natashalovesducks's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Ableism
vera_nikolajevna's review against another edition
4.5
This is just such a sweet and happy book ahhh
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
literaryjunarin's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
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
4.0
“And over walls and earth and trees and swinging sprays and tendrils the fair green veil of tender little leaves had crept, and in the grass under the trees and the gray urns in the alcoves and here and there everywhere were touches or splashes of gold and purple and white and the trees were showing pink
and snow above his head and there were fluttering of wings and faint sweet pipes and humming and scents and scents.”
Oh, how comforting it is to read about innocent children just eating and running about. Collin's quick recovery shows the importance of having happy, healthy children around.
However, the blatant racism against the Indian servants is impossible to ignore. I wonder about the extent to which the "product of its time" excuse can be considered valid.
and snow above his head and there were fluttering of wings and faint sweet pipes and humming and scents and scents.”
Oh, how comforting it is to read about innocent children just eating and running about. Collin's quick recovery shows the importance of having happy, healthy children around.
However, the blatant racism against the Indian servants is impossible to ignore. I wonder about the extent to which the "product of its time" excuse can be considered valid.
Content Warnings
Minor: Ableism and Racism
lawbooks600's review against another edition
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? It's complicated
4.0
Trigger warnings: Deaths of characters in the past, racism, racist slurs
Score: Seven points out of ten.
I wanted to read this book for a while, and not long after, I got my hands on this story from one of the two libraries I go to. Again, I didn't know what I would get as I went in, except that the book is a classic. The beginning is not the best, but the rest of the novel is outstanding due to its age; the library I got this from might remove this book. It starts with the main character, Mary Lennox, or Mary for short, and at the beginning of the book, Mary moves to an entirely different house and country; some people say that Mary has behavioural issues, which I could see within the first few chapters. That only improved from there. Mary gets herself used to this new house, Misselthwaite Manor, and I saw her meeting new characters, being unique and having distinct voices. Only a few pages in, Mary meets this other critical character, bedridden Colin, and agitated that he might have a hunchback and die. Also, I noticed that, in India, Mary is used to people doing jobs for her, but now, in England, she must do everything herself. One aspect that makes this book stand out is its character development, which affects Colin and Mary, and that's not an aspect I see in many books. I'm glad I got that when I read this story. But wait! I haven't discussed the most significant section of the book, which is when Mary discovers a garden that the house owner has locked off for ten years after someone died there and when Mary opened it, it was all dead. But somehow, toward the end, the garden, let's say, restored itself, then Colin realised there is no hunchback to worry about then it cuts to the house owner now living in a different location. That ends the book.
Score: Seven points out of ten.
I wanted to read this book for a while, and not long after, I got my hands on this story from one of the two libraries I go to. Again, I didn't know what I would get as I went in, except that the book is a classic. The beginning is not the best, but the rest of the novel is outstanding due to its age; the library I got this from might remove this book. It starts with the main character, Mary Lennox, or Mary for short, and at the beginning of the book, Mary moves to an entirely different house and country; some people say that Mary has behavioural issues, which I could see within the first few chapters. That only improved from there. Mary gets herself used to this new house, Misselthwaite Manor, and I saw her meeting new characters, being unique and having distinct voices. Only a few pages in, Mary meets this other critical character, bedridden Colin, and agitated that he might have a hunchback and die. Also, I noticed that, in India, Mary is used to people doing jobs for her, but now, in England, she must do everything herself. One aspect that makes this book stand out is its character development, which affects Colin and Mary, and that's not an aspect I see in many books. I'm glad I got that when I read this story. But wait! I haven't discussed the most significant section of the book, which is when Mary discovers a garden that the house owner has locked off for ten years after someone died there and when Mary opened it, it was all dead. But somehow, toward the end, the garden, let's say, restored itself, then Colin realised there is no hunchback to worry about then it cuts to the house owner now living in a different location. That ends the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Racial slurs
Minor: Death of parent
theneighborhoodbookwyrm's review against another edition
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Classism, Ableism, Cultural appropriation, Body shaming, Racial slurs, and Colonisation
vildanda's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
2.0
A classic children’s book filled with life lessons regarding, hope, friendship and appreciating the world around us. The growth in the characters was wonderful to see and the positive messages are still valuable today. I would warn readers that this book is a reflection of its time, the way it describes the Indian people is narrow minded and racist. There are definitely better children’s/middle grade books which have the same themes and messages without the unaddressed racism.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
angelofthetardis's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I've seen the film version of this starring Maggie Smith a few times over the years and always thought it was beautifully done, but it only recently dawned on me that, somehow, I've never actually read the source material of this children's classic! And I'm so glad I've taken the time to rectify that.
To get the book/film comparison out the way, while I do love the extra layers the film brings (I recall there being some quite dark moments, Colin's underlying jealousy of Dickon and so on) which make it a more rounded and immersive experience, I actually also love the simplicity of the book! It feels like a stripped back version of the film, with everything being driven by the premise of the Secret Garden. And it doesn't need anything else!
