Dear Readers,

Tonight (and until Tuesday), I am far, far away from most of you.  Tonight, I sat in a pub in a small town outside of London.  And as I was enjoying my drink, I noticed that the fellow sitting across from me reminded me of someone... 

Who was it?  That slight twinkle in his eye?  That young smirk at the tip of his lips?

And then it came to me.  He would be a perfect grown up Tootles.  Or a Smee. 

And then I realized (with great shock and a little bit of horror) that I had forgotten to list one of the most wonderful books ever written.  The book that I am, in fact, going to make the first book on my "Free Parking Book Club" list. 

That book, dear readers, is J.M. Barrie's "PETER PAN."

Ever since I was a child, this story has been a part of me.  I guess you could say-- it's been my shadow.

When I was young, I felt to be the most capable-- I was the oldest of three, and I knew that my parents depended on me to set an example of sorts.  I could tell stories.  I didn't need to be a child.  We even had a sweet Nana dog of our own-- a St. Bernard named Sabrina whose big brown eyes told us when we were good, when we were bad, and when we needed to go to bed.  And, much like Wendy, I spent many nights looking out my window...

But, when I actually grew up-- actually left childhood behind-- I heard Peter's tapping at my window... I hit 22 and suddenly wished I hadn't grown up.  For really, it wasn't all it had promised to be.  Where were the mermaids?  Captain Hook?  And a fairy of my very own?  WHERE WAS THE ADVENTURE?

Even if you missed Mr. Barrie's story as a child-- even if you somehow missed Mr. Disney's lovely portrayal (although it is an incredibly simplified version)-- you can still experience "Peter Pan." 

The truth is this.  No matter the wrinkles, the hardships, or the adventures you've had-- you never, truly, have to grow up.

And as I sat across from my own version of "Smee" at the pub tonight, Mr. Smee told me how I resembled one of the loves of his life: another "Danielle" who he had left his antique book shop to so many years ago...  My Smee was 80, and as he spoke I saw a young man in his place...

And then, Peter Pan began to touch my heart once again...

Everyone knows the basics of the story-- Peter, the boy who will never grow up, Wendy, the Lost Boys, and of course-- Captain Hook.

But there are so many beautiful nuances in the book that should not be missed! 

The kiss that is hidden in Mrs. Darling's smile. 

The fact that when Peter Pan is flying to Neverland he forgets who you are.

You don't want to miss it.  And there's no excuse for you to.  I know that many of you don't have time to go out and purchase a new book.  There are careers, children, and lives to deal with-- but now, if you don't have the time to get to the bookstore, there is (dare I say it?) the iPhone. 

I feel absolutely despicable mentioning it.  Almost as grimey as I felt when I purchased a copy of Julia Child's memoir "MY LIFE IN FRANCE" at the airport a week ago.  I needed to purchase a book, and it was one of the ones I had promised to read-- HOWEVER, it was one of those books that had the film version splattered all over the front of it.  So, instead of getting Julia Child's enchanting postcard of her and her husband looking amorously at one another-- there, on the cover, was a picture of Meryl Streep walking through a market in France.  I said a little prayer to Julia:  "Mrs. Child, I am so sorry.  I wanted to read your book and I'm sorry that it's covered with Meryl Streep...  I should have gotten to Barnes & Noble to buy a real copy, but I am lazy, lazy, lazy!!!"

Now, I love Meryl Streep.  Who doesn't?  I have no doubt that it wasn't Meryl Streep at all who had this done...  So, the point is that I felt absolutely disgusting purchasing Julia Child's memoir with Meryl Streep on the front of it.  But, I needed the book, and that was that.  So, to somehow make it even-stevens I pulled out three or four pages from it and used the pages for a letter to a friend.  I figured if the book somehow sacrificed itself for the writing of a letter, then we would be on an even keel.  And so we were.

ANYWAY.

J.M. Barrie's book must not be missed.  And I do believe that to truly enjoy a book you must hold it in your hands.  But I know that times are changing.  And I would rather keep all readers and not discriminate.  So, for you readers out there who have iphones, there is an application called STANZA.  (Believe it or not, some kind waiter once notified me of its existence.)  On it, you can read (for free) any classic you like.  And on it, you can read "PETER PAN."  Thus, when you are stuck somewhere-- at the office, at lunch, at home in the rain, or on a bad date-- you may pull out "PETER PAN" (or "The Picture of Dorian Gray" or "Dracula" for that matter) and read a quick chapter so that you feel alive again.  And believe me, dear readers, nothing makes you feel more alive than "PETER PAN."

There is something that touches your heart strings.  Your soul.  You childhood.  Your children's childhood.  And you will believe.

I dare to bet you.  I bet you there is no one out there who will not enjoy this book. 

As for Ms. Child's memoir-- so far it has been a delight.  It's all about food and France and a woman who is 6'2" and fabulous.  And I'm constantly craving pastries because of it...

Tonight I sleep in London.  And how I wish that Peter Pan would come knocking at my window and take me to a place where I will never grow up-- but, it is raining here and I wouldn't want Peter to get wet or for tiny Tinkerbell to get drenched-- so I will only dream of it.

I know you are all thinking of it.  Get yourself a copy.  Buy it, read it, and remember it.


For reading it will be a great adventure.




"She asked where he lived.



'Second to the right,' said Peter, 'and then straight on till morning.'


'What a funny address!'


Peter had a sinking. For the first time he felt that perhaps it was a funny address.


'No, it isn't,' he said.


'I mean,' Wendy said nicely, remembering that she was hostess, 'is that what they put on the letters?'


He wished she had not mentioned letters.


'Don't get any letters,' he said contemptuously.

'But your mother gets letters?'


'Don't have a mother,' he said. Not only had he no mother, but he had not the slightest desire to have one. He thought them very over-rated persons. Wendy, however, felt at once that she was in the presence of a tragedy."

J.M. Barrie "PETER PAN and Wendy"