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![The Secret Garden by Burnett,Frances Hodgson. [1997] Paperback by Frances Hodgson Burnett](https://assets.thestorygraph.com/assets/placeholder-cover-a3ae92250eb3301e32dc3eabf8d50576c2f047dda89f6ee7cfa9a859cb1fd746.jpg)
9.26k reviews for:
The Secret Garden by Burnett,Frances Hodgson. [1997] Paperback
Frances Hodgson Burnett
4.06 AVERAGE
9.26k reviews for:
The Secret Garden by Burnett,Frances Hodgson. [1997] Paperback
Frances Hodgson Burnett
4.06 AVERAGE
Read this when I was eight and have read it every few years since. My all time favourite book.
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-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
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
I have probably read The Secret Garden 30+ times in my 50 years. I decided it was a good book to read again at this particular point in my life because it starts with a world turned upside down by a very communicable disease, and ends with hope. If the cholera had existed in this form in the late-20th to early-21st century, it probably would have done more damage than COVID-19 could ever hope to do. We need more hope in this world right now. Why not start it with a classic book?
The way in which this book interweaved childhood whimsicality so subtly with what it means to be alive was so unsuspectingly beautiful. It starts pale, then picks up moments where I would visibly smile, parts where I was fatigued when picking up the book, and portions where I consciously reflected on the themes of magic and the happiness washing out the misery and the joy and the vitality that the garden brought.
The unsuspecting nature of this book waited until its last moments before it pulled the rug on me. Its rare I get emotional like this, but when I got to the last page on the plane - I held the book in front of my eyes. I held it and I cried, the book slightly bent it as not to alarm my neighbors as my tears flowed and stained the softcover back. I felt as if I was let in on a secret, but most importantly I was so happy for Colin and his father.
The unsuspecting nature of this book waited until its last moments before it pulled the rug on me. Its rare I get emotional like this, but when I got to the last page on the plane - I held the book in front of my eyes. I held it and I cried, the book slightly bent it as not to alarm my neighbors as my tears flowed and stained the softcover back. I felt as if I was let in on a secret, but most importantly I was so happy for Colin and his father.
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is such a joy to read. I wish I'd read it at a young age. It never even occurred to me it was a book until I saw it on the shelf. I'd just never heard of it before. So I guess I should say, every fan of this wonderful movie should check out the primary source! It reads like a Beatrix Potter story. Slightly Victorian in tradition (1911), easy to read, introducing young people to difficult concepts like sickness, life and death. Best of all, telling the story in metaphor and in literal plot that it is healthy and magical to spend time outdoors.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
slow-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