Mary Poppins

I've always loved the movie, so I looked forward to this read very much. And much like the wind that carries Mary Poppins to her destinations, I was whisked away into the story at the opening lines. The narrative voice of P.L. Travers is cosy and knowledgeable, promising a strange and delightful story about the goings-on at Number Seventeen Cherry-Tree Lane, “for this book is all about that particular house.” The differences caught me off guard at first, and I missed certain movie storylines and characterizations. Mary Poppins is far more stern and snappish in the book, and Bert plays a smaller role. The story format was a surprise as well. Similar to R. Kipling's The Jungle Book, it's more a collection of stories, with some chapters focused on other characters. Still, it's pure magic.

Travers explores the blurry line between reality and fantasy, with all the nonsense, fears, and delights therein. There are times when the story hints of danger, but when Mary Poppins is around, things aren't always as they appear. “There was something strange and extraordinary about her — something that was frightening and at the same time most exciting.” There are some truly lovely moments in the book, even a dash of the metaphysical. And why not? After all, here is woman who travels by wind, whose carpet bag is bigger on the inside, who speaks Baby, and who is distantly related to a snake (a symbol of wisdom and renewal). Tell me she's not a Time Lord.