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The Wind In The Willows
A while ago I picked up a copy of The Wind In The Willows from the library to read to Sebastian. I own at least one copy, of course, but can't find it; some day I hope I'll have enough shelf space to hold all my books so I can alphabetize them.
Anyway, I have to admit that I was worried that the book might be too advanced for Sebastian. And at first, my fears seemed prophetic: the story didn't seem to interest him very much, and he often asked to read something else (or read one of his own books to me). I had carefully picked an unabridged edition (TWitW is often abridged, with "The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn" chapter being the most frequent casualty), but I found myself abridging the book on the fly. The language is truly lovely, but at Sebastian's age some of the longer descriptive passages just don't work.
Three nights ago I picked up the book with the private resolution that if Sebastian didn't get more interested in it that night, I'd return it to the library and wait a year before trying again.
And then Mole decided to make a private trek into the Wild Wood to meet Badger.
I'd forgotten how frightening that section was! It's like a ghost story. And I have to say that I really read it rather well. Sebastian was riveted. Ever since, he's been fascinated with the story; he even had me bring it in the car this morning, so I could read it to him on the way to the train station (Teri was driving, of course). He was angry at me because I'd stopped him from playing with his Pokemon cards that morning, but even so rather than sulking he asked me to start reading the book as soon as we were in the car. Even Teri found it interesting, I think.
It took me a little while to work out the voices. Mole's is nasal and high, a bit like Terry Jones' when he's playing a silly part in Monty Python. Rat is more mellifluous and a bit, well, educated; I keep thinking of "the playing fields of Eaton" when I'm reading him (not the actual fields, mind you; I've never seen them. I'm thinking of the phrase.)
Badger is more gruff, deep, and direct (I think of Ed Asner's Lou Grant, but as a Brit). For Otter, I think of a British athlete, a "jock" type; cheerful, casual, and strong; a bit like Hugh Laurie, for some reason (obviously not when he's playing House).
I should note that I'm NOT particularly trying to do British accents; I'm just letting the voices in my head shade the voices as I read them. So a tinge of accent creeps in, so to speak.
Toad is the one character who gave me trouble. Eventually I decided that since Toad gets the best lines, and has the most emotional moments, I might as well use something close to my own voice - but pitched just a little higher, and with just a touch of melodrama. Toad is quite a ham, after all.
Speaking of hams, I surprised myself in the car today. We'd reached the part where Mole and Rat were walking back to the River Bank, and Mole smelled his old home. As I read the part where Mole's heart was breaking, and as he sobbed out his story to Rat, I found my eyes filling with tears - quite a lot of them. I wasn't feeling sad this morning, or anything like that. I was simply really getting into the part. I actually had to hold myself back slightly to keep from crying, and I know I gave a very good reading.
Maybe some day I should try acting again. I really do seem to be a natural!
Anyway, I have to admit that I was worried that the book might be too advanced for Sebastian. And at first, my fears seemed prophetic: the story didn't seem to interest him very much, and he often asked to read something else (or read one of his own books to me). I had carefully picked an unabridged edition (TWitW is often abridged, with "The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn" chapter being the most frequent casualty), but I found myself abridging the book on the fly. The language is truly lovely, but at Sebastian's age some of the longer descriptive passages just don't work.
Three nights ago I picked up the book with the private resolution that if Sebastian didn't get more interested in it that night, I'd return it to the library and wait a year before trying again.
And then Mole decided to make a private trek into the Wild Wood to meet Badger.
I'd forgotten how frightening that section was! It's like a ghost story. And I have to say that I really read it rather well. Sebastian was riveted. Ever since, he's been fascinated with the story; he even had me bring it in the car this morning, so I could read it to him on the way to the train station (Teri was driving, of course). He was angry at me because I'd stopped him from playing with his Pokemon cards that morning, but even so rather than sulking he asked me to start reading the book as soon as we were in the car. Even Teri found it interesting, I think.
It took me a little while to work out the voices. Mole's is nasal and high, a bit like Terry Jones' when he's playing a silly part in Monty Python. Rat is more mellifluous and a bit, well, educated; I keep thinking of "the playing fields of Eaton" when I'm reading him (not the actual fields, mind you; I've never seen them. I'm thinking of the phrase.)
Badger is more gruff, deep, and direct (I think of Ed Asner's Lou Grant, but as a Brit). For Otter, I think of a British athlete, a "jock" type; cheerful, casual, and strong; a bit like Hugh Laurie, for some reason (obviously not when he's playing House).
I should note that I'm NOT particularly trying to do British accents; I'm just letting the voices in my head shade the voices as I read them. So a tinge of accent creeps in, so to speak.
Toad is the one character who gave me trouble. Eventually I decided that since Toad gets the best lines, and has the most emotional moments, I might as well use something close to my own voice - but pitched just a little higher, and with just a touch of melodrama. Toad is quite a ham, after all.
Speaking of hams, I surprised myself in the car today. We'd reached the part where Mole and Rat were walking back to the River Bank, and Mole smelled his old home. As I read the part where Mole's heart was breaking, and as he sobbed out his story to Rat, I found my eyes filling with tears - quite a lot of them. I wasn't feeling sad this morning, or anything like that. I was simply really getting into the part. I actually had to hold myself back slightly to keep from crying, and I know I gave a very good reading.
Maybe some day I should try acting again. I really do seem to be a natural!
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He also laughed and laughed when Otter said "...and if there's a head that needs to be punched, you can confidently rely upon me to punch it."
Ah, violence...boys love it. Although he'd much rather hear about it than see it.
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Rat took a cudgel? I'd missed that - and with friends who are researching the history of the cudgel, I should check it out. Thanks!
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