The Secret Garden in The Insecure Writer's Support Group Book Club

Jul 01, 2017 Roland Clarke rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed

I never read 鈥楾he Secret Garden鈥� as a child, nor any of Frances Hodgson Burnett鈥檚 books. Now in my second childhood, this was, therefore, my first encounter and I enjoyed the read even if there are failings from a writer鈥檚 perspective in the 21st century.

However, as I started reading I found the descriptions and characterisations were pulling me into a secret world. The author had a way of using short phrases to capture a sense of the characters and settings. Maybe the technique would be hard to I never read 鈥楾he Secret Garden鈥� as a child, nor any of Frances Hodgson Burnett鈥檚 books. Now in my second childhood, this was, therefore, my first encounter and I enjoyed the read even if there are failings from a writer鈥檚 perspective in the 21st century.

However, as I started reading I found the descriptions and characterisations were pulling me into a secret world. The author had a way of using short phrases to capture a sense of the characters and settings. Maybe the technique would be hard to replicate today, but it worked in the context of the novel and the period in which it is set. This was a time before the First World War for both characters and author. This may explain a certain innocence that two world wars dispelled.

Locked into the words and images, I was drawn deeper into Mary's world and her explorations. Robin was a cute character that felt almost human in his mannerisms. Some might say anthropomorphic - Anthropomorphism is the attribution of human traits, emotions, and intentions to non-human entities 鈥� but for me, the characteristics fitted the bird I knew from growing up in England. He becomes the character that 鈥榰nlocks鈥� the secret garden and the healing that Mary and others need.

When she was in the garden, I could see it and sense it. Some might feel that Dickon is unreal and yet he came alive for me, first in what his sister Martha said about him and then when Mary met him. I鈥檝e been lucky that I have known a few special people like him and the character echoed memories of those that have a rapport with wild animals.

When Mary found the source of the crying, the book added another character and another level. Damaged characters and healing is a theme from the start of the novel, but it鈥檚 the secret garden that鈥檚 the catalyst. I liked all the interactions between the characters, and the use of mirror images that Mary and others must face to grow.

When Spring arrived, there was magic is in the air. That is what makes this book work for me and why I suspect that it still survives alongside other children鈥檚 classics. Frances Hodgson Burnett captures that feeling of magic that in many ways exist in the natural world around us. There are elements that felt wrong to me reading in 2017, but omniscient POV, idealised social situations, and outdated attitudes were, unfortunately, the norm when the novel was written so they didn鈥檛 spoil my enjoyment 鈥� just deducted one star as a writer with a conscience. But that star magically re-appeared.
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Jun 18, 2017 Bish Denham rated it really liked it

Shelves: children-s-lit

When writing a "review" I always take into account when a story was written, particularly a classic like The Secret Garden. Are there a some racial over-tones that by today's standards would be considered in bad taste? Yes. Does the omniscient POV and jumping around from head to head (even the occasional animal's) get (at times) a bit tiring? Yes. Is the poor family of 14 living in a tiny house too saccharinely wonderful and happy and overly romanticized? Yes. Does the story become Colin's with When writing a "review" I always take into account when a story was written, particularly a classic like The Secret Garden. Are there a some racial over-tones that by today's standards would be considered in bad taste? Yes. Does the omniscient POV and jumping around from head to head (even the occasional animal's) get (at times) a bit tiring? Yes. Is the poor family of 14 living in a tiny house too saccharinely wonderful and happy and overly romanticized? Yes. Does the story become Colin's with Mary becoming a secondary character? Yes. Does Martha disappear entirely? Yes. Is Dickon just too good to be true? Yes. Are the tropes predictable? Yes. Are there chapters and pages that could have been cut entirely or greatly edited? Yes.

So what is it about The Secret Garden that it remains worthy of 4 and 5 stars? I first read it when I was 8 or 9 which is almost more years ago than I can count. I remember being enthralled.

