Golden Age

  The Golden Age

Amanda Evans of Oregon City, 10/17/2008

More for the grown-up who is still young at heart than for little readers, The Golden Age is a picturesque tribute to childhood. Each chapter beautifully describes how five creative siblings see the world around them: a trickling stream can become a mighty river upon which Jason can go sailing in search of the Golden Fleece; all roads can?t lead to Rome, but the one that stretches firmly and steadily toward the horizon just might; and when one wriggles his way through a gap in a hedge and finds himself in a rich garden, he immediately looks around for the princess who must necessarily be somewhere within. This book is a good reminder for those of us who have arrived at those once strange and mysterious grown-up years not to let our cares and responsibilities make us blind to the wonders of the world around us and deaf to the children who would show them to us. Though this book is about children and their imaginative larks, I wouldn?t recommend that young children try to read it on their own unless they are well versed in Victorian English culture. There are too many allusions to books and stories that are less familiar now-a-days than they were back then. Though Kenneth Grahame?s lyrical writing style has made this book an endearing classic, his descriptions are at times vague in a way that older readers will value but young readers will find frustrating. If read-aloud, however, the whole family would be able to appreciate the musical text and amusing antics. Making me laugh at times and sympathize at others, this book always helped open my eyes to see the beauty and possibilities all around me. I also appreciated that, though this book is reminiscing about a bygone time, it doesn?t mourn that such times must come to a close. The Golden Age of childhood must end someday and we have to step up and face our responsibilities. But we would do well never to loose that child-like openness, ?for of such is the kingdom of heaven.? (Matt. 19:14)