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katykelly's review against another edition
4.0
This is one of those books that you need to read as a child to experience what the author intends.
I am sure I'd have loved it if I'd read it at 10. A family in need of money given the chance to travel to Los Angeles, away from rationing and towards adventures in dancing, radio and Hollywood. It's wish-fulfilment at its peak.
Eldest child Rachel wants to be a dancer, and meets Posy Fossil from previous book Ballet Shoes (to the delight of readers I would guess). Youngest Tim is talented on the piano and finds his own niche in their new home. It is middle child Jane, envious of her siblings' abilities and opportunities who is given the biggest chance of all...
The story goes in the way you'd expect it, with just a few curveballs (the reason for Mr Winter's inability to work seems quite shocking, the relationship between Jane and Maurice not ending as you'd think). It's quite formulaic, plot wise, but enjoyable for a reader, as you yearn for certain things to happen, and lo and behold...
As an adult, The Painted Garden is sweet, cloyingly so at times, the children actually pretty annoying. As a parent I'd be talking to my child if they spoke in the way the girls sometimes do. The entitlement they seem to feel that they deserve certain things really don't sit well with me.
The awful stereotyping of Italian and 'coloured' accents also was though I suppose of its time, something I'd alter if I read it to my child. And I would also have to discuss the probably-inappropriate present of a cigarette case to an eight-year-old too! I know it would have not been unusual then.
Overall, a great children's classic read and a trip down Of-Its-Time Lane for an adult reader.
I am sure I'd have loved it if I'd read it at 10. A family in need of money given the chance to travel to Los Angeles, away from rationing and towards adventures in dancing, radio and Hollywood. It's wish-fulfilment at its peak.
Eldest child Rachel wants to be a dancer, and meets Posy Fossil from previous book Ballet Shoes (to the delight of readers I would guess). Youngest Tim is talented on the piano and finds his own niche in their new home. It is middle child Jane, envious of her siblings' abilities and opportunities who is given the biggest chance of all...
The story goes in the way you'd expect it, with just a few curveballs (the reason for Mr Winter's inability to work seems quite shocking, the relationship between Jane and Maurice not ending as you'd think). It's quite formulaic, plot wise, but enjoyable for a reader, as you yearn for certain things to happen, and lo and behold...
As an adult, The Painted Garden is sweet, cloyingly so at times, the children actually pretty annoying. As a parent I'd be talking to my child if they spoke in the way the girls sometimes do. The entitlement they seem to feel that they deserve certain things really don't sit well with me.
The awful stereotyping of Italian and 'coloured' accents also was though I suppose of its time, something I'd alter if I read it to my child. And I would also have to discuss the probably-inappropriate present of a cigarette case to an eight-year-old too! I know it would have not been unusual then.
Overall, a great children's classic read and a trip down Of-Its-Time Lane for an adult reader.
paperairplanes's review against another edition
3.0
I was pleased to finally track down a copy of this book, as it's been out of print for awhile. It's not my favorite book of the Shoes series, but it's ok. I really enjoyed getting an update on the Posy girls and the kids feel like real children, I really liked Jane because she felt like a real child with all her grumpiness and self importance. One word of warning, there's some period typical racism against black people in the book (ie written in dialect, pictures drawn with exaggerated features, etc). While I know this was typical for the time period, it was disappointing to see.
missmary98's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting and very enjoyable. Now I really want to read Ballet Shoes.
clare__emm's review against another edition
4.0
I know this as The Painted Garden, and my copy was my mothers.
caroparr's review against another edition
2.0
I must have read this before, since my copy is an ex-library copy from the Bethlehem Public Library, with Bethlehem crossed out and Parr written in in a childish hand. Anyway, it's not the best of the shoe books, although it's very satisfying when the apparently least-talented child does make a success in the end. But the problem is what we used to call "casual racism." Setting the book in America prompts Streatfeild to write a "Mammy" part for one of the servants, and it's toe-curling. The Italian accents are no better. Go read [b:Ballet Shoes|10444|Ballet Shoes|Noel Streatfeild|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388180362l/10444._SX50_.jpg|1505465] instead, it's perfect!
finesilkflower's review against another edition
2.0
Noel Streatfeild is already subverting her own genre of books about kids who are precociously passionate about a career in the arts. The main character here is the untalented middle child in a family of accomplished arts kids. When the Winter family is invited to stay with a relative in sunny California to treat their dad's depression, ballerina Rachel and musical prodigy Tim waste no time in finding lessons and gigs in their new location. Meanwhile Jane has no such talent. However, it is she who is 'discovered' by a movie producer while attempting to gain his business for her dog-walking business. Jane's parents reluctantly allow her to perform in a movie even though they think she will hate it, and she does.
This is the only 'Shoes' book to my knowledge that portrays a particular artistic endeavor as an irritating grind, instead of as a magical experience. It's therefore one of the least satisfying and fun to read. It has its moments, but it's not one I can see myself reading over and over.
In the end, there's a very Streatfeildian lesson about doing things for the right reasons: Jane isn't passionate about movies, she just wants to stick it to her siblings, so of course she doesn't enjoy it; she gets into the 'flow' state only when doing what she loves, which is working with animals. I appreciate that Jane is an example of someone whose passion is not artistic, but is still treated with respect. (A key moment: when asked if he's proud of his sister for acting in a movie, Tim says, "I would be more proud of her if she were going to walk fifty dogs, as she said she wanted to.") I like the lesson that it doesn't matter what you do as long as you do something that you care about and that you love. However, I do wonder when we're all supposed to find these great driving life goals. When do we get to try new things? Jane's her entire family has written off her acting career before it begins. They all think if she was going to be an actress, she'd know by now. She is ten!
