4.37

4

Aug 08, 2009

I am now confused. I do not know anymore what is my preference when it comes to books.

When I was a kid, I wanted to read only books with pictures like the illustrated "Alice in the Wonderland" or "Rip Van Winkle". Until I read "Silas Marner" with no pictures and I said, wow, books with no pictures are also great!

When I was a teenager, I said I don't like to read books that are hard to understand and read by adults until I read "Lolita" by Vladimir Nabokov and I said, wow, I did not know that I am now confused. I do not know anymore what is my preference when it comes to books.

When I was a kid, I wanted to read only books with pictures like the illustrated "Alice in the Wonderland" or "Rip Van Winkle". Until I read "Silas Marner" with no pictures and I said, wow, books with no pictures are also great!

When I was a teenager, I said I don't like to read books that are hard to understand and read by adults until I read "Lolita" by Vladimir Nabokov and I said, wow, I did not know that there are authors who write this way!

When I was a young man, I said I do not want thick books because I do not have time for them until I read "War and Peace" and "The Fountainhead" and I said, wow, thick books can be really engaging and finishing them can give you a different high!

When I became a husband, my sex life became busy, I stopped heavy reading and concentrated on my job (not on copulating you silly) so I just grabbed some easy-read bestsellers like "The Da Vinci Code", "The Kite Runner" until my daughter came and I had to read some children's books to her and she loved them but I secretly hated them until I read to her "The Little Prince" and said, wow, there are still children's books that can speak to me even if I am a grown up man!

When I became a middle-aged man, I discovered Goodreads. There is an option to screen members who apply to become your friend by asking the applicant a question. I thought then that the choice of genre was important so I chose this question: What is your favorite literary genre?" and from then on, I have been accepting and ignoring invites based on his/her answer. I generally don't accept invites from people who say they don't have any preference. I thought that that kind of answer is wishy-washy or indecisive that reflects his or her not being a serious reader.

Prior to last year, I said, I don't want to read fantasy books. I am too old for that. Until, I read the whole series of J.R.R.Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings and I say, wow, wow, wow, I did not know that I could still be amazed by a fantasy book about wizards, trolls, flying horse, monsters and little creatures!

This book, The Secret Garden is a kind of book that I would not even consider reading. It is neither a 501 nor a 1001 book. The reason why I read this is that it is one of the Top 100 Favorite Books of The Filipino Group here at Goodreads. We challenged ourselves to read all the chosen books so I gave this a try.

Story-wise, it is too sweeet. Saccharine corny. Predictable. Inappropriate for a middle-age man like me. Almost insulting to intelligence: feisty girl turns sweet girl. Sickly unwanted boy turns healthy. Then the boy and father embrace each other and profess love for one another. Hu hu hu. Books can just hit you without any warning. I was sad yet happy when I closed this book this morning. I think I am going crazy reading different books and experience all the different emotions while reading them.

So I don't know anymore. I don't know what I like in books. No more preferences. Ask me now, what is my favorite genre. I don't know.

But, the writing in this book is flawless. I have attended a novel-writing workshop last year and all the ingredients of a good novel are here: well-developed characters, each of them has his/her own distinct voice and transforming towards the end, milieu (the garden) is clearly described and very significant in the story, the internal and external conflicts are arranged like small-to-tall majorettes in a parade, the hooks at the end of each chapter, the climax, the falling action, the denouement ties up the loose ends from the conflicts. The theme is solid. The lessons, though corny, are school-textbook-kind of reminders: that love is important to make this world a better place and nature is beautiful so we have to take care of it.

I guess my realization is this: yes, at some points in our lives, we tend to prefer some literary genres over the others. However, the genre is secondary to the writing. If the writer is good, no matter in which genre the book belongs, he/she should be read.

It is not the genre, it is the writing. ...more

4

Jun 29, 2011

Except for the persistent India bashing, I loved this book. In fact Mistress Mary, I loved the ending so much that I forgive your English superiority complex. Next time you visit here though, allow me to take you on the ride across India, I hope your impression will change

5

Jul 26, 2014

Love love love
Also: counting this as my first BookTubeAThon read even if I read only 2 pages during the actual readathon, I NEED ALL THE BOOKS I CAN GET

5

Jun 25, 2014

“Two worst things as can happen to a child is never to have his own way - or always to have it.”

As a child, I read this book at least four or five times, along with Frances Hodgson Burnett's other childhood stories about Sarah Crewe (Little Princess) and Cedric (Lord Fauntleroy). They represented a rite of passage for me as a person and as a reader. There is magic involved in coming-of-age stories where children strive to find the kind of life they are meant to live, against all odds, and I “Two worst things as can happen to a child is never to have his own way - or always to have it.”

As a child, I read this book at least four or five times, along with Frances Hodgson Burnett's other childhood stories about Sarah Crewe (Little Princess) and Cedric (Lord Fauntleroy). They represented a rite of passage for me as a person and as a reader. There is magic involved in coming-of-age stories where children strive to find the kind of life they are meant to live, against all odds, and I felt deeply satisfied each time I closed one of those books, knowing that the protagonists had (once again) made it through various challenges to live a better, more natural and fulfilled life.

So far, so good.

Some childhood classics are better left alone later, signifying a certain phase that can only be "demystified" by rereading, leading to bitter disappointment and loss of the initial enchantment. I hadn't touched The Secret Garden for decades, as I feared the slightly exaggerated, dramatised plot might put me off, and destroy the magic of my memory.

But then I happened to discuss a phenomenon among students in a wealthy, over-privileged area. Many children and teenagers appear phlegmatic, angry, frustrated, lacking initiative to learn and develop, and they demand unreasonable attention without showing any willingness to commit to tasks themselves. We could not make sense of it, seeing that these students had "everything they needed, and more", and met with no restrictions or boundaries from their parents. Shouldn't they be happy? But they aren't. They are among the most neurotic, anxious children I have ever met.

That's when The Secret Garden came to my mind again, - an early case study of childhood neglect in wealthy environments, in which children's physical and material needs are met, but their psychological development is completely left untouched. In The Secret Garden, it is the poor, but well-raised and deeply loved local boy who shows the spoiled, unhappy upper class children how to take on a responsible role for their life, and how to make active and positive decisions rather than throwing fits to let others step in and take over.

