5 comments about The Secret Garden (A Stepping Stone Book(TM)).

1. I can't believe I missed reading this growing up. My daughter and I just read this together. It was wonderful, and we both loved it. She likes to read books over and over, and I think she will appreciate reading this even more when she gets a little older. She loved the idea of secrets, twins, and the transformation of Mary. Having not had similar experiences to the characters in the books, such as losing close family members, she didn't quite understand the concept of a person having to learn to love and cry.
   
   I loved the symbolism of the young girl blossoming with the garden, the relationship she develops with her cousin, the flower imagery, and the many little details like the birds nesting in the chairs in the run-down part of the manor. The mystery of this story is also wonderful and very suspenseful.
   
   I think many adults who missed reading this growing up would enjoy this book. And I think all children, both boys and girls, should read this at least once. It is an absolute treasure.



2. If there is a main character for the book it is Misselthwaite Manor. If there is a present theme is that we (metaphorically speaking) can all unlock our secret garden and make it grow and make a world which we can invite others into.
   
   The story examines a series of characters from Mary Lennox, Dicken Sowersby, Martha Sowersby and of course Colin Craven as they find their lives revolving around the gardens and the moores of a place located in Yorkshire England as they find 'the magic' of the place managing to provoke life changing lessons for all of them.
   
   Like her other book 'The Little Princess', the book starts off in India, and like 'Little Princess', Mary suffers the death of her parents and finds herself trapped in England but that is where the novels part ways. Instead we are immersed into a world of robins, flowers, gardens and shimmering fog and springtime activities. Mistress Mary is cast among a world she barely understand but must learn to survive in. She unlocks mysteries, gets new friends and changes the life of another -- Colin forever.
   
   Both my daughter and I enjoyed the novel until the very end where it decays a bit into endless exposition as Colin begins his scientific experiments. The ending itself almost leaves open a sequel as several character issues find themselves a bit hanging in a lurch but the focus is not on any one single character -- mistress Mary pretty much drops out of the novel halfway through it. It is on the world around us and how it can change us if we let it. We all have beautiful secret gardens in all of us if we are willing to find them and share them with others and in the world of today, that's a great message.



3. This was my favorite book as a child. Still love it today. MUCH better than any of the movies made!



4. This book is awesome. I loved the story of this two neglected kids that find each other. Both were mighty in their own ways, yet lonely in their soul. That is until she found the secret garden in her cousin's home. In it, it grew more than plants, their lives intwine with that of the flowers and they too bloom at the end. Beautiful story.
   Anna del C.
   Author of "The Elf and the Princess"
   and "Trouble in the Elf City"
   The Elf and The Princess: The Silent Warrior Trilogy - Book One (The Silent Warrior Trilogy)



5. The story of a 'frightful little girl', whose point of view changes as she discovers the secrets of her new surroundings.
   A well-written story at times, but it definitely had its draggy moments. It seemed to promise more than it delivered(I expected more of a fantasy tale, along the lines of 'The Chronicles of Narnia'.)
   The characters were well-developed, though Colin kind of took over what had been 'Mary's story' toward the end.
   Perhaps not the best 'classic children's lit' out there, but it shows how life was at the time it was written, and it's best not to give up on it because it's not entirely 'PC'. Judge for yourself.

No comments about Walking the Cape and Islands: A Comprehensive Guide to the Walking and Hiking Trails of Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket.

No comments about Patriotology Trivia Challenge: New England Patriots Football.

No comments about AMC's Best Backpacking in New England.

2 comments about Hikes in Northern New England (Exploring the Appalachian Trail).

1. A Helpful guide to hikes along the Appalation Trail in Maine. The guide gives general information as well as specific information about the trail. Each hike includes specific places, distances, where to find a lean-to, and water.



2. I am in the process of section hiking the AT, and this book was a great supplement to the regular guides and maps. It was especially helpful in the more difficult sections such as the Mahoosuc Range because it identified the most and least strenous sections - very useful in planning where to stop and how many miles to try in a day. For example, for northbound hikers, the first 9-10 miles from Route 2 north are not too bad, while the rest are a real challenge. Instead of trying for the usual 10 or more miles per day, I knew where to plan for 5-mile days. I was not disappointed - these were TOUGH miles.
   
   In general, the authors' descriptions of difficulty matched my experience on the trail. I am sometimes a little slower than they predict, but then, I am a little older than most of the people on the trail!
   
   The book is NOT a complete guide to the AT sections - almost all of the hikes use other trails to access the AT. But it is still very useful.
   
   In addition, the authors provide lots of human and natural history. Example: Want to know why there is a trail called Six Husbands in the White Mountains? It's because an Amerindian queen decided she wanted that many mates. They do refer to her as "polygamous" rather than "polyandrous," but that'a a quibble.
   
