I watched a TV interview with the actor Steve Coogan ,who had been asked if he would play the role of Tom Michell in a film of the book. His initial response was, not surprisingly, that he did not want to be in a cuddly, cute movie about a penguin – it was not his thing…
But is this book about a cute and cuddly penguin? I don’t think so – in my opinion there is so much more to this book than that. I love Tom Michell’s style of writing – it is very engaging, in particular I love how he draws out the character of the penguin by naming him Juan Salvador and by having imaginary conversations with him – the personification of the penguin just makes the relationship more amusing.
Having found Juan Salvador covered in oil on a beach in Uruguay, he decides to try and save him: he cleans him up and takes him back to the school he teaches in. The story is set in Argentina in the 1970s which in itself gives the story an interesting backdrop – the time of Peron, a military junta and rapid inflation.
The story of how Juan fits in to school life is at the same time, delightful and surprising. People are naturally drawn to him and actively seek him out – spending their free time talking to him about their lives and troubles. He becomes a “therapy penguin.”
If this wasn’t a true story you would have to say it could not possibly have happened! Imagine … a penguin travelling for hours on a bus hidden in a carrier bag; a penguin that takes exercise walking around the fields of the boarding school and watches the boys play rugby matches, walking up and down the touchline.
Juan Salvador was renamed Juan Salvado by his friends – the difference in Spanish – saviour or saved. To me he is Juan Salavador – the saviour.
P.S. The book is so much better than the movie!
Kerry
Buy a copy here: The Penguin Lessons a book by Tom Michell.