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hannahrenae's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Miscarriage, and Grief
Minor: Cursing, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
owlmybookandplanneradventures's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
This coming-of-age and retelling of the Russian fairytale "Daughter of the Snow" set in Alaska in the 1920s blurs the line between reality and fantasy with some magical realism. It is enchanting, heart warming & gut wrenching. It encompasses themes such as starting over to heal, the struggle to survive, loss, grief, and hope.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
keri_f's review against another edition
mysterious
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility and Miscarriage
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
currentlyreadingandcrochet's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infertility
Minor: Animal death, Grief, Miscarriage, and Suicidal thoughts
germaine's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
atmospheric and beautiful, the wilderness becomes a character of its own. the writing is amazing!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage and Animal death
Moderate: Alcoholism and Suicidal thoughts
hello_linzie's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death and Infertility
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
glitterkitty459's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility and Suicidal thoughts
aerietta's review against another edition
I got just over half-way through the book.
It's an interesting story with a surprise at every turn, but it's just so grim. The little details are beautiful, but it feels like the characters chose to be miserable and are willing to fight to remain miserable, even when good things come up. It just became too hard to continue reading.
It's an interesting story with a surprise at every turn, but it's just so grim. The little details are beautiful, but it feels like the characters chose to be miserable and are willing to fight to remain miserable, even when good things come up. It just became too hard to continue reading.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Animal death, and Death
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Infertility, and Mental illness
Suicidal ideation, stillbirth, extreme financial insecurity, extreme injury, gaslighting, isolation.chalkletters's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
As far as I remember, The Snow Child was a book I picked up from one of work's book sales, and first read over Christmas (very seasonally appropriate). I thought I remembered the basic story, and liked it well enough, so I thought I'd read it again during the even colder months of January and February. Maybe it would help me recapture my love of snow after it betrayed me. (Yes, yes, I am Lorelai Gilmore.)
Eowyn Ivey's descriptions of snow are very lovely and cosy, like sitting inside in the warm and watching snow fall against the window. Even when the characters face the genuine dangers of an Alaskan winter, the prose is always light and enchanting. While I wouldn't say the story was predictable or obviously moving towards any particular happy ending, the danger to these characters is very rarely physical and immediate.
At first, it seems as though The Snow Child might be a version of Pollyanna: an unusual, pure-hearted child appears to bring new meaning into older characters' lives. (Which is absolutely fine, but a little overdone. Why must it always be a child?) Fortunately, there was more going on between Mabel and Jack, and the child's touch is not the only thing required to fix their relationship, which was very much appreciated.
Faina (the titular snow child), too, has more going on than just being a child made of snow that came to life. Throughout the story, Eowyn Ivey presents evidence for both sides, that Faina is flesh-and-blood or that she's something more folkloric, and without spoiling the ending, even that is left fairly open for the reader to decide.
Overall, a lovely wintery read that had more nuance in it than I had remembered! Also, bonus cameo of an otter, which is always welcome.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Grief, Death, Animal death, Child death, and Death of parent
Minor: Pregnancy
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