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The Secret Garden

Frances Hodgson Burnett

Start date: February 1, 2021

Finish date: February 28, 2021

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Discussion leader: Hana

Why we're reading this: Revisit the Shelves February 2021

New School Classic Group Read, October 2014
[close] Revisit the Shelves February 2021

New School Classic Group Read, October 2014

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What Members Thought

Jul 07, 2016 Kelly_Hunsaker_reads ... rated it it was amazing

Shelves: classics, canadian, historical-fiction, favorites, childrens, coming-of-age, read-in-2022

Somehow I made it to the age of 53 without ever reading this lovely story. I am so glad that I finally made the time! It is a beautiful & magical story that shouldn't be reserved only for children.

Yes, the book is a bit too predictable and perfect. The snippy and sassy little girl softens; the sickly and angry young boy grows healthy, strong and forgiving; the lonely man learns to love again. Normally I do not like characters who are too good, storylines that are too predictable, or resolutions ...more

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May 02, 2016 Julie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: kids-books, fin-2023

: I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH. Seriously, it's just so damn good. I must have read it a dozen times as a little girl but hadn't read it in at least 45 years. I'm rereading favorite childhood books of mine and I was nervous that this might not live up to my memory of it. Never fear! It's just as moving, as beautiful as I remembered it to be. There is a reason this book is on so many 'to read" lists. It is 100% worth reading.

I remember identifying so strongly with Mary. It was interesting reading it : I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH. Seriously, it's just so damn good. I must have read it a dozen times as a little girl but hadn't read it in at least 45 years. I'm rereading favorite childhood books of mine and I was nervous that this might not live up to my memory of it. Never fear! It's just as moving, as beautiful as I remembered it to be. There is a reason this book is on so many 'to read" lists. It is 100% worth reading.

I remember identifying so strongly with Mary. It was interesting reading it as an adult, thinking about what spoke to me as an 8 year old. Her sense of isolation, of feeling ignored and unloved and ugly, boy did I relate. Not that I was unloved but it was the 1970s and parents back then did not parent the way people do now. Adults were busy doing their adult things, not doing enrichment activities with their children. It was similar with Mary in the book. All the adults in the story were like, ok you've got healthy food and a nice suite of rooms and some new clothes, go do something and leave us alone. So she did. She played outside all day.

All the gardening bits about nature and beauty were simply lovely to read. I wonder if Burnett was a gardener? Her descriptions of the beauty of the Yorkshire Moors reminded me of the James Herriot All Creatures Great and Small books. A similar "Isn't this part of the world so lovely" vibe.

I recall as a child wishing there was a sequel and wondering what happened to Mary, Colin and Dickon when they grew up. I assumed back then that Mary would grow up and marry Dickon because, duh, he is amazing. Colin was her first cousin so the possibility of them marrying didn't even cross my mind. Now as an adult, knowing more about class issues and the Edwardian era of Britain (the book was published in 1911 so I assume it's set around then) I realize Dickon and Mary would never have married. Also, I kept thinking about the upcoming WWI and the worldwide flu pandemic of 1919. Ugh, there was such a high death rate among the young men of this generation. Mary, Colin and Dickon were part of what has been deemed The Lost Generation. Did the boys die and Mary become a flapper who drank too much? I hope not. This is the downside of rereading favorite children's books lol. Seeing the story through adult eyes.

Still, it brought me great joy rereading this. It's as wonderful now to me as adult as it was when I was 8. ...more

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Jan 14, 2018 Alisha Marie rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: children-s-books, classics, books-i-own-that-i-ve-read, two-star-books, read-in-2018

I honestly expected to love The Secret Garden because I absolutely loved and adored A Little Princess. And to be honest, The Secret Garden does start out somewhat strong, but unfortunately, it doesn't finish that way.

I really liked Mary's character development. I liked the 'horrid little rich girl turns into a nice person' arc. In fact, if the book focused more on Mary, I might not have been so bored. I just did not find Colin nor Dickon interesting and the garden aspect of it never really encha ...more

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