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4.27 AVERAGE
4.27 AVERAGE
I love this storyteller!!! Incredible interweaving of myth and legend into every nook and cranny! It is truly like an intricate tapestry of words itself; each parable a unique little lesson itself but only when the fables are layered and meticulously fitted together do you appreciate the masterpiece and the vision of the author.
There are times while reading when I was like, "oh, here we go again... another story in the story" but it is truly charming.
I can totally feel the pride Ms. Lin has for her rich, creative, honorable traditions and storytelling - it's such a gift to for her to share this window into Chinese culture.
There are times while reading when I was like, "oh, here we go again... another story in the story" but it is truly charming.
I can totally feel the pride Ms. Lin has for her rich, creative, honorable traditions and storytelling - it's such a gift to for her to share this window into Chinese culture.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
In this book, the shy, modest Pinmei, the granddaughter of a revered storyteller, is called upon to undertake a quest - at first she only intends to rescue her grandmother from a cruel emperor, but as it turns out, there are immortal beings involved in the scheme. Luckily, she has her neighbor, the strong, impetuous, and trustworthy Yishan to accompany her.
Together they stumble from one situation to another, and we discover that Pinmei, while listening to her grandmother's stories, has become a storyteller in her own right. Yishan also has talents beyond what Pinmei first recognized, and their journey becomes an epic - although in the end, it might have lasted less than 3 months.
Lin's writing is just as captivating and temptingly-paced as her previous books, and the characters just as appealing in their modesty, inner strength, and clarity of purpose. I liked that Pinmei's grandmother looks into her eyes and says useful things that Pinmei remembers, like, "I know that when it is time for you to do something, you will do it." and "Remember, you can always trust Yishan." It is also good that Pinmei seems to remember precisely what her grandmother tells her, including every story, since her personal advice is perfectly appropriate, and the stories end up explaining everything.
I have two small complaints with the book:
The first one probably won't bother young readers at all; Once all the threads have been followed to the place they join, everything is tied together too tidily. Stories from long, long ago weave together with current events in a way that is so conveniently tidy it becomes confusing. It gave me a similar feeling to a time-travel novel, where you have to sit for a minute to figure out who knew what, who was born when, who existed first, which action preceded which other action, etc.
The second may pose difficulties for young readers; The number of side characters - people Pinmei, Yishan, and Grandmother Amah meet on their journeys, overwhelms the time spent with each of them. Because the episode with each of these side-characters is so short, the reader has barely enough time to imprint their story before we move on, and a new set of characters is introduced. Coupled with the inclusion of the thoughts & conversations of immortal beings and the telling of stories, the book becomes top-heavy with characters' names and layers of inter-related stories. When they are finally unraveled, many readers (like me) may want to turn back to the spot where a "story" was first told, to catch the nuances - but finding the page is tricky.
Nevertheless, I was captivated from the first page and had the strong feeling throughout that I was getting a glimpse into the fantastical imaginings of a girl-writer-storyteller; Pinmei / Grace Lin. I felt no need to do research to confirm whether the versions of the stories are authentic to Chinese culture because this feels like an authentic representation of the author's personal journey and craft.
Together they stumble from one situation to another, and we discover that Pinmei, while listening to her grandmother's stories, has become a storyteller in her own right. Yishan also has talents beyond what Pinmei first recognized, and their journey becomes an epic - although in the end, it might have lasted less than 3 months.
Lin's writing is just as captivating and temptingly-paced as her previous books, and the characters just as appealing in their modesty, inner strength, and clarity of purpose. I liked that Pinmei's grandmother looks into her eyes and says useful things that Pinmei remembers, like, "I know that when it is time for you to do something, you will do it." and "Remember, you can always trust Yishan." It is also good that Pinmei seems to remember precisely what her grandmother tells her, including every story, since her personal advice is perfectly appropriate, and the stories end up explaining everything.
I have two small complaints with the book:
The first one probably won't bother young readers at all; Once all the threads have been followed to the place they join, everything is tied together too tidily. Stories from long, long ago weave together with current events in a way that is so conveniently tidy it becomes confusing. It gave me a similar feeling to a time-travel novel, where you have to sit for a minute to figure out who knew what, who was born when, who existed first, which action preceded which other action, etc.
The second may pose difficulties for young readers; The number of side characters - people Pinmei, Yishan, and Grandmother Amah meet on their journeys, overwhelms the time spent with each of them. Because the episode with each of these side-characters is so short, the reader has barely enough time to imprint their story before we move on, and a new set of characters is introduced. Coupled with the inclusion of the thoughts & conversations of immortal beings and the telling of stories, the book becomes top-heavy with characters' names and layers of inter-related stories. When they are finally unraveled, many readers (like me) may want to turn back to the spot where a "story" was first told, to catch the nuances - but finding the page is tricky.
Nevertheless, I was captivated from the first page and had the strong feeling throughout that I was getting a glimpse into the fantastical imaginings of a girl-writer-storyteller; Pinmei / Grace Lin. I felt no need to do research to confirm whether the versions of the stories are authentic to Chinese culture because this feels like an authentic representation of the author's personal journey and craft.
I read this book to my 11 year old over a six week period, and it's the sort of book that would benefit from reading more quickly so you don't forget things in between sessions, or a complete reread after you are done. It's quite complex. Many of the details and characters are in fact connected and intertwined. It's quite masterful.
Reading this book as USA President 45 was coming into office was really something. A story about a proud emperor who is building a wall? Wow. There's a good lesson in here about the power of stories.
Reading this book as USA President 45 was coming into office was really something. A story about a proud emperor who is building a wall? Wow. There's a good lesson in here about the power of stories.
My kids loved these books—all three in the series. Grace Lin’s ability to weave multiple stories together only got better as the series went on, I think.
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
challenging
emotional
hopeful
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, War
Moderate: Death
Grace Lin is constant on her work in this series. I was as captivated with her artistic style as I was when I read [b:Where the Mountain Meets the Moon|5983694|Where the Mountain Meets the Moon|Grace Lin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1549333297l/5983694._SX50_.jpg|6157354] and [b:Starry River of the Sky|13521501|Starry River of the Sky|Grace Lin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1347592144l/13521501._SX50_.jpg|19082177]. Once again Grace Lin crafted a enchanting adventures from Chinese folktales. I also loved the chunk of stories from the first two books, the crossed of stories and characters was masterful. She ended wonderfully with a moral on the immortality of story wrapping perfectly her work.