Reading Pollyanna, by Eleanor H. Porter, was a delightful experience. It was not what I expected. I thought it would be candy-coated and preachy. It was not. It was a lovely story about a courageous, positive-thinking girl whose cheerfulness and resilience inspired everyone she met.
It was, I felt, a lesson about making choices, and in Pollyanna’s case she chose happiness. Her father taught her to make the most of each circumstance in her life. She took his lessons to heart, and despite many sad losses and experiences, she chose to focus on the positive instead of the negative. That choice was contagious, and everyone who met this young girl was touched by her kindness, her sense of humor, and her positive outlook. One person can change the world! That was clearly demonstrated in how many people were touched and changed for the better in this story.
This story of hope, kindness, resilience, and positive choices lifted my spirits during this time of gloom and doom and negativity. It was a reminder to choose to do the right things and to reach out to others with kindness and caring. It was a reminder that we can choose to be happy.
I read this book as one of my 50-books-in-5-years for The Classics Club.
I also chose this book to read for my personal challenge, “WANDERLUST: Reading the States,” an effort to read books that are from or take place in each of the 50 United States. This book took place in Vermont.
A Fondness For Reading 
Just the other evening we were watching something on television when a remark was made about being a Pollyanna, and I said to Tom that everyone should read the book because they’ve got it all wrong. The name is always used in a disparaging way. From my 2002 notes: Pollyanna by Eleanor H. Porter 1913 A
The author was born in the town I grew up in, and this year a statue of
Pollyanna was put up on the library lawn. I loved this book. It was
beautifully written, and not sappy or sentimental. Disney did quite a
good job of bringing the book to the screen. Not every detail was the
same, but the spirit certainly came through. Pollyanna is a true
inspiration for living- trying to find the good in everyone, and every
circumstance. Wonderful book.
Books on Tape read by Rebecca Burns.
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What lovely notes about a lovely book, Nan! Your personal connection to the book is very special. I’ll have to look for a photo of the statue. I just loved this book…such an antidote to the daily news and a wonderful reminder that each one of us can make a difference!
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