Dearest darling readers,
Welcome to Title Talk, 09.2018. Yay ME! Know why? Because I am reading more now than ever before! Between the two reading challenges I am participating in and our virtual book club, I am juggling 4-5 books at a time. All the more amazing considering I’m a little ADD or ADHD and a very slow reader. Have books on my Nook, books on my Kindle app and books I’m listening to on Audible. And then the print books for my quiet time!
Title Talk, 09.2018
August’s prompt for the Book Girl Magic challenge was ‘a book turned movie.’ I am reading children’s books for this challenge so wanted a book that was going to be released as a movie in the near future. Guess what I picked? Here’s a hint.
I remember delighting in the first “Mary Poppins” movie as a little girl on a special movie ‘date’ with my mom. Ate so much popcorn and drank so much Hi-C fruit punch that I was sick to my stomach afterward. And swore off popcorn and punch for years. For this month’s prompt, I decided to read Mary Poppins. Discovered it isn’t a single book but a series, however, I only read the first title.
These are 2 of the covers for Mary Poppins over time. The one on the left is the original cover. I wish you could see Mary’s face up-close. Looks like she could use a spoonful of sugar, if you ask me. You would wonder how she could have been the basis for Julie Andrew’s version of the character. The cover for the edition I read (ok, listened to on Audible) is on the left.
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The book began much like I remembered the movie, which warmed my heart. But toward the middle, the story revolved around some events that I wasn’t familiar with from the movie. Of course, I know that often happens with movie adaptations of books. The tone seemed to change, though. And the Mary Poppins I had fallen in love with through Julie Andrew’s portrayal, was not the Mary Poppins in P.L. Travers’ book. According to Biography.com, Travers disliked the Disney big screen version of her book. So much so, that she left specific stipulations in her will for further film adaptations.
Travers had a very difficult childhood which is reflected to some degree in the tone of her books. The author’s main character is severe and not necessarily the personality you would expect of a nanny. She is a stern disciplinarian of the Banks children (who do not seem all that mischievous, especially by today’s standards!) with a slightly self-important air for her position. By contrast, Disney made Mary Poppins fun and magical. And it was Disney’s version of the main character that was so well received by audiences and critics alike. Nominated for 13 Academy Awards, and winning five, including a Best Actress Oscar for Julie Andrews portrayal of a whimsical, merry Poppins.
You may remember the floating tea party scene and the tuppence-a-bag bird feeding scenes in the 1964 movie. They both appear in the book. But the animated scene of the carousel in the park was all Disney. On opening night, after viewing the movie, Travers instructed Disney to remove the animation but he told her ‘that ship had sailed’. So glad it had.
I can’t really say I would recommend Mary Poppins, the book. Certainly not for younger children and I think middle school and high school students would not be interested. Out of curiosity, I looked up the Accelerated Reader reading level which is 6.1, or sixth grade and it has a Lexile Level of 830L, or mid-fifth grade reading level. The formal British-English language in which it is written makes it less kid-friendly for young readers today. I am looking forward to “Mary Poppins Returns”, due to be released Christmas week. Wish I could take both of my babies and their babies to see it. When Brennyn was teensy she called the movie and the nanny Marian Papas. My sweet doll baby girl!
Your Turn
Do you remember seeing “Mary Poppins” as a child or even as an adult? Did it delight you, too? Will you be adding “Mary Poppins Returns” to your list of movies for the holidays?
PC and I saw “Saving Mr. Banks”, which was a bit more melancholy than the Disney film.
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Released in 2013, it is the story of P.L. Travers meetings with Disney about “Mary Poppins”, the movie, and her recollections of a dismal childhood. Not at all a children’s film. Just now, this afternoon, realized there will be a musical version of Mary Poppins performed by the near-by Las Cruces (New Mexico) Community Theater in December. Need to pencil that in as an addendum on my 2018 Fall Bucket List. By Christmas I should be good and Poppins-ed out!
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Not long ago, someone compared me to Mary Poppins. I can’t remember who. Maybe one of my daughters but I don’t think so. I took it as a very sweet compliment but wonder now which Mary Poppins they meant!! Ha!
Before I leave you, would like to invite everyone to join our summer-turned-fall virtual book club. We will begin our fifth book together next week, Jodi Piccoult’s A Spark of Light, to be released on 10.02.2018. If you are interested in joining our no-pressure club, just let me know! Thank you for joining me for Title Talk, 09.2018.
Hugs and kisses,
Kellyann Rohr
I am so impressed you can juggle so many books at a time! I read one at a time and then can barely remember all the details just the overall concept – ha! I’m sure when you were compared to Mary Poppins it was the sweet, wonderful one!
