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Pollyanna Review

Call me an overly-sensitive sap, but I think Pollyanna is a wonderful story. While it may not be "great literature," its optimistic, silver-lining-on-every-cloud message is inspiring, valuable, and timeless. Pollyanna demonstrates the "proactivity" described in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: namely that you have the power and the freedom to choose your response in any given situation. As human beings, we have the ability to choose to not be controlled by our circumstances; happiness is a choice. Granted, constant happiness is not realistic, and Pollyanna experiences challenges that would bring anyone down, and we see her humanity when she loses her ability to see the silver lining. I can see how cynical people would complain about how unrealistic the book is, but it is obviously about an EXCEPTIONAL person, someone we should all strive to emulate; and these exceptional people who can choose, maybe not happiness in every circumstance, but at least to find meaning and a reason and drive to keep living DO EXIST (see the extreme example of Victor Frankl's experience in concentration camps).

I pity the kids whose negative reviews tell me that they've lost their childhood innocence. Maybe the ends are too neatly tied in the end and maybe the characters are cliche, but its sweetness and innocence and the overall inspiring message of optimism make Pollyanna worth reading - and aren't those neatly tied happy endings just so satisfying sometimes? And to those who complain of her similarities to Anne Shirley - what's wrong with that? The story IS different; and we can all stand to benefit from reading more positive, life-affirming, soul-nurturing books.

Pollyanna Overview

The whole town is playing the game, and the whole town is wonderfully happier—and all because of one little girl who taught the people a new game, and how to play it.

Suddenly orphaned, Pollyanna is sent across the country to a small town in Vermont, where she will live with her strict Aunt Polly. But Pollyanna doesn't seem to notice how stern and unfeeling her aunt really is. When feeling unhappy, she simply plays her “glad” game—finding a silver lining in every cloud. Eventually, Pollyanna brightens the lives of everyone in town with her infectious game, and finds a home for every stray cat, dog, and child she encounters. But then a terrible accident happens and Pollyanna can't find anything to feel glad about anymore. All her new friends turn out to support her, but will that be enough to restore Pollyanna's cheerful outlook on life?

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Customer Reviews

Pollyanna - D. E. W. Turner - Hereford, AZ, USA
When I saw on www.amazon.com that this book was back in print, I couldn't resist! I have to admit, even now at my age, the book is excellent, a classic. And I was "glad" to see that I had owned a complete, unabridged version of the book when I was small. The School Library Journal lists it as being for Grade 7 and up; the Booklist says grades 3 - 6; I first read the unabridged version when I was 4 years old - and read it over and over until I was in seventh grade! I must confess as I re-read the book, that I was picturing the drawings that were in the book I used to own. Two drawings in particular stay in my mind - the one of Pollyanna being hit by the car and the one of the cat opening her bedroom door as her Aunt Polly cries out, "the child - will never walk again!" This book, while it had illustrations, did not have any "graphic" illustrations. What a shame. The one thing I did not remember from the version I had as a child was Jimmy Bean's statement about halfway through the book: "I ain't no beggar, an' biz'ness is biz'ness, even with Ladies' Aiders, I'm thinkin'." While I like the Disney version, too, the original is much better - and so much different from the Disney version!



The Cheerful Cure - Gale Finlayson -
Newly-orphaned ten-year-old Pollyanna is sent to live with a stern aunt in a distant town. Aunt Polly forbids her to mention her dead father's name and treats her like an unwanted poor relation--which is precisely what she is. At least Nancy, the kindly housekeeper, treats the lonely child with compassion. But Pollyanna has learned from her father to make lemonade out of life's lemons; she tries to be cheerful despite drawbacks and dealings with mean or sour adults. Without realizing it the little girl offers hope and cheer to others in town--in her charming, unsophisticated manner. Soon
the Glad Game is being played by her neighbors--adults as well as children--for light and joy bubble forth from her.

Tragedy strikes when Pollyanna is struck by an automobile and becomes crippled. The town rallies to her support and even stern Aunt Polly--harboring some secret grudge from the past--unbends to prove more human than previously demonstrated. The 1913 style, when radios were newly in fashion, is quaint by today's standards, but the spirit of optimism, almost overdone, provides a valuable lesson. We cannot control what happens to us--only how we react to those events; thus, this charming story offers gentle spiritual guidance without being preachy. Truly an American classic for kids of all ages.






a have to get - -
i read this book and i am now urging my mom to read it to my brothers . it is a great read aloud. also a wonderul book for children of all ages . a definent have to get.




*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Aug 31, 2010 00:17:11