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9.27k reviews for:
The Secret Garden by Burnett,Frances Hodgson. [1997] Paperback
Frances Hodgson Burnett
4.06 AVERAGE
9.27k reviews for:
The Secret Garden by Burnett,Frances Hodgson. [1997] Paperback
Frances Hodgson Burnett
4.06 AVERAGE
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I had read this book many times as a child and even in my 20s I read it to my children. It was one of my top children’s books. This past year i decided to do my bedroom in the theme and this year for the family book club the kids, now adults and teens, decided to revisit this book since many didn’t recall it due to being so young.
On this latest reading of this edition my views of the book have changed. This saddens me. I have to be honest, the wonder and magic is still there. The beauty is still there and brought to life by this editions lovely artwork. However, the last leg of the book and the ending fail me.
This was a story about Mary and how she went from a spoiled child to a empathetic one. How she learned to lover herself and others. And how it all came about through a secret garden.
But suddenly the story shifted and it was about Colin. Mary was pushed to the side, barely mentioned unless Colin called her by name. We even end the story in Colin which is sad because he has so little of a character arch, not changing much from who he was previously, at least not in the ways that Mary drastically changed, and wasn’t in the story for nearly as long as the other characters. I wish this story ended where it started, with Mary.
For this reason, I can no longer give it 5 stars. I’m so sad.
On this latest reading of this edition my views of the book have changed. This saddens me. I have to be honest, the wonder and magic is still there. The beauty is still there and brought to life by this editions lovely artwork. However, the last leg of the book and the ending fail me.
This was a story about Mary and how she went from a spoiled child to a empathetic one. How she learned to lover herself and others. And how it all came about through a secret garden.
But suddenly the story shifted and it was about Colin. Mary was pushed to the side, barely mentioned unless Colin called her by name. We even end the story in Colin which is sad because he has so little of a character arch, not changing much from who he was previously, at least not in the ways that Mary drastically changed, and wasn’t in the story for nearly as long as the other characters. I wish this story ended where it started, with Mary.
For this reason, I can no longer give it 5 stars. I’m so sad.
I hate it here so I will go to secret gardens in my mind <3
I can’t believe it took me so long to read this. What a superb little classic.
This is the first book I have ever listened to on audibook!! It was a pleasant listen, very obviously a childrens book but that did make it quite nice and easy to just have on in the background. I ended up really liking Mary, and almost relating to her in a sense as she discovered nature and wildlife and grew to love it. The story followers her and the relationship she forms with Dickins and Colin. As she forms actual friendships and spends more time exercising and amongst the outdoors she becomes a nicer more pleasant and appreciative person, which is a very nice storyline and I think for children this gives a very nice take home message. It has also made me appreciate nature more and the positive feeling I get from being in nature.
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I am delirious right now to properly write anything impactful but I mean it when I say that this book is beautiful in every single aspect
I like how easy it is to breeze through the writing, it's not too complex that I'm left crawling, and it's not too minimalistic to the point that it feels brief
I also love how we could have an outlook of an aspect of colonialism in India, particularly about Ayahs. You can do a research on them but British colonised India for such a long time that they started living there, had houses, had offsprings, and often their children are taken care of by 'ayahs', basically servants. They fed them, bathe them, helped them wear their clothes, and whatnot. Mary's treatment to them gives you an idea of how they were treated like (I do not blame Mary though, it's just that circumstances are different for her). Reminds me a lot of black slaves who took care of their 'owner's' children that some of them are more well acquainted with them than their own parents. It's quite interesting really <3
I like how easy it is to breeze through the writing, it's not too complex that I'm left crawling, and it's not too minimalistic to the point that it feels brief
I also love how we could have an outlook of an aspect of colonialism in India, particularly about Ayahs. You can do a research on them but British colonised India for such a long time that they started living there, had houses, had offsprings, and often their children are taken care of by 'ayahs', basically servants. They fed them, bathe them, helped them wear their clothes, and whatnot. Mary's treatment to them gives you an idea of how they were treated like (I do not blame Mary though, it's just that circumstances are different for her). Reminds me a lot of black slaves who took care of their 'owner's' children that some of them are more well acquainted with them than their own parents. It's quite interesting really <3
lighthearted
adventurous
inspiring
medium-paced