The story is primarily one of growth; the straightforward pleasure of children discovering their own little world and the Magic it can create is wonderful, as is the character development, both of the children and some of the adults! I love the fact that the author has taken the time to illustrate the dark place children and adults can find themselves in, and that it's possible to change your mindset and allow positivity and light back in. Equally, despite the fact this was originally published over 100 years ago, the arguments that fresh air, exercise and taking time in nature as an aid for depression, anxiety and various other health issues (physical and mental) still hold true today.
I'm also a huge fan of the descriptions of the garden itself. Whether or not I'm imagining it in line with the words on the page, the descriptions pull you straight into that little Eden, and it's so easy to see Mary, Colin and Dickon tending to the plants, doing their exercises etc. It really is a beautiful idea for a setting.
Likewise, while I don't usually enjoy books that "spell out" the accent of the person speaking, in this case I actually got into it. For the most part it's nor that difficult to understand, and it adds something more to the character development when first Mary, and subsequently Colin, start adopting the Yorkshire accent! It also helps that the author has included a couple of notes and asides to explain unfamiliar words and phrases, but even they don't interrupt the narrative flow.
The book is a product of its time; while it is far from the worst-aged book I've read, there are moments mentioning race, particularly early on, which don't stand up to scrutiny today. For the most part they are inkeeping with the context of the period, place and time in which the story is set, but there are a couple of occasions where a character's ignorance about other racial backgrounds which feel a bit unnecessary. But that's looking with 21st Century eyes, and I can appreciate that this was "normal" at the time of publication.
Something light and lovely to enjoy of an evening.
To get the book/film comparison out the way, while I do love the extra layers the film brings (I recall there being some quite dark moments, Colin's underlying jealousy of Dickon and so on) which make it a more rounded and immersive experience, I actually also love the simplicity of the book! It feels like a stripped back version of the film, with everything being driven by the premise of the Secret Garden. And it doesn't need anything else!
The story is primarily one of growth; the straightforward pleasure of children discovering their own little world and the Magic it can create is wonderful, as is the character development, both of the children and some of the adults! I love the fact that the author has taken the time to illustrate the dark place children and adults can find themselves in, and that it's possible to change your mindset and allow positivity and light back in. Equally, despite the fact this was originally published over 100 years ago, the arguments that fresh air, exercise and taking time in nature as an aid for depression, anxiety and various other health issues (physical and mental) still hold true today.
I'm also a huge fan of the descriptions of the garden itself. Whether or not I'm imagining it in line with the words on the page, the descriptions pull you straight into that little Eden, and it's so easy to see Mary, Colin and Dickon tending to the plants, doing their exercises etc. It really is a beautiful idea for a setting.
Likewise, while I don't usually enjoy books that "spell out" the accent of the person speaking, in this case I actually got into it. For the most part it's nor that difficult to understand, and it adds something more to the character development when first Mary, and subsequently Colin, start adopting the Yorkshire accent! It also helps that the author has included a couple of notes and asides to explain unfamiliar words and phrases, but even they don't interrupt the narrative flow.
The book is a product of its time; while it is far from the worst-aged book I've read, there are moments mentioning race, particularly early on, which don't stand up to scrutiny today. For the most part they are inkeeping with the context of the period, place and time in which the story is set, but there are a couple of occasions where a character's ignorance about other racial backgrounds which feel a bit unnecessary. But that's looking with 21st Century eyes, and I can appreciate that this was "normal" at the time of publication.
Something light and lovely to enjoy of an evening.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent, Racism, Chronic illness, and Racial slurs
emy33321's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Racism, and Death
akane_shio's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Ableism, Abandonment, Classism, Confinement, Death, Grief, Death of parent, Eating disorder, Medical content, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pandemic/Epidemic, Racism, Sexism, and Terminal illness
xandra_evelyn's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
I had never read the secret garden before, but I absolutely loved it! The themes of people - and things - growing and blosso ing when shown a little bit of love are so appropriate for this day and age.
There are some inappropriate remarks about Indians (from India), and also a casual mention of a wife getting beaten. I hated to see those in an otherwise wonderful story. I know it was fine for the time, but it's hard to see thosw things thrown in so casually.
There are some inappropriate remarks about Indians (from India), and also a casual mention of a wife getting beaten. I hated to see those in an otherwise wonderful story. I know it was fine for the time, but it's hard to see thosw things thrown in so casually.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Child abuse
Minor: Domestic abuse
It's clear that both Mary and Colin were neglected emotionally which constitutes abuse in my mind. Domestic abuse: an older gardener mentions that a villager beat his wife, and nothing is said about this being wrong (in fact there is some victim blaming along with it) Racism: some derogatory things said about Indians