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deep_in_the_reads's review against another edition
3.0
The Secret Garden's first half promises a really fun, fleshed-out coming of age story. Mary Lennox, the 10-year old protagonist, subverts a lot of tropes of the down-on-their luck child from books of the period. Rather than being a starry-eyed saintly kid a-la Oliver Twist, she's pig-headed, entitled and prone to tantrums. Frances Burnett does a great job of making her believable, especially given her colonialist upbringing. It makes it all the more heartwarming when she begins to be drawn out of her shell. Her early interactions with Colin and Martha are highlights. Coupled with Burnett's ability to bring the magic out of even mundane things (for example, the scenes leading up to the discovery of the garden and her first meeting with Colin), The Secret Garden has a lot of charm and heart. Sure, it's a bit cheesy, but considering it's a children's book written only ten years after the end of the Victoria era, I mostly give it a pass.
My issues with the book mostly come from the latter third, after all the characters and settings have been established. Unfortunately, Mary Lennox, the child born into neglect, is pushed out of the story totally. She does very little in the final chapters of the book, and in the last scene she's literally absent. I've never seen an author sideline their own main character so totally before, and I can't help but feel let down, as she is one of the few characters with any depth. It's not satisfying that her role is played out long before the book ends. Colin's speeches about "The Magic" kind of come across as a little embarrassing to read as well.
Overall The Secret Garden is probably worth a read if you're interested in landmark children's novels. It isn't as strong as, say, Charlotte's Web, but it's still pretty good.
My issues with the book mostly come from the latter third, after all the characters and settings have been established. Unfortunately, Mary Lennox, the child born into neglect, is pushed out of the story totally. She does very little in the final chapters of the book, and in the last scene she's literally absent. I've never seen an author sideline their own main character so totally before, and I can't help but feel let down, as she is one of the few characters with any depth. It's not satisfying that her role is played out long before the book ends. Colin's speeches about "The Magic" kind of come across as a little embarrassing to read as well.
Overall The Secret Garden is probably worth a read if you're interested in landmark children's novels. It isn't as strong as, say, Charlotte's Web, but it's still pretty good.
crusoe's review against another edition
adventurous
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
3.5
This story is very pleasant to listen to even if little happens. While the moral of the story is quite on the nose and parts are repetitive, there is something wonderful about exploring the mystical moors, the house and its grounds through the eyes of a child.
Through a modern day lense, the story can be interpreted as slightly ableist and more than a little racist. For that reason I don't think it should count as a 'children's classic' anymore.
Through a modern day lense, the story can be interpreted as slightly ableist and more than a little racist. For that reason I don't think it should count as a 'children's classic' anymore.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Racism, and Death of parent
moniquersqueek's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
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
5.0
sandranir's review against another edition
5.0
I read this book in my teens and I loved it then. I just reread it and I love it even more. Being an adult gives a great insight into this book without losing the magic that has so mesmerized me in my teens.
dullshimmer's review against another edition
5.0
The Secret Garden was one of those books I've heard about, but never read. To be honest I didn't really think it would be a book that I found very enjoyable, so I never really sought it out to read. However, my daughter picked it as the book for me to read to her at bedtime, so I went into it and found it quite enjoyable to read.
The plot follows a little girl named Mary Lennox, who had two rather negligent parents. Her parents were more interested in the seeking of pleasure and society than taking care of a daughter, so became a rather selfish, miserable little girl. Her parents die of cholera and she is sent to live with her uncle, Archibald Craven. She's never met her uncle, but this change, despite being horrible winds up being a turning point for Mary as she learns to grow and develop as a person with the help of the titular Secret Garden and a handful of people she meets in her new home.
Despite the book starting out rather rough with the death of Mary's parents and Mary not being a rather likable character, that is the book's low point. Due to this some may consider that the book lacks a sufficient conflict, but I'm not sure it is completely true or that it matters too much if it is.
In part I would say the conflicts are more internal than external with the occasional external mystery to unravel. Is Mary going to be able to grow as a human being, or stay a rather miserable sour little girl forever? Can Mary find the Secret Garden? Will it stay a secret? Who is making the cries that Mary hears sometimes at night?
