"The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse" and a Mama Loving this Book

Just like any real mom with a full-time job (and a second part-time job), I get in line at the public library to get ahold of the latest, touted bestsellers. I think this is a smart way to test-drive a book before investing in "keepers". I haven't purchased a book in a while, but this book, I believe, is something I am willing to buy for myself and for someone whom I think will greatly benefit from the simple wisdom found in its pages.

Personal Connection
Any book where you can make a personal connection is always going to be memorable and special.

Growing up in an age when we passed around a slam book in class asking the usual informational questions and, sometimes, the more personal questions, I was reminded of this one question I often had to answer and the standard response I gave:

                                        What is your motto?

                                                           ---"To love and be loved."

To see these exact same words jump out at me in Charlie Mackesy's bestseller "The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse" led to a rush of mixed feelings as I am reminded of a time in my life when I was insecure and felt alone, and the slambook was one way to affirm who my "friends" were and to cull people's opinions about me. 

Who is your best friend?

We hid behind these slambooks to get a sense of how other people felt about us. And those times are not too different from what we have now. These days we check our Facebook page to see how many "likes" our pictures and posts have received.

Simple Messaging
The book also had the appeal of innocence and simplicity that many people nowadays have lost or forgotten. It reminded me of Benjamin Hoff's "The Tao of Pooh" in its use of lovable characters both innocent and childlike, showing wisdom that many adults may have forgotten or lost. I love the simplicity of the words used in Mackesy's book, and yet, each scribbled word carried a lot of weight.

Nonlinear Reading
In the author's introduction (which I read!), the author expressed that he liked to "start in the middle of a book". His book allows you to do just that without losing the essence of the story. For every page can be a standalone or it can be read in a linear fashion, depending on your reading style. Just like in real life, we are all at different stages of our lives. We don't always start off on the same page. The book allows us to find where we are in our lives and start from there.

What's in a Picture?
Despite the author's lack of formal art training, I absolutely loved the artwork. Again, like his choice of words and messaging, the author used simple lines and pops of color reminding us to focus on the things that really matter--kindness, friendship, and acceptance which all lead to love.

Perhaps, the appeal of this book is because we've complicated these basic ideals and values to a point that they've become unrecognizable. Perhaps, we've heard and seen so much hatred and negativity that we've forgotten what love is all about. Perhaps, we've added so many layers and attributes that the very basic definition of these concepts has become distorted and hidden. It's a timely book that reminds us of our base needs for acceptance and affection and a reminder that deep inside of us is a child who can react to the world at large with kindness...and a craving for cake!

For a copy of the book, which I highly recommend, click here. Any purchases help defray costs of the-mama-travels website.