Children need boundaries, and nurturing, and meaningful connections to their surroundings. If they are treated with fear and submission, they will turn into tyrants to see how far they can go before they receive some kind of direct attention, negative or positive. If they are handled with too much severity, they will duck and hide, and develop chameleon-like survival strategies. To create a happy, mature, and responsible human being, a balance between rights and duties must be struck, with limits the child knows it cannot overstep without facing consequences, and with areas of creative experimentation, where future freedom of choice can be safely practised.

Just like a flower in a garden, a child needs both space, time and air, and a lot of nurturing, to blossom. I am grateful for the connection I found between my childhood reading pleasure and the everyday worries I face in my profession. A smile, a word of encouragement, a nudge in the right direction, all the small signs that show students that their teachers believe in their power to achieve great things - that's the magic of everyday life. And giving in to their tantrums is not helping those sensitive plants grow. It is stifling their development.

When they claim they are too "tired" or "bored" to read The Secret Garden, and prefer to watch a movie version (if at all), they are in more dire need of overcoming the obstacle of long-term under-stimulation than the protagonists of the story itself. They need to be trained to love reading just like the two unhappy children in the mansion needed to be trained to show interest and care for the garden.

Responsibility and care are acquired skills! ...more

4

Nov 13, 2012

The Secret Garden, Frances Hodgson Burnett
The Secret Garden is a children's novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett first published as a book in 1911, after a version was published as an American magazine serial beginning in 1910. Set in England, it is one of Burnett's most popular novels and is considered a classic of English children's literature. Several stage and film adaptations have been made.
عنوانها: باغ اسرارآمیز؛ باغ مخفی؛ باغ راز؛ نویسنده: فرانسیس هاجسن برنت؛ تاریخ نخستین خوانش: روز بیست و The Secret Garden, Frances Hodgson Burnett
The Secret Garden is a children's novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett first published as a book in 1911, after a version was published as an American magazine serial beginning in 1910. Set in England, it is one of Burnett's most popular novels and is considered a classic of English children's literature. Several stage and film adaptations have been made.
عنوانها: باغ اسرارآمیز؛ باغ مخفی؛ باغ راز؛ نویسنده: فرانسیس هاجسن برنت؛ تاریخ نخستین خوانش: روز بیست و چهارم ماه ژوئن سال 1994 میلادی
عنوان: باغ اسرارآمیز؛ نویسنده: فرانسیس هاجسن برنت؛ مترجم: شمس الملوک مصاحب؛ تهران، فرانکلین، 1340، در 338 ص؛ موضوع: داستانهای نویسندگان امریکایی - سده 19 م
عنوان: باغ مخفی؛ نویسنده: فرانسیس هاجسن برنت؛ مترجم: نوشین ریشهری؛ تهران، سروش، انتشارات صدا و سیما، 1372، در 203 ص، شابک چاپ سوم در سال 1389: 9789643769185؛
عنوان: باغ مخفی؛ نویسنده: فرانسیس هاجسن برنت؛ مترجم: مهرداد مهدویان؛ تهران، قدیانی، کتابهای بنفشه، 1375، در 280 ص، مصور، رمان نوجوانان، شابک چاپ چهارم در سال 1389: 9789644170485؛
عنوان: باغ مخفی؛ نویسنده: فرانسیس هاجسن برنت؛ مترجم: مریم مفتاحی؛ تهران، آوای کلار، 1392، در 354 ص، شابک: 9786005395969؛
عنوان: باغ مخفی؛ نویسنده: فرانسیس هاجسن برنت؛ تصویرگر: گیلی مارکل؛ مترجم: مهسا طاهریان؛ ویراستار: عزت جلالی؛ تهران، پینه دوز، 1393، در 51 ص، مصور، شابک: 9789642886258؛
عنوان: باغ اسرارآمیز؛ نویسنده: فرانسیس هاجسن برنت؛ مترجم: علی پناهی آذر؛ تهران، همگامان چاپ، 1379، در 248 ص، شابک: 9649194355؛
عنوان: باغ اسرارآمیز؛ نویسنده: فرانسیس هاجسن برنت؛ مترجم: علی پناهی آذر؛ تهران، رود، 1380، در 248 ص، شابک: 9646869262؛
عنوان: باغ اسرارآمیز؛ نویسنده: فرانسیس هاجسن برنت؛ مترجم: شیرین صادقی طاهری؛ قم، نسل بیدار، 1379، در 118 ص، شابک: 9649277102؛
عنوان: باغ راز؛ نویسنده: فرانسیس هاجسن برنت؛ مترجم: شهلا ارژنگ؛ تهران، مرداد، 1382، در 350 ص، شابک: 9647116144؛
دخترکی ده ساله، به نام: «ماری لناکس»؛ پدر و مادر خویش را در هندوستان، از دست می‏دهد. او را نزد عمویش، به «انگلستان» می‏فرستند. عمویش مرد قوزی، و بداخلاقی ست، که در جوانی، زن زیبایش را از دست داده، و از آن پس، در باغ زنش را بسته است. «ماری»، به یاری پسر جوانی به نام: «دیکون»، درِ باغی را که سالهاست نگشوده اند، باز میکند، و سپس پى میبرند، که پسرعموى معلولش «کالین»، در آنسوى باغ زندگى میکند. پاهاى «کالین»، حرکت نمیکنند. اما به یارىهای: «مارى»، و «دیکون»، و وجود باغ، سبب میشوند، تا او تندرستی خویش را، بازیابد. ا. شربیانی ...more

