Kenneth Grahame: The Wind In The Willows

I thought whether to classify this thread as "children fiction" or just as a "fiction". Knowing myself, I am happy that I read it now and not as a child. It would not be the same.

I really enjoyed the language. I soaked every word. I read it in English (not my mother tongue) and observed how delightful it was!

I learned many new words but this one was the funnies: goloshes
His goloshes, which always lay by the umbrella-stand, were also gone. Is this word used also today? I know it from russian and I was very surprised to find it in English!

And there was also this dialogue which reminded me my English classes back at school:

(Toad): "I'll learn 'em to steal my house", he cried. "I'll learn' em!"
(Rat) Don't say "learn 'em", Toad. It's not a good English.
...
(Rat)I am very sorry, Only I think it ought to be "teach 'em", not "learn' em"
(Badger) But we don't want to teach 'em. We want to learn 'em - learn 'em, learn 'em! And what's more, we're going to do it, too!


Pity I did not know that it was also "correct" in a sence. It is even in the book! So I could have argued with my English teacher (who actually happened to be the native speaker...)

I also learned the names of many small animals - not as if I will know now to tell a weasel from a stoat, but now I know they exist...

Can anybody suggest any other simple-hearted, nice story like this one? It was really a pleasure to read it!

I've been reading it since I was about 10. I really must finish it one day..

But like a lot of good books I tend to savour it No rush to finish. I agree, the language as well as the story, is marvellous. Can't get too excited about galoshes though, or goloshes. I had a school teacher who used to wear them in wet weather, which is really what they were for anyway. Admittedly I haven't seen a pair for years.