The Secret Garden

At the beginning of the month I wrote about why I added Read A Classic to my list.  (The Cliff Notes version is that they scare me.)  For one of my May goals, I decided to tackle item #27 on The List.  I read The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. 

I chose this for a few reasons.
1.  I already owned a copy.
2.  It is found in the children's section.
3.  I had seen the movie several times and the musical (yes they made a musical).

Here is a secret...I have owned this book for 22 years and never read it until now.  My Great Aunt Jeannie gave me a copy way back in the 80's!  (OMG I am old.)

If you've never read the book, The Secret Garden is about a girl who moves to live with her uncle after her parents die.  Mary is spoiled and quite contrary.  She meets 2 boys at her new home.  Dickon has a way with animals and nature, and Colin is spoiled, bedridden, and has been told his whole life that he is about to die.  Mary discovers a secret garden that has been locked up for 10 years and she and her friends bring it back to life.  Everyone lives happily ever after.

I liked the book but I didn't love it.  Perhaps it was the written Yorkshire language that got to me, but I think, had I not been familiar with the story, I would have liked it more.  All in all, it was nice to read a classic, accomplish a goal, and finally make use of a thoughtful gift.

Now that I have tackled a classic (however juvenile it may be) I am ready for further adventures into "old" books!