4

Aug 17, 2016

Two sickly, arrogant, lonely, neglected, little children, from wealthy families, both ten, cousins, live continents apart , Mary Lennox, in hot, steamy , colonial India, and Colin Craven, he in rainy, cold, Yorkshire, northern England, a cripple, just before the start of the First World War, they don't even known the other exists, but will soon, both like to show contempt to servants, by yelling at them, while giving orders . Mary is spoiled, unhappy, and angry, her beautiful mother, loves Two sickly, arrogant, lonely, neglected, little children, from wealthy families, both ten, cousins, live continents apart , Mary Lennox, in hot, steamy , colonial India, and Colin Craven, he in rainy, cold, Yorkshire, northern England, a cripple, just before the start of the First World War, they don't even known the other exists, but will soon, both like to show contempt to servants, by yelling at them, while giving orders . Mary is spoiled, unhappy, and angry, her beautiful mother, loves parties, doesn't look kindly at the plain offspring , father too busy also, helping govern the enormous colony, truth be told, they dislike the unlovable girl. Cholera strikes and both parents fall, the little orphan child, is not emotionally attached to either one, and never a single drop of tears is shed...Shipped off, as quickly as possible, by the authorities, to her uncle Archibald Craven, in England, Colin's father, owner of an ancient, family mansion, ( 600 year- old) Misselthwaite Manor, with a hundred, mostly unused rooms, a decade previously, Mr. Craven lost his wife, (Mary and Colin mothers were sisters ) he adored , in an accident, and never recovered emotionally, his face always sad and mournful. The lord of the manor, is a frequent traveler abroad, he must get away from his bedridden, weak boy, it pains him to look at the pitiful sight and mostly does, when Colin is asleep....Mary, after a long, boring, escorted sea voyage, arrives, eventually, and lives alone in an isolated part of the mansion, Martha, a teenager, her servant, the only person she talks to, gives information about a secret garden, Mrs. Medlock, the housekeeper, like everyone else, ignores the unattractive girl, and hides her far from others, just the hired hands are there, after a quick visit to see her strange uncle, he leaves for foreign lands. Poor little Mary, nothing to do, but stare at the furniture... exploring the the grounds of the estate, the nearby, unnatural moors, outside, and somehow, finds the secret garden... later, after hearing again, weird, wailing sounds, coming through the walls, in her room, the rather frightened Mary, gets up in the middle of the night, down the dark, long , sinister corridors, enters an unknown room, and discovers a pathetic, depressed boy, in bed, her cousin Colin, that no one mentioned....They become close friends, after a few minor disagreements, life begins in reality, for the two children, at Mary's urging, she gets Colin outside for fresh air, with the help of a third, Martha's younger brother Dickon, 12, who animals love, a hidden door , opened , showing the eerie, gloomy, mysterious, dying secret garden, locked for ten years, by Mr.Craven, something dreadful occurred there, brave Mary is delighted though, she wants a beautiful, garden, with colorful roses, live trees, growing plants, birds singing, and flying, bees humming, butterflies floating, rabbits jumping, squirrels climbing, crows cawing, brilliant flowers springing up in all sections of the Secret Garden..and people lying on the green grass, sightseeing, looking at the bluest of the blue, the sky above. They have hoes, the children, let the plowing and weeding begin...A children's classic, that can be read and enjoyed by adults, rejuvenation of the human spirit, with a simple act of planting a few seeds in the ground, yet more than just exotic flowers coming above the dirt, the most precious commodity on the Earth may also spring into existence, life for the soul. ...more

5

Nov 23, 2009

I first read this wonderful and evocative absolute and utter gem of a story at around the age of twelve (and it was likely one of the first longer novels I read entirely in English, not counting those books read entirely for school). And I simply adored Frances Hodgson Burnett's The Secret Garden when I read it as a young teenager (or rather, a tween), I continued to love it when I reread it multiple times while at university, and I still massively loved the novel when I reread the story for the I first read this wonderful and evocative absolute and utter gem of a story at around the age of twelve (and it was likely one of the first longer novels I read entirely in English, not counting those books read entirely for school). And I simply adored Frances Hodgson Burnett's The Secret Garden when I read it as a young teenager (or rather, a tween), I continued to love it when I reread it multiple times while at university, and I still massively loved the novel when I reread the story for the Children's Literature Group in 2011 (and I much continue to love it, having reread it at least twice or so since then). And indeed I honestly do think that I have actually enjoyed The Secret Garden even more as an adult than the times I read the novel when I was younger (and that is definitely saying an awful lot). For when I first read The Secret Garden as a young teenager, I was certainly much enchanted by the garden (and of course, the Robin), and really liked and enjoyed reading about the Sowerbys, but I did kind of consider both Mary and Colin as somewhat too spoiled and selfish (I understood their problems and indeed felt empathy, but I also felt more than a bit annoyed at and by them, something that I certainly did not experience as much during my adult rereads). Because as an adult reader, I actually and firmly believe that most, if not even all of both Mary's and Colin's problems and behavioural quirks (be they emotional or physical) were and are the result of parental abandonment and emotional neglect (maybe even abuse). They act and react towards the world the way the world (or at least how most of the world) has always acted and reacted towards them. And without the garden, but also without characters like Martha, Susan and Dickon Sowerby, without Ben Weatherstaff and the Robin, there would never have been any change in and for Mary (or at least, not ever enough change), and by extension, there would never have been any change in and for Colin and his father either.

Now one interesting and thought-provoking fact presented in The Secret Garden is that there actually seems to be a real and almost palpable absence of nurturing father figures throughout (except maybe Dickon, but he is just a boy and in many ways resembles more a Pan-like nature deity, and Ben Weatherstaff really is too old and curmudgeonly to be considered nurturing and fatherly). We do have quite a number of nurturing mother figures portrayed who aid Mary, and later Colin in their recovery (Susan and Martha Sowerby, and even Mary later becomes somewhat of a motherly and nurturing figure towards Colin), but we never see or hear much about a Mr. Sowerby (he is a complete nonentity). And while indeed much is made of the fact that Mary Lennox' mother did not seem to want her child (a fact that is rightfully criticised), that Mr. Lennox did not trouble himself much about his daughter either, while mentioned briefly, is also seemingly accepted as an acceptable societal given. Also that Mr. Craven has spiritually and emotionally totally abandoned Colin, and cannot stand to even see him when he is awake just because his son's eyes supposedly remind him of the boy's dead mother, while this is indeed noted in The Secret Garden, his rather vile and nasty attitude and behaviour towards Colin, towards his son is not (at least in my humble opinion) subject to nearly the same amount of harsh criticisms that Mary's emotional and spiritual abandonment by her mother is. And while I do realise and even understand that the death of Mr. Craven's wife was traumatic for him, both Mr. Carven's and Mrs. Lennox' actions, or rather their lack of love and acceptance towards their children have had the same horrible psychological (and psychosomatic) consequences, basically turning both of them into emotional cripples, and Colin into a hysterical hypochondriac who thinks he has a crooked back.

