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4.06 AVERAGE


A real classic story that highlights you are what you think.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This book was a childhood favorite, and it was wonderful to dive into it again (especially as Taylor Swift released "I Hate It Here"). Mary goes through beautiful character development, if somewhat idealistic, and the other characters are equally lovable, even when they're not meant to be.

I'll always be grateful to my parents for dubbing a fenced part of our backyard "The Secret Garden." It gave me a place to experience this book, and it was wonderful to re-read it while being there again.
adventurous funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring 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

This was one of the most charming books I've ever read, reminding me of some of the first books I ever read and what made me love reading so much. Besides the smattering of racism (which is sort of to be expected from books of this time), there wasn't anything that I particularly disliked about the story. The overall message I thought was something that could and should be used now more than ever by people, that being that you shouldn't allow yourself to be consumed by negative thoughts and cynicism, but rather to stop and smell the roses and appreciate the small things in life that can make you happy should you learn to appreciate them.
I'm paraphrasing from the book here, but I think the philosophy of the story can be summed up as follows: a thorn cannot grow where a flower blossoms.

mansfield_park's review against another edition

DID NOT FINISH: 70%

Due to this being a child’s book I had anticipated an easy read. It’s dull and very slow paced.
hopeful inspiring 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
hopeful inspiring mysterious 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

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
dark emotional reflective

Read for work. At a academic stand point it's an interesting commentary on colonization. Mary and Colin are very complex characters, which I enjoyed. I don't think I'd let a child today read this book without them understanding the fundamentals of colonization.