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4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
slow-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:
Complicated
lighthearted
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
Although I watched the movie several times, I am not sure I ever read the book. It mostly holds up as an excellent children's book.
Heavily focused on the morals of independent play, fresh air and the outdoors, being a good person and how that affects your look and perception. A bit unsubtle in that area, actually. I love the descriptions of nature - the plants and animals and weather, light, and air. The writing and setting are both old-fashioned. Sometimes comfortably so and other times in a distinctly uncomfortable manner. The movie changed a bit of racist outbursts and removed a lot of overtly classist discussion. If introducing a child to this book now, I would modify parts while reading aloud or be prepared to discuss topics of racism, classism, poverty, abandonment, neglect, abuse, medical decision-making, etc. Overall, a good trip into the past and I enjoyed the read.
Heavily focused on the morals of independent play, fresh air and the outdoors, being a good person and how that affects your look and perception. A bit unsubtle in that area, actually. I love the descriptions of nature - the plants and animals and weather, light, and air. The writing and setting are both old-fashioned. Sometimes comfortably so and other times in a distinctly uncomfortable manner. The movie changed a bit of racist outbursts and removed a lot of overtly classist discussion. If introducing a child to this book now, I would modify parts while reading aloud or be prepared to discuss topics of racism, classism, poverty, abandonment, neglect, abuse, medical decision-making, etc. Overall, a good trip into the past and I enjoyed the read.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
I'll come back to this and update the review, but I got halfway through (DNF at chapter 15) and bored out of my skull. I'm reading this for college, and oh my god the story does not pick up until about page 90 (out of 198 pages), and unfortunately it only does for a short time. Think of that one baby rollercoaster scene from Spongebob. Yes, I know the book came out in 1911, but I'm still going to review it on the same way I'd review a modern book, because I'm woke and DEI or whatever.
It was odd and uncomfortable to read about a young child being "unattractive" and being referred to as a vixen and wench. The racism, good lord I think this book hates India more than the current Internet does.
I like Colin, and I love his friendship with Mary, and the descriptions of the garden are beautiful. That's all I can say really, feels like a whole lot of nothing happened the whole time I was reading it.
Honestly, with all my recent reviews of books being 1-3 stars...I think I just hate books at this point. So much for wanting to be an author. Love writing, but hate reading...sigh. I'm so fucking brainrotted. May as well start watching skibidi toilet and eating dubai chocolate.
It was odd and uncomfortable to read about a young child being "unattractive" and being referred to as a vixen and wench. The racism, good lord I think this book hates India more than the current Internet does.
I like Colin, and I love his friendship with Mary, and the descriptions of the garden are beautiful. That's all I can say really, feels like a whole lot of nothing happened the whole time I was reading it.
Honestly, with all my recent reviews of books being 1-3 stars...I think I just hate books at this point. So much for wanting to be an author. Love writing, but hate reading...sigh. I'm so fucking brainrotted. May as well start watching skibidi toilet and eating dubai chocolate.
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.