The Secret Garden clearly and lastingly demonstrates that children (no that anyone) can only show love, can only be lovable, if they have experienced love themselves. In the beginning of the novel, Mary is described as tyrannical, unpleasant, thoroughly "unlovable" and also as somewhat odd. But how can Mary know anything about love, if she has never experienced love? Her parents certainly do not seem to want her, and she has basically been abandoned to the care of servants, who have also been instructed to keep Mary out of the way as much as possible (and in her innermost soul, Mary likely also realises this and much and rightly resents this). Mary's temper tantrums towards her Ayah and other servants, her desire to always get her own way, are not merely Mary imitating the behaviour she witnesses among the ex-pat community in India (although that likely also has a major part to play). I believe that in many ways, the servants also act as representatives of her absent parents, and by lashing out at the servants, Mary is also lashing out at her careless, unloving, absent parents by proxy.

And even when Mary first arrives at Misselthwaite, there is still a real and ever-present danger that she will never be able to change, to emerge out of her shell (or to change enough, for at least in England, Mary has the opportunity to go outside and play/run, which was not possible in India due to the hot, stiflingly humid climate), for many of the inhabitants of the manor, but especially Mrs. Medlock and Mr. Craven regard Mary, or seem to regard Mary the same way that her parents did, either not at all, or as a cumbersome, even loathsome burden. And without Martha, Dickon, and the influence of Martha's mother (Mrs. Sowerby), and of course, Ben Weatherstaff and the Robin (who is a bird, but might just represent the spirit of Colin's deceased mother), not much would likely have ever changed for Mary or within Mary. There might well have been some physical improvement of her health, but her mental health, her soul, would likely have remained for the most part sour and disagreeable and stagnated.

Finally, I do have to admit that I have a bit of a problem with the fact that oh so many of the adults portrayed in The Secret Garden (and even inherently positive individuals like Martha and Susan Sowerby) keep bringing up the fact that Mary's mother was supposedly very physically attractive, and that in many ways, Mary is often judged negatively because she is plain, while her mother was considered very beautiful. However, Mary's mother does not in any way care about or for her daughter, and had, in fact, never wanted a daughter, and in my opinion, her careless, unloving attitude (and that of her husband as well) is reflected in Mary's countenance, her whole being. Thus, even though Mrs. Lennox might have been physically sweet looking, she basically has a careless and unloving and massively sour (read nastily ugly) soul, which is in my opinion reflected in her daughter (both spiritually and physically).

And just to furthermore point out that this here "Norton Critical Edition" of The Secret Garden (which seems to have been published in 2006) is to be most highly recommended, especially for anyone interested in both the novel (the narrative) and its historical contexts, diverse critical voices etc., as it provides not only the text proper (which is simply and utterly magical, of course), but also much supplemental information and materials about Frances Hodgson Burnett and her timeless literary classic. And although I do not think that this edition lists every piece of extant literary criticism on The Secret Garden, there truly and fortunately is a goodly amount presented, as well as a solid, although not extensive selected bibliography (most definitely a more than adequate starting point for serious academic study and research). ...more

5

Nov 02, 2017

This was an absolute joy ride and like my friend Karin put it, it was 'lovely and heartwarming' . This was an absolute joy ride and like my friend Karin put it, it was 'lovely and heartwarming' ????. ...more

5

Aug 22, 2007

I know this book seems out of place among the fare I usually read, but hey, all I can say is that I like what I like. There is some intangible quality to this book that really strikes a chord in me. The whole idea of that sickly child being healed with love, attention, and (forgive me an LDS joke) wholesome recreational activities, just somehow speaks Truth to me. I think this book has strong application to today's problems with the rising generation. I really believe that kids these days are I know this book seems out of place among the fare I usually read, but hey, all I can say is that I like what I like. There is some intangible quality to this book that really strikes a chord in me. The whole idea of that sickly child being healed with love, attention, and (forgive me an LDS joke) wholesome recreational activities, just somehow speaks Truth to me. I think this book has strong application to today's problems with the rising generation. I really believe that kids these days are getting fatter, less healthy, and less disciplined. I think that a good romp on the heather and a breath of fresh air would do kids a lot of good.

On another level, I really believe that some people are only as sick as they think they are. Working in the healthcare field, it's obvious to me that some people find it quite easy to take the role of a victim. Again, this book speaks Truth concerning the value of attitude and perspective in overcoming perceived problems and finding out that they weren't as bad as you thought they were. ...more

5

Jul 14, 2019

Genre: Fiction, Classic.
Publication Date: 1911

"Ofcourse there must be lots of Magic in this world" he said wisely one day "but people don't know what it is."

- Begins as a slow story of an unwanted and ugly child, who grew up to be very disagreeable (Mistress Mary quite Contrary).
- I felt that the curiosity element in this book is the strongest, which makes us curious too.
- Description of the moor, its plants, its breeze, its dampness, its animals and birds is heavenly. (Its saddening to me that Genre: Fiction, Classic.
Publication Date: 1911

"Ofcourse there must be lots of Magic in this world" he said wisely one day "but people don't know what it is."

- Begins as a slow story of an unwanted and ugly child, who grew up to be very disagreeable (Mistress Mary quite Contrary).
- I felt that the curiosity element in this book is the strongest, which makes us curious too.
- Description of the moor, its plants, its breeze, its dampness, its animals and birds is heavenly. (Its saddening to me that owing to urbanization, we are destroying these very forests and moors.)
- The emotions conveyed are strong, and the character building is real nice.
- The friendships! Oh my god! Are so good and simple!
- It made me want to be closer to the nature, that I actually went to a nearby park on reading it.
- Its a neat piece of writing, everything is clearly conveyed, the messages, the emotion, the feel, the characters, the garden.
- The Yorkshire accent does sound fun!
- There is a Magic in this book! ...more

4

Sep 02, 2015

Actual rating 4.5/5 stars.

