Book info

• Title Heidi
• Author Johanna Spyri
• Year 1880
• Genre Childrens

Little orphan Heidi goes to live high in the Alps with her gruff grandfather and brings happiness to all who know her on the mountain. When Heidi goes to Frankfurt to work in a wealthy household, she dreams of returning to the mountains and meadows, her friend Peter, and her beloved grandfather.

Thoughts

I’ve read most of this before, and also listened to an audiobook version, but as part of the extended reading list, it was time to read the whole thing in one go. It’s a nice little story, but it does come across a bit preachy in places. There are plenty of sections about God and things start going right for the characters after they mend their ways and do the Christian thing.

I’m always impressed by the diet of drinking milk and eating cheese, it feels like far too much dairy to be healthy for someone - and yet everyone who ends up on the mountain living in those conditions gets much healthier and a better perspective on life. Except, perhaps, Peter.

Nevertheless, it’s a nice story and it has a happy ending, so there’s not too much to complain about.

Rating: 4 / 5