I believe what makes it special is the Magic. A gloomy mansion, with gloomy servants, two spoiled, neglected and miserable children, a grouchy gardener, a terribly depressed man and a dead garden are born again, are reborn, are transformed, are brought out of the darkness and into the light.

"It is," as Mary explains to Colin about what the spring is like, "the sun shining on the rain and the rain falling on the sunshine."

Burnett's "Magic" makes the world a beautiful place.

"One of the strange things about living in the world is that it is only now and then one is quite sure one is going to live forever and ever and ever. One knows it sometimes when one gets up at the tender solemn dawn-time and goes out and stands alone and throws one's head far back and looks up and up and watches the pale sky slowly changing and flushing ... and one's heart stands still at the strange unchanging majesty of the rising of the sun... One knows it then for a moment or so. And one knows it sometimes when one stands by oneself in a wood at sunset and the mysterious deep gold stillness slanting through and under the branches seems to be saying slowly again and again something one cannot quite hear, however much one tries. Then sometimes the immense quiet of the dark blue at night with millions of stars waiting and watching makes one sure; and sometimes a sound of far-off music makes it true; and sometimes a look in some one's eyes."

I know I've had those moments.

"I am sure there is Magic in everything," says Colin, "only we have not sense enough to get hold of it and make it do things for us -- like electricity and horses and steam... Magic is always pushing and drawing and making things out of nothing. Everything is made out of Magic, leaves and trees, flowers and birds, badgers and foxes and squirrels and people. So it must be all around us. In this garden -- in all the places... The Magic works best when you work yourself."

The Magic can be called by any name you like, God, Jesus, Buddha... It's all the same.

There is a bit a humor too as when Ben, the grouchy gardener says, "The world's full o' jackasses brayin' an' they never bray nowt but lies."

If you decide to read The Secret Garden, read it with an open heart. Read it for the beauty of the descriptive passages of the moors, the gardens, the rooms within the gloomy mansion, read it for the Magic and maybe the Magic will work it's Magic within you. ...more

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Jul 10, 2017 Roland Clarke rated it it was amazing

Shelves: reviewed

I never read 鈥楾he Secret Garden鈥� as a child, nor any of Frances Hodgson Burnett鈥檚 books. Now in my second childhood, this was, therefore, my first encounter and I enjoyed the read even if there are failings from a writer鈥檚 perspective in the 21st century.

However, as I started reading I found the descriptions and characterisations were pulling me into a secret world. The author had a way of using short phrases to capture a sense of the characters and settings. Maybe the technique would be hard to I never read 鈥楾he Secret Garden鈥� as a child, nor any of Frances Hodgson Burnett鈥檚 books. Now in my second childhood, this was, therefore, my first encounter and I enjoyed the read even if there are failings from a writer鈥檚 perspective in the 21st century.

However, as I started reading I found the descriptions and characterisations were pulling me into a secret world. The author had a way of using short phrases to capture a sense of the characters and settings. Maybe the technique would be hard to replicate today, but it worked in the context of the novel and the period in which it is set. This was a time before the First World War for both characters and author. This may explain a certain innocence that two world wars dispelled.

Locked into the words and images, I was drawn deeper into Mary's world and her explorations. Robin was a cute character that felt almost human in his mannerisms. Some might say anthropomorphic - Anthropomorphism is the attribution of human traits, emotions, and intentions to non-human entities 鈥� but for me, the characteristics fitted the bird I knew from growing up in England. He becomes the character that 鈥榰nlocks鈥� the secret garden and the healing that Mary and others need.

When she was in the garden, I could see it and sense it. Some might feel that Dickon is unreal and yet he came alive for me, first in what his sister Martha said about him and then when Mary met him. I鈥檝e been lucky that I have known a few special people like him and the character echoed memories of those that have a rapport with wild animals.

When Mary found the source of the crying, the book added another character and another level. Damaged characters and healing is a theme from the start of the novel, but it鈥檚 the secret garden that鈥檚 the catalyst. I liked all the interactions between the characters, and the use of mirror images that Mary and others must face to grow.

