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4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
The prose was not quite my style. Having my living experience so widely differed from what's happening in the book turns me off. I've never planted a tree in my life nor have i spoken enough English to fully take in the story. The message about manifestation magic is nice and all but i was overally disconnected from the whole thing.
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It wasinteresting but got very boring in the end.
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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
I would have sworn that I'd read The Secret Garden before. I know the story. I know the characters. I can quote whole scenes. And yet, having now read it, it's possible that I never previously consumed the actual text. I may have just absorbed all of this information from various adaptations as this is book that tends to get adapted quite accurately.
Previously, I would have recommended this book as a good read for young children. I still hold that opinion, but I now have some caveats. Namely that the book has a fair bit of racist language
and one scene where wife beating is mentioned as a joke
I remembered the "You thought I was a native!" line, but the rest is new and there are a few more sections like that. It's a perfectly accurate representation of British attitudes toward the native population of India during India's colonial period and makes for a good talking point with a young kid. Same goes for the misogyny.
However, the presence of these elements does slightly alter how I'll be recommending this book moving forward. I would have previously said that this was a book that you could just hand to a kid, now I would say to check your copy to see if those lines are still there and have a frank discussion if they are. Also be aware that a lot of the text is written in a Yorkshire accent as shown above, which can make for hard reading, so maybe save this one for a bedtime read and don't send a kid off solo.
Previously, I would have recommended this book as a good read for young children. I still hold that opinion, but I now have some caveats. Namely that the book has a fair bit of racist language
You thought I was a native! You dared! You don't know anything about natives. They are not people - they're servants who must salaam you. (page 30)
and one scene where wife beating is mentioned as a joke
I've heard Jem Fettleworth's wife say th' same thing over thousands o' times—callin' Jem a drunken brute," said Ben Weatherstaff dryly. "Summat allus come o' that, sure enough. He gave her a good hidin' an' went to th' Blue Lion an' got as drunk as a lord."
Colin drew his brows together and thought a few minutes. Then he cheered up.
"Well," he said, "you see something did come of it. She used the wrong Magic until she made him beat her. If she'd used the right Magic and had said something nice perhaps he wouldn't have got as drunk as a lord and perhaps—perhaps he might have bought her a new bonnet.(page 251)
I remembered the "You thought I was a native!" line, but the rest is new and there are a few more sections like that. It's a perfectly accurate representation of British attitudes toward the native population of India during India's colonial period and makes for a good talking point with a young kid. Same goes for the misogyny.
However, the presence of these elements does slightly alter how I'll be recommending this book moving forward. I would have previously said that this was a book that you could just hand to a kid, now I would say to check your copy to see if those lines are still there and have a frank discussion if they are. Also be aware that a lot of the text is written in a Yorkshire accent as shown above, which can make for hard reading, so maybe save this one for a bedtime read and don't send a kid off solo.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
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
Needed a short audiobook, so it seemed time to get another classic under my belt.
I've seen the book described as "heartwarming" many times, and I can definitely see why. Stories of people finding the beauty in life and regaining the will to live have a certain beauty to them, and The Secret Garden really manages to land those themes. Also, the descriptions of spring and the garden were both fabulous and vivid, really managing to paint a picture of the beauty of nature.
My only gripe (and it's very much an "I'm a modern fantasy reader, not a lit-fic reader" kind of thing), is that I kept waiting for the drama to happen and for a plot to start that never existed. I know it's not that kind of book, but part of me does wish for a bit more plot and for conflicts that the children couldn't just bully their way out of.
Still a fun read though, and I can see why this classic has survived as long as it has.
I've seen the book described as "heartwarming" many times, and I can definitely see why. Stories of people finding the beauty in life and regaining the will to live have a certain beauty to them, and The Secret Garden really manages to land those themes. Also, the descriptions of spring and the garden were both fabulous and vivid, really managing to paint a picture of the beauty of nature.
My only gripe (and it's very much an "I'm a modern fantasy reader, not a lit-fic reader" kind of thing), is that I kept waiting for the drama to happen and for a plot to start that never existed. I know it's not that kind of book, but part of me does wish for a bit more plot and for conflicts that the children couldn't just bully their way out of.
Still a fun read though, and I can see why this classic has survived as long as it has.