AllDebooks's blurb on The Secret Garden 100th Anniversary

The Secret Garden 100th Anniversary | Frances Hodgson Burnett

#Naturalitsy November #Buddyread

Discussion thread - Chapters 1 - 6

Well, I must say rereading this childhood favourite as an adult and parent is a very different experience.

🌷 Are you revisiting the book?
🌷 What are your thoughts on reading as an adult?
🌷 What did you make of Mary?
🌷 Did you struggle with the colonialist attitudes?

All welcome to join in with us. Please let me know if you wish to be added/removed from the taglist.

AllDebooks @wordslinger42 @rockpools @Chrissyreadit @MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm @Blackink_WhitePaper @BookwormAHN @MilesnMelodies @Graywacke @Dilara @Mitch @jenniferw88 @Chelsea.Poole @TheBookHippie 1y

AllDebooks @Riveted_Reader_Melissa @jlhammar @MelisK @LeeRHarry @Soubhiville @wanderinglynn @SamAnne @claudiuo @PageShifter @Addison_Reads @BarkingMadRead @CaitZ @BeckyWithTheGoodBooks @Aimeesue @tdrosebud 1y

AllDebooks @Soscha @ElizaMarie @Larkken @Caterina @sebrittainclark @bnp @daena @TEArificbooks @BookBelle84 @Jess861 @TheKidUpstairs @Hooked_on_books @Julsmarshall @Readergrrl @AmandaBlaze @Cazxxx @Cuilin @Morr_Books 1y

See All 37 Comments

wanderinglynn This is one of my favorite childhood authors. I thought Mary‘s character development was realistic. She went through a lot of trauma at a tender age. It would be hard for anyone to go through what she did. I thought the story provided an interesting snapshot of the times & the perspectives. 1y

Dilara 1 - Yes. I read it in translation as a child and I'm pretty sure I also read it in English later on.
2 - Too early to say. I'll defer my answer until I've read more.
3 - She's described as brattish and completely affectless, which I think is poor characterisation. Children get attached to the person who looks after them, even when they're subaltern. There is no way she wouldn't grieve at losing her ayah. It could have been more nuanced.
1y

AllDebooks @Read4life @vonnie862 @Eyelit @Roary47 @Knitmaths @mjdowens @SaltyMac @Bluebird @yourfavouritemixtape @Deblovestoread @TheSpineView @gossamerchild @julieclair @IndoorDame 1y

vonnie862 I think I read an adaptive children's version of the book when I was little but not the original so this read is a first for me. However, I did watch the 1993 movie constantly back in the days so reading the book is giving me flashbacks. 1y

vonnie862 The colonialism attitude makes sense because of the time period. Mary's character is realistic and I am glad she is showing growth. 1y

Dilara 4 - It's a bit painful to read, but softened by the fact that the author's own progressive (for the times) views are clear, I think. Mary's contempt for the “native servants“ is proof of her lack of feeling. In contrast, the maid comes across as innocent and decent, even though she uses the word “black“ which is a problematic word. And I'm rather pleased about those tracts where “You always read as a black‘s a man an‘ a brother.“ 1y

IndoorDame I‘m revisiting the book and loving it as usual !💚 But looking at the colonialism through adult eyes it‘s actually the author striking me as less progressive than I interpreted as a child. The scene where Mary is so insulted at being assumed she would be black and her rant about attitudes toward race and class in India strike me now as poor characterization. If she was really as ignored and isolated as is described in the intro… 1y

IndoorDame there wouldn‘t have been anyone to ingrate that attitude in her so deeply. She‘d get a little of it from her ayah and the servants themselves because it‘s an inescapable part of their lives, but not the vitriol it‘s written with. That has to come from the author. 1y

Aimeesue This is a re-read for me, but I read it first as an adult, not as a child. Having worked with abused kids over the years, I think Mary‘s development is believable. Many emotionally starved kids grow callous shells and are every bit as bossy and imperious as Mary is. It‘s a defense mechanism and all about controlling what they can because their parents aren‘t doing it for them. The racism was harsh, but felt of its time, as experienced by a child. 1y

TheBookHippie This is a reread. I was given it as a child because I had such a horrific childhood. I did not relate to her at all and actually loathed her which is why 40 years later I‘m reading it again. Funny enough it is my daughter‘s (who is an adult) favorite 😂. So far I don‘t loathe the main character, the racism is of its time, horrific but how it was. Will see how it evolves. 1y

MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm It‘s a reread for me but I never read it as a child so I don‘t have any nostalgia tied up in the story. I remember when I first read it how much Mary reminded me of Edmund from The Chronicles of Narnia. Both are written as beastly children but I identify with them the most because of their youthful hostility. I had a lot of anger as a kid and looking back I can see a lot of that same callous shield that I built around myself reflected in Mary. 1y

Bluebird This is a first read for me. Never saw any of the movies/tv adaptations either. I honestly don‘t know how I missed this one! So glad I am getting to it now. The colonialism/racism is of it‘s time, so it‘s not overly bothersome to me. It‘s certainly easier to take than some of the Agatha Christie I‘ve recently read! 1y

jlhammar Enjoying revisiting this one! I'm listening to it this time around since I'm not sure where my old print copy ended up. I haven't watched the somewhat recent Colin Firth adaptation yet so might try that once we've finished. 1y

AllDebooks These are all great comments and opinions. I'm really struggling to access Litsy atm or post anything. I will catch with them individually asap x 1y

AmandaBlaze This was a reread for me. When I read it as a child I saw her contrariness, but missed the Colonization I now see as an adult. I don‘t know if Mary was raised as seeing Ayah more as a thing than a person, she may not mourn her. Also this may tie in with Mary‘s own feeling of self-worth as she was kept hidden from society and, therefore, inept in its ways. I like how Martha and Dickon are bringing out more emotion in her. 1y

Roary47 @vonnie862 I‘m right there with you I watched the 1993 movie so many times I could probably quote it. Then I read this book out loud to my parents for the much needed practice I needed to improve my reading skills based on my teacher‘s recommendation. I agree with @Dilara as a kid I thought she was a brat, but as an adult I understand more of what she was experiencing and why she was acting this way. 1y

Bookwormjillk I saw the movie as a kid (but was there one before 1993?) I‘m honestly not sure if I read the book. I‘m enjoying it this time around either way. Could you add me to the tag list please. 1y

gossamerchild 1. I read this many times as a kid, and loved it. I think I liked reading about a child lonelier than me, even though I had a solid, healthy childhood 😁. 2. The colonialism and racism are definitely cringe and hard to ignore as an adult, but I'm pretty sure I didn't notice it as much as a child. 3. For some reason I remember being really annoyed by the Mistress Mary scene 😂😂. No idea, 1y

gossamerchild .... Why, though. Good grief, I need to stop hitting enter! 4. I don't remember what 4 was 😂😂 1y

AllDebooks @wanderinglynn mine too. Reading it as an adult is a shock. The level of neglect, Mary experiences is heartbreaking. 'There's rumoured to be a child" broke me. 1y

AllDebooks @Dilara considering her ayah was her only caregiver, she would have been bereft. I think the emotional neglect will have severely affected her development. 1y

AllDebooks @IndoorDame that's a fair point about an ingrained attitude. It's possibility she overheard colonial and imperialism talk from house guests. Mary was very much invisibke 1y

AllDebooks @Aimeesue yes, this part made me think of the Ceaucescu orphans https://www.apa.org/monitor/2014/06/neglect 1y

AllDebooks @TheBookHippie I didn't like Mary as a child but I don't think I fully understood the severity of her upbringing. I read a lot of similar books as a child. Being parented by a servant seemed to be the norm in upper classes. 1y

AllDebooks @MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm ❤️ 1y

AllDebooks @Bluebird It's not pleasant to read but I agree, it is quite mild compared to other texts of the time 1y

AllDebooks @jlhammar wait, there's a Colin Firth film. Oh my 😍 1y

AllDebooks @AmandaBlaze ❤️ I love how she blossoms alongside other children 1y

AllDebooks @Roary47 love this x 1y

AllDebooks @Bookwormjillk glad you're joining us x 1y

AllDebooks @gossamerchild ❤️😅 1y

Aimeesue @AllDebooks Just heartbreaking. It makes me so sad. And angry at the adults. 1y

Deblovestoread I think my first reading of this was mid 90‘s when my daughter read it but I remember very few details of the story. I am enjoying it. Mary‘s “contrariness” was a bit of a puzzle to me as it seemed she wasn‘t around her parents much and that‘s where she would have learned the demanding attitude. The racism is difficult to read but accurate for the time. Sorry I‘m behind! (edited) 1y

AllDebooks @Deblovestoread no pressure, just enjoy it. I loved revisiting it with my children. I think Mary is projecting attitudes she witnessed in general, as you say, she rarely spent time with her parents. 1y

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