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Heidi is one of those books that I keep going back to when I feel at a loss in a grown up world It is one of my ultimate favourites in comfort reading. An absolute classic ! The world of Heidi and Alm Uncle is so beautifully simple, the delights are so heart felt, that I love going over my favourite passages again and again and always keep a copy of this book by my bedside.

In Heidi, nature is described in all its splendour and glory, so much so that I always feel I am there, up amidst the Alpine heights...I just have to close my eyes ! The toasted cheese, the fir trees, the flowers, the sweet-smelling grass, grandmother's hymns, the making of cheese ...everything is a cause for joy for Heidi. The unconditional love of Heidi for her grand father, the way her little presence transforms his life, and the lives of grand mother , Peter, Clara, the doctor is magical, and yet so believable, it gives me hope.

Simpler times and simpler joys...years after I first read this book, it continues to make me smile and cry and sometimes leaves me with feeling wistful for such times...but when I feel a little sad like that, I go back a few chapters and re read the description of the toasted cheese and I am back to feeling good Atop the Swiss mountains with Heidi is my happy place to be

Another memory from childhood reading. Heidi was a great read, I'd say I read it 3 or 4 times over my childhood years and I remember my sisters really enjoying it too.

I loved Heidi, too - but while we're talking about Switzerland, did anyone else devour the Chalet School books? I recently found a couple of them I'd not read in a charity shop (the series was so long it's no wonder) and read them for comfort reading, nostalgia, whatever. I have mixed feelings - they were surprisingly well-written apart from a few dodgy similes (does anyone really have eyes like wood violets??) andd treated surprisingly hard-hitting topics, like disability and jealousy, but I found that characters I adored as an adolescent just grated on my nerves - the wise and wonderful head girl, for instance, had turned into someone I seriously longed to slap! Sorry, this has gone a bit off-topic.

Heidi was one of my first books! We were reading it together, me and my grandmother. When I opened this forum topic, I was suddenly surprised with myself - I remembered so many little details of the book. Like how her grandfather covered his palms with salt so the goats would lick them, or about Heidi's bed, Clara, the kittens, the view from the tower... This book really meant a great deal for me back then... and it still is.
It was beautiful and sad in the same time, but before all, it is so filled with optimism and joy. There are some classic children books - like Pollyanna, or everything by Frances Burnett - that really lift my spirits whenever I read them. Heidi is on of those books as well.

I enjoyed Heidi too, and I always feel happy reading about her simple friendship with Peter and her devotion to Clara. I feel that Heidi is such a innocent and sweet girl and that is very refreshing, but I can't help but wonder how would she deal with reality as she grow up? Will she become less idealistic and innocent?

A wonderful book! It told me (and taught me) about so many things! That an innocent, patient girl could melt the anger of her grandfather, the same, simple girl could reduce the number of temper tantrums an invalid had and with the help of her grandfather, even make her walk! It is a story of the indomitable spirit, but never bores even once with the vivid description of each place Adelaide (oops, is it Heidi?) travels. Yes, there are bad influences, including her aunt and, for a small duration of time, even her friend Peter, but with her goodness, Heidi captivates all. Thank you for reminding me of this wonderful book and thank you, Johanna Spyri!!!

I loved reading this book as a kid. I haven't read it in years, I think that I need to pull it out and read it to my kids!

I was presented a copy for my birthday and absolutely loved it! But I suddenly realised I never read this as an adult unlike other classics. I think I'll go dig up a copy ....

I loved reading Heidi for its pureness and simplicity. There is even a second and third book which is called "Heidi grows up" and "Heidi's Children" (I think). Its written by a different author, but that same authentic feel is still there. I have read Heidi Grows Up, but have not yet read the last book.

Has anybody here read or heard of these two other books?

stoppoppingtheP wrote:I loved reading Heidi for its pureness and simplicity. There is even a second and third book which is called "Heidi grows up" and "Heidi's Children" (I think). Its written by a different author, but that same authentic feel is still there. I have read Heidi Grows Up, but have not yet read the last book.

Has anybody here read or heard of these two other books?

Wow...I never knew about these books...thanks for sharing...please let me know where I can avail of them...

Oh, yes! Heidi should be a staple of every childhood! Johanna Spyri also wrote a book called The Little Swiss Boy that I read even more than Heidi as a kid.

A fond memory from my childhood is reading this story with my grandmother. Heidi is a story that reminds me of comfort food. Besides my Bible, this is one of my go to books when I am feeling down and depressed. With the uncertain times we are living in with the Co-Vid 19 virus encompassing the world, this would be the perfect book to rediscover.

pudy_wudy wrote: ↑30 Dec 2016, 01:06 I enjoyed Heidi too, and I always feel happy reading about her simple friendship with Peter and her devotion to Clara. I feel that Heidi is such a innocent and sweet girl and that is very refreshing, but I can't help but wonder how would she deal with reality as she grow up? Will she become less idealistic and innocent?

A very interesting thing to think about.

This sounds like a book I should read. Sometimes what you really need is just a simple story with simple joys.

Heidi is one of the best classics. it could be recommended for children to read too. any person of any age group could read and enjoy the story.