Summer is basically over, so I am going to name this my last summer novel. There were a bunch on the list that I never got around to, but fortunately I am still alive so I can read more and more!
The Secret Garden is an old friend of mine. I first read it when I was maybe 8 or 9. It is a kids' book but it was written in a beautiful plain style which I love. There are very few big words or complex sentences, but the ideas are still very skillfully and delicately explained. The parallel structure of the two main story lines (the growth of the garden and the development of character in Mary) are so neatly coupled as to be nearly allegorical.
I am not sure that the author would have said directly that gardens make people better people, although it seems like she is saying that at several points in the book. She certainly thought gardens were worthwhile. I think what she did mean by this story was that caring about other people makes people happier. Caring about other things is a step towards caring about other people. I think that the main theme in this book is overcoming selfishness through taking an interesting in things outside of oneself.
This book always makes me feel better about nature and things. It is a good one.
