The Secret Garden « Novel Ideas

The Turn of the Screw

Posted on October 23, 2017

Time for a spoooooky Halloween double feature from Novel Ideas! This week we discussed The Turn of the Screw by Henry James, a classic ghost novel from the turn of the (20th) century. In this episode, we talk about 19th century framing devices, horror tropes, class, and classic versus modern audience expectations. We also cover literary conspiracy theories, strange employment conditions, modern misinterpretations of Victorian prose, and why Miles is kind of a dick.

The music bump is “Conspiracy Theory” by Mike Tomaro, as performed by the Capitol Bones.

Join us next time for The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson.

115 – The Turn of the Screw – Do You Have Anything to Say About Flora

Our recommendation:

We didn’t find this book to be scary. Or arguably all that entertaining. It will probably work best for you if you are into the history of the horror/ghost/haunting genre or a huge Henry James fan.

Ben: 4/10. I didn’t find it to be so bad that it was upsetting, I just didn’t really enjoy any part of reading it.

Gabs: 5/10. But only if you read into it more malevolently.

This entry was posted in Episodes and tagged (not) haunted homes, 19th century framing devices, 3rd hand retellings, annoying literary boy children, atmosphere, class, classic v. modern horror, conspiracy, creepy children trope, dick in attitude, Dracula, expelled from school, extreme reactions, Frankenstein, ghosts in broad daylight, HALLOWEEN SPECIAL, haunted (blank) stories, Henry James, horror tropes, Jane Eyre, madness, meaningful deaths, modern misunderstandings of Victorian prose, murderous governess, nameless protagonist, not scary enough, other classic horror, pedophile theory, Peter Quint is (not?) a monster, possession, potty mouths, scary not scary, strange employment conditions, strange leaps of logic, superior interpretations, The Mezzotint, The Secret Garden, The Turn of the Screw, unreliable narrator, WE GET POLITICAL.

The Secret Garden

Posted on March 16, 2016

Welcome to the March edition of Novel Ideas, featuring The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. In this episode we talk about the genre of the children’s novel, colonialism, subversions, and–need I say it?–feminism. We also discuss why Colin is kind of a dick, plot related illnesses, failed attempts at comic relief, and children’s dialogue. Gabs even did some research about the background of this novel. I know, try not to lose faith in us. We hope by the time you get to the end of this one, you’ve learned the secret behind the magic.

The music bump is Don Byron’s version of “The Royal Garden Blues.”

103 – The Secret Garden – Dickon Around the Garden

Our ratings:

An easy classic and an early entry in the non-religious children’s book canon, it’s probably worth your time.

Ben: 7/10. Isn’t bad, definitely won’t change your life. Another classic that is easy to discuss.

Gabs: 8/10. Minus 2 points for Colin.

This entry was posted in Episodes and tagged "girls book", a salty retelling, children's dialogue, children's novel, christian science, class, Colin is the patriarchy, colonialism, Dickon around the garden, disagreeable children, failed comic relief, feminism, Frances Hodgson Burnett, Gothic subversion, heavy breathing, magical negro trope, plot illness, race, romanticism, sad stupid hunchback, straight talk, the moors, the robin is the best, The Secret Garden, touch of research, Weatherstaff the Green, white people are the worst, wry narration.