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4.16 AVERAGE
4.16 AVERAGE
This book is beautiful. It's the kind of book you live inside. Visceral and vibrant, I feel like it's a story I visited rather than I story I read.
I like The Scorpio Races but I can't deny the fact that it bored me, luckily, not most of the time. It started to hold my attention and interest, at first, and I am happy about it.
Then, after some time, the capture-effect of the book is gradually fading away I don't know why. Maybe, it was really slow-paced, stalling the inevitable(?) by supplying a lot of conflicts to build up the story. I mean these conflicts are necessary but the way it has been told did not gear up my interest.
Yes, Maggie writes beautifully but I don't know what went wrong (maybe my poor understanding lol). But as I've said I still like it since it really showed the different aspects/faces of: life, (the essence and the reality of it), dreams (and how to reach them and make them happen), persistence and determination, love and friendship and whatnot that truly left a mark in me.
And nevertheless, I like the main characters, Sean Kendrick and Puck Connolly, to be honest.
Then, after some time, the capture-effect of the book is gradually fading away I don't know why. Maybe, it was really slow-paced, stalling the inevitable(?) by supplying a lot of conflicts to build up the story. I mean these conflicts are necessary but the way it has been told did not gear up my interest.
Yes, Maggie writes beautifully but I don't know what went wrong (maybe my poor understanding lol). But as I've said I still like it since it really showed the different aspects/faces of: life, (the essence and the reality of it), dreams (and how to reach them and make them happen), persistence and determination, love and friendship and whatnot that truly left a mark in me.
And nevertheless, I like the main characters, Sean Kendrick and Puck Connolly, to be honest.
This was a beautiful novel, from the way it was written, to the characters, to the setting, and the races. When I first picked up this book, to be honest I expected something along the lines of the Hunger Games. But it's not like that at all. The biggest difference being that to ride in the races, you have have to chose ti sign up. It is like extreme jockeying, where you mount just might eat you or drown you. When it comes down to it all, I am delighted by this story, and if you are a fan of horses, Irish mythology, and three siblings just getting by, you should go read it.
I feel dumb for not reading this a long time ago. It is now one of my faves! I feel like I can recommend this to younger readers reading above their level, which is always something I'm looking for.
"Anything you can do, I can do better. I can do anything better than you." No, of course that doesn't come from Stiefvater's The Scorpio Races, but it encapsulates the basic spirit of the book. Puck only wants to stay on the island with her brothers and keep their family's home. Sean works with horses and the capaill uisce and races in the annual Scorpio Races. He lives for the draw of the water horses and for survival. Both have their own reasons for wanting - needing - to win the Races. But only one will, and one will have dreams lost. But is there something to be gained even in losing? Fierce competition. Friendship. Maybe more. Who and what will win? Everything comes with a price.
I was not prepared for how much I’d love this book. I’ve owned a physical copy since the year it came out, but never bothered cracking it open, and now it’s buried somewhere on a shelf at my parents’. But the urge to read it finally struck me, so I did, using an online copy instead.
The story follows Kate “Puck” and Sean as they prepare for the Scorpio Races, an event held every year where local “water horses” and their riders compete for an incredible prize. The water horses are known for viciousness and aggression, which makes it even more shocking when Puck chooses to enter her regular horse. Sean, on the other hand, has won the races several times and is favored to win again. If you want to know more, you’ll have to read it.
This is one of the best YA books I’ve read in a long, long time. I remember it being compared to books like The Hunger Games, and honestly after reading this, I’m sad it didn’t get nearly as much success. Perhaps it’s because it’s only one book, and not a series. (Personally, I think that was a fantastic decision, though I wouldn’t say no to a follow-up!)
Regardless, the story was gripping, with real and tangible stakes. The world Stiefvater created felt real; her ability to show taste and smell and touch sets her apart from many other authors’ world-building attempts. I’d recommend this to fans of YA books, especially dystopian ones. I’d also recommend it to those that like fantasy, well-written worlds, cryptids, and animals in general. To be honest, if the description interests you, I’d probably recommend it to you.
