Green Mansions: A Novel

I read this book when I was in the 7th grade. So,although that was 50 years ago. perhaps I should have identified myself as being under 13. I was mesmerized by the beauty of Hudson's prose and perhaps I was also in love with the beautiful, innocent and ultimately tragic heroine Rima. I suppose I'll have to read the book again to see if it stands up. But I recommend it now for any dreamy, romantic 11 year old who wants to read something different from the admirable Harry Potter series.

This obscure classic is a jewel!I first read it when I was about 10 years old, and I never forgot the love story of Abel, a political refugee from Venezuala and Rima, the last of a race of exotic, mystical, bird-like people.If I could rate Green Mansions past 5 stars, I would use all the stars in our universe to convince you to read it!

The main male charachter has reason to leave civilization and travels far into South American jungles, meets with native tribes, and finds one which takes him in. They all seem happy with him until his curiosity gets the best of him, and he goes to a 'forbiden forest' so feared by this tribe he becomes ostricised for having been there. In the second part of this book he befriends a mysterious girl who lives in the forest and seems more farie than human. He finds himself doing things for her which he would have never thought he would do for another person.This is a clasic love story, intriguing, beautiful, and tragic. This was one of my first introductions to the classics of lliterature, and prompted me to find and read more of classic literature which has greatly enriched the scope of my reading experiences.

My mother having read this book sometime before I was born in the 50's, was so moved that she named me after Rima. When I was 12 I read it for the first time, and after moving many times the book was lost. I have always wanted to re-read it as an adult feeling that there was quite a bit more I would appreciate now. I am delighted to have located this novel, and will be thrilled not to have to explain to my friends once more where my name originated. I will just loan them the book!

Green Mansions has become one of my favorite books. Hudson's incredibly detailed description of the dense forests in Venezuela is amazing, and the love between Abel and Rima is very touching. Rima's symbolism gives the book so much meaning, that will stay with the reader forever. I love it!