The Secret Garden

In the end of the story the author reveals that Colin is not crippled and enjoys walking and singing in the garden with Mary and the others.  Some believe it is magic, some religion, but Mary believes it was the garden.  Since being at the house Mary has grown into a young women and tends to the garden regularly.  As the garden blooms with life so is her own and the manor that was once dreary and lonely is now full of life and love.

The Secret Garden

Mary has now found the key and begins to explore what is inside.  She had never seen much of how the season changes various plant life as she had been in India her whole life.  She now loves how the sun brings light to all the plants and how the air is crisp. 

On one morning she was introduced to a friendly fox and bird, they were Dickon's little pals and apparently were not at all scared of humans.  I love how the author uses vivid language to give the reader exact details of the garden and the animals.  Everytime I read this book I can see myself in that garden and playing with the animals. 

As a matter of fact, growing up I had an aunt that had many secretive areas in her house and yard.  Since this is my favorite book, as a young child I had always imagined that this story could be true.  I would snoop around my aunts house and yard to try and find my own secret garden.  Unfortunately, nothing every turned up but I have always wanted to build my own.

Reading Log:

Sun-45 mins
Mon-20 mins
Tue-0
Wed-0
Thurs-35 mins
Fri-0
Sat-25 mins

The Secret Garden

I have decided to go back to literature that I enjoy.  I have always loved classics and so I found one of my old copies of The Secret Garden.  I have seen the movie over 20 times in several different versions, and have read several versions of the book.  This particular one I am reading is by Frances Hodgson Mitchell and illustrated by Kathy Mitchell.

The main character is a young girl named Mary Lennox who was sent to live with her uncle.  She was odd looking so the manor staff looked at her oddly when she first arrived.  Through all of the versions it states that Mary was born sickly and frail and into a rich family.  She got her way and in turn became a huge brat.

Mary must adjust to a new family, a new culture, even a new way of dressing at the manor and she isn't sure how to react.  One day while strolling outside she notices a locked door and this peaks her interest as she is a nosy little girl.  Her uncle had locked the door of his wifes garden when she passed.  You can tell that finding the key or finding another way into the garden is Mary's new passion.

Evensong

I have completed Evensong and it turned out to be somewhat of an interesting book.  I think moving forward I will stick with what I like; religious books, autobiographies, science related text.  Anything outside of that is very hard for me to continually read, moreless blog about.

In the end of the book Adrian's father is exposed and tries to explain to Adrian the what an whys of his absence.  His father, Tony, had been dressed up as a man of cloth working closely with Adrian.  Once he exposed himself and Adrian was reminded of tidbits from his childhood he felt outraged at the overall betrayal. 

Another turn in the story is when Adrian was caught in a church fire, along with Chase and Tony.  Apparently Chase had started the fire by accident, or not, and Adrian and Tony went in after him.  In the end Adrian pulled through as did the other two and Margaret and Adrian began rekindling their once lost marriage.


Reading Log:

Sun-1 hr
Mon-20 min
Tue-10 min
Wed-0
Thurs-20 min
Fri-0
Sat-0

Evensong

I am in the middle of the book and it all seems like the telling of someones basic conversation.  The couple are attending the wedding that Margaret officiated and she is remembering their own wedding and honeymoon. 

The two have decided to take in a boy from the school and he will start attending public school as well as receive help from her husband, Adrian.  One of the wedding guests tells of her sour times with a teenager in the house and warns Margaret to watch the boy closely.  Margaret doesn't pay much attention to her and moves on to conversations with other guests.

So far in the middle is like I previously stated, an outline of wedding conversations and flashbacks of Margaret and Adrians' past and how they met.

Reading Log:

Sun-1 hour
Mon-0
Tue-30 min
Wed-0
Thurs-0
Fri-25 min
Sat-0

Evensong

I have started a new book called Evensong by bestselling author Gail Godwin.  This book is a New York Times Bestseller and has also received excellent publicity.  The title of the book, Evensong, is defined on the first page.  "Evensong is a worship service said or sung at the onset of evening to mark the close of the day and to compose the mind and renew the spirit for the coming day."

The story is set in the Smoky Mountains at the end of November.  The author uses details to describe the weather in a way that I can feel the cool, clean, air and see the leaves falling quickly.  The story opens with a young women, Margaret, and her husband Adrian.  Adrian and Margaret have been struggling in their marriage and as Adrian leaves to go to work Margaret tells of how much she just wants him to stop and give her a kiss goodbye.  It appears that their marriage has been rocky and both of them are aware of it.  Adrian works at a school where it often calls for him to stay overnight and Margaret appears to be either a priest or chaplin as she is referring to marrying a couple in the town.

I love the setting and tone of this story as I have always wanted to live in a small town in the smokies, I know that is not really what the story is about but the author gives so much detail that it makes the book interesting to read.  From what I can tell the story is going to be a mix of religion, relationships, and old town ideals and issues. 

Reading Log:

Sun-25 mins
Mon-20 mins
Tue-35 mins
Wed-0
Thu-0
Fri-15 mins
Sat-15

The Spiral Staircase

I am finished with The Spiral Staircase, not sure how I feel about it.  I honestly would not be able to give it a fair review so I will just re-cap what happened in the end.

At the end of the book Karen speaks about the publishing of this book and how hard it was for her to write.  Although I was not a fan of the book I admire how the author opened up about her own life and shared her experiences with the public.  Being a nun is such a private matter that many "outsiders" have no idea what really goes on and the emotions those that have taken a vow go through. 

Karen stated that it took her 3 full drafts before publishing and that her first draft was full of anger.  That version did not get published because her agent thought that it was not how she honestly felt but rather pent up aggressions.  Karen stated that this was true and was glad she did not decide to publish that particular version.

The very last sentence of the book is probably my favorite of the whole thing.  Karen states, speak metaphorically of the staircase of life, "And as I go up, step by step, I am turning, again, round and round, apparently covering little ground, but climbing upward, I hope, toward the light.".  This sentence is very uplifting and powerful, beautiful.

Reading Log:

Sun-30 mins
Mon-25 mins
Tue-15 mins
Wed-0
Thurs-30
Friday- 25
Sat-0