The story follows Kate “Puck” and Sean as they prepare for the Scorpio Races, an event held every year where local “water horses” and their riders compete for an incredible prize. The water horses are known for viciousness and aggression, which makes it even more shocking when Puck chooses to enter her regular horse. Sean, on the other hand, has won the races several times and is favored to win again. If you want to know more, you’ll have to read it.
This is one of the best YA books I’ve read in a long, long time. I remember it being compared to books like The Hunger Games, and honestly after reading this, I’m sad it didn’t get nearly as much success. Perhaps it’s because it’s only one book, and not a series. (Personally, I think that was a fantastic decision, though I wouldn’t say no to a follow-up!)
Regardless, the story was gripping, with real and tangible stakes. The world Stiefvater created felt real; her ability to show taste and smell and touch sets her apart from many other authors’ world-building attempts. I’d recommend this to fans of YA books, especially dystopian ones. I’d also recommend it to those that like fantasy, well-written worlds, cryptids, and animals in general. To be honest, if the description interests you, I’d probably recommend it to you.
Way good! The characters literally jumped off the page! I loved the myth behind the story, and I vaguely remember it from my childhood. Great descriptions, great plot, great story. A bit gritty for some people, but overall excellent book.
This book was so beautiful, and so beautifully narrated.
This is NOT a teen novel.
I don't care - there is no reason this couldn't have been marketed to adults. The cover feels adult, the mood is all grown-up, the characters are youngish but they don't act very teenish.
I tried reading [b:Shiver|6068551|Shiver (The Wolves of Mercy Falls, #1)|Maggie Stiefvater|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1328839272s/6068551.jpg|6244926] and couldn't get through it. I liked this more - I did actually finish it. But it took me three and a half months and I was inches from putting it down for most of that. It's beautifully written, but the Race doesn't start until you're 25 pages from the END of this crazy long book. Which is ridiculous. And kind of a missell.
This is a book about setting, place, and language more than anything else. You get to know the characters, but not as well as in most teen novels, and it CERTAINLY isn't an action/plot novel in any way shape or form.
Stiefvater does a gorgeous job of capturing the hold a place can have on a person. I identified with so much about how Puck connected with the island. With how she can't understand people who don't have that connection (pg. 244, she confronts her brother's feelings on this issue). I get that. So much.
See my quote wall for snippets of the writing that made me grab a pen.
I really dug the Author's Note at the end, where Stiefvater talks about the inspiration for the book. I love reinventions of ancient myths, and I don't think I'd ever heard of the carnivorous horse myth before.
So yeah. I liked it, but it's slow moving, and NOT A TEEN NOVEL. I'd only give this to the most hard-core readers.
I don't care - there is no reason this couldn't have been marketed to adults. The cover feels adult, the mood is all grown-up, the characters are youngish but they don't act very teenish.
I tried reading [b:Shiver|6068551|Shiver (The Wolves of Mercy Falls, #1)|Maggie Stiefvater|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1328839272s/6068551.jpg|6244926] and couldn't get through it. I liked this more - I did actually finish it. But it took me three and a half months and I was inches from putting it down for most of that. It's beautifully written, but the Race doesn't start until you're 25 pages from the END of this crazy long book. Which is ridiculous. And kind of a missell.
This is a book about setting, place, and language more than anything else. You get to know the characters, but not as well as in most teen novels, and it CERTAINLY isn't an action/plot novel in any way shape or form.
Stiefvater does a gorgeous job of capturing the hold a place can have on a person. I identified with so much about how Puck connected with the island. With how she can't understand people who don't have that connection (pg. 244, she confronts her brother's feelings on this issue). I get that. So much.
See my quote wall for snippets of the writing that made me grab a pen.
I really dug the Author's Note at the end, where Stiefvater talks about the inspiration for the book. I love reinventions of ancient myths, and I don't think I'd ever heard of the carnivorous horse myth before.
So yeah. I liked it, but it's slow moving, and NOT A TEEN NOVEL. I'd only give this to the most hard-core readers.
Oh how I wanted to like this book. And I know that there is a reader out there who will love it and I will put it in their hands. I'm just not that reader.