I have a confession to make.I have made it before, at various and sundry times, on this blog.
→ I love children’s books.
I do.
I don’t read them enough, I really don’t.
I get too weighed down by being an adult, and just focusing on adulterish books.
I am not sure if that is the right word, but you know what I mean, right? I should clarify that when I say “children’s” books I most often mean those books that have a sort of universal appeal, to young and old alike.
Books like The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis, or, The Wind In The Willows, by Kenneth Grahame, along with the follow-up sequels, written by William Horwood.
I LOVE these!
And sometimes yes, I read the big huge total flat-out KIDS' books!
So, this confession brings me to yet another confession.
I have had a few certain books on my shelf for eons of time, and for some reason I just have not read them yet. As in, ever! The guilt of neglect is killing me.
One is called The Little Prince, by Antoine de Saint-Exupery.
Is there even a need to provide a synopsis of the thing here?
I mean, 98% of you people hearing my confession have read the book! I could read it in the space of a coffee or two! So why haven’t I done it?
It is a mystery to me!
Secondly, Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass.
I have the most gorgeous Folio edition books, in a slipcase.
← These are the very ones, here!
With the original John Tenniel illustrations.
What is WRONG with me?
Please…. will someone out there remind me from time to time that these classics are not meant to sit on a shelf, unread?
Before I die of old age, remind me?
*********
11 comments:
One of the reasons I love my kids: They gave me such a good reason to read all those wonderful children's books! I started reading aloud to my oldest when she was but three months old, simply couln't wait any longer (beside persuading her to be born on Mozart's birthday by going to all the Mozart concerts and operas I could fit in, or where I still could fit in *g*).
The Little Prince is my very favorite book ever! It'll take you like an hour to read. Go do it now.
Oh, how can you go through life not having read the Alice books?!?!
Take a sick day, Cip, or whatever it'll take to free up enough time to read them. You won't regret it.
Such praise of the works will surely lead me right into them!
Thank you for responding. I SHOULD take like.... TEN sick days, Susan. I should!
I could give you hell for not reading those classics but it wouldn't help. You're suffering from Book Lovers/Readers disease. "So Many Books, So Little Time."
You know those books aren't going anywhere...and new ones keep coming in. You should see my "To Read" pile - and I just bought more.
Some people hoard money...
The Little Prince is the best book ever! You don't need a sick day for it, just a sick hour. Go, read it now!
I read it when I was youngish, but it didn't really mean anything to me till I was well into my teens. Very simple, but very wise and adult; I don't think you can appreciate it fully till you've passed out of childhood. (But I think you have, so go, read it now!)
Sure, so many books, so little time, but for the time it takes to read The Little Prince, I'd say the payoff is huge, especially since it deals with "what's Important" — it may just help guide you with what do with your so little time. (Are you still reading this comment? Go read The Little Prince.)
I'll confess tho, that I don't think I've ever read Alice cover to cover; I'm familiar with the story(/ies) and movies and abridgements. I recently introduced my daughter to Alice, first via Disney movie, and last week via pop-up book; we have yet to get round to reading the words.
Am very jealous of your Folios; I love Folios, but own few.
More great words for The Little Prince.
Now, to just find that perfect hour.... no, two hours, to devour the thing. I shall do it. Next week for sure.
Oh, I love kids' books too. I haven't read The Little Prince, so I guess I'm that 2%. :)
But I have had Anne of Green Gables on my bookshelf since 1990 and haven't cracked it open yet.
However - throw me a Beverly Cleary, Judy Blume, or Laura Ingalls Wilder, and I'm giddy for hours. :)
Love The Little Prince. Be sure to check out Exupery's Wind Sand and Stars too. It's for grown ups and is memoir but oh, the man can write. And don't feel bad about the Alice books. I just read them last year or the year before for the first time. They are delightfully weird. You've read all of A. A. Milne's Pooh stories though, right? Please say you have. If not, then you need to take a few more days off and read those too!
Stefanie, I have NOT read all of the Pooh stories. I know.
Blasphemy!
I am a bad bear!
A bear of little brain!
I have a busy sort of week, of travel and whatnot. And partying. Will take a few books with me, one of which will be.... The Little Prince!
Literalicious.
Aren't good kids' books simply.... literalicious?
The Little prince isn't for reading, but for revisiting. While its a title easier than most to tick off a list, it's something to be savoured over a number of years. Make sure you never forget where its place on the shelf is (you'll be wanting to go there again). Enjoy.
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