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marziesreads's review against another edition
4.0
The Secret Garden has long been one of my favorite childhood stories because of its valuable message- that you have to cultivate happiness. Mary is a child who has been orphaned after an outbreak of cholera in India, where she was living with her parents. She is sent home to England, to Misselthwaite Manor, the home of her uncle, a very lonely and unhappy widower. She is a dour, lonely, and unhappy child who makes her first friend in an English robin. Her second friend is a boy named Dickon, who helps her connect with nature even more, and together they restore the Secret Garden of the title, eventually with the help of Mary's initially wretched cousin Colin, a boy who also learns to cultivate happiness, friendship, courage, and health.
The Yorkshire dialect English in the novel, which was written in a serialized form in the late Edwardian era, may be difficult for some modern children, and so the audiobook edition of the story may help children understand the dialect more easily.
This audiobook is narrated marvelously by Glenda Jackson (I think it may have originally been recorded in 1994?) however the audiobook is the abridged version of the novel. Additionally, the presence of music with an awkward dynamic range that competes with the narration in some passages, was a bit frustrating. Those two factors (the abridgment and the dynamic range issues) resulted in my giving this production four rather than five stars. Still an enjoyable production.
I received a digital audio review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Yorkshire dialect English in the novel, which was written in a serialized form in the late Edwardian era, may be difficult for some modern children, and so the audiobook edition of the story may help children understand the dialect more easily.
This audiobook is narrated marvelously by Glenda Jackson (I think it may have originally been recorded in 1994?) however the audiobook is the abridged version of the novel. Additionally, the presence of music with an awkward dynamic range that competes with the narration in some passages, was a bit frustrating. Those two factors (the abridgment and the dynamic range issues) resulted in my giving this production four rather than five stars. Still an enjoyable production.
I received a digital audio review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
stephielb78's review against another edition
4.0
I don't remember ever reading this book as a kid, or seeing the movie, but I really enjoyed it!
readingwitherin's review against another edition
4.0
This was a re-read for me, as I read this for school when I was younger.
See reviews first on my blog
The Secret Garden ended up being a bit of a surprise for me, after the first quarter of the book I wasn't really sure if I was going to like it or not. Thankfully the rest of the book I really enjoyed and grew to love the characters.
As Mary got to go out and explore and be a little kid we see her start to grow and change as a person. Then we get to see her help Colin and help him get a chance at a life he had never had before due to always being kept hidden away. The friendship these two make was so nice to see and I loved how some of the staff was so supportive of them going out and about and enjoying the world.
Overall this ended up being a fun classic that I enjoyed. The characters were so fun, and I loved the way they talked about the Garden and made it there own place after it having been abandoned for so long.
See reviews first on my blog
The Secret Garden ended up being a bit of a surprise for me, after the first quarter of the book I wasn't really sure if I was going to like it or not. Thankfully the rest of the book I really enjoyed and grew to love the characters.
As Mary got to go out and explore and be a little kid we see her start to grow and change as a person. Then we get to see her help Colin and help him get a chance at a life he had never had before due to always being kept hidden away. The friendship these two make was so nice to see and I loved how some of the staff was so supportive of them going out and about and enjoying the world.
Overall this ended up being a fun classic that I enjoyed. The characters were so fun, and I loved the way they talked about the Garden and made it there own place after it having been abandoned for so long.
missvalster's review against another edition
3.0
It’s quite a simple book, for it’s a children’s book of course, but it has a good message: thinking happy thoughts and believing in yourself will do you a lot of good in life.
josiespages's review against another edition
4.0
This book is one of my childhood favorites, and one that I still find myself re-reading or thinking about at times. It's well-written and well-structured, though at times the story does feel a tad bit severe. I do think it was all added as a support of the tension in the book, which obviously keeps the reader engaged, and maybe this comes from the perspective of someone who first read this book at 12, but some of the elements are really dark and sort of linger.
This book absolutely made me want a secret spot as a child, and I think that really speaks to how well-rounded the characters are. Even though I definitely found myself slightly annoyed at the main character in the beginning, as an adult I can recognize her trauma and way of acting out as what it is, and the garden as her way of healing that neglected part of her. Beautiful.
This book absolutely made me want a secret spot as a child, and I think that really speaks to how well-rounded the characters are. Even though I definitely found myself slightly annoyed at the main character in the beginning, as an adult I can recognize her trauma and way of acting out as what it is, and the garden as her way of healing that neglected part of her. Beautiful.
mgarren's review against another edition
4.0
This book was everything you would expect... Charming and lovely. Although I didn't find it completely memorable, I would recommend it to anyone wanting to read.
lovella_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
4.5
euryyyy's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
4.0
"For live ever and ever and ever!"
This honestly healed my inner child and the human nature insidde of me. People forgets to be human with the nature for once in a while and this book reminds me once again the beauty of the world even if it's through words and papers. The author did not waste an ink in conveying her message of being not too late in believing in magic and being kind.
I am old enough now, but I do not think I will ever recover in this story. It inspires me to also run freely like Colin to my goals as if it weren't always too late to start, learn to restrain my craves for earthly materials like Mary so that I will appreciate this world more, and be soft and understanding like the animal-charmer Dickon so that I could be one with the nature.
It's rare for me to meet people like them. So eagerly to change for the environment they live. I think everyone should read this once in a while so that we will continue to live for ever, and ever, and ever!
This honestly healed my inner child and the human nature insidde of me. People forgets to be human with the nature for once in a while and this book reminds me once again the beauty of the world even if it's through words and papers. The author did not waste an ink in conveying her message of being not too late in believing in magic and being kind.
I am old enough now, but I do not think I will ever recover in this story. It inspires me to also run freely like Colin to my goals as if it weren't always too late to start, learn to restrain my craves for earthly materials like Mary so that I will appreciate this world more, and be soft and understanding like the animal-charmer Dickon so that I could be one with the nature.
It's rare for me to meet people like them. So eagerly to change for the environment they live. I think everyone should read this once in a while so that we will continue to live for ever, and ever, and ever!