I have vivid memories of reading this renowned children's classic when I was very young. I can distinctly recall my shock at reading a book with such an initially dislikable protagonist, the likes of which I had not yet discovered during my few years of reading. I was intrigued by the petulant Mary Lennox and was enchanted by her discovery of the secret garden. This, I believe, was my my first introduction to dark and brooding main characters, and probably even honed my Actual rating 4.5/5 stars.

I have vivid memories of reading this renowned children's classic when I was very young. I can distinctly recall my shock at reading a book with such an initially dislikable protagonist, the likes of which I had not yet discovered during my few years of reading. I was intrigued by the petulant Mary Lennox and was enchanted by her discovery of the secret garden. This, I believe, was my my first introduction to dark and brooding main characters, and probably even honed my later love for female Gothic fiction, so I am eternally indebted to it, for that.

It has now been many years since my young repeated readings of this book and I tried to divorce these emotions from my present reading. Whether or not I was successful I could not say, but this still entranced me just as much as it did as a child. This book has always held a nostalgic place in my heart but I now love it even more for the joy it continued to bring to my adult self. ...more

5

Sep 05, 2016

Where, you tend a rose, my lad, a thistle cannot grow.


Originally published in 1911 The Secret Garden is a true children’s classic. One that adults should read as well.

Mary Lennox was born in India. A plain little girl she was not wanted by her mother or father and consequently handed over to the servants to raise. Because her Ayah and the other servants feared her mother would be angry if she was disturbed, Mary was consequently given her own way. She soon became a bossy, nasty, little girl Where, you tend a rose, my lad, a thistle cannot grow.


Originally published in 1911 The Secret Garden is a true children’s  classic.  One that adults should read as well.  

Mary Lennox was born in India.  A plain little girl she was not wanted by her mother or father and consequently handed over to the servants to raise.  Because her Ayah and the other servants feared her mother would be angry if she was disturbed, Mary was consequently given her own way.  She soon became a bossy, nasty, little girl who was frail, yellow and most often angry.  When she was but 10 years of age both her parents and her Ayah succumbed to Cholera, leaving Mary alone with no-one to raise her.

But Mary has an uncle who lives in England on the Yorkshire moors and she soon finds herself at Misselthwaite Manor.  Her Uncle lost his wife ten years ago to a tragic accident and since that time is rarely at the manor, choosing instead a life of solitude while travelling.  So once more Mary is left on her own, only this time without an Ayah.  Through talking and listening to Martha, a young servant at the manor, Mary soon learns about a mysterious secret garden.  A garden behind a locked gate that no-one has opened in ten years.   And what is the source of that plaintive crying that Mary hears from time to time and everyone else pretends they do not.

A secret garden, a hundred room English Manor, the Yorkshire moors, a 12 year old Yorkshire boy bestowed with nigh on magical persuasion over the woodland creatures, a mysterious cry, lessons learned the hard way and the power of positive thinking.  There is plenty to love in this story that can be easily digested by young and old alike.

It is a short read, so take a break, curl up and spend a couple of  hours with this charming children’s classic, guaranteed to fill you with wonder.   ...more

2

Sep 30, 2013

The Secret Garden is a "lovely" story in every sense of the word. Primarily, it's about three kids: Mistress Mary, Dickon, and Master Colin--and how just thinking a little differently can change a person completely.

There's a lot of subtle things Frances Hodgson Burnett does right: The way she relates the Garden to Colin's mother and how that affects his relationship with his father--and how all of these things have made him a horribly spoiled brat. That thinking a little differently, and getting The Secret Garden is a "lovely" story in every sense of the word. Primarily, it's about three kids: Mistress Mary, Dickon, and Master Colin--and how just thinking a little differently can change a person completely.

There's a lot of subtle things Frances Hodgson Burnett does right: The way she relates the Garden to Colin's mother and how that affects his relationship with his father--and how all of these things have made him a horribly spoiled brat. That thinking a little differently, and getting some fresh air, and fixing up a Secret Garden can simultaneously fix up his life and his relationship with his father.

Even though it packs a nice punch and does a lot of little things right, the story overall is a tough read. And it goes beyond just being dated and having awkwardly constructed sentences. It's more than the dialogue and the Yorkshire accent most of the characters speak with that makes what they're trying to say almost impossible to decipher for a modern English speaker.

The pacing is awful. There really isn't any conflict. So it's REALLY hard to get into. And that's sad, because it really is a lovely tale. ...more

5

Jun 07, 2019

One of my most cherished books.

Somewhere around the age of seven or eight I came across a beautiful book in my local library that contained both The Secret Garden and A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett. I instantly latched onto it and completely fell in love with the two stories. Over the years I checked that book out again and again, and eventually got my own copies.

There is something about The Secret Garden that is so hard to capture in a review. From that first reading, and for One of my most cherished books. ????

Somewhere around the age of seven or eight I came across a beautiful book in my local library that contained both The Secret Garden and A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett. I instantly latched onto it and completely fell in love with the two stories. Over the years I checked that book out again and again, and eventually got my own copies.

There is something about The Secret Garden that is so hard to capture in a review. From that first reading, and for every single reread over the years, it has been the perfect book. Everything about it works for me - the characters are among my favourite ever created, especially Dickon, who is so perfect in such a beautifully real way. Both Mary and Colin are in many ways unlikable characters, especially earlier on, yet I still adore them.
They behave appallingly, but they have also been starved of attention, love and discipline. Their journey over the course of the book, and the way they help each other evolve into better people is so wonderful to follow.

And the garden - that magical garden. It always completely sparked my imagination, and something I really noticed during this read was how poignant the descriptions of magic are in this book - the magic of nature and friendship and the way thoughts can have such an impact on us. It could easily sound preachy I suppose, but somehow it doesn't, at least not to me.

I undoubtedly approach this book with an almost overwhelming sense of nostalgia, and am already so firmly in love with it that I cannot really do anything other than admire it. It's a magical book with a magical garden!
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???? (Picture the key more old fashioned and romantic as it fits the story better! And the birds were robins and a crow-- I am limited in my options!????)???? ...more

4

Mar 15, 2015

Book 27/100 of 2015

I had to read this for class, but I'm happy that I did! I read A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett when I was younger and loved it, so I'm pleased that I had the chance to read this for a class.
Definitely recommend this to anyone wanting to read an easy classic as I love her writing.

