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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
medium-paced
Zelda suffers from fetal alcohol syndrome. The mom passed away leaving Zelda and her brother (after a detour to their Uncle Richard)'s house to fend for themselves. With the help of Dr. Laird, a community center, and a great friend named AK47 ... they do OK.
You really see the world through Zelda's eyes. She is obsessed with Viking culture, and innocent? She hangs out with some rough people who use a lot of adult language and she incorporates these phrases into her vocabulary.
Zelda and Gert live in a pretty rough world. And this book does get pretty graphic.
And touching.
You really see the world through Zelda's eyes. She is obsessed with Viking culture, and innocent? She hangs out with some rough people who use a lot of adult language and she incorporates these phrases into her vocabulary.
Zelda and Gert live in a pretty rough world. And this book does get pretty graphic.
And touching.
Mesmerizing, and lyrical. When We Were Vikings is an inspirational novel featuring a protagonist who has fetal alcohol syndrome. MacDonald imbues Zelda with so much character and personality illustrating that Zelda is more than how society might look at Zelda. Additionally, the healthy depiction of therapy and un-ability is something that is rarely seen in novels. Engaging and utterly addictive...this is a debut that you do not want to miss.
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
This book got me back into reading. I didn't expect to like it, but I ended up loving it.
Zelda loves Vikings.
Zelda is a twenty-one-year-old woman.
Zelda was born with fetal alcohol syndrome, but it does not define her.
Zelda needs a way to relate to the world that does not cause her panic attacks and thus she compares people and the everyday to Vikings and the Viking way. For example, Zelda considers her brother’s drunk date an enemy, her brother part of her tribe, and her psychiatrist “Dr. Laird [as] heroic, even though he does not fight actual battles with his fists.”
When she realizes her brother has been lying to her, something a tribe member must never do, she is determined to be a powerful Viking who saves her brother from a dangerous mistake.
Zelda learns how to become an adult in a world that may forever view her less than an adult and more importantly, an adult woman.
MacDonald’s New Adult coming-of-age story is well crafted with empathy, heart and humor. Please put this on your TBR if you enjoyed The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time or Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine.
Enjoy.
Skoal! -Sara S.
Zelda is a twenty-one-year-old woman.
Zelda was born with fetal alcohol syndrome, but it does not define her.
Zelda needs a way to relate to the world that does not cause her panic attacks and thus she compares people and the everyday to Vikings and the Viking way. For example, Zelda considers her brother’s drunk date an enemy, her brother part of her tribe, and her psychiatrist “Dr. Laird [as] heroic, even though he does not fight actual battles with his fists.”
When she realizes her brother has been lying to her, something a tribe member must never do, she is determined to be a powerful Viking who saves her brother from a dangerous mistake.
Zelda learns how to become an adult in a world that may forever view her less than an adult and more importantly, an adult woman.
MacDonald’s New Adult coming-of-age story is well crafted with empathy, heart and humor. Please put this on your TBR if you enjoyed The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time or Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine.
Enjoy.
Skoal! -Sara S.
This is a classic coming-of-age, hero's quest with a twist. The plot is straightforward and upfront - much like its protagonist - so don't expect deep literary themes or allusions of greatest. DO expect a hero you and root for, who is transparently human, and merits your time and interest.
Zelda only wants one thing - to be legendary like the Vikings. She makes a list of what is required for one to be legendary and then seeks to find ways she can check off each item. She loves her tribe of family and friends who love her right back. But when Gert, her brother, gets into trouble Zelda knows she will have to muster all her courage to be his hero and slay the grendels who test her resolve.
If you enjoyed [b:Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend|13538552|Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend|Matthew Dicks|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1343851908l/13538552._SY75_.jpg|18274537], you'll find When We Were Vikings a great read with more mature characters and themes.
Zelda only wants one thing - to be legendary like the Vikings. She makes a list of what is required for one to be legendary and then seeks to find ways she can check off each item. She loves her tribe of family and friends who love her right back. But when Gert, her brother, gets into trouble Zelda knows she will have to muster all her courage to be his hero and slay the grendels who test her resolve.
If you enjoyed [b:Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend|13538552|Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend|Matthew Dicks|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1343851908l/13538552._SY75_.jpg|18274537], you'll find When We Were Vikings a great read with more mature characters and themes.
I found when we were Vikings to be a likable, accessible read. Not strictly a page turner, but not written to be one, instead a well-written, character-based, at times exciting, novel which I think did not only a good job of getting into the protagonist head, as a first-person narrative, but also demonstrated some excellent character arcs. That it was compared in its summary to the mystery the dog in the nighttime, is apt, though if you could only read one I would read the latter, which earned a firm five-stars... Nonetheless, this is a good book and a solid achievement.
Wow, what an incredible and totally unique story!! All I can say is that I definitely want to be part of Zelda’s tribe because she is the most epic hero ever!