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bronsonmh's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I loved this illustrated edition of The Secret Garden. I always enjoyed reading the book. I read it first as a kid and then as an adult. I know that it has some problems because of the era the book was written. I can see why some people will have problems with that, but other then that I really enjoyed the book when they were talking about the gardens and how Mary had finally found somewhere she can call home.
kessler21's review against another edition
3.0
This was one of my mother's favorite stories. I remember watching the 1993 movie with her repeatedly, though this is the first time I have read the book.
This is very much a story of the healing power of the outdoors and state of mind. Two ill-tempered and ill-mannered, sickly children form a bond and become better though nature and "magic".
On the surface, the story sounds horrible, but combining it with the beautiful description of gardens and birds and the feeling of spring brings a beauty to the story. The copy I read came with a history of the author and the story in the beginning and it really added to the story; to learn of Burnett's son being very sickly and doctors not being able to heal him until his death.
There are some problems with the story that is a reflection of its time that I feel are easy to overlook, such as the idea of sickly children being unlovable or physical abuse the fault of victim making bad choices. These are more, under the surface ideas but are present in the book.
This is very much a story of the healing power of the outdoors and state of mind. Two ill-tempered and ill-mannered, sickly children form a bond and become better though nature and "magic".
On the surface, the story sounds horrible, but combining it with the beautiful description of gardens and birds and the feeling of spring brings a beauty to the story. The copy I read came with a history of the author and the story in the beginning and it really added to the story; to learn of Burnett's son being very sickly and doctors not being able to heal him until his death.
There are some problems with the story that is a reflection of its time that I feel are easy to overlook, such as the idea of sickly children being unlovable or physical abuse the fault of victim making bad choices. These are more, under the surface ideas but are present in the book.
lunarpearl's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
mariafontl's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
relaxing
slow-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
krennthief's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-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
4.5
This was truly a remarkable book. Of course, due to the era it was written in, there were a lot of elements that aged extremely poorly (period-appropriate Britishisms like Orientalism and other racism, some ableist attitudes), but a lot of these issues can certainly be viewed nowadays as flaws with the characters, as the emotion of the story remains ineffably true and timeless.
This is very much a story about the intense difficulties immense grief can bring about. Neglect, abandonment, depression, and the perpetuation of physically debilitating ideas and conceptions that prevent us from healing. Mary and Colin, the privileged, yet effectively orphaned cousins, needed each other to heal. They needed each other to grow the garden, which for all intents and purposes is reflective of each of the kids' physical and mental state.
I really appreciated how flawed the primary characters were, but I have somewhat complicated feelings on the idyllic, almost magically flawless secondary characters (aside from Colin’s dad, but we’ll get there). On the one hand, Martha and Dicken and her family feel like a weirdly fetishistic manifestation of a variation of the “Magical [Insert Culturally Mysticized Group Here, in this case we’ll go with Poor Servants]” trope, pushing much of Mary and Colin’s character development by flawlessly introducing them to the majesty of nature by being a little mysterious and ambiguously arcane about it. Much of their actions were in service to the privileged characters (after all, it is their job), but that inherent power dynamic made some of their interactions feel unbalanced and cloying. On the other hand, they did often criticize the cousins and put them in their place, engendering a sense of humility and much-needed care and comfort in them to everyone’s benefit. Additionally, considering each child’s circumstance, I would not say that the kind-hearted Poor Folk providing them the tenderness they were deficient of is perplexing—quite the contrary, even! All this to say, Mary and Colin’s privilege is something to consider, but it should not prevent a modern reader (of leftist persuasion!) from understanding and appreciating the pathos of this story.
I had so much more to say but uh?? The app navigated away from the review editing field before I hit save and all of that’s gone!!! Very bad!!!!
Okay, lemme sum it up briefly because I have Taco Bell waiting. Master Craven’s distant and avoidant behavior was bad, but the penultimate chapter from his perspective was instrumental in the emotional payoff when he sees Colin happy and healthy.
Mary taking a backseat after her arc’s resolution felt weird, but I suppose it makes sense considering Colin’s arc beginning almost half a book later, shifting focus to him.
And if I had to use any single word to describe this book, hmm I’m probably gonna have to call it queer.
This is very much a story about the intense difficulties immense grief can bring about. Neglect, abandonment, depression, and the perpetuation of physically debilitating ideas and conceptions that prevent us from healing. Mary and Colin, the privileged, yet effectively orphaned cousins, needed each other to heal. They needed each other to grow the garden, which for all intents and purposes is reflective of each of the kids' physical and mental state.
I really appreciated how flawed the primary characters were, but I have somewhat complicated feelings on the idyllic, almost magically flawless secondary characters (aside from Colin’s dad, but we’ll get there). On the one hand, Martha and Dicken and her family feel like a weirdly fetishistic manifestation of a variation of the “Magical [Insert Culturally Mysticized Group Here, in this case we’ll go with Poor Servants]” trope, pushing much of Mary and Colin’s character development by flawlessly introducing them to the majesty of nature by being a little mysterious and ambiguously arcane about it. Much of their actions were in service to the privileged characters (after all, it is their job), but that inherent power dynamic made some of their interactions feel unbalanced and cloying. On the other hand, they did often criticize the cousins and put them in their place, engendering a sense of humility and much-needed care and comfort in them to everyone’s benefit. Additionally, considering each child’s circumstance, I would not say that the kind-hearted Poor Folk providing them the tenderness they were deficient of is perplexing—quite the contrary, even! All this to say, Mary and Colin’s privilege is something to consider, but it should not prevent a modern reader (of leftist persuasion!) from understanding and appreciating the pathos of this story.
I had so much more to say but uh?? The app navigated away from the review editing field before I hit save and all of that’s gone!!! Very bad!!!!
Okay, lemme sum it up briefly because I have Taco Bell waiting. Master Craven’s distant and avoidant behavior was bad, but the penultimate chapter from his perspective was instrumental in the emotional payoff when he sees Colin happy and healthy.
Mary taking a backseat after her arc’s resolution felt weird, but I suppose it makes sense considering Colin’s arc beginning almost half a book later, shifting focus to him.
And if I had to use any single word to describe this book, hmm I’m probably gonna have to call it queer.
valentina_f's review against another edition
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
4.5
dykish's review against another edition
adventurous
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? Yes
5.0
annalenawrites's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
This was a really lovely slow children's story about the power of friendship, nature and magic/ spirituality.