Lingering Questions: What's the deal with Peaseblossom? I initially thought that the description of the mother's friend coming to live with the family was a euphemism for lesbians, but then it turned out the dad was around, too. Are they a polyamorous triad? If not, why would she consent to become the unpaid housekeeper for her friend's family? Why is she the one whose catchphrase is "Up the Winters!" whenever anyone in the family does something good, when she herself is not a Winter? It just seems sad.
What are movie shoes?! (I know, I know; the 'shoes' title was forced on later, to make all the books into a series. "The Painted Garden" was a better title, describing the set of the "Secret Garden" movie. There are no shoes in the book.)
This is the only 'Shoes' book to my knowledge that portrays a particular artistic endeavor as an irritating grind, instead of as a magical experience. It's therefore one of the least satisfying and fun to read. It has its moments, but it's not one I can see myself reading over and over.
In the end, there's a very Streatfeildian lesson about doing things for the right reasons: Jane isn't passionate about movies, she just wants to stick it to her siblings, so of course she doesn't enjoy it; she gets into the 'flow' state only when doing what she loves, which is working with animals. I appreciate that Jane is an example of someone whose passion is not artistic, but is still treated with respect. (A key moment: when asked if he's proud of his sister for acting in a movie, Tim says, "I would be more proud of her if she were going to walk fifty dogs, as she said she wanted to.") I like the lesson that it doesn't matter what you do as long as you do something that you care about and that you love. However, I do wonder when we're all supposed to find these great driving life goals. When do we get to try new things? Jane's her entire family has written off her acting career before it begins. They all think if she was going to be an actress, she'd know by now. She is ten!
Lingering Questions: What's the deal with Peaseblossom? I initially thought that the description of the mother's friend coming to live with the family was a euphemism for lesbians, but then it turned out the dad was around, too. Are they a polyamorous triad? If not, why would she consent to become the unpaid housekeeper for her friend's family? Why is she the one whose catchphrase is "Up the Winters!" whenever anyone in the family does something good, when she herself is not a Winter? It just seems sad.
What are movie shoes?! (I know, I know; the 'shoes' title was forced on later, to make all the books into a series. "The Painted Garden" was a better title, describing the set of the "Secret Garden" movie. There are no shoes in the book.)
verityw's review against another edition
3.0
An interesting children’s book. The three children all have their moments of unlikability and acting spoilt or jealous and that makes the trip to california really quite interesting to read about.
shonaholmes's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
3.75
I would have loved this if I'd read it when I was the right age! They're all such real children, even if they are pretty talented
rcsreads's review against another edition
1.0
Speaking of white privilege...
.
We just finished this. The Winter family are complete brats, even the adults!
.
In the beginning it's about their dad's depression after he accidentally killed a child but he is instantly cured with ten minutes of sunshine. They go to stay with their aunt Cora in California and Rachel moans about her lack of access to ballet lessons and Tim is appalled that his aunt doesn't own a piano. I mean seriously, what kind of person doesn't own a piano! Then there's Jane who is The Plain One and thus useless. Streatfield's obsession with the attractiveness of the children is weird.
.
Jane goes to yell at a strange man for not looking after his dog properly, as you do, and he employs her to play Mary in a movie adaptation of The Secret Garden. The entire family is astounded because she's The Plain One and thus can't do anything! I think Jane's story is supposed to mirror that of Mary but she doesn't really improve enough.
.
Their mother also has a weird friend called Peaseblossom who basically raises her children for her. She says "Up the Winter's" a lot and I presume her and the mum are having a secret lesbian romance.
.
In America we meet a bunch of wealthy white people, a few black people who are obviously servants and the most offensively stereotyped, Catholic, Italian couple of all time!
.
If you want to read a book where all the main characters need a slap then this is the book for you!
.
We just finished this. The Winter family are complete brats, even the adults!
.
In the beginning it's about their dad's depression after he accidentally killed a child but he is instantly cured with ten minutes of sunshine. They go to stay with their aunt Cora in California and Rachel moans about her lack of access to ballet lessons and Tim is appalled that his aunt doesn't own a piano. I mean seriously, what kind of person doesn't own a piano! Then there's Jane who is The Plain One and thus useless. Streatfield's obsession with the attractiveness of the children is weird.
.
Jane goes to yell at a strange man for not looking after his dog properly, as you do, and he employs her to play Mary in a movie adaptation of The Secret Garden. The entire family is astounded because she's The Plain One and thus can't do anything! I think Jane's story is supposed to mirror that of Mary but she doesn't really improve enough.
.
Their mother also has a weird friend called Peaseblossom who basically raises her children for her. She says "Up the Winter's" a lot and I presume her and the mum are having a secret lesbian romance.
.
In America we meet a bunch of wealthy white people, a few black people who are obviously servants and the most offensively stereotyped, Catholic, Italian couple of all time!
.
If you want to read a book where all the main characters need a slap then this is the book for you!
katekat's review against another edition
5.0
I have always loved Noel Streatfeild's books and as a child I got my library to ILL them for me or hunted through second hand book stores to find all of them. She tells the perfect "girls stories". I was always able to find one character in each book that was my favorite. They definitely stand up to re-reads.