I still love the book "Peter Pan" by James M. Barrie. Here are some of the reasons why:
a. The first line remains one of the greatest in literature. It goes like this: "All children, except one, grow up." There you have the entire story of the book in one line! That's great writing, folks!
b. The children learn to fly! Mostly all children believe, deep in their secret hearts, that they can really fly. With a tiny bit of fairy dust, maybe they actually can.
c. Tinkerbell - I mean, really, who doesn't like Tinkerbell - a fairy with a bit of spiciness to her. If you belive in fairies - clap your hands!
d. Pirates and an Indian princess, lost boys and islands, dog nannies (who could be more loyal?), a mother's love and the last grasp of childhood - no matter what places technology takes us to, imagination will never go out of style.
Crazy about the Broadway musical and its score, and the play of Peter Pan too.
Hate most of the movies about this story, i.e., the Disney version (and that goes for the Disneyland ride too!), Hook, and all of the other rewrites of a wonderful story. Hey, when something is great just the way it is, don't change it or create a ridiculous back story. When you do, all of the elements that make a story so delightful are hopelessly lost.
Perhaps next year at spring cleaning time, a child you know may be on her way to the Neverland too. "...and thus it will go on as long as children are gay and innocent and heartless."
