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blackberryandleaf's review
5.0
I have often dismissed the old adage of "never judge a book by its cover" and found some wonderful books as a result. I figure that a book with a beautifully designed cover has a level of care in its production that has filtered through from the writing. This is not an infallible method of choice by any means, as sometimes beautiful artwork is accompanied by text that is vacuous. But as I am inspired by aesthetics this is not often an insurmountable problem.
What about judging a book by its title? For this was the main reason I began to read "The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland In A Ship Of Her Own Making". I had not even seen the cover before I decided that I must read this story. There were too many questions running through my mind that needed answering – how did the girl arrive in Fairyland? Why did she need to sail around it? How does a girl go about building her own ship?
As soon as I began reading the first sentences, I knew I was in for a treat. Catherynne M. Valente has a particularly lovely way of writing that borders on poetic. She has a knack for describing and pointing the reader's attention to little details that immerse you into the wonderful world of September.
September. What a name for our heroine. The characters have the most imaginative names and I can just see the fun the author had in coming up with them. A Through L, Wyveraries (a cross between a wyvern and a library), the witches Hello and Goodbye.
When the opportunity knocks at September's window (literally) to fly away from her dull life in Omaha, she does not hesitate. If this scenario sounds familiar, you will find that there are many nods to classic tales in mentions of magical wardrobes and tornadoes.
In Fairyland, September travels over seas, through lands of cloth, Autumn forests, and islands of antiques that come to life after 100 years. She picks up a few companions along the way who help her and become friends for whom she will risk all.
Whilst the story comes to a resolution, there are many questions left unanswered. I very much look forward to a sequel following September on her adventures again. Reading this book was like being wrapped in a soft blanket while nibbling lemon scones on an autumn afternoon. I know that's a very synesthetic description but when you read the story you will understand what I mean.
What about judging a book by its title? For this was the main reason I began to read "The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland In A Ship Of Her Own Making". I had not even seen the cover before I decided that I must read this story. There were too many questions running through my mind that needed answering – how did the girl arrive in Fairyland? Why did she need to sail around it? How does a girl go about building her own ship?
As soon as I began reading the first sentences, I knew I was in for a treat. Catherynne M. Valente has a particularly lovely way of writing that borders on poetic. She has a knack for describing and pointing the reader's attention to little details that immerse you into the wonderful world of September.
September. What a name for our heroine. The characters have the most imaginative names and I can just see the fun the author had in coming up with them. A Through L, Wyveraries (a cross between a wyvern and a library), the witches Hello and Goodbye.
When the opportunity knocks at September's window (literally) to fly away from her dull life in Omaha, she does not hesitate. If this scenario sounds familiar, you will find that there are many nods to classic tales in mentions of magical wardrobes and tornadoes.
In Fairyland, September travels over seas, through lands of cloth, Autumn forests, and islands of antiques that come to life after 100 years. She picks up a few companions along the way who help her and become friends for whom she will risk all.
Whilst the story comes to a resolution, there are many questions left unanswered. I very much look forward to a sequel following September on her adventures again. Reading this book was like being wrapped in a soft blanket while nibbling lemon scones on an autumn afternoon. I know that's a very synesthetic description but when you read the story you will understand what I mean.
mbenzz's review
2.0
I tried, I really, really did. There was just so much STUFF going on that most of the time I had no idea what was happening or where Steptember even was. There was so much detail that the story itself started to get lost (as least for me).
The book is really well written, and the author has an amazing imagination, but this is a tough book to get through. Not only do you have to pay super close attention to all the details, but her vocabulary is way beyond that of the recommended age group (ages 10-14). I can't remember the last time I used the dictionary feature on my Kindle so much.
I wish I could have loved this book as much as most people seem to, but it up just wasn't for me. Maybe my heart wasn't in it as I read, or I was distracted, but either way, I never looked forward to picking this up. By about 30% into it, it started feeling like a chore to read it.
The book is really well written, and the author has an amazing imagination, but this is a tough book to get through. Not only do you have to pay super close attention to all the details, but her vocabulary is way beyond that of the recommended age group (ages 10-14). I can't remember the last time I used the dictionary feature on my Kindle so much.
