--I always find Mary's unlikable-ness so fascinating--it's rare to have such an unlikable protagonist, I think. I mean, she of course improves quickly, but some of the initial descriptions of her as ugly, as "tyrannical and selfish", as un-affectionate and never caring much for everyone--well, I guess if you start that low down, your can really bring your characters to all sorts of heights.
--The last time I read this, for some reason I felt that as soon as Colin is introduced, Mary completely fades away as a character and Colin takes over. Which this reading showed wasn't really accurate, though Colin is certainly domineering. Even after he goes outside and starts learning to like the garden and to be nice and whatnot, he's so bossy and spoiled. He tells Ben that "this is MY garden!" when Mary is the one who found it and brought it to life and shared it with him. And we don't at all see how Mary feels about that--does she assume it's his right since it's his family's house and was his mother's garden?
--I also like the foreshadowing when you know what's coming--like when Mr Craven's assistant tells Mrs Medlock, "What's expected of you, Mrs Medlock, is that you make sure he's not disturbed and that he doesn't see what he doesn't want to see."
--Don't you wish you had a friend like Dickon? Or at least a baby lamb or fox to play with?
--This whole book is really a testament to the wonders of playing outside! And to the good ol' country living of Martha and Dickon's family--they may be poor, but they're much happier and morally superior to Mr. Craven.
--As an adult, I found all the talk of capital-M Magic to be pretty cloying. And I'm the kind of adult who likes magic.
I agree about Mary not being a very likable character at the beginning. I like it though because she really changes and grows as a character. It's kind of unusual for a children's book to show character development like that.
I love the excitement they all feel about the garden. Every time I get excited for them! There's just something sweet about the simple joy of it.
I totally wish I had a friend like Dickon. I always liked him way more than Colin.
As an adult I find the descriptions and views about India really interesting and kind of disturbing, but as a child I don't even really remember it registering at all.
Yeah, the descriptions of India are very clearly rooted in the colonial viewpoint! Though since they're supposed to be Mary's descriptions some of the time, I wonder if that colors them a little. (Probably not much, though, judging by the things we hear the soldiers who find Mary saying, and by the descriptions of wailing and whatnot.)
I remember watching a movie version of this in elementary school where we see the three children entering the gardens as adults, and Mary is married to one of the boys (but I forget which). I frankly think it's out of character for her to have married either--but which do you think it was? I'm pretty sure it was the 1987 tv-movie version--which apparently features a young Colin Firth as grownup Colin!
I think I remember that movie! If I'm remembering right, Dickon limps from a war injury (so ironic). I want to say she's married to Colin because I think I was annoyed by it. I mean who would pick the whiny Colin over Dickon, who talks to animals! Though if Colin is being played by Colin Firth, I guess I can understand it a little more :)
I was thinking about what you said about Colin taking over once he's introduced. I can kind of see what you mean. I always think of it as being Mary's book, but the whole ending is all about Colin. I mean it makes for a powerful ending, but I kind of would have liked to have heard more of what she was feeling and thinking. Mary really does kind of take a backseat to him.
I always really liked Ben Weatherstaff's character. I'm always a sucker for the cranky old man who really has a heart of gold. That character seems like a staple of children's books. Of course in real life cranky old men often are just cranky old men.
It's interesting to read this book as an adult. I found myself very skeptical that all the servants would be so happy and loyal, though I don't think that ever occurred to me as a kid. You have 12 kids and I'm assuming a dead husband, but you're going to give food to help two spoiled little kids with their playacting? Really?
I see your point on the last thing--though they make sure to say that the kids are smart enough to give Dickon's mom money for the extra food--so they're at least a little aware that she can't just drop everything and give them all her food. The class issues in this book are really weird--the servants in India are presented almost as savages, whereas Martha and Dickon's family is glorified. I disagree that the servants are "happy and loyal"--Martha is a cheerful person who probably likes being able to earn money for her family, but worries about getting into trouble. And Mrs Medlock is fairly surly about everything. I don't think their portrayals are particularly unrealistic (though I've never had servants and wouldn't really know). As for all the stuff w/ Dickon and Martha's mom--I can justify it by saying she's probably curious about Mary and Colin; Martha has told her all about Mary, and she knew Colin's mother and he's been shut away for ten years . . . she's presented as such an ideal mother--and of course she's Dickon's mother, so it makes sense that she'd take some stray kids under her wings. Not for free, though. :)
And I can't believe I forgot to talk about Ben Weatherstaff! Yes, cranky dudes with hearts of gold are the best. I think my favorite example is in Kent Haruf's Plainsong, but Ben is definitely part of the archetype. :)
--I always find Mary's unlikable-ness so fascinating--it's rare to have such an unlikable protagonist, I think. I mean, she of course improves quickly, but some of the initial descriptions of her as ugly, as "tyrannical and selfish", as un-affectionate and never caring much for everyone--well, I guess if you start that low down, your can really bring your characters to all sorts of heights.