When Spring arrived, there was magic is in the air. That is what makes this book work for me and why I suspect that it still survives alongside other children鈥檚 classics. Frances Hodgson Burnett captures that feeling of magic that in many ways exist in the natural world around us. There are elements that felt wrong to me reading in 2017, but omniscient POV, idealised social situations, and outdated attitudes were, unfortunately, the norm when the novel was written so they didn鈥檛 spoil my enjoyment 鈥� just deducted one star as a writer with a conscience. But that star magically re-appeared. ...more

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Aug 03, 2012 Toi Thomas rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: rated, children-teen, reviewed, classics

I hadn鈥檛 read The Secret Garden in ages, but when my book club decided to study it for characterization, I was more than please to pick it back up again, so to speak. Often when I鈥檝e gone back to re-read something from my past, I find that I don鈥檛 think it as impressive or enjoyable, but that was not the case with this book. Yes, I see the characters, setting, and plot in an entirely different way, but I still thoroughly enjoyed the read.

Since my book club wanted to focus on characterization, t I hadn鈥檛 read The Secret Garden in ages, but when my book club decided to study it for characterization, I was more than please to pick it back up again, so to speak. Often when I鈥檝e gone back to re-read something from my past, I find that I don鈥檛 think it as impressive or enjoyable, but that was not the case with this book. Yes, I see the characters, setting, and plot in an entirely different way, but I still thoroughly enjoyed the read.

Since my book club wanted to focus on characterization, that鈥檚 what I鈥檒l mention in this review.

At the beginning of the story I felt sorry for Mary. The author paints a perfect picture of neglect. Though Mary鈥檚 parents are wealthy and she鈥檚 cared for, she is sickly looking because no one really shows her love and nurturing. When tragedy makes her an orphan, the saddest part wasn鈥檛 the death of her parents, to me, it was that everyone else had forgotten about her. As much as I felt sorry for Mary, I also found her annoying, but I think all kids have that certain, signature 鈥測outhful鈥� trait that lets them bother you to know end without you ever considering not caring for them. As an adult, I realized that as a child, I didn鈥檛 recognize that Mary鈥檚 parents were a special breed of selfish that you can never have too little of.

I liked how the moors seemed almost like another character in the story. It鈥檚 quite mysterious to the plain and simple Mary who鈥檚 never seen such greenery and fog. Then of course there鈥檚 the garden with all its 鈥渕agic鈥� and wonder. Just like the animals that Dickon cares for, the garden is nursed back to life and then pays it forward (like a character) by being a haven and friend to the children. The transformation of the moor, the garden, and the children all parallel so well that it鈥檚 difficult to separate them as individual events.

There鈥檚 no great mystery as to why the Dickon character is so loved. He鈥檚 an animal charmer and often the center of what the children call magic. Plus, he鈥檚 just likable. As a kid, I think I too thought the magic was real. As an adult, I still wonder about the voices Craven hears that eventually bring him home to his son Colin. While He has neglected Colin in a similar fashion that Mary鈥檚 parents did with her, he鈥檚 not completely absent from his life. He loves him, fearfully and from afar, and most importantly never forgets about him.

I鈥檒l admit that to this day I鈥檓 still not overly fond of the Colin character, but I do appreciate his circumstances a little more. It鈥檚 not his fault he is the way he is at the beginning, but I still feel like he enjoyed it too much. He somehow found power in holding his death over other people鈥檚 heads. I was almost relieved, when re-reading this story, to see Colin grow out of his 鈥測oung raja鈥� persona, but I still feel like he was a little prince at the end.

I could go off about the actions and behaviors of the servants and adult characters in this book, but I鈥檒l simply mention that it reminds me of modern day Disney channel programming where all the kids are smarter and wittier than the adults. Not necessarily good or bad.

All in all, I鈥檇 say The Secret Garden is good at developing characters as the story progresses. Being able to experience an intimate and personal evolution is a powerful technique that leaves characters in your mind long after you鈥檝e finished their story. Highly recommended to fans of the classics, children, and anyone looking to read a good book. ...more

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