Terug Naar Het Honderd-Bunders-Bos (2009) - Plot & Excerpts
The stories are still fun and insightful. But because they are not written by the original author, it feels like...how should I say...it is like when Christopher Robin gave Pooh this wooden ladle for his honey, we know that Pooh would probably never use it. He enjoys honey with his paws or squeeze his whole head into the honey jar. He is just that sort of bear. And Christopher Robin should know. Then you wonder why the author had Christopher Robin gave Pooh that sort of present...It is that sort of feeling I have about this book. One of the most beloved figures in children’s literature, Winnie-the-Pooh has delighted readers since his appearance in 1926. At the end of “The House at Pooh Corner,” A. A. Milne nostalgically writes, “But wherever they go, and whatever happens to them on the way, in that enchanted place on the top of the Forest, a little boy and his Bear will always be playing.” Now this immortal line is finding its fulfillment, and the treasured inhabitants of the Hundred Acre Wood are back in David Benedictus’ “Return to the Hundred Acre Wood.” This modern adaptation seeks to continue the timeless adventures of Pooh Bear and Christopher Robin, with the same familiar characters as well as a few new ones, including Lottie the otter. Within these pages, the animals hold their first spelling bee and cricket game and even establish the Hundred Acre Wood Academy and hold a Harvest Festival. Every day marks a new exciting activity, and you can be sure that, in this special place, there will always be good friends and laughter. Written in the vein of Milne’s distinctive, lovable style, this story is a success, although it is noticeably different from the original. Benedictus, like Milne, employs portmanteau words and quirky capitalization to convey important ideas. Nevertheless, “Return to the Hundred Acre Wood” is, overall, more sophisticated and not as lighthearted or as silly, as evidenced by some of the events in which the animals participate. Various historical tidbits are mentioned throughout the book, and there is a perceptible influence derived from the works of Kenneth Grahame and Maurice Sendak. There are plentiful color illustrations by Mark Burgess, who endeavors to emulate the characters’ portrayals as initially set forth by Ernest H. Shepard. Despite some perceptible divergences, however, each of the characters maintains his or her recognizable personality, and readers of all ages will doubtless enjoy revisiting the Hundred Acre Wood and spending time with its adored residents.
What do You think about Terug Naar Het Honderd-Bunders-Bos (2009)?
I had trepidations about this novel, owing to the fact that it was not written by Milne. I read it as an adult and not as a child, unlike the other Pooh books. Allowing another author to write a tale about timeless and beloved characters is a massive demonstration of trust on the part of the Milne estate, and that trust was not ill-placed. Although I could almost always spot the difference in writing style, I think it was as close as a nostalgic Pooh fan could hope for. The more important aspect was that it was evident in every word that David Benedictus has a great love and respect for the characters and the world of the Hundred Acre Wood. This month I made it a point to re-read all of Milne's classic Pooh books and his books of poetry for children. After familiarizing myself with Milne's literary style and the great illustrations of E.H. Shepard, I was happy to find that I enjoyed the view constructed by Mark Burgess and a final trek into the Hundred Acre Wood crafted by David Benedictus.
—Hope
It's actually a beautifully designed book, following Milne's writing style and Shephard's style of illustrations. It's all so close to the original, that you probably wouldn't think it wasn't written and drawn by the original creators, except we know that it wasn't. Perhaps I would have liked to have seen a little development; while Pooh and Piglet and the rest haven't changed since originally written, but we have. Instead of introducing a new critter into the Wood, what if it was a girl?
—pato
It was fun to see these characters again. That said, it's good but not quite Milne!
—gen_davinci
