Reviews tagging 'Ableism'

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

136 reviews

lomeraniel's review against another edition

3.5

lighthearted mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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I'm not much into Victorian literature, but this was a cute little book I read for a book club.

I especially liked the first half, where Mary's curiosity and the gothic atmosphere reminded me sometimes of Jane Eire. I also enjoyed the Yorkshire spoken by Martha and Dickon. We see less of Mary in the second half, as it's more focused on Colin and his transformation thanks to spending time in the garden. I found this second half less compelling.

The comments about our thoughts being responsible for our health rubbed me off the wrong way. I can't say that being optimistic may help your well-being, but blaming individuals for their health issues is just an ableist vision that I can't abide. Also, the Magic mentioned in the book sounded too much like god and intelligent design. It may not have sounded like that if didn't it start with a capital letter.

There are also a lot of issues typical of their time, like classism and racism, but this is something expected in English literature around this time.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism, Racism, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment, Classism

jacksons_books_and_music's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective 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

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Lots of problematic content, considering it was published 1910-11. Its messages of hope, care,  love, and emotional healing are all beautiful, though. If you haven’t read it, or it’s been a while since you have, I definitely recommend reading it! I read it many years ago and there was a lot I had forgotten about. I love just how active Martha and Dicken’s mother is in the story, for instance. If you’re giving it to a child to read, I recommend reading it along with them and being prepared for discussing racism, colonialism, corporal punishment, domestic abuse, and things like that.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Grief, Death of parent

Moderate: Bullying, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, Classism

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicide, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail

kittycatherine_42's review against another edition

4.25

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism

A segunda metade do livro destrambelha e é cheia de capacitismo típico da época e montes de abobrinha new age antes de ter esse nome.

turidt's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring 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: Complicated

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Grief, Death of parent

Moderate: Ableism, Slavery, Medical content, Classism

waybeyondblue's review against another edition

DID NOT FINISH: 9%

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DNF. Jeez. What did they feed us as kids? 

Couldn't make it past the first 30 pages with all the racist, imperialist drivel. Didn't even make it as far as the sick kid. I'm sure that's a treat, too.

Read a blog that's tries to argue that the racism is actually anti-racism (i.e. the author's making the main character, Mary, as racist and horrible as possible so that readers understand that's a terrible thing to be). Pffft.

Reas this for a library challenge, and was looking forward to revisiting a childhood fave. Should have known better 🙄

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Racial slurs, Racism

marytylerr's review against another edition

3.0

adventurous lighthearted mysterious fast-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Chronic illness, Racism, Death of parent, Classism

Moderate: Xenophobia, Colonisation

mrs_coffeeskeleton's review against another edition

5.0

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Minor: Ableism, Chronic illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Terminal illness, Death of parent, Colonisation, Dysphoria

djparsley's review against another edition

3.5

adventurous hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism

Minor: Mental illness, Racism, Death of parent

soggycedar's review against another edition

3.75

adventurous relaxing medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Racism

Moderate: Ableism, Child abuse, Terminal illness

Minor: Physical abuse, Death of parent

stories's review against another edition

3.5

hopeful reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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A clear moral: Fresh air and exercise are the cure of all ills. Effectively and evocatively told, but I can understand criticism of overly saccharine. At times the plant descriptions seemed equally excessive. 

 A lasting classic, yes, but definitely also shows its age (classism, racism, ableism). The classism in particular hit me hard in this one. 

Bonus points for ALL adult characters being well-intentioned and wanting the best for the children.  

I prefer Little Princess. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Classism

Minor: Ableism, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Death of parent, Colonisation, Pandemic/Epidemic