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4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Rereading one of my childhood favorites is always a tricky sport. Could love it, could end up hating it and tainting my memories.
Thankfully with The Secret Garden, I ended up loving it. I even had some deeper reflections on the significance of the "Magic", as they call it, which is substitute for Science, Religion, Psychology, and Philosophy.
I absolutely delight in the descriptions of the garden as it comes to life, alongside Colin, Mary, and even Archibald Craven.
Thankfully with The Secret Garden, I ended up loving it. I even had some deeper reflections on the significance of the "Magic", as they call it, which is substitute for Science, Religion, Psychology, and Philosophy.
I absolutely delight in the descriptions of the garden as it comes to life, alongside Colin, Mary, and even Archibald Craven.
• Read in April 2000
• Re-Read in December 2022
#StoryGraph: fiction childrens classics historical middle grade young adult emotional medium-paced
260 pages
#KindleInMotion: I thought I would try this new-ish format before the end of the year. I’m impressed.
“The Secret Garden by Victorian author Frances Hodgson Burnett has remained a firm favorite with children the world over ever since it made its first appearance. Initially published as a serial story in 1910 in The American Magazine, it was brought out in novel form in 1911. The plot centers round Mary Lennox, a young English girl who returns to England from India, having suffered the immense trauma by losing both her parents in a cholera epidemic.”
Publisher’s Description:
"One of the most delightful and enduring classics of children's literature, The Secret Garden by Victorian author Frances Hodgson Burnett has remained a firm favorite with children the world over ever since it made its first appearance. Initially published as a serial story in 1910 in The American Magazine, it was brought out in novel form in 1911.
The plot centers round Mary Lennox, a young English girl who returns to England from India, having suffered the immense trauma by losing both her parents in a cholera epidemic. However, her memories of her parents are not pleasant, as they were a selfish, neglectful and pleasure-seeking couple. Mary is given to the care of her uncle Archibald Craven, whom she has never met. She travels to his home, Misselthwaite Manor located in the gloomy Yorkshire, a vast change from the sunny and warm climate she was used to. When she arrives, she is a rude, stubborn and given to stormy temper tantrums. However, her nature undergoes a gradual transformation when she learns of the tragedies that have befallen her strict and disciplinarian uncle whom she earlier feared and despised. Once when he's away from home, Mary discovers a charming walled garden which is always kept locked. The mystery deepens when she hears sounds of sobbing from somewhere within her uncle's vast mansion. The kindly servants ignore her queries or pretend they haven't heard, spiking Mary's curiosity.
The Secret Garden appeals to both young and old alike. It has wonderful elements of mystery, spirituality, charming characters and an authentic rendering of childhood emotions and experiences. Commonsense, truth and kindness, compassion and a belief in the essential goodness of human beings lie at the heart of this unforgettable story. It is the best known of Frances Hodgson Burnett's works, though most of us have definitely heard of, if not read, her other novel Little Lord Fauntleroy.
The book has been adapted extensively on stage, film and television and translated into all the world's major languages. In 1991, a Japanese anime version was launched for television in Japan. It remains a popular and beloved story of a child's journey into maturity, and a must-read for every child, parent, teacher and anyone who would enjoy this fascinating glimpse of childhood. One of the most delightful and enduring classics of children's literature, The Secret Garden by Victorian author Frances Hodgson Burnett has remained a firm favorite with children the world over ever since it made its first appearance. Initially published as a serial story in 1910 in The American Magazine, it was brought out in novel form in 1911."
• Re-Read in December 2022
#StoryGraph: fiction childrens classics historical middle grade young adult emotional medium-paced
260 pages
#KindleInMotion: I thought I would try this new-ish format before the end of the year. I’m impressed.
“The Secret Garden by Victorian author Frances Hodgson Burnett has remained a firm favorite with children the world over ever since it made its first appearance. Initially published as a serial story in 1910 in The American Magazine, it was brought out in novel form in 1911. The plot centers round Mary Lennox, a young English girl who returns to England from India, having suffered the immense trauma by losing both her parents in a cholera epidemic.”
Publisher’s Description:
"One of the most delightful and enduring classics of children's literature, The Secret Garden by Victorian author Frances Hodgson Burnett has remained a firm favorite with children the world over ever since it made its first appearance. Initially published as a serial story in 1910 in The American Magazine, it was brought out in novel form in 1911.
The plot centers round Mary Lennox, a young English girl who returns to England from India, having suffered the immense trauma by losing both her parents in a cholera epidemic. However, her memories of her parents are not pleasant, as they were a selfish, neglectful and pleasure-seeking couple. Mary is given to the care of her uncle Archibald Craven, whom she has never met. She travels to his home, Misselthwaite Manor located in the gloomy Yorkshire, a vast change from the sunny and warm climate she was used to. When she arrives, she is a rude, stubborn and given to stormy temper tantrums. However, her nature undergoes a gradual transformation when she learns of the tragedies that have befallen her strict and disciplinarian uncle whom she earlier feared and despised. Once when he's away from home, Mary discovers a charming walled garden which is always kept locked. The mystery deepens when she hears sounds of sobbing from somewhere within her uncle's vast mansion. The kindly servants ignore her queries or pretend they haven't heard, spiking Mary's curiosity.
The Secret Garden appeals to both young and old alike. It has wonderful elements of mystery, spirituality, charming characters and an authentic rendering of childhood emotions and experiences. Commonsense, truth and kindness, compassion and a belief in the essential goodness of human beings lie at the heart of this unforgettable story. It is the best known of Frances Hodgson Burnett's works, though most of us have definitely heard of, if not read, her other novel Little Lord Fauntleroy.
The book has been adapted extensively on stage, film and television and translated into all the world's major languages. In 1991, a Japanese anime version was launched for television in Japan. It remains a popular and beloved story of a child's journey into maturity, and a must-read for every child, parent, teacher and anyone who would enjoy this fascinating glimpse of childhood. One of the most delightful and enduring classics of children's literature, The Secret Garden by Victorian author Frances Hodgson Burnett has remained a firm favorite with children the world over ever since it made its first appearance. Initially published as a serial story in 1910 in The American Magazine, it was brought out in novel form in 1911."
Borrowed the book from my mom. when i finished the book, i also get her. No wonder she always has this weird, unique, and a little bit whimsy kind of mind.
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
medium-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
sad
slow-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
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Tenía ganas de conocer la historia de este clásico. Y tengo que decir que me ha decepcionado un poco. Hasta la mitad del libro, la historia es bastante plana: una niña, bastante malcriada e infeliz, que ha quedado huérfana y acaba viviendo en la casa de su tío. La segunda mitad es más entretenida y recuerda a un cuento infantil, con moraleja incluida.
A lovely book full of light and hope, this book is one that I could see reading to my hypothetical future children, to encourage in them a love of nature and the outdoors. The Secret Garden felt very character central and the people in this novel are lovely and are as connected to their homeland and the moors as the wild creatures that surround them. Martha, Susan, Dixon, and Ben are all amazing characters with a zest for life that help to bring Mary and Colin's world alive.
I know that there are some theories that the book and the titular secret garden are a metaphor for awakening female sexuality, and while I think that the case could be made for this theory, I think it is reaching slightly.
A beautiful read full of heart and soul and a undeniable mystical quality, The Secret Garden is a now treasured story that I hope to share with any future youngin's in my life!
I know that there are some theories that the book and the titular secret garden are a metaphor for awakening female sexuality, and while I think that the case could be made for this theory, I think it is reaching slightly.
A beautiful read full of heart and soul and a undeniable mystical quality, The Secret Garden is a now treasured story that I hope to share with any future youngin's in my life!