My mom bought me the first one when I was really young. I got so far, and then started crying. I know that things get better now, but the situation the children were in? Nope, made me too sad at the beginning.
I had the same problem with I Never Promised You a Rose Garden. There's a scene where she goes to the movie with the mother, adamant that the father not come along. I ended up crying, and I was at a sleepover with a friend who was reading a book that she claimed I might not be sensitive enough for. (I think it was one of those Dragonlance ones, too!)
She looked over, concerned, and when she asked why i was crying, I told her. She looked kind of shocked and proclaimed I was 'definitely sensitive enough for her book.' (I recall her smugly holding that one over my head.) I ended up never being able to finish that book.
Or pick up The Boxcar Children again. Odd, how those two memories are vivid. I can't remember details of the Boxcar Children, or anything about Rose Garden except those scenes, but I vividly remember crying over them.
With the Boxcar Children, it only takes a couple of chapters before there is hope, thankfully. The first two couple of chapters they're looking for a place and running away from the baker & his wife, but once they find the boxcar they're happy and they aren't frightened.
The thing that always stuck with me from the first time I read the book until now is that they always keep their spirits up... they're never skittish or afraid or fearful. Yes, they run from the baker's wife, but they do it to stay together.
Maybe you can give the book a second chance someday.
At this point, I'm buying too much tea procrastinating reading the book that I had hoped would be amazing - it should have been, as I love the writers and characters - and instead is incredibly boring.
I had the same problem with I Never Promised You a Rose Garden. There's a scene where she goes to the movie with the mother, adamant that the father not come along. I ended up crying, and I was at a sleepover with a friend who was reading a book that she claimed I might not be sensitive enough for. (I think it was one of those Dragonlance ones, too!)
She looked over, concerned, and when she asked why i was crying, I told her. She looked kind of shocked and proclaimed I was 'definitely sensitive enough for her book.' (I recall her smugly holding that one over my head.) I ended up never being able to finish that book.
Or pick up The Boxcar Children again. Odd, how those two memories are vivid. I can't remember details of the Boxcar Children, or anything about Rose Garden except those scenes, but I vividly remember crying over them.
The thing that always stuck with me from the first time I read the book until now is that they always keep their spirits up... they're never skittish or afraid or fearful. Yes, they run from the baker's wife, but they do it to stay together.
Maybe you can give the book a second chance someday.
Perhaps. I haven't thought of them in a while, but I may look into getting the first one from the library.
At this point, I'm buying too much tea procrastinating reading the book that I had hoped would be amazing - it should have been, as I love the writers and characters - and instead is incredibly boring.