2021 EDIT: 'Heidi' is not as fun or sweet as when I first read it. Maybe I'm getting older and ostensibly more cynical, as I can no longer see the high, snowy and windy alps as a free paradise, but as an extremely cold, desolate, empty, monotonous and lonely place to live. Or maybe I've got no more patience for constant descriptions of mountains, and roads and other paths.
There is also the lack of positive female figures in Heidi's life, save a couple of old ladies, and the highly problematic content (1880 book aside); meaning, the ableism. If you know anything about the character of Clara, then you know what I'm talking about. 'Heidi' is very preachy and after-school-special, as well, and it ends up shooting itself in the foot when it comes to how Clara develops.
But Heidi herself is as cute as ever, though she can't carry the whole book on her tiny shoulders. In fact, the child doesn't have much agency, throughout. Side characters receive more page time and development than her, such as Uncle Alp and Peter the goatherd. Heidi's role is to be a helpful angel to people, and little else.
'Heidi' is a nice classic book for children, even if it did make me sleepy reading it. I'm sure it's just me. I'm a tired, tired sorceress.
Final Score: 3/5
Original Review:
Just another classic poor little orphan girl tale, right? Well, since reading 'Heidi' I've always thought of it as more of a novel version of 'The Sound of Music'. It's very sweet to the point of saccharine, but it makes you feel so good inside that you don't care.
'Heidi' - the book and the character - is adorable and saintly, though not entirely realistic. Combined they keep the lovely tone consistent, but they are not perfect all the time. There is dramatic tension, and moments in the story that reveal the depths of the characters. It's a wonderful read for children at bedtime.
And of course, the descriptions of the Alps and mountains are rich and beautiful. I could picture it all; being there with Heidi and her friends, both human and goat. The cold and the hard tasks involved in living up in the mountains are explored through raw human emotion.
Like nearly all classic children's books, 'Heidi' does get preachy at times with little to no subtlety. But the lessons here are not terribly outdated (like the views of country life as opposed to city life), as they teach about the importance of family and friends, founded in all places. More lessons include: moving on from a tragedy, never being too old to change, the consequences of acts of jealousy, helping others less fortunate than yourself, and respecting your elders. There are engaging events and developing characters to go with all these morals, and Heidi herself brings them out through her natural kindness when helping the people she meets. So I was never bored reading.
Johanna Spyri's famous novel also depicts the pain of homesickness very well, when poor innocent Heidi is at her limits away from her grandfather and the Alps. So painful it's consequently dangerous for a little girl...
'Heidi' is a feel-good book that shows the bad, the good and the great things in life. Really, why must timeless stories be bleak, violent and depressing? A lot of them are uplifting and help each generation of readers to get through hard times - to hope and to dream.
Final Score: 4/5
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