Mary Poppins (Mary Poppins #1) by: P.L. Travers

Published:  June 1st, 2006

Mary Poppins (Mary Poppins #1)

By: P.L. Travers

HMH Books for Young Readers

ISBN-13:  9780152058104

From the moment Mary Poppins arrives at Number Seventeen Cherry-Tree Lane, everyday life is forever changed at the Banks house is forever changed.

It all starts when Mary Poppins is blown by the east wind onto the doorstep of the Banks house.  She becomes a most unusual nanny to Jane, Michael, and the twins.  Who else but Mary Poppins can slide up banisters, pull an entire armchair out of an empty carpetbag, and make a dose of medicine taste like delicious lime-juice cordial?  A day with Mary Poppins is a day of magic and make-believe come to life!

Review

     I have read all manner of classic and modern classic children's books, during my childhood and as an adult.  But somehow while reading about red-headed orphan girls, wardrobes that led to magical worlds, a great Emerald city, and the immortal Tuck family, I somehow never managed to read any of the books about Mary Poppins.  This, the first book in the series, introduces us readers to Mary Poppins, a magical nanny who comes to the Banks family in their hour of need.  The children Jane, Michael, and the baby twins (John and Barbara) are in need of a nanny.  Mary herself is somewhat vain, no-nonsense, strict and yet somehow bordering on magical.  The most peculiar things truly do happen when Mary is about - but you'll never get her to admit to them.  This book follows Mary's adventures with the children, through a series of vignettes chronicling their life together.  That is, until Mary leaves on the wind just as she first came to them.

     Sometimes a series of vignettes instead of structured chapters can do a book some good.  It certainly didn't hurt Jean Webster at all and looking back, L.M. Montgomery's style was similar and on the border of it, if not quite uniform to this particular format of writing.  In regards to how much it resembles the Disney movie based on it, the answer to that would be not all that much.  There are a few scenes, such as the chalk picture day, although its a date between Bert and Mary, and doesn't include the children at all.  Also, Bert is only in the one chapter of the entire book.  Noticeably the same was the scene with Mary's Uncle Albert, who serves them tea in midair and the Bird Lady was also included.  The next door neighbor's dog Andrew has his own story, all about how he wants to be a common street dog, rather than the coddled thing that he is currently.  

     There are other stories with zero similarities whatsoever.  Mary Poppins takes the children Christmas shopping and they help one of the stars (Pleiades to be exact) find gifts for her sisters.  The one involving the night zoo, with all the humans as the attractions, quite possibly wins for most bizarre story.  And the one with the gingerbread lady and the paper stars was beautiful.  But the absolute best was John and Barbara's story, about losing their ability to speak to the winds and the starlings.  It was so melancholy for a kid's book!  It did seem somewhat choppy at times, and there was also the conundrum of Mary.  She definitely came across as a cold, strict, sarcastic bitch for a good portion of the book.  Then you'd get a glimpse of her caring heart and it would soften the blows of her words/actions.  All in all, I enjoyed it and I'm glad that I read it.  But I think that I would have been better served to be introduced to this world as a child and not a cynical adult.

VERDICT:  3.5/5  Stars

**No money or favors were exchanged for this review.  This book is now available in stores, online, or maybe even at your local library.**

Predictability In a Raging Storm

Published: December 18th, 2012 (First published 2010)
Safe Haven
By: Nicholas Sparks
Grand Central Publishing
ISBN-13: 9781455523542

When a mysterious young woman named Katie appears in the small North Carolina town of Southport, her sudden arrival raises questions about her past. Beautiful yet self-effacing, Katie seems determined to avoid forming personal ties until a series of events draws her into two reluctant relationships: one with Alex, a widowed store owner with a kind heart and two young children; and another with her plainspoken single neighbor, Jo. Despite her reservations, Katie slowly begins to let down her guard, putting down roots in the close-knit community and becoming increasingly attached to Alex and his family.

But even as Katie begins to fall in love, she struggles with the dark secret that still haunts and terrifies her . . . a past that set her on a fearful, shattering journey across the country, to the sheltered oasis of Southport. With Jo's empathic and stubborn support, Katie eventually realizes that she must choose between a life of transient safety and one of riskier rewards . . . and that in the darkest hour, love is the only true safe haven.

Review

     Katie has moved to Southport to escape from her past.  So when she arrives, she makes it a point to avoid anyone and anything that she could possibly form an attachment to, so that if she needs to run it will be painless.  But after months of routine, with no sign of the horrors she left behind, Katie begins to relax her guard.  And when she does, she becomes friends with her interesting/pushy next door neighbor Jo.  Also making his way into her life is general store owner and widower Alex and his two young children.  When Katie's old life comes blazing into her new one in terrifying and possibly deadly ways, can everyone find a way to come out of the storm in one piece?  Or will someone Katie loves not make it out alive?  So, I haven't been reading Sparks' most recent publications since The Last Song, which I loved and was horrified by the film it inspired (If I wanted to watch Miley Cyrus slouch and speak monotone, I'd watch Hannah Montana and get manic mood swings in the bargain!).
     I had previously tried to read this book and was unable to get into it enough to really get it off the ground.  But the movie once again looks like it might make me a believer, so I bought a copy and dove into it.  To put it lightly, not my favorite of his BY FAR.  But also not my least favorite.  Katie (Erin) is a pretty well-developed character, with a serious past and some real emotional scars.  Her not so great childhood and years as a battered wife to a well-respected cop were heartbreaking.  Kevin (her husband) was chillingly portrayed, even if his thoughts and actions did become very repetitive at a certain point.  Sparks really had me believing in the character though.  Honestly the part I liked least about this book was the supposed romance.  There was absolutely zero spark between Katie and Alex for me as a reader.  I was not impressed by their interactions and thought that his character was so bland he would be passed over in real life for being so boring.  Yes, he was a good guy, but that didn't mean Alex had to be so non-descript.  It seemed like Sparks did his absolute best to give us as little background as possible for him, which disappointed me.  The kids were cute, but really only served the purpose of trying to make Alex seem more appealing and harmless to Katie.  They weren't people, just words on a page.  The conclusion was no great surprise and someone died as per usual.  The author's attempt at a supernatural force playing a part in Katie and Alex's relationship was so contrived and saccharine it was laughable.  I was rolling my eyes at the book's end 'revelation to do with Alex's dead wife Carly.'  If you are into Sparks' books and don't mind predictability, with a lot of unnecessary and boring daily details, this is the one for you.

VERDICT:  2.75/5  Stars

**No money or favors were exchanged for this review. This book is now available in stores, online, or maybe even at your local library.**