5

Aug 30, 2017

"There's naught as nice as th' smell o' good clean earth, except th' smell o' fresh growin' things when th' rain falls on 'em. I get out on th' moor many a day when it's rainin' an' I lie under a bush an' listen to th' soft swish o' drops on th' heather..."

I'm such a sucker for dark atmosphere, overly passionate tempers, and a manor on the moors (my enduring love of Wuthering Heights is a testament to this). The Secret Garden was worth the re-read not only for these elements, but also because it "There's naught as nice as th' smell o' good clean earth, except th' smell o' fresh growin' things when th' rain falls on 'em. I get out on th' moor many a day when it's rainin' an' I lie under a bush an' listen to th' soft swish o' drops on th' heather..."

I'm such a sucker for dark atmosphere, overly passionate tempers, and a manor on the moors (my enduring love of Wuthering Heights is a testament to this). The Secret Garden was worth the re-read not only for these elements, but also because it offers intensely touching moments and life lessons for any reader of any age.

"Where you tend a rose, my lad
A thistle cannot grow."

Edit: Other striking similarities to Wuthering Heights include: an orphan from a far-away land, a girl's attention divided between two boys, talk of people being 'lost on the moors' and a 'wutherin'' wind, the theme of parental affection, the use of regional dialect, and a female servant who serves as a bridge between two residences on the moors. ...more

0

Jul 08, 2017

Re-read this, after many years, as part of my children books experiment. Several revelations so far: One, the plot is basically JANE EYRE, with an asexual Rochester who keeps, not his wife, but his son, in the attic. Two, it's surprisingly easy to read the characters of both Mary and Colin as being on the autistic spectrum. (Her rudeness; her insensitivity to others, her obsessiveness: his tantrums; his introspection; his obsessions.) Three; the pantheism and everyday magic of the story is a lot Re-read this, after many years, as part of my children books experiment. Several revelations so far: One, the plot is basically JANE EYRE, with an asexual Rochester who keeps, not his wife, but his son, in the attic. Two, it's surprisingly easy to read the characters of both Mary and Colin as being on the autistic spectrum. (Her rudeness; her insensitivity to others, her obsessiveness: his tantrums; his introspection; his obsessions.) Three; the pantheism and everyday magic of the story is a lot more sophisticated than I realized as a child, as is the depiction of Nature and the landscape - quite Bronte-like in its intensity. Unexpected moment of joy: the many occasions on which young Mary exclaims with delight that she is getting fatter - fat repeatedly held up as a positive - a refreshing change from so many of the dysmorphic, anxious young girls of contemporary fiction. One jarring note to the modern reader: Mary's attitude towards the people of India; an uncomfortable reminder of the casual racism and arrogance of British colonialism. Overall, however, a lovely novel, subtle and captivating, that stands the test of time, and more. ...more

5

Sep 05, 2012

MISTRESS MARY, QUITE CONTRARY. HOW DOES YOUR GARDEN GROW? WITH SILVER BELLS AND COCKLESHELLS. AND MARIGOLDS ALL IN A ROW."

This delightful children's classic, first published in 1911, pulled me right in with the cholera outbreak and continued with a bit of mystery, lots of magic and some pretty important learning experiences for both children and adults alike.

Not surprising this wonderful work is on the "100 Books Everyone Should Read At Least Once" list. Enchanting super-fast read with a beauty

MISTRESS MARY, QUITE CONTRARY. HOW DOES YOUR GARDEN GROW? WITH SILVER BELLS AND COCKLESHELLS. AND MARIGOLDS ALL IN A ROW."

This delightful children's classic, first published in 1911, pulled me right in with the cholera outbreak and continued with a bit of mystery, lots of magic and some pretty important learning experiences for both children and adults alike.

Not surprising this wonderful work is on the "100 Books Everyone Should Read At Least Once" list. Enchanting super-fast read with a beauty of a cover. Loved it!

...more

5

Sep 16, 2016

“The cholera had broken out in its most fatal form and people were dying like flies.”

There, is a cheery start to one of the most optimistic novels I have ever read. Occasionally I pick a Librivox audiobook book based on who the reader is, for this version of The Secret Garden, it is read by Karen Savage, one of the few professional level readers who have graciously narrated entire books for Librivox’s public domain audiobooks.
Listen to a sample and you will understand.

I didn’t really know “The cholera had broken out in its most fatal form and people were dying like flies.”

There, is a cheery start to one of the most optimistic novels I have ever read. Occasionally I pick a Librivox audiobook book based on who the reader is, for this version of The Secret Garden, it is read by Karen Savage, one of the few professional level readers who have graciously narrated entire books for Librivox’s public domain audiobooks.
Listen to a sample and you will understand.

I didn’t really know anything about The Secret Garden, the title did ring a bell but I had no idea what it is about. I was hoping it is a garden where weirdness ensues and corpses pile up, perhaps with a trowel embedded. Alas, no, quite the opposite really. Had I known that it is a children’s book I would not have read it, but by the time shockingly nice things happen I was already under the book’s—and Karen Savage’s—spell. I was thinking “looks like I’m in for a nice time, oh dear”.

Like a lot of people today I am somewhat cynical, I think you would have to be insane to think the world is a particularly nice place to live in at the moment. Still, that is what escapism through fiction is all about. So, OK, I’m game, just let me put these on.


