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A review by kessler21
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
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.