I wish I could have loved this book as much as most people seem to, but it up just wasn't for me. Maybe my heart wasn't in it as I read, or I was distracted, but either way, I never looked forward to picking this up. By about 30% into it, it started feeling like a chore to read it.
aceinit's review
5.0
Absolutely magical. If you have not read it, you have no idea what wonders you are missing.
hagwife's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
A wonderfully fun book! I love stories that understand that children's adventures are serious things and that children are able to understand things that are serious, even if they are not always fun. Valente's version of Fairyland is at times more real than the world September has left behind; its full of things that Are and Could Be, and has both Triumphs and Consequences, and it knows that witches need hats.
mealosh's review
5.0
I can't say how many times I've read this book now and it still never disappoints me. Whenever I start reading I dive into the world Valente so carefully (and wonderfully) constructed. The characters Valente gives us are so relatable, so human in so many ways that I not only see myself in September (I was 12 myself when I read the book for the first time) but also A-through-L, Saturday, even the Marquess. This book made me want to be a child again at a point in my life where I was just about to tip into my teenager years, it awakened the yearning for adventure and fantasy inside of me again and allowed me to see the world in different colours. You will rarely find characters that are more creatively, lovingly and interestingly written in a story and world that feel so magical so fantastical that you feel the need to put on your shoes and go outside in a search of your own adventure.
smc15's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
katykelly's review against another edition
4.0
At the start, felt it was trying to be too clever and nonsensical, but the Carroll comparisons dropped off and I enjoyed it more through a proper narrative. Liked the twist at the end, and some touching relationships between characters. Sweet.
annalynpoulsen's review
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Just so cute. It felt like a slight mix of Alice in Wonderland and The Phantom Tollbooth. Definitely a fun read, and honestly pretty good for a children’s book
dylan_tomorrow's review
5.0
As you can see from my updates, I hated the first few pages. Way to annoyingly whimsical. I am so very glad I gave this book another chance until I got it somewhere around the end of chapter one. This is so better then it may seem to be at first! (The beginning seems almost like a Hidden Test of Character in and of itself ... :D)
Man that was a beautiful ride, a magical adventure indeed that I followed September and her Saturday and A-L on. Plus the Green Wind and our very own Marquess, who was just gorgeously characterized, as was everyone.
We have so much magic in here. As in, actually magical moments, moods, happenings. As in love and joy and cruelty and pain and determination and tragedy and warmth and friendship.
As in washing your courage! God I love that chapter! And I want, I need that kind of emotions-changing, potent magic in my fantasy, not boring magic as a stand in for tech! Screw reactionary monomyths, give as more actually magical magic, folks!
Stellar writing, beautiful, witty, snappy, lyrical, vibrant, poignant.
No wonder it took me two months to finish: With great stories I tend to either marathon through them in mere hours to days or draw them out for way to many weeks because I just don't want them to end! Luckily, there is a second book, plus a small prequel on Queen Mallow, so that's such a relief!
I am definitely a [a:Catherynne M. Valente|338705|Catherynne M. Valente|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1220999852p2/338705.jpg] fan now and I want to read more form her. Love what I've read of the Palimpsest sample sofar. So glad to have found another author where I will potentially look forward to every new book they write :).
Man that was a beautiful ride, a magical adventure indeed that I followed September and her Saturday and A-L on. Plus the Green Wind and our very own Marquess, who was just gorgeously characterized, as was everyone.
We have so much magic in here. As in, actually magical moments, moods, happenings. As in love and joy and cruelty and pain and determination and tragedy and warmth and friendship.
As in washing your courage! God I love that chapter! And I want, I need that kind of emotions-changing, potent magic in my fantasy, not boring magic as a stand in for tech! Screw reactionary monomyths, give as more actually magical magic, folks!
Stellar writing, beautiful, witty, snappy, lyrical, vibrant, poignant.
No wonder it took me two months to finish: With great stories I tend to either marathon through them in mere hours to days or draw them out for way to many weeks because I just don't want them to end! Luckily, there is a second book, plus a small prequel on Queen Mallow, so that's such a relief!
I am definitely a [a:Catherynne M. Valente|338705|Catherynne M. Valente|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1220999852p2/338705.jpg] fan now and I want to read more form her. Love what I've read of the Palimpsest sample sofar. So glad to have found another author where I will potentially look forward to every new book they write :).
hollandvk's review
5.0
I definitely have a soft spot for stories of children stumbling into some other magical realm. This one has the added bonus of the main character not being a complete brat.