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inkdrinkers's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
It feels unfair for me to rip into this book because it's so beloved by so many people. But I hated it.
The Secret Garden is mildly better than A Little Princess, but I still had such a hard time getting through the writing and the plot. I did enjoy Mary, but the fact she was almost fully abandoned as the main character made me so mad. Martha was abandoned as well. The characters had no consistency in their appearances in the story and it just seemed like halfway through the story changed focus.
The end chapter made me irrationally angry as well. The last page didn't feel satisfying at all, it just felt like the story suddenly ended with no wrap up to anything else.
Overall I didn't like this. It took me an entire month to read and now I think I have a chip on my shoulder. Maybe the movie is better.
One star for the appearance of a baby fox and one star for a pony named Jump.
The Secret Garden is mildly better than A Little Princess, but I still had such a hard time getting through the writing and the plot. I did enjoy Mary, but the fact she was almost fully abandoned as the main character made me so mad. Martha was abandoned as well. The characters had no consistency in their appearances in the story and it just seemed like halfway through the story changed focus.
The end chapter made me irrationally angry as well. The last page didn't feel satisfying at all, it just felt like the story suddenly ended with no wrap up to anything else.
Overall I didn't like this. It took me an entire month to read and now I think I have a chip on my shoulder. Maybe the movie is better.
One star for the appearance of a baby fox and one star for a pony named Jump.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Medical content, and Death of parent
Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, and Classism
Child abuse is fairly consistent throughout. There's also a startling passage where a character states that a woman caused herself to be beaten by her husband because she said the wrong thing to him. Racism and classicism abound.nicolewhopickedthisbook's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
slow-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
3.0
It was so hard to get through this book. If I didn’t have the audiobook, I don’t think I would have. It’s slow and dry as really all classics are but also these characters are racist as heck! Holy moly!
I did enjoy that these kids came together as a found family and became well adjusted because they were spoiled brats in the beginning.
The only nice and likeable character in this book is Dickon.
I did enjoy that these kids came together as a found family and became well adjusted because they were spoiled brats in the beginning.
The only nice and likeable character in this book is Dickon.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Abandonment
chloereadds's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Confinement, Racism, Medical content, Grief, and Death of parent
hannahelizza556's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
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? Yes
3.75
This was a lovely book. The author describes the secret garden in great detail. Th characters also become more likeable as the story progressed. The size of the writing in this book is quite hard to read and I struggled with some of the Yorkshire accent in this but otherwise it was a lovely book. I really liked the characters by the end, even Mary who is a self centred girl in the opening.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Body shaming, Death, Drug use, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship
laurenleigh's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
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
5.0
I love getting to read the classics I missed as a kid. I certainly appreciate them now on a different level than I might have as a child! The Secret Garden was so sweet and heartwarming. It felt very soothing to listen to, and Carrie Hope Fletcher did a fantastic job with all the Yorkshire accents. I’d argue that healing is the main focus of this novel: recovering from past trauma, growing out of bad habits, and physical improvement too. Watching these characters heal especially through the wonder of nature was so sweet. There’s also a great focus on the power of words and thoughts, and how purposeful positive thinking can have a truly magical affect. I found a delightful illustrated edition with a map of the garden and the grounds of Misselthwaite Manor, and I can’t wait to gift it to a young cousin this Christmas!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Medical content and Death of parent
andrewhatesham's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Medical content, and Death of parent