That’s better! In this wonderful world that we live in there are often delightful surprises, discount coupons for our favorite snacks, gift cards, terrific free audiobooks etc. (I’ve run out of examples). The Secret Garden is about that, if you look at life with a kind eye and optimism, you will surprise at what the universe will give back to you (especially if you have the glasses I’m wearing). At the beginning of The Secret Garden ten-year-old Mary Lennox is living with her mother in India, lording over the poor natives. One fine morning she wakes to find everybody in her house either dead from cholera or gone off to look for some places without quite so much cholera in them. Fortunately, some British soldiers pick her up and she is soon transported to her uncle’s isolated mansion called Misselthwaite Manor in Yorkshire, pre-Brexit UK. Little Mary is sometimes called “Mistress Mary Quite Contrary” because in those bygone days the term “pain in the ass” has yet to be coined. She basically hates everybody she comes across, mostly due to parental neglect.
“Perhaps if her mother had carried her pretty face and her pretty manners oftener into the nursery Mary might have learned some pretty ways too”

However, she soon finds the lovely clean air of Yorkshire agrees with her, and a nice maid gives her a skipping rope which is “th' sensiblest toy a child can have”. She soon begins to mellow and even find that some people are not so bad.
“I like you, and you make the fifth person. I never thought I should like five people.”. One day when Mary Less-Contrary-Than-Before is skipping around she finds the eponymous locked up secret garden and a little robin helps her finds the key, because that is what robins do. Mary is enchanted by the neglected garden, she sees all sorts of possibilities in it, perhaps it would be a great place to set up a fight club. Soon she meets young Dickon, the brother of her maid Martha, who knows all about gardening and can charm animals (not so much a talent as a bear necessity), soon after making that acquaintance she discovers a young boy living secretly in Misselthwaite. He is Colin Craven, the son of her uncle who owns the mansion. Colin is in a different league of contrariness from Mary at her worst. When he is not shouting, screaming, or throwing tantrums he sulks quietly to recharge his battery for the next mega-brat session. Fortunately, Mary shows him—with a lot of help from Dickon—the error of his ways and even discovers the error of her own ways. Gardening is the key.


As someone who is not keen on gardening (I just don’t dig ‘em) I had to suspend my disbelief that pottering and frolicking about a garden can bring so many psychological and health benefits. Colin is introduced as an invalid and Mary’s secret garden project turns out to be just what the doctor failed to order. If you are a fan of this book you may get the impression that I am mocking it in my 21st century cynical ways, but really I am not. I am quite charmed by the “magical realism” of this book with its semi-Disneyesque animals psychic-linked to Dikon, subtly supernatural goings on, and kids slowly recovering their health and humanity. What’s not to like? It is all very nice and the ending is very pat (if somewhat abrupt) but I don’t need to be a cynic 24/7.

My favorite aspect of The Secret Garden is what George Eliot describes as “unfolding of the soul” in Silas Marner. It is a wonderful thing when you see it in real life, in fiction—when it is effectively depicted—it can be quite moving and even inspirational. I like how Mary learns to get on and even like people through receiving their kindness and how Colin finds his humanity through making a friend and getting some fresh air. If I was a hypochondriac the idea of gardening would not appeal to me, but I am not a character in this book and I am glad gardening has this therapeutic effect for them.

Finally, I ought to say something about Frances Hodgson Burnett's writing; this is my first experience of it. It is not high literature like Dickens or Austen, but it is a thing of beauty. Deceptively simple yet full of charm, warmth, sincerity and even goodwill to all man. The Yorkshire dialect in some of the dialogue is delightfully written and the meaning is never obscured (some of the harder to guess ones are directly explained). Her style is clearly not for the hardcore cynic, but then if you are a hardcore cynic perhaps you should give it a rest.

Do I recommend this book? Of course I do, either read it or go run about in the sun, it will do you a world of good!
_____________________

Note:
There is an abridged audiobook version* read by nonother than the time traveling and very lovely Jenna Coleman, I have that version too. Our Clara Jen does a very spirited narration, though she does not put Karen Savage in the shade, both of them can stay out in the sun (uh, in a good way. This metaphor is getting out of control!). However, the abridged version is too short for my liking, only about one hour long, so I would only recommend it to Clara lovin' Whovians or Victoria fans.

*A copy of this review has been automatically mirrored there by the GR Gremlin. ...more

2

Apr 04, 2017

This is a lot of people's favourite children's classic, and for that reason I was very intrigued to read it. Having now finished it, I'm convinced that had I grown up with this story as a child, I would've been even more enchanted by it than I was now, reading it for the first time as an adult.
I'm not going to go into any details as to why I didn't absolutely love this book, simply because I didn't feel like anything was necessarily wrong with it. It was a good and sweet story about changes and This is a lot of people's favourite children's classic, and for that reason I was very intrigued to read it. Having now finished it, I'm convinced that had I grown up with this story as a child, I would've been even more enchanted by it than I was now, reading it for the first time as an adult.
I'm not going to go into any details as to why I didn't absolutely love this book, simply because I didn't feel like anything was necessarily wrong with it. It was a good and sweet story about changes and the way you look at things, people and life, and it was endearing to read about the protagonist's journey as well as the secret garden.
I will say, though, that this story reminded me a lot of another book I read recently and didn't really like: "The Forgotten Garden" by Kate Morton. I'm sure Morton was inspired by this classic to write her story, but maybe that connection decresed my reading experience of this one. It's hard to say, but for now let's just say that I liked "The Secret Garden" but it didn't manage to find a place near to my heart, unfortunately. ...more

3

Feb 21, 2008

I guess I didn't miss much by not reading this book as a child. I don't really understand why it became a classic. It starts out interestingly enough with a very gothic setting. A little British girl named Mary survives a cholera epidemic in India and is sent to Yorkshire to live with her distant relatives. The author gives a vivid description of the beauty of the moors and the mysterious mansion that the girl goes to live in. The only other interesting part is really when Mary discovers the boy I guess I didn't miss much by not reading this book as a child. I don't really understand why it became a classic. It starts out interestingly enough with a very gothic setting. A little British girl named Mary survives a cholera epidemic in India and is sent to Yorkshire to live with her distant relatives. The author gives a vivid description of the beauty of the moors and the mysterious mansion that the girl goes to live in. The only other interesting part is really when Mary discovers the boy who she hears crying in the mansion and when she discovers the secret garden. Everything else beyond that (which is most of the book) isn't all that interesting. The author spends many pages explaining how miraculous and magic fresh air is for healing and fattening up the crying boy and the girl who escaped the cholera epidemic in India.

The bits that get old after a while: Oh, look, it's a garden! Look, I can run and play! I'm not a cripple after all! Look at the pretty birds! The garden is alive! Now I have an appetite! Isn't it a magical miracle that I'm having fun playing outside?

I just wasn't really impressed.
...more

5

Dec 07, 2013

I've read and re-read this book so many times, I've lost count.

