(no subject)

[crantz]

IF YOU want to find Cherry Tree Lane all you have to do is ask the Policeman at the crossroads. He will push his helmet slightly to one side, scratch his head thoughtfully, and then he will point his huge white-gloved finger and say: "First to your right, second to your left, sharp right again, and you're there. Good morning."

And sure enough, if you follow his directions exactly, you will be there — right in the middle of Cherry Tree Lane, where the houses run down one side and the Park runs down the other and the cherry-trees go dancing right down the middle.

If you are looking for Number Seventeen — and it is more than likely that you will be, for this book is all about that particular house — you will very soon find it. To begin with, it is the smallest house in the Lane. And besides that, it is the only one that is rather dilapidated and needs a coat of paint. But Mr Banks, who owns it, said to Mrs Banks that she could have either a nice, clean, comfortable house or four children. But not both, for he couldn't afford it.

And after Mrs Banks had given the matter some consideration she came to the conclusion that she would rather have Jane, who was the eldest, and Michael, who came next, and John and Barbara, who were Twins and came last of all. So it was settled, and that was how the Banks family came to live at Number Seventeen, with Mrs Brill to cook for them, and Ellen to lay the tables, and Robertson Ay to cut the lawn and clean the knives and polish the shoes and, as Mr Banks always said, "to waste his time and my money."

--The opening of Mary Poppins by PL Travers

In going into reading this book, I knew three things: Mary Poppins' time in the picture was a date with Bert, there was no singing, and PL Travers hated the movie.

I'm not done yet (I seem to be halfway or just started with so many books! I love them all, but keep going in circles trying to decide what, then I go play on the computer instead) and am about halfway (they had just met with Uncle Albert) but I like it so far. But my goodness, Mary Poppins is not the Disney version. I am trying to think of how to get further into this point, but my ear hurts and so does my rib cage for reasons unknown so I do not know if I can organize my thoughts.

The book, in fact, starts off with the unattractive qualities of Mary Poppins (once she appears), much unlike Julie Andrews who is really very pretty. Not that Poppins in the book is described as ugly, it's just that pretty isn't the immediate first word about her. Not that there were words given about Julie Andrews my GOD this ear is killing me.

We're ending this post now. Summary: Like the book, will post more when I'm feeling better. Also Mary Poppins may be some sort of minor god figure, not sure.

Comments

[whatistigerbalm]

And sure enough, if you follow his directions exactly, you will be there — right in the middle of Cherry Tree Lane, where the houses run down one side and the Park runs down the other and the cherry-trees go dancing right down the middle.

This was my paternal grandmother's favourite bit in the opening, I remember her quoting it to me when she got me the book. I miss her.

[crantz]

I can see why it was her favourite, it's beautiful phrasing. I love the mental image it conjures.