I am looking forward to the movie!
xo,
Kellyann
Leslie Roberts Clingan
You know, I have never even tried to juggle books before!! Who knew I was a juggler! Moving on to cat juggling now. Tee hee!
I think I can juggle them better because they are on different formats, and listening to one or two really, really helps! I am a slow, distractable reader. And if I am not digging a book, I kick it to the curb. Ain’t nobody got time for that!
Thank you for saying I was compared to the sweet Mary. I hope so. I am not sure too many folks know about the grouchy Mary!!
Joanne Long
I am always surprised when I read older “children’s” book at the reading level and the content. My book club read “Tom Sawyer” last year. It definitely would not be a popular children’s book today. I enjoyed the Louisa May Alcott books but they would definitely be Young Adult today. We went to see Mary Poppins with my cousins and we really enjoyed it
when it came out in the 1960’s.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Aww, glad you have a happy memory of Mary Poppins, the movie, too. I am a librarian (was, was…I keep forgetting…WAS) and just because a book was popular or appropriate 100 years ago or even last week, doesn’t mean it still is/should be. I have a lot of trouble forcing kids to read classic literature. Some of it, okay…but some it, in my opinion, is not worth (today anyway) the paper it was printed on.
ShootingStarsMag
Great job on all of your reading this year. I usually read a few books at the same time too. I’ve heard a bit about the original Mary Poppins books, and they don’t sound all that kid-friendly, at least in terms of kid’s books these days! I’m glad Disney made it more fun. I’m so excited for the new movie – it has some great actors! And I saw Saving Mr. Banks too! It was an interesting look at the making of the film.
-Lauren
Leslie Roberts Clingan
I think Saving Mr. Banks gave us a glimpse into what P.L. Travers was like and as a result how Mary Poppins was originally characterized in the books. I guess I’m an old softie because I much prefer Julie Andrews toe-tapping, sweet version. Wish some of the classic songs would be in this new movie just because I want to sing-along. Can’t wait to see it!
Gail
I’m afraid that the film did nothing for me as a kid, whereas I adored the films Oliver! and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. I’ve never read the book but I remember reading how Travers hated the Disney film. Interesting stuff!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Interesting that you didn’t care for MP but like Oliver and Chitty better. I have never seen either of those. Bits of Chitty but not the whole movie. I should remedy that. Do you like musicals, in general? I grew up with parents who played vinyl soundtracks from South Pacific, West Side Story, The King and I, Oklahoma, My Fair Lady. At our house, it was a musical soundtrack or Beethoven and Bach.
Em
How much do I love this!!!
Mary Poppins has always been my favorite character… Got weirdly emotional when I met “her” on my first trip to D-World at 40. She’s always been my hero.
I actually have an early edition of the book from when our school library was thinning its stock. Tried to read it several times but haven’t connected in the same way to PL’s version as I did the movie character. (I can’t rule out Julie Andrews’s influence…love her, too.)
I really should make myself read the book though. Loved the Disney story behind the story…so interesting!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Hey sweets! I kind of think you will be saddened or disappointed by the Traver’s version of Mary. I guess, I mean, I know she is the original Mary Poppins. Traver’s Mary is the real Mary but she isn’t warm and fuzzy. She isn’t the kind of nanny I would want for my children. And I think that is probably because of Traver’s own personality. She adopted a child but sent him away to be raised. Not sure she knew how to write Mary as a loving person because she never really experienced love herself.
What a treasure your early edition of the book is. Maybe you could read it and then watch the original Mary Poppins with Julie Andrews again and make plans to see the sequel this Christmas.
Debs
No I never read the book but loved the film so I think I’ll leave my memories where they are with a sweet, fun, affectionate Julie Andrews type of Mary Poppins! I had heard that there was going to be a sequel, I wonder how the Emily Blunt’s MP will compare?
Leslie Roberts Clingan
I hope Emily Blunt’s MP is more like Julie Andrew’s version and not the snippy character from the book. This is one case where I truly like the movie better than the book.
Laura Bambrick
I had no idea Mary Poppins was a whole series! I learn new things everyday! Although based on your review I don’t think it’s a series I will be reading soon. I prefer to keep the cheery, slightly magical image of Mary Poppins firmly in my head. I am looking forward to the new movie. It looks darling!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you!! I applaud Disney for making Mary Poppins the nanny we all fell in love with. I feel sad for Travers that her life was not terribly happy and that it no doubt affected the characters she wrote into being. But so glad for a Spoonful of Sugar, and Feed the Birds and Step in Time.
Carrie @ Curly Crafty Mom
You always find the best books to read. I would have never thought to read this, but it is fun to read a book and to see how the movie changed from the book. Especially a movie you’ve seen time and time again.
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com