This is certainly one of the best-known classic children's books, but I only read it few weeks ago, even though I'd often heard about the book and its heroine's "Glad Game".
Now that I have read it for myself I can say that it left me with mixed feelings:
Some elements are beautiful, timeless, funny. Others owe a lot to the time and place the book was written in and appeal a lot less to a reader a century later.
For those of you who have never read the book for yourselves, here is a quick summary:
Pollyanna is an orphan girl who comes to live with her strict and uptight aunt who only takes her in out of a sense of duty.
By her sunny character and unusual ways, the girl befriends many people and eventually thaws the seemingly icy heart of her aunt, thoroughly changing the lives of those she is in closest contact with.
Eleanor H. Porter wrote "Pollyanna" in 1913. It was so successful that sequels were soon produced - only of them by the original author.
Mrs. Porter was born in 1868 and died at 51. From what I gather about her on wikipedia, she was married but had no children. Although "Pollyanna" is her most famous work, she wrote many more novels, both for children and adults.
Overall, I did enjoy reading this book, in spite of Pollyanna getting somewhat on my nerves at times.
Most of what happened was not surprising, but it made a welcome distraction after a long day at the office on the train home. (You guessed it - this was a free ebook from Amazon's kindle shop.)
Now that I have read it for myself I can say that it left me with mixed feelings:
Some elements are beautiful, timeless, funny. Others owe a lot to the time and place the book was written in and appeal a lot less to a reader a century later.
For those of you who have never read the book for yourselves, here is a quick summary:
Pollyanna is an orphan girl who comes to live with her strict and uptight aunt who only takes her in out of a sense of duty.
By her sunny character and unusual ways, the girl befriends many people and eventually thaws the seemingly icy heart of her aunt, thoroughly changing the lives of those she is in closest contact with.
Eleanor H. Porter wrote "Pollyanna" in 1913. It was so successful that sequels were soon produced - only of them by the original author.
Mrs. Porter was born in 1868 and died at 51. From what I gather about her on wikipedia, she was married but had no children. Although "Pollyanna" is her most famous work, she wrote many more novels, both for children and adults.
Overall, I did enjoy reading this book, in spite of Pollyanna getting somewhat on my nerves at times.
Most of what happened was not surprising, but it made a welcome distraction after a long day at the office on the train home. (You guessed it - this was a free ebook from Amazon's kindle shop.)
I had this book in print (in Swedish) back in my childhood/teens, but unlike for example Anne of Green Gables, or Young Women, it never ended up among my favourites that I kept through the years (and also keep rereading). (Even back in my teens I too had the "mixed feelings"...) I have it on Kindle now though, and also the film from 2003 on DVD (gift from a friend). ;)
ReplyDeleteWhen I was looking for a picture of the book cover to use here, I came across many pictures from the various Pollyanna films that have been made, the first one being a silent movie from the 1920s. Some of the pictures of later versions made me cringe - Pollyanna looked completely manic in them.
DeleteInteresting review and take on the book, thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome, Blogoratti!
DeletePollyanna, like Understood Betsy, is a good read although a bit dated.
ReplyDeleteI don't mind the "dated" bit, I often read books that are way older than Pollyanna, but it just somehow didn't "do" it for me. Never heard of Understood Betsy!
DeleteI didn't like this book very much when I read it years ago but it might have been because I had been called a "Pollyanna" in my life!
ReplyDelete"The Secret Garden", that is much more my cup of tea, and the little girl's character that is transformed due to nature and the caring people around her, much more for me, besides it is set in England! :-)
...and in Yorkshire, to be precise ;-)
DeleteWhen doing research on the author for this review, I found information about the influence the book has had. Accusing people of pollyannaism because of their optimistic and positive approach was one of them.
I love the Black Forest. My bil had friends there and Paul, Joshi and I often hiked there. I laughed when I saw you were reading Pollyanna because my oldest granddaughter just told me she was hoping to have a copy of this for Christmas. She recently saw the movie and really liked it.
ReplyDeleteIt is beautiful, isn't it! I wonder whether you hiked on some of the very same paths we were on.
DeleteThat's funny about your granddaughter and Pollyanna!
My constant use of the phrase 'playing The Glad Game' comes, as you will know of course, from Pollyanna. I think it is a wonderfully uplifting story. I wasn't terribly impressed by the Hayley Mills 1960 version but the BBC TV Movie of 2003 was, to me, the absolute essence of the story.
ReplyDeleteLooks like we are online and on my blog at the same time right now :-)
DeleteYes, I was indeed thinking of you mentioning The Glad Game when I was reading the book! I've not seen any of the films but I think the 1960s version would be just a little too much for me, too.
I saw the Haley Mills Pollyanna movie and LOVED it as a child and LOVE it today (just watched it about a month ago.) But I haven't read the book. I know people who use "Pollyanna" as an intended insult: "Oh don't be such a Pollyanna!" they say. I wish more of the world would have more of a Pollyanna spirit...
ReplyDeleteHello Sketchbook Wandering, if I am not mistaken, this is your first comment on my blog - thank you, and welcome!
DeleteA lot of people I know would seriously benefit from some Pollyanna spirit.