I have fond memories of my great-grandfather too. I returned the book about two weeks later. We spent time after school talking about the book while I helped her around the classroom. Not just he plot but observations found between the lines. She showed me how to completely read a book by going past the words.
Imagination is the key.
I had seen the movie version with June Allison and Elizabeth Taylor on television many times. It's one of my favorite movies. There's only so much you can put into a film. By reading you can get to use your imagination, set the scenes in your mind. I hung onto every word she said.