They all (the Tucks, Winnie, Winnie’s parents) seem to be good people. Angus and Mae are also wise and they regret their change, as does their son Miles, who had two children of his own, who looked/were probably older than him at the time the story takes place. Winnie is just a child, a good child with an inquisitive mind, but just a child nevertheless. A simple and uncomplicated story with simple and uncomplicated characters.

I’m probably not very mature myself to say that but I didn’t quite understand Angus and Mae’s drama. Just think of it, you are immortal, you are forever young (or at least you’re not getting older), and you have your whole family with you. I think it’s a perfect state :D I can of course understand why the little Winnie had to be kept from drinking right then, as she was too young and she was to be missing out on too much had she “frozen” at the age of ten. I can of course understand why the secret had to be kept away from the rest of the world. But I cannot quite understand the reasons why the eldest Tuck complained. I probably will when I’ll get older and wiser. Or not. I tend to think more like Jesse than the rest.

Having seen the movie I was sort of expecting a bit of romance between Winnie and Jesse (I don’t remember the movie that well though so I might have been wrong anyway). I was surprised to see there was none in the book to speak of. Winnie “loses her heart” to Jesse the first time she sees him. But that’s about it. Sure, Jesse is thrilled with their visitor, but all of the family is just as thrilled given that they have had no other visitor in almost a century. Jesse’s “thrill” doesn’t seem in any way more special than the others’. Which sort of diluted Winnie’s decision, I saw it (her decision) as a bit harder to make in the movie than in the book (though perhaps I shouldn’t have as she was in love with him in both versions).

What I liked most: Almost every scene where the toad was involved :P

What I liked least: I found a bit hard to believe Winnie’s level of attachment Winnie to “her Tucks” after spending only one night in their house. All of the sudden they were almost as important to her as her parents (or very important anyway). I think she should have been given at least a few days more with them in order for her feelings to be justified (or at least more justifiable).

Recommend it? Yes, especially as it’s a very fast read.

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