Still it brings joy to me every single time, still it reminds me of the magic my heart felt when first I read it, that unlimited fountain of happiness that can't stop bubbling.

This is a real treasure, it always brightens up my life, it always reminds me of the power of positive thought and how easy it is to succumb to negativity in this world, no matter your age or gender or religion.

May the magic brighten up your life!

1

Feb 17, 2013

1 star for a classic?
What a scandal.
Well, it is the first classic that I'm giving 1 star for so it’s fairly a big deal.
Although I did not finish this, I already know how the book wraps up. (view spoiler)[Take a guess. Bratty kid. Mean uncle. Sick kid. (hide spoiler)]

Here's the thing:
Classics deal with universal ideas. The Secret Garden deals with kids who have been neglected emotionally by their parents, and even though it's overdone now days, I can understand why it was so popular a century 1 star for a classic?
What a scandal.
Well, it is the first classic that I'm giving 1 star for so it’s fairly a big deal.
Although I did not finish this, I already know how the book wraps up. (view spoiler)[Take a guess. Bratty kid. Mean uncle. Sick kid. (hide spoiler)]

Here's the thing:
Classics deal with universal ideas. The Secret Garden deals with kids who have been neglected emotionally by their parents, and even though it's overdone now days, I can understand why it was so popular a century ago. I already know the character will have some self-realization about the fact that she’s a little bitchy, ungrateful kid (of course, she will still be racist), and she will live happily ever after with her uncle, never attending school because she’s a stupid female. “Oh, she doesn’t need school, she needs to jump more rope!”

I just can't connect with a story about a spoiled little rich kid who finds out that they can actually be nice, but it warms my heart to know everyone is capable of such emotion.

Still, the fact that Mary remains unappreciative to having the opportunity to live and experience two places (India and England) proves the whole book is a lie and that she will always be a bratty kid.

I believe the message of the book was loud and clear: if you grow up in a shitty environment then expect yourself to be shitty too. The message was not: be a nice person even if you're rich.

And if I have to read one more line of Martha talking, I'll lose it. Can the women speak properly? I don't care if it’s some accent. It’s goddamn annoying reading it. I also believe her brother was on meth because he would go around the field saying, “ahahaha canna tha’ can you hears the birds and smell the honey…”

Classic? Please!

EDIT: No need to point out to me that racism was the norm in the early 20th century. I held no illusion that was contrary to that. However, I also believe that it was not necessarily something everyone subscribed to even back then. There are people born far earlier than Frances Hodgeson Burnett and held far more progressive beliefs and were not so easily led by society to subscribe to such notions. What of men such as William Lloyd Garrison and Wendell Phillips after all?

Their code of ethics and morals were above a novel whose main purpose was ironically to teach about morals. This is what essentially annoys about this novel. I don't care for racism in other books. H.P Lovecraft's racism doesn't disturb me, his stories weren't written to teach kids about morality or goodness.

It's the fact that this book is dedicated to correcting the behavior and morals of a child at every instance. However, when the child says, "blacks are not people" and no one bothers to contradict her then whatever message this book was attempting to delivery about morality is lost.

The author is a "product of her time." Give me a break! Sorry, I didn't realize that you had to be born at a particular period of human history to see others of different appearance as human.

...more

4

Jun 25, 2008

I seem to be the only woman I know who didn't read and cherish this book as a child. So I decided to see what all the fuss was about...

It took me a while to get in step with the tone of this book. The beginning was Jane Eyre-lite...Mary is orphaned and sent from India to England to live with her uncle, a stranger to her. The story progresses...and then....Mary's talking to a robin, and he's showing her where buried keys are. At that point, the mood shifted, and I sat back to enjoy not a literary I seem to be the only woman I know who didn't read and cherish this book as a child. So I decided to see what all the fuss was about...

It took me a while to get in step with the tone of this book. The beginning was Jane Eyre-lite...Mary is orphaned and sent from India to England to live with her uncle, a stranger to her. The story progresses...and then....Mary's talking to a robin, and he's showing her where buried keys are. At that point, the mood shifted, and I sat back to enjoy not a literary masterpiece, but a child's fantasy adventure.

I really lost myself in the beauty of the Secret Garden...it's natural beauty and the idea of its powers to cleanse our physical and spiritual sides. One review claimed that re-visiting this made the reader want to "get back into gardening"...and I felt that. It's a gardener's story--a tale for someone who enjoys the process, from planting the seeds to appreciating the beauty of the end product. I loved the vivid descriptions of all the particular plants, trees, and animals...

But if I'm being honest, this book got a bit intense for me. As Colin begins to feel the healing powers of the garden...as he begins to chant and sing his praises to the "magic"...(and on and on about "the magic"), I really began to feel the author's personal philosphies taking over. The introduction suggests that Burnett infused the comfort she found in Christian Science teachings after her son died into this story about the power of mind over body. Hmmmm.

I think what kept me from totally being sold on this novel is that I did try to read it as an adult. I was unable to enjoy the narrative literally and at face-value. I was digging in....always watchful for the deeper meaning. And Burnett's ideas were already at the surface, perhaps a little heavy-handedly at times.

Overall...a nice story, perhaps best enjoyed through the innocent, unaffected eyes of a child. ...more

5

Feb 22, 2019

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett is a lovely book. I had a jolly time reading it, and so will you.

The best part about this book is the detailed description of the childish nature of the protagonists, which is bound to bring a smile on the lips of the readers. No matter how sad you're feeling, or how depressed you are, The Secret Garden is sure to lift your mood. The way the author has described the garden, the creatures, and the nature in general, is heartwarming.

It is a perfect book The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett is a lovely book. I had a jolly time reading it, and so will you.

The best part about this book is the detailed description of the childish nature of the protagonists, which is bound to bring a smile on the lips of the readers. No matter how sad you're feeling, or how depressed you are, The Secret Garden is sure to lift your mood. The way the author has described the garden, the creatures, and the nature in general, is heartwarming.

It is a perfect book for any age group - the child in me would have equally enjoyed it had I read it in my teens. Combined with the message the book provides, it has joined the list of my all-time best books.

It is a book worth having in your collection. Worth a re-read.

Verdict: Highly recommended. ...more