The Bookshelf discussion

I love Frances Hodgson Burnett. I love that her stories are realistic in the sense that life has this underlying sorrow to it, but it's hopeful and fun. I don't know If you've ever read A Little Princess, but the main character, Sara Crewe, does not have the same character depth as Mary Lennox, I feel like. Mary is such a brat, but you can see where that stems from; you're annoyed by her behavior, but you have empathy for her because she's a lonely girl that wants to be loved just like everyone else.
How fitting is it that we're reading about the time of the Cholera outbreak during COVID-19?
I'm actually glad we chose this book; her stories are comforting to me. Also with it being spring, I love the nature aspect of this book. I think there's a lot of symbolism in this book such as the secret garden itself I think is symbolic of Mr. Craven. I think just as he has his entire house locked up, he also has himself locked up and it'll be interesting to witness his progression through this book. I remember when I was really little (forever ago and yet I remember this) the bird that Mary becomes friends with, I always thought of it as Mrs. Craven. Some people believe that birds can be messengers and not just in the carrier pigeon sense. Birds in mythology are known to guide souls to their afterlife.

I just finished reading the first 5 chapters. By reading it I'm catching a lot more detail than I did from listening to the audiobook. I love the imagery in the story & the author describes Mary's personality as unlikeable but still vulnerable. The setting is so nice to envision because Mary has some company but she is otherwise left to her own devices which leaves so much open for her character growth. I love that this is set in a garden, too. I'm excited to read on and pick up on all the symbolism here, how the relationships develop, and how Mary's viewpoint of others shifts over time.

I'm glad you are liking it. I watched the movie when I was a kid, but reading the book as an adult is a completely new and different experience. I really like what you said about Mary's character growth. I do think it is an interesting aspect of Mary's character that she is coming from a very spoiled and naive background surrounded by people and yet has no emotional attachment to anyone. Now she's in an environment where she has to entertain herself and is very often left alone and it's at this point that she starts making meaningful attachments to others. I very much like the character depth Frances Hodgson Burnett gave to Mary Lennox as opposed to Sara Crew from A Little Princess. I also really love the other characters Burnett created in this story; they give so much more life to the book. I really like Martha and I think she acts as a good foil to Mary.

It's interesting how the first character to bring Mary a little out of her usual shell was a bird. I love that. It reminds me of how animals brought me joy during a difficult childhood. In this way I can relate to Mary. I don't think I've read A Little Princess but saw the movie. Martha is wonderful. Mary's reaction to everyone, especially Martha, is funny and enjoyable to read.