   The maps (topographic and elevation profile) are a helpful reference, and information about road access is also helpful in planning.
   
   Highly recommended!

5 comments about Win it for...: What a World Championship Means to Generations of Red Sox Fans.

1. "Win It For" begins about baseball, but it ends up being much, much more. The many vignettes contained in this book create touching pictures of various people with various stories who all happen to share the love of one team. At times humorous, at times touching to the point of tears, "Win It For" kept me reading - despite the fact that its short-essay format makes it the ideal coffee table book to pick up and put down at will.
   
   I highly recommend "Win It For." I'm a lifelong Red Sox fan who can identify with the passion all the book's contributors have, but I'm also a person who can identify with the various stories that people told.



2. If you are a Bankees/Spankees fan grow-up...When your knicks win something maybe you can write a book, or if the giants win, Jets...Mets....After almost a trillion dollars in the last 5 yrs and no WS rings and the greatest choke ever you should keep reading your Michael Crichton books and keep comments to yourself....By the way Bellhorn looks good with no facial here....crack me up no facial hair but sterioids, drugs, wife beaters, criminals (Howe, Giambi, Strawberry, Scheffield, Gooden) are okay..No facial hair though....You know why all the trees in N.E. point south because NY @#$%^&



3. Moochie is having a good cry right now because the highest paid team in baseball (Yankees) was sent home without a championship win by the Angels for the 2ND TIME in 5 years. Cry me a river.
   
   Wildcard or not, the RedSox tied the Yankees for season wins/loses and won 2/3 games in the final season series against the Yankees. Fact is, the Red Sox were in 1st place through most of the 2005 season. Where were the Yankees up until September?



4. And it's well worth the money. As a lurker (someone who hasn't been approved as a member) of SoSH, I followed the postings on a daily basis, from its inception, to the the last entry. A poignant reminder of how red the Sox Nation bleeds.



5. I waited to buy this book until after the price was at what i thought was an acceptable level: it took until a year and a half after the Series to get there before i jumped. wish i hadn't waited so long.
   
   a terrific read for all real red sox fans, especially those who know there never was a curse (thanks media) except possibly the curse of tom yawkey/bad (racist and inept) ownership.
   
   my dad passed away in april of 2003 of lung cancer. one of the last things i said to him was "are you looking forward to opening day for the sox?", which was just a few days off as he lay wasting away in a manchester hospital bed. his eyes brightened and he said something like "of course!!!!". he lived and died with the boston teams his whole life: the russell celtics (he was one of the few fans who actually would attend games at the garden in that era: attendence sucked during russell's reign), the pats, in all their ineptitude, the bruins, who were always quality entertainment (he disliked sinden just like all true bostonians 'cuz sinden TRADED BOBBY ORR)..(the b's were the best bang for your sports buck in beantown for the 70s and 80's), and of course the red sox. he was there in '75 for games 6 and 7...he was there in 78...i believe he made it to one of the 86 ws games. he was there A LOT and deserved to see it unfold in 2004. well, at least i can take solace that he didn't see 2003: that's something, i suppose.

No comments about Classic Starts: The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (Classic Starts Series).

3 comments about Monadnock: More than a Mountain.

1. This book is great for everything Monadnock. I have lived in view of it for years and didn't know most of the stuff in the book. There are a few parts of the book I don't really care to read, so i just skipped over those and didn't miss out on any back story later on, which was great!



2. Like another reviewer I lived at the base of the mountain growing up and there were many things I wanted to know (where the caves were etc.)but never got to know and this book is answering so many of my questions. I have bought it for my 2 sisters and know that they will enjoy it. I reccommend it to anyone who has climbed this mountain and fell in love.



3. Having read and loved the 1930's Alan Chamberlain book, Annals of the Grand Monadnock, I see Brandon's book as a very welcome new chapter to the history and legend of the mountain. The Chamberlain book, while a great treasure in its own right, is more like a reference book than something you can sit down and read. This book is the best of both worlds -- a reference I will have for years to come, as well as a book that I can sit down and read cover to cover in a week or so.
   
   Having found the Pumpelly Cave about 8 years ago (great adventure - 6 or so trips to the mountain), this book has re-kindled my desire to go explore. I am heading there this weekend to go looking for other fun and obscure places! Happy hiking.
   
   Note: This is the first book I have felt strongly enough to take the time to write a review on. If you are a lover of Monadnock, please buy this book!

No comments about Recommended Country Inns New England, 19th (Recommended Country Inns Series).

No comments about Haunted Vermont: Ghosts and Strange Phenomena of the Green Mountain State (Haunted).