I have finally finished reading "The Secret Garden" which I borrowed from the library. I had grown up with the film, probably a long time ago I read the book, but right now it felt like a totally brand new experience.
The film is a childhood favorite, something I couldn't dislike now if I tried, how did the book compare?
So the story of "The Secret Garden" revolves around Mary, a girl born in India to parents who didn't want her. She was spoilt by slaves and ignored for most of her childhood until one day everyone, including her parents, die of cholera. She is shipped off to England, on the Yorkshire moors, to her uncles house. Her uncle is hardly there, most of the rooms are locked and the grown ups have no time for her.
Slowly Mary grows healthier and happier and starts exploring the "secrets" that Mistlethwaite Manor has to offer.
The chef secret being the garden that has been locked for 10 years, locked ever since her uncles wife died in it. It was her garden and he could not bare to see it again.
With her friend Dickon (her maids brother) she makes the garden come alive! And whilst making the garden live she stumbles on another big "secret" the house has been keeping, her cousin Colin. Using the garden she helps make Colin better.
The book ends with Colin's dad finding them in the garden, and finding Colin who was believed to be an invalid and who had spent most of his 10 years lying on a bed, walking and healthy once more.
As I said the film was something I adored during my childhood and I wasn't disappointed in the book, in fact it made me a bit sad that they changed Colin's character a little in the film!
The story is a sweet one, on the surface you'd think you would hate the characters as two of the main characters are spoilt and only really care for themselves most of the time, but it is actually a magical story about how these two children grow into something better. They believe in the garden and the garden helps them become better people.
I loved the characters, Ben Weatherstaff the gardener is a wonderful character. Charmless and lower class he proves to be the best thing to happen to Mary, making her stop and think. He automatically realizes how similar he and Mary are and uses that to mock her, maybe unintentionally, into taking action.
Martha, the maid, is also a wonderful character. At first it is difficult to read the Yorkshire accent, having very little experience of even hearing it I had to read it slowly to get the actual accent and not just read what she was saying. But when you get over that she is such a fun character, she brings her whole family alive not only to Mary but to the reader as well. And her brother Dickon is just as wonderful.
The book thrives on the story of Mary, from the start you feel sorry for her, even though she is an unlikable character, and the story just carries on like that. Using beautiful things to compare to this creature that came from India, using the winter as a metaphor to her growth into a young lady. It really couldn't be any better to prove that a character doesn't have to be likable for people to like them.
The descriptions of the gardens and the actual Garden itself and how it grows leaves you with a wonderful image of what you want it to be like. It makes me wish I could have my own secret garden to make things grow in.
The story is a brilliant read. It flows brilliantly and leaves you wanting more.
The ending to the book is as disappointing as the film, by the time it is finished you've only just seen the changes taking place, you want to find out what happened to Mary, Colin and Dickon when they grew up. What happened after Mary's uncles depression lifted? What became of the garden? What happened to Martha and her family?
I am defiantly going to buy this book when I have spare cash. It is a book I could read a million times without getting bored!
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