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4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
It started off a bit slow and frankly I didn’t care about Mary at all at the start. But I loved Dickon, as did we all, and Colin coming into the story really painted Mary in a new light as well. The second half of the book bumped this up to 4 stars from 3 for me in terms of story (also bc of the various xenophobic comments/qualifiers towards the beginning of the story, author clearly was Eurocentric). I was also kind of hoping that Colin would get off his high horse.
“She felt quite wicked by the time she reached the door” 153
-this made me giggle so hard when I read it, “wicked” is exactly the way a child feels after being riled up and is ready to explode.
“At first people refuse to believe that a strange new thing can be done, then they begin to hope it can be done, then they see it can be done – then it is done and all the world wonders why it was not done centuries ago” 242
“Much more surprising things can happen to anyone who, when a disagreeable or discouraged thought comes into his mind, just has the sense to remember in time and push it out by putting in an agreeable determinedly, courageous one. Two things cannot be in one place. Where you tend a rose, my lad, a thistle cannot grow” 243
“She felt quite wicked by the time she reached the door” 153
-this made me giggle so hard when I read it, “wicked” is exactly the way a child feels after being riled up and is ready to explode.
“At first people refuse to believe that a strange new thing can be done, then they begin to hope it can be done, then they see it can be done – then it is done and all the world wonders why it was not done centuries ago” 242
“Much more surprising things can happen to anyone who, when a disagreeable or discouraged thought comes into his mind, just has the sense to remember in time and push it out by putting in an agreeable determinedly, courageous one. Two things cannot be in one place. Where you tend a rose, my lad, a thistle cannot grow” 243
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
After this reread, I’ve increased my rating to 5 stars. Its just magical! A beautiful story about coming alive. The importance of letting yourself open up to the beauties of the world, to light and to other people.
I adore Dickon and Martha and Susan. They are all fully “wick”. I loved the description of the garden. And I love Mistress Mary quite contrary. She learned to see herself, the good and the bad, in a beautiful way.
I loved all the animals and the lessons taught from nature. I laughed at the kids trying to learn the Yorkshire accent. I want to learn it! What a great read aloud skill that would be!
Mostly, I love the magic. It’s real. And it’s powerful. What is it, you ask? You mun fin’it you’self.
I adore Dickon and Martha and Susan. They are all fully “wick”. I loved the description of the garden. And I love Mistress Mary quite contrary. She learned to see herself, the good and the bad, in a beautiful way.
I loved all the animals and the lessons taught from nature. I laughed at the kids trying to learn the Yorkshire accent. I want to learn it! What a great read aloud skill that would be!
Mostly, I love the magic. It’s real. And it’s powerful. What is it, you ask? You mun fin’it you’self.
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
This was one of my favorites as a kid and is still a great read. I loved listening to the audiobook and getting to hear the Yorkshire accents come to life.
adventurous
emotional
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
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Never in a million years did I think I would read The Secret Garden, let alone love it. I started reading it sort of like a book club with my grandma because she told me how much she enjoyed it as a little girl.
I really thought it was going to be an old, boring, little girls' book. I was so wrong! It was so complicated and uplifting. It explained a lot of complicated things in a way that little kids and adults alike could understand, without being preachy.
Remind me to thank my grandma.
I really thought it was going to be an old, boring, little girls' book. I was so wrong! It was so complicated and uplifting. It explained a lot of complicated things in a way that little kids and adults alike could understand, without being preachy.
Remind me to thank my grandma.
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
relaxing
sad
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