the little prince. antoine de saint-expuéry. (165)

i decided to finally buckle down and read the little prince after debating on whether or not to purchase a the little prince sweatshirt from out of print clothing. the sweatshirt was cute but i couldn't buy it because i had never read it (though i know people absolutely love it.) in order to get the sweatshirt, i had to cross it off my to-read list.

since this is a beloved children's classic and on flavorpill's 50 books every parent should read to their child, i decided to read it with brother bear, well more like to him.  so we read a little at night and in the morning.

so i hate to admit this especially since people love the little prince, but i did not fall in love with this book.  i felt the author was trying too hard to be profound.  it lacked the simplicity of a children's book.  what makes a great children's book (and also pixar movies) is its ability to work on two levels; it is an interesting story for kids while being entertaining to an adult in a completely different way.  for example, the reason i love where the wild things are or the giving tree has changed with my age, the former i loved initially because of its illustrations but now because of its lesson on the idea of home.

for me, the little prince lacked an interesting story for kids.  i was bored by the men the little prince encountered on other planets so their lessons did not have a deep impact on me.  they were just men on a planet doing a boring adult activity literally while conversing with the prince metaphorically.  plus their metaphors though important seemed too deep for your average kid to get, and gave such a bleak view of adulthood.  i get that we are supposed to understand the important of living life in this book but it metaphors just weren't interesting enough to keep the reader listening.

i also had issues with the flower and the fox.  first, as a woman, i was offended by the flower.  was this vain creature supposed to represent wives?!?! i mean was the little prince's relationship with the flower a metaphor for making marriages work?  if so, was the fox a marriage counselor?  as an adult it was awkward to read about the little prince loving flower even though her personality wad repulsive then leaving her only to return to her, because a fox taught him the importance of belonging to something. i can't imagine how kids intrepeted that story plot.  furthermore, do we want kids learning that you have to tame someone to be with you?!?! i mean my favorite carrie bradshaw quote is:  

maybe some women aren't meant to be tamed. maybe they need to run free until they find someone just as wild to run with.

love is about finding someone to settling down for you, love is about being with the person who makes you the best version of yourself.   

i was worried the little prince did not truly love the flower but since he was away from her, the idea of the flower.

before you think i am completely heartless for not loving the book, i will add that i was sadden by the ending.  i was sad that the little prince decided to return home via he snake bite.  i also saw how his explanation that the laughter of the stars can be comfort when we have lost someone we love.  it did find the ending to he sweet, though it did drag on a bit.

and there were others things i enjoyed.

i did appreciate the little prince's lesson that "the most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or touched, they are felt with the heart."  i was charmed by the introduction with the drawing of an elephant swallowed by a boa constrictor.  (i really wish the whimsy of the beginning lasted throughout the whole book.) and of course the illustrations were lovely and sweet.  but all of this could not counterbalance the fact that the story was too symbolic and as a result lacked any true value to me.  i am sorry little

prince, i really wanted to love your story but looks like i won't be purchasing your sweatshirt.