classic book club choice
Isn't this a delightful cover? And what a wonderful story! Mary Lennox, born in India, was "the most disagreeable-looking child ever seen". She had a sour expression and was always ill. She was 9 when her parents died in a cholera outbreak. She was sent to England, to her uncle Archibald Craven, a hunchback who was also sour, who had a son, Colin, who was also sour and very ill- at least everyone thought that he was (including himself). What developed was a grand adventure for Mary, who had been kept in two rooms in a 100 room mansion with only servants bringing food. But that didn't stop her inquiring spirit. She discovered the "Secret Garden" that was kept hidden and locked because Archibald's wife had died there. Her exciting adventures with nature were shared with her young servant Martha and Martha's brother Dickon. And, eventually, she shared the 'wonders of nature' with Colin, who had not been out of his room for years. Thus began a journey of healing for Mary, Colin, and eventually spread to Colin's father, Archibald.
Quotes:
1.) "Perhaps the beginning is just to say nice things are going to happen until you make them happen".
2.) "Thoughts are as powerful as electric batteries".
"The Secret" that they discovered is the power of the mind and the power of nature.
It was interesting to me that, back in 1911, the author used the term "The Secret". It referred to the garden but also the healing they discovered there, by the power of their minds.
It reminded me of the recent book called "The Secret", which is based on the law of attraction, claiming that thoughts can change the world! Of course, this theory is termed 'pseudoscience' because it cannot be proven, but who hasn't experienced how thoughts and words can change the perception of any circumstance?
I was delighted with this book and even more interested when I read about the author. I will write my next blog about....
Frances Hodgson Burnett
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