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4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
Such a beautiful, magical book about the transformative power of nature! It captures the joy in watching things and people grow. It makes me thankful and excited for the small but tremendously important moments in my life when I see "little pale green points" poking out in unexpected places.
This is another book I should have read as a child but at the same time, I am happy to discover it now!
(I did see Agnieszka Holland's beautiful screen adaption of The Secret Garden last year so I had a feeling I would love to book!)
This is another book I should have read as a child but at the same time, I am happy to discover it now!
(I did see Agnieszka Holland's beautiful screen adaption of The Secret Garden last year so I had a feeling I would love to book!)
I've read this book before. I watched the old and the new movie and now...
it was for free on Audible, read by one of my favourites: Carrie Hope Fletcher
I loved her narrating so much. The story itself is wonderful and magical and always warms my heart and makes me smile. Carrie just made it even better to me
it was for free on Audible, read by one of my favourites: Carrie Hope Fletcher
I loved her narrating so much. The story itself is wonderful and magical and always warms my heart and makes me smile. Carrie just made it even better to me
hopeful
lighthearted
Would I recommend that a child read this children's classic? Not in a thousand years. They are too young to understand the historical context in which small children, by virtue of the fact that their parents own the manor house or serve in the British Raj, terrorize grown adults, slap them, threaten them, and make them ask permission to leave the room. Also, the writing is leaden and the storytelling is sentimental. Children deserve vivid and colorful language and thrilling stories. Still, I'm not sorry that I spent a few hours with it. There is one line that glistens. It occurs when the children have found the secret garden, and through it learned to embrace their lives. They sit down to an "al fresco" tea feeling healthy, happy, and whole. And the author writes, "And delight reigned." It doesn't get better than that.
What a delightful little book this is! It's perfect for children, and good enough for adults to enjoy years later. I imagine it would have a different effect on both, though. For children it introduces them to the natural world, and to magic, and to changing for the better. For adults it's a lovely look back to the innocence of childhood. I watched the movie adaptation back in 1993 or whenever it was, and it's that version which I love - the book has it's own merits, though, and I would recommend reading it after (or before) seeing the movie.
The story of the orphaned Mary Lennox is mostly as we saw in the movie - in the book Mary's parents die from a cholera outbreak, whereas in the movie it's an earthquake which kills them. Mary is sickly-looking and bad-tempered, and is sent to Yorkshire to the home of her uncle. There she meets Mrs Medlock and Martha, and is slowly shown how to fend for herself, and how to live again. In turn she manages to bring the entire house (and garden, of course) back to life. Colin is just as bad tempered as Mary, and is a delightful character - just like in the movie you love and hate him for his tantrums and quirks. Dickon is another good character, more eloquent perhaps in the book than in the movie, but charming all the same.
It's an enjoyable, if short, book anyway, and I'd definitely recommend it.
The story of the orphaned Mary Lennox is mostly as we saw in the movie - in the book Mary's parents die from a cholera outbreak, whereas in the movie it's an earthquake which kills them. Mary is sickly-looking and bad-tempered, and is sent to Yorkshire to the home of her uncle. There she meets Mrs Medlock and Martha, and is slowly shown how to fend for herself, and how to live again. In turn she manages to bring the entire house (and garden, of course) back to life. Colin is just as bad tempered as Mary, and is a delightful character - just like in the movie you love and hate him for his tantrums and quirks. Dickon is another good character, more eloquent perhaps in the book than in the movie, but charming all the same.
It's an enjoyable, if short, book anyway, and I'd definitely recommend it.
hopeful
lighthearted
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
I understand why this book is considered a classic. A beautiful story that genuinely warms your heart. I feel happier for reading it. ♥️
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes