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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
Around the Year Reading Challenge Item #12: A Childhood Classic
3.5
This was almost a four-star book for me. I kept being torn between my genuine enjoyment of the setting and characters and my "objective" observations about the strength of the story.
On the one hand, I found Heidi to be an easy, charming read. It was lovely to be carried away to Heidi's idyllic home in the mountains and to see the way her presence seemed to awaken the love of all those around her. Having grown up on the movie "Heidi's Song," I was disappointed that more of the book didn't take place in Frankfurt -- Heidi's journey from being an "outsider" to finding her way back home happened far too easily and mostly came at the hands of well-meaning adults who perceived her sadness and rescued her. This made for an overall lack of tension throughout the book, and it meant Heidi did not have to grow particularly as a character, even though the version I read lauds it as a "great coming of age" story.
It's also all extremely romanticized -- everyone loves Heidi, she suffers no ill effects from being dumped at her grandfather's place at age 5, she immediately takes to life on the mountain, she adores everyone she meets, everyone adores her, etc. This is the sort of thing that would make me want to vomit in most books, but something about the simplicity and guilelessness with which this story was written made it all go down a lot more easily. Ultimately, I liked spending time in Heidi's world, finding great joy in the simple things, like a good glass of goat's milk or a sunset over the mountains ...
3.5
This was almost a four-star book for me. I kept being torn between my genuine enjoyment of the setting and characters and my "objective" observations about the strength of the story.
On the one hand, I found Heidi to be an easy, charming read. It was lovely to be carried away to Heidi's idyllic home in the mountains and to see the way her presence seemed to awaken the love of all those around her. Having grown up on the movie "Heidi's Song," I was disappointed that more of the book didn't take place in Frankfurt -- Heidi's journey from being an "outsider" to finding her way back home happened far too easily and mostly came at the hands of well-meaning adults who perceived her sadness and rescued her. This made for an overall lack of tension throughout the book, and it meant Heidi did not have to grow particularly as a character, even though the version I read lauds it as a "great coming of age" story.
It's also all extremely romanticized -- everyone loves Heidi, she suffers no ill effects from being dumped at her grandfather's place at age 5, she immediately takes to life on the mountain, she adores everyone she meets, everyone adores her, etc. This is the sort of thing that would make me want to vomit in most books, but something about the simplicity and guilelessness with which this story was written made it all go down a lot more easily. Ultimately, I liked spending time in Heidi's world, finding great joy in the simple things, like a good glass of goat's milk or a sunset over the mountains ...
Spoiler
even if you'll never convince me that this alone is enough to allow a wheelchair-bound girl to walk.
It's been a long time since I've read this book - some of the language is a little outdated, but the story itself is sweet and endearing. Listened to this at work and enjoyed it!
Heidi is an adorable story that feels absolutely timeless even though it was written over a century ago.
Keeping in mind this is written to be a children's book, I thought it was very well structured with great writing. I also really enjoyed the characters and their developments throughout the story.
It was really surprising that this story was so relatable from the rural aspect. I could see parallels between Heidi's life and stories passed down about the "good old days" from my family. It seems that Johanna Spyri's rural Switzerland and my little corner of West Virginia share a love of three things: Faith, Family, and Mountains!
Keeping in mind this is written to be a children's book, I thought it was very well structured with great writing. I also really enjoyed the characters and their developments throughout the story.
It was really surprising that this story was so relatable from the rural aspect. I could see parallels between Heidi's life and stories passed down about the "good old days" from my family. It seems that Johanna Spyri's rural Switzerland and my little corner of West Virginia share a love of three things: Faith, Family, and Mountains!
This is the edition I received as a gift when I was young. Despite the joy of rereading a book I've had since childhood, I found it hard to reread.
I have the opportunity to read a lot of children's books in my job as an elementary librarian and I am SO GLAD that children are given more credit as being resilient and able to read about imperfect people and situations. I read this book as a companion to Maria Parr's Astrid the Unstoppable. Both are set on a mountain in Norway, both have a grandfather figure, both have a child who leaves and comes back . . . but the latter is easier to swallow because it feels real. The characters felt flat in Heidi and life was very rose colored. It was too idealistic for me.
I do believe that a person, even a child, can bring joy to those around them and change lives, but I am glad that now children can find books that feel more authentic.
2024 52 Book Club Reading Challenge #23 The other book with a similar plot
I have the opportunity to read a lot of children's books in my job as an elementary librarian and I am SO GLAD that children are given more credit as being resilient and able to read about imperfect people and situations. I read this book as a companion to Maria Parr's Astrid the Unstoppable. Both are set on a mountain in Norway, both have a grandfather figure, both have a child who leaves and comes back . . . but the latter is easier to swallow because it feels real. The characters felt flat in Heidi and life was very rose colored. It was too idealistic for me.
I do believe that a person, even a child, can bring joy to those around them and change lives, but I am glad that now children can find books that feel more authentic.
2024 52 Book Club Reading Challenge #23 The other book with a similar plot
Un tuffo nel passato.
Da piccolo ero "obbligato" a guardare il cartone animato da mia nonna. Io aspettavo i Digimon e lei era felice perchè non guardavo solo mostri e mostriciattoli.
Il romanzo mi ha fatto rivalutare il tutto, merita tantissimo. La scrittura è semplice, infantile, ma il messaggio è folgorante.
Da piccolo ero "obbligato" a guardare il cartone animato da mia nonna. Io aspettavo i Digimon e lei era felice perchè non guardavo solo mostri e mostriciattoli.
Il romanzo mi ha fatto rivalutare il tutto, merita tantissimo. La scrittura è semplice, infantile, ma il messaggio è folgorante.