ReplyDelete--The last time I read this, for some reason I felt that as soon as Colin is introduced, Mary completely fades away as a character and Colin takes over. Which this reading showed wasn't really accurate, though Colin is certainly domineering. Even after he goes outside and starts learning to like the garden and to be nice and whatnot, he's so bossy and spoiled. He tells Ben that "this is MY garden!" when Mary is the one who found it and brought it to life and shared it with him. And we don't at all see how Mary feels about that--does she assume it's his right since it's his family's house and was his mother's garden?
--I also like the foreshadowing when you know what's coming--like when Mr Craven's assistant tells Mrs Medlock, "What's expected of you, Mrs Medlock, is that you make sure he's not disturbed and that he doesn't see what he doesn't want to see."
--Don't you wish you had a friend like Dickon? Or at least a baby lamb or fox to play with?
--This whole book is really a testament to the wonders of playing outside! And to the good ol' country living of Martha and Dickon's family--they may be poor, but they're much happier and morally superior to Mr. Craven.
--As an adult, I found all the talk of capital-M Magic to be pretty cloying. And I'm the kind of adult who likes magic.
So what struck you about this book?
I agree about Mary not being a very likable character at the beginning. I like it though because she really changes and grows as a character. It's kind of unusual for a children's book to show character development like that.
ReplyDeleteI love the excitement they all feel about the garden. Every time I get excited for them! There's just something sweet about the simple joy of it.
I totally wish I had a friend like Dickon. I always liked him way more than Colin.
As an adult I find the descriptions and views about India really interesting and kind of disturbing, but as a child I don't even really remember it registering at all.
Yeah, the descriptions of India are very clearly rooted in the colonial viewpoint! Though since they're supposed to be Mary's descriptions some of the time, I wonder if that colors them a little. (Probably not much, though, judging by the things we hear the soldiers who find Mary saying, and by the descriptions of wailing and whatnot.)
ReplyDeleteI remember watching a movie version of this in elementary school where we see the three children entering the gardens as adults, and Mary is married to one of the boys (but I forget which). I frankly think it's out of character for her to have married either--but which do you think it was? I'm pretty sure it was the 1987 tv-movie version--which apparently features a young Colin Firth as grownup Colin!
I think I remember that movie! If I'm remembering right, Dickon limps from a war injury (so ironic). I want to say she's married to Colin because I think I was annoyed by it. I mean who would pick the whiny Colin over Dickon, who talks to animals! Though if Colin is being played by Colin Firth, I guess I can understand it a little more :)
ReplyDeleteI was thinking about what you said about Colin taking over once he's introduced. I can kind of see what you mean. I always think of it as being Mary's book, but the whole ending is all about Colin. I mean it makes for a powerful ending, but I kind of would have liked to have heard more of what she was feeling and thinking. Mary really does kind of take a backseat to him.
I always really liked Ben Weatherstaff's character. I'm always a sucker for the cranky old man who really has a heart of gold. That character seems like a staple of children's books. Of course in real life cranky old men often are just cranky old men.
It's interesting to read this book as an adult. I found myself very skeptical that all the servants would be so happy and loyal, though I don't think that ever occurred to me as a kid. You have 12 kids and I'm assuming a dead husband, but you're going to give food to help two spoiled little kids with their playacting? Really?
I see your point on the last thing--though they make sure to say that the kids are smart enough to give Dickon's mom money for the extra food--so they're at least a little aware that she can't just drop everything and give them all her food. The class issues in this book are really weird--the servants in India are presented almost as savages, whereas Martha and Dickon's family is glorified. I disagree that the servants are "happy and loyal"--Martha is a cheerful person who probably likes being able to earn money for her family, but worries about getting into trouble. And Mrs Medlock is fairly surly about everything. I don't think their portrayals are particularly unrealistic (though I've never had servants and wouldn't really know). As for all the stuff w/ Dickon and Martha's mom--I can justify it by saying she's probably curious about Mary and Colin; Martha has told her all about Mary, and she knew Colin's mother and he's been shut away for ten years . . . she's presented as such an ideal mother--and of course she's Dickon's mother, so it makes sense that she'd take some stray kids under her wings. Not for free, though. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd I can't believe I forgot to talk about Ben Weatherstaff! Yes, cranky dudes with hearts of gold are the best. I think my favorite example is in Kent Haruf's Plainsong, but Ben is definitely part of the archetype. :)