At this time of year, my thoughts always turn to Frances Hodgson Burnett’s The Secret Garden. My own garden – complete with an ivy-swathed stone wall and a friendly robin – is busy waking up, just like the garden in the story. I’ve been looking forward to E being old enough to enjoy this story, and this year she has been especially interested in gardening. So – tempted by the beautiful, Inga Moore-illustrated edition which I requested for Mother’s Day (thanks, Bookshelfdad!) – I’ve decided to read it to her. She’s not quite old enough to cope with FHB’s prose; I know she would just skim over words and phrases she can’t instantly recognise, and that would include all the Yorkshire dialect. She’d probably get the gist of the story, but miss so much along the way. Besides, I don’t often get to read to her nowadays, and there’s a real joy in sharing a much-loved book.
We’ve been managing a chapter or two most days this last week. Some parts keep her attention better than others: it’s quite a slow, downbeat opening, but I think the novelty of the experience was keeping her attention at that point. One week in, and we’re up to Mary showing the garden to Dickon. We’ve not met Colin yet, who I now realise I have rather a fondness for. Bless FHB for ending most chapters on a bit of a cliffhanger.
One thing which I’ve really noticed reading aloud is the number of mentions of ‘blacks’. I can accept that FHB is simply reflecting the modes of speech from the time: usually these references are made by Martha the chambermaid, who is clearly described as someone with little education or knowledge of the world. I’ve obviously not noticed these on previous (silent) readings, but one of the things about reading out loud is that it obliges you to consider every word.
So what should a parent do? Read it with the usual level of emphasis, stop and explain, as if it were a tricky bit to understand? Mumble it quickly so the child doesn’t notice? Or edit it out of the text as you go, and hope that your (literate) child doesn’t spot the change?
I confess that I’ve done all three at different points in the text.
It’s funny because I was just thinking about this book. I do have a time every year when I think about this book: the time that is just before spring bursts out in full bloom (a.k.a the March Rainy Season). I remember it was almost like a ritual for me to sit down by a rain-splattered window to read this book. As for your last question, I think you should just read it, and if your daughter asks you about it, just explain that the story took place in a time where people thought differently and didn’t know much about the world. I don’t think Martha herself meant anything other then curiosity about a different culture.
Hi there
thanks for your comment and for waking my blog up! I so want to carry on with this blog – and find the time to do so, especially as it’s a year coming up to its original launch. E and I have read a lot more ‘big books’ together over the year, and I think I’d now find it easier to tackle the explanations – certainly rather than editing.
Do come and visit again!
Hello Bookshelfmum,
How nice to stumble across your blog. I just posted about The Secret Garden, and wordpress shot me a link to yours. My daughter and I are just finishing up the book, and I’m sure we’ll be reading it again! I’m loving rediscovering all these old gems with her.
A mom in Canada.
kristendenhartog.wordpress.com