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shanbonan 's review for:
The Secret Garden
by Frances Hodgson Burnett
There were moments, early on, when I adored this book. This was my first reading of it, and I loved the story of Mary, neglected by everyone who was supposed to take care of her, coming to this gothic home on the moors and discarding her prickly, unlikable shell. I enjoyed her friendship with Dickon, and how she blossomed along with the secret garden. And when she discovered Colin, I thought she had found someone to help, someone who would help her continue to grow.
Not so. When Colin entered the picture, the book became almost entirely about him...a remarkably self-centered, spoiled kid who remained unlikable until the end. Mary took a back seat, existing only to talk to Colin or help Colin. In fact, every last character became foils for Master Colin. It was jarring, this mid-story switch, and it changed my enjoyment of the book. I kept waiting to see Mary's character develop, but she just...stopped, and the book became a slog, taking me almost a full week to read it.
Burnett's focus on the mind-body connection and the benefits of good food, exercise, and clean air continue to resonate today, and she absolutely has me itching to get into my own garden. And because people love her stories, I may give another one a try in the future. But this isn't one I'll ever read again. It would have gotten two stars if not for the gorgeous descriptions of the moors and the gardens. They pushed it up to three.
Not so. When Colin entered the picture, the book became almost entirely about him...a remarkably self-centered, spoiled kid who remained unlikable until the end. Mary took a back seat, existing only to talk to Colin or help Colin. In fact, every last character became foils for Master Colin. It was jarring, this mid-story switch, and it changed my enjoyment of the book. I kept waiting to see Mary's character develop, but she just...stopped, and the book became a slog, taking me almost a full week to read it.
Burnett's focus on the mind-body connection and the benefits of good food, exercise, and clean air continue to resonate today, and she absolutely has me itching to get into my own garden. And because people love her stories, I may give another one a try in the future. But this isn't one I'll ever read again. It would have gotten two stars if not for the gorgeous descriptions of the moors and the gardens. They pushed it up to three.