The Secret Garden

I mentioned in my last post that I had a couple of books to catch all of you up on from my recent reads. My kids have a PD day from school today, and the weather is far too cold to be appealing. In other words? It's the perfect day to get all caught up.. and... perhaps get deeper into my current read! 

I may have mentioned previously that I have a strong desire to read more classic literature. (Don't ask me why! I don't know anyone else who really delves into the classics. I suppose it's because they simply must be classics for a reason, right!?) My dear Grandmother sends me cheques for my birthday and Christmas each year; and each year I tend to spend that money on books for myself. (Not something I do very often, despite being a big reader.) This year, I had had my eye on a few Paper Mill Classics; and finally bought them with said birthday/Christmas money (along with a couple of historical fiction picks!). One of these beautiful books was The Secret Garden.  I must admit, this is a story I have adored since I saw the film back in the early nineties! I can vividly remember borrowing a lovely copy from a beloved cousin when I was a child.. which I clearly never actually read. (I had a discussion with my Dad the other day about how when I was a child, classics seemed too hard to read, due to the language they used. As an adult who even loves to watch period pieces, this is no longer a problem!) When this vibrant edition arrived, I was determined it would be my first classic of 2022. (Though a re-read of Little Women was also a contender.)

As an adult, I felt a certain magic to this story. The magic of nature and children. Of being social and evolving. I suppose it made me feel... alive in a way that has been somewhat difficult since the beginning of this long pandemic life we are living.

When we first meet Mary; she is an incredibly spoiled child living in India with neglectful parents and no real guiding hand. When her parents (and all of the servants) die in a chlorea outbreak, Mary is shipped off to her Uncle's estate near the moors in England. Misselthwaite Manor is a large and strange house, with a hundred unused rooms. She is waited upon, but not in the manner in which is accustomed. She finds a confidante in Martha, the young and spirited girl who brings her meals. Martha tells her all about her brother (Dickon) and about a garden that has been locked up since the death of her Uncle's wife. 

What could appeal more to a child - even a stubborn one - than a secret? Mary becomes completely enthralled with the idea of the secret garden, and is eager to discover the key and doorway that will eventually change her view of the world. (Along with the help of the kindhearted and affable Dickon.)

There is more than one secret in this enchanting tome. If you haven't discovered it for yourself, I won't spoil it. I will say that this book made me smile, and it made me chuckle. Being the parent of one incredibly stubborn child; I could picture my youngest as Mary, stamping her foot, and thinking she'll always get her way. (Rest assured, she doesn't.)

If classics aren't your thing? Don't fret. Not every book is for every person. Keep on reading!