THE SECRET GARDEN by FRANCES HODGSON BURNETT

 SYNOPSIS

I would say that characters in this reading behave in an expected way. However, Mary's, the protagonist's change in behaviour can result unexpected for some readers. At the begining of the novel, Mary is a spoiled and selfish kid. The garden is the main reason of her growth, which leads her to be a nicer and more understanding person. Indeed, by hanging out with Colin, her cousin, discovers how important it is to be a good friend, to care others and to enjoy the beauty of nature. I think that a good friend, two ideas that will continue to be relevant or important in the future are the following ones which we can apply in our lives: 1. The healing power of nature: a crucial characteristic from the book is the ability of nature to heal people. In fact, getting in touch with nature can help us maintain our mental and emotional sides healthy. 2. Personal growth: another important idea showed in the reading would be the fact that everyone has the ability to grow as a better person and leave aside past hurts and take on better atitudes. We can find a passage in page 25 where the author does an effective job describing the setting: "It was the loveliest,most exciting place she had ever seen. There were old rose trees everywhere, and the walls were covered with cumbing roses. [...] It seemed very strange and silent, but she did not feel lonely at all. Then she noticed some small Shoots coming up through the grass. So something was growing in the garden after all !"

PERSONAL OPINION

If I could interview the author of this reading I would ask her what inspired her to write this reading. I assume that the response would be that a personal experience or an experience related to a close friend was the inspiration to write the novel. The way the author describes the scenery and situations is something I particularly liked, since thanks to that reader can create the characters in their imagination with specific characteristics.Hence, I can say the descriptions made the the reading more enjoyable.

REVEW BY EKIÑE CARRION