It is the answering of these simple questions that move along the story of The Secret Garden. Often once these questions are answered more are revealed. Plus there is always the question of whether this story will have a happy ending or not. There is always the worry that perhaps things won't quite work out like they seem when reading books like these.
That said I could see why some wouldn't like the book. A lot of the characters talk in Yorkshire dialect and can be hard to read (I was trying to read it aloud so I know it's not easy to read), but I felt it gave a authenticity to the book.
I also must admit I never really took a great liking to Colin for some reason. I guess it just felt like he went from bossy spoiled brat to nicer know-it-all and while an improvement, it just didn't really leave me feeling positive compared to Mary's transformation over the book. He was okay, but he wasn't my favorite character. Maybe it also has to do with his whole fixation on Magic, which oddly took a little away from the magic of the book than it did to add to it in my opinion.
None of these things really detracted too much though, and I still thoroughly enjoyed the book. It quite surprised me to enjoy it as much as I did. I guess you never know what book you might like unless you actually read it. I for one am glad I read The Secret Garden and I very much recommend it.
The plot follows a little girl named Mary Lennox, who had two rather negligent parents. Her parents were more interested in the seeking of pleasure and society than taking care of a daughter, so became a rather selfish, miserable little girl. Her parents die of cholera and she is sent to live with her uncle, Archibald Craven. She's never met her uncle, but this change, despite being horrible winds up being a turning point for Mary as she learns to grow and develop as a person with the help of the titular Secret Garden and a handful of people she meets in her new home.
Despite the book starting out rather rough with the death of Mary's parents and Mary not being a rather likable character, that is the book's low point. Due to this some may consider that the book lacks a sufficient conflict, but I'm not sure it is completely true or that it matters too much if it is.
In part I would say the conflicts are more internal than external with the occasional external mystery to unravel. Is Mary going to be able to grow as a human being, or stay a rather miserable sour little girl forever? Can Mary find the Secret Garden? Will it stay a secret? Who is making the cries that Mary hears sometimes at night?
It is the answering of these simple questions that move along the story of The Secret Garden. Often once these questions are answered more are revealed. Plus there is always the question of whether this story will have a happy ending or not. There is always the worry that perhaps things won't quite work out like they seem when reading books like these.
That said I could see why some wouldn't like the book. A lot of the characters talk in Yorkshire dialect and can be hard to read (I was trying to read it aloud so I know it's not easy to read), but I felt it gave a authenticity to the book.
I also must admit I never really took a great liking to Colin for some reason. I guess it just felt like he went from bossy spoiled brat to nicer know-it-all and while an improvement, it just didn't really leave me feeling positive compared to Mary's transformation over the book. He was okay, but he wasn't my favorite character. Maybe it also has to do with his whole fixation on Magic, which oddly took a little away from the magic of the book than it did to add to it in my opinion.
None of these things really detracted too much though, and I still thoroughly enjoyed the book. It quite surprised me to enjoy it as much as I did. I guess you never know what book you might like unless you actually read it. I for one am glad I read The Secret Garden and I very much recommend it.
lydiad's review against another edition
2.75
Was much more font of this as a kid. May we all have a Martha in our lives to give us the love others can’t.
jennariggle's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-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
3.75
iridescentjemz's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
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
5.0
really loved this story. I don’t think I read this as a child (even though I had a copy) but I think it’s delightful. I remember seeing the start of the film and turning it over because I couldn’t stand Mary but I’m so glad I stuck with it.
Essentially it’s about two lonely and unloved children finding their way in the world together through the beauty of nature with the help of a straight talking old gardener, a sweet Dr Doolittle type boy and various other characters.
There’s also an undercurrent of overcoming grief in the form of Colin’s father although we don’t touch on his story much until the end.
Mrs Sowerby’s quote about the world being an orange qnd no one man can own more than his own piece is particularly relevant at the moment.
Listened on Audrey which was wonderful with great guide notes.
Essentially it’s about two lonely and unloved children finding their way in the world together through the beauty of nature with the help of a straight talking old gardener, a sweet Dr Doolittle type boy and various other characters.
There’s also an undercurrent of overcoming grief in the form of Colin’s father although we don’t touch on his story much until the end.
Mrs Sowerby’s quote about the world being an orange qnd no one man can own more than his own piece is particularly relevant at the moment.
Listened on Audrey which was wonderful with great guide notes.