Review: Mary Poppins (novel)

I picked up this book expecting it would be like the Disney film. I was in for a surprise.

Mary Poppins is a 1934 novel by P. L. Travers, the first in a series of eight books. Aside from the most famous adaptation, it was also adapted into a Russian film and a radio drama. Not to mention a stage musical based on the Disney film.

The basic story is exactly what you'd expect. Mary Poppins becomes the nanny of Jane and Michael Banks, takes them on extraordinary adventures, and uses her umbrella to fly away at the end. But almost everything else is different.

First, Mary Poppins' personality is much harsher and colder than her film counterpart's. I can't picture this Mary Poppins ever singing "A Spoonful of Sugar" or "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious". This was the most jarring difference. It took me a long time to warm up to this version of the character.

Next, the Banks have four children, not two. Bert exists, but he doesn't have the film version's character. (Thankfully he doesn't have the atrocious accent either.)

But by far the most unexpected are the adventures Mary Poppins takes the children on. They don't ride merry-go-round horses or get sucked up chimneys here. Instead they see a woman and her daughters climbing up ladders to turn sweet-wrappers into stars(!) and travel around the world with a compass. Though they do have a tea party on the ceiling.

I recognised some incidents and characters from the film. But by and large the film and the book are two different stories with different settings. Not quite what I expected, but still entertaining. You'll probably enjoy this book as long as you know beforehand that it's not much like the film.

Is it available online?: Not as far as I know.

Rating: 7/10.

Review: Mary Poppins (1964)

Some films are incredible no matter how many times you watch them. This is one of them.

Mary Poppins is loosely based on the book series of the same name by P. L. Travers. I've read the first book in the series, so I can say with certainty that this is one of the rare occasions where an adaptation is better for not sticking too closely to the source.

I'm sure everyone recognises the actors and knows the plot, so I'll just go straight to what I liked about the film.

First of all, I love the hilarity of Mary Poppins sitting on a cloud and... doing her make-up! 😆 It's such an incongruous image that it always makes me laugh.

Mary Poppins, practically perfect in every way.

And then of course there's the delightfully eccentric Mr. and Mrs. Banks. Bert is hilarious, but I think we all agree that accent should be destroyed with fire. Jane and Michael are adorable, but little brats at the same time. "We won't hide your spectacles so you can't see/put toads in your bed/or pepper in your tea", anyone?

Mr. Banks

Mrs. Banks

The children

Bert

I absolutely love the bit where they jump into the drawing, and the dance of the chimney-sweeps always has me rolling on the floor.

But the film isn't all funny frothiness. There are some surprisingly sobering moments in it. "Feed the Birds" isn't just a memorable song; if you listen to the words, it's a haunting plea. And its instrumental reprise as Mr. Banks walks to the bank, all alone in the empty streets, is downright heart-wrenching.

Then of course there's the ending. Few musicals have a better ending: Mr. and Mrs. Banks no longer ignoring their family, and Mary Poppins off to help the next family who need her. Aww 😄

My overall opinion? Practically perfect in every way 😃

Is it available online?: Not as far as I know. But I'm pretty sure almost everyone already has a copy of it!

Rating: 10/10.