The Secret Garden by Frances Burnett Hodgson

SUMMARY: Mary Lennox is sullen, bossy and autocratic. Her cousin, Colin, is equally overbearing. But slowly, fresh air, restoring a garden, and friendship softens them both.

REVIEW: I somehow missed reading this one as a child, so figured it was high time to read this classic. I probably would have enjoyed reading this one more when a child than I did as an adult.

RATING: 3 out of 5           PAGES: 242

Heidi by Joanna Syri

Heidi was written in 1880, and is still one of the most beloved of children's books. She is five years old when we meet her in the pages of this book. She is an orphan, and her aunt, who has been caring for her, is taking her to live with her grandfather in the Swiss Alps. Grandfather, or Alm-Uncle, has a reputation as a hostile man. He lives in a hut, isolated high on a mountain away from people.

However, Heidi is an irrepressibly joyous child, who loves grandfather, the mountain, the goats, and Peter, the young boy who tends the goats. When she meets Peter's mother and grandmother, she loves them too, and everyone comes to love Heidi, especially Alm-Uncle.

Then one day Heidi's aunt returns to take her off to Frankfurt to be the companion of an invalid girl, Clara. Heidi gets into many scraps, because she has no frame of reference for living in a large, rich household, or in a city. She loves Clara,  Clara's father and grandmother, but is so homesick that she becomes ill. The doctor tells the family that she must go home. Heidi returns to the mountain, and the relationships she established lead to a happy ending for everyone involved.


222 pages
Copyright 1880

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

I believe I was in 4th or 5th grade when I read 'Little Women'. I loved it then. I related to Jo, who was a tomboy, as was I, and read voraciously, as did I.  Last year, I 'took one for the team' by reading Neil Gaiman books, even though I don't care for fantasy. This year, I decided to do my share by reading books written over a hundred years ago by going back and re-reading some classics. I started with 'Little Women'.

I confess, I  wasn't as enthralled by it as I was when I was 10, but I still enjoyed it. It was like visiting an  old friend, one that I was happy to re-connect to. The March sisters, Meg, Jo,  Beth and Amy have been beloved by girls everywhere for many generations.

It was published in two volumes in 1868 and 1869.  It follows the four girls from childhood to womanhood, and may been based on the author and her three sisters. The story begins during the Civil War with the girls and their Mother trying to keep the home fires burning while their Father is away acting as a chaplain with the Union army.  The family used to be wealthy, but Father had lost his money several years before, and the girls now consider themselves poor, as do their neighbors and friends. They do have a servant, Hannah, though, so the term is relative, and Mother tries to teach them that  money is not what makes a person wealthy. 

This is truly 'gentle and nostalgic fiction', reflecting a simpler life which I'm sure many of us yearn for at times. Entertainment consisted of writing and acting out plays, going on outings with friends, reading, and the occasional party. The girls fight, make up, befriend their neighbors, sew, garden, go for walks and do other 'old-fashioned' activities. I'm sure it would seem tame to today's girls, but I bet they would really like the book if they gave it a chance.


Published in 1868-69
560 pages

A Good American by Alex George

An immigrant saga, telling the family history of the Meisenheimers of Hanover, Germany who fled to America in 1904 when Jette fell in love with Frederick and became pregnant. They end up settling in Beatrice Missouri, a small town near Rocheport. The story continues through the decades, as told by their grandson, James, who is trying to make sense of his life and the colorful characters in his family.  At times contrived, unbelievable, melodramatic, funny and still very true to small town life and its mores.  The book has been popular with book clubs in Missouri.   381 pages.   

Gift of the Magi by O. Henry

As my classic this month, I chose The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry. The story centers around a poor, young couple who struggle to find the perfect Christmas gift for each other. 

A group of us were discussing the author and I was disappointed to learn the younger people present had not heard of O. Henry and his surprise endings. If you are not familiar with O. Henry and received an eReader for Christmas, there are several titles of his available through Project Gutenberg. Don't let this author disappear!18 pages.

Amethyst by Lauraine Snelling

Amethyst Colleen O'Shaunasy is sent to Dakotah Territory to locate and return her nephew, Joel, for her obnoxious father. Once there it becomes apparent that Joel prefers ranch life to city life. Amethyst starts to see the appeal, and decides to stay herself. As the worst blizzard ever ensues, the families of Dakotah Territory struggle to survive. Book four in the Dakota Treasures series.320 pages.

Opal by Lauraine Snelling

Opal Torvald is settling into life in the Dakotah Territory just fine. Even though it is hard work, ranching is her passion. Then one day while swimming, she is confronted by a drifter who wants to do her harm. She is saved by her friend, Atticus, who later is beaten for his chivalry. Now Opal has lost her feeling of security and suffers greatly from guilt.

In the meantime, Reverend Jacob Chandler discovers a son, Joel, he never knew he had. They head to the Dakotah Territory to start a new life. Jacob thinks he has left all ties to the church behind, but God continues to guide him into new opportunities. This is book three in the Dakotah Treasures series. 348 pages.