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4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
adventurous
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
I loved this book so much! I cried a lot at the end (happy tears). Yes it is a bit overly 'sweet/saccharine' as I've seen one reviewer describe it (later in the book, you almost can't take so much happiness and joy!) but its message nonetheless holds true - it's a beautiful reminder to us to 'smell the roses' and that positive thinking can make a difference. Also how important it is to give children the time and space to play and explore. Somehow it manages not to dismiss or overlook suffering at the same time, nor the effects of neglect and abuse. There are a couple of aspects that one needs to overlook, but those are mainly due to the time period in which it was written.
I can see why it has been a firm favourite for many over so many years!
I can see why it has been a firm favourite for many over so many years!
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
I love classics in all their confusing glory - what a precious and lovely story that happens to include dash of racism and a whole heap of ableism that would be shot down by sensitivity readers soooooooo quickly in modern day. There isn't really a threat or antagonist in this book because she wants the children to realize there isnt actually an enemy in their lives, it's just being a brat that makes things hard (and also the temperature, don't forgot that the English weather is best and touching grass, one must remember to touch grass daily).
Frances is *technically* saying that Munchausen syndrome by proxy can be cured with growing plants and fresh, British air but I think maybe she forgot that sometimes people have actual disabilities not cured by plants and air but also positive thinking is pretty helpful 🤔
Frances is *technically* saying that Munchausen syndrome by proxy can be cured with growing plants and fresh, British air but I think maybe she forgot that sometimes people have actual disabilities not cured by plants and air but also positive thinking is pretty helpful 🤔
lighthearted
medium-paced
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Read this again after I saw the musical version. The musical is very powerful, but there are so many character personality changes between that and the book. It hasn't diminished my affection for this work; in fact, I like it more now.
I have to give it five stars for how much it meant to me as a kid. This book was also one of Grandma's childhood favorites, which is why we thought it might be a good book club read. We read the version I remember, with illustrations by Graham Rust. My memories of it are also intertwined with the 1993 movie with Maggie Smith, which my sister and I watched endlessly on VHS.
Re-reading it as an adult was interesting. I now know a little more about the connections between Britain and India. And I was surprised how philosophical the book was about growing as a person.
"One of the strange things about living in the world is that it is only now and then one is quite sure one is going to live for ever and ever and ever. One knows it sometimes when one gets up at the tender, solemn dawn-time and goes out and stands alone and throws one's head far back and looks up and up and watches the pale sky slowly changing and flushing and marvelous unknown things happening until the East almost makes one cry out and one's heart stands still at the strange, unchanging majesty of the rising of the sun -- which has been happening every morning for thousands and thousands and thousands of years. One knows it then for a moment or so. And one knows it sometimes when one stands by oneself in a wood at sunset and the mysterious deep gold stillness slanting through and under the branches seems to be saying slowly again and again something one cannot quite hear, however much one tries. Then sometimes the immense quiet of the dark-blue at night with millions of stars waiting and watching makes one sure; and sometimes a sound of far-off music makes it true; and sometimes a look in someone's eyes."
"The Magic works best when you work yourself."
Re-reading it as an adult was interesting. I now know a little more about the connections between Britain and India. And I was surprised how philosophical the book was about growing as a person.
"One of the strange things about living in the world is that it is only now and then one is quite sure one is going to live for ever and ever and ever. One knows it sometimes when one gets up at the tender, solemn dawn-time and goes out and stands alone and throws one's head far back and looks up and up and watches the pale sky slowly changing and flushing and marvelous unknown things happening until the East almost makes one cry out and one's heart stands still at the strange, unchanging majesty of the rising of the sun -- which has been happening every morning for thousands and thousands and thousands of years. One knows it then for a moment or so. And one knows it sometimes when one stands by oneself in a wood at sunset and the mysterious deep gold stillness slanting through and under the branches seems to be saying slowly again and again something one cannot quite hear, however much one tries. Then sometimes the immense quiet of the dark-blue at night with millions of stars waiting and watching makes one sure; and sometimes a sound of far-off music makes it true; and sometimes a look in someone's eyes."
"The Magic works best when you work yourself."
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
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
hopeful
inspiring
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