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2.08k reviews for:
The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making
Catherynne M. Valente
4.06 AVERAGE
2.08k reviews for:
The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making
Catherynne M. Valente
4.06 AVERAGE
It was a fun, whimsical tale. I'd love to see a Miyazaki film of it.
Charming is the best word I can think of to describe this. And whimsical. It's definitely whimsical.
But it's also... It's hard to describe, really, or put my finger on exactly why, but I kept getting the feeling that there is satire hidden in here somewhere and I'm just not clever enough to identify it. Neither the satirical aspect, nor the things it means to poke fun at. It's entirely, totally possible (and probably most likely) that there just isn't any satire intended at all and it's all something I'm imagening. It's just a sort of vibe I get.
This was a great book to read through just after one I'd been struggling with and that had just been getting bleaker and bleaker as it built towards an unfulfilling ending. This was a book to lift the spirits.
But it's also... It's hard to describe, really, or put my finger on exactly why, but I kept getting the feeling that there is satire hidden in here somewhere and I'm just not clever enough to identify it. Neither the satirical aspect, nor the things it means to poke fun at. It's entirely, totally possible (and probably most likely) that there just isn't any satire intended at all and it's all something I'm imagening. It's just a sort of vibe I get.
This was a great book to read through just after one I'd been struggling with and that had just been getting bleaker and bleaker as it built towards an unfulfilling ending. This was a book to lift the spirits.
Witty, gracefully-written, very fun. I wish I were a children's librarian so I could push this.
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Prime children literature. Put it up there, next to Ende.
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Wow, this was a spectacularly quirky and spunky fairy-ish tale! This is no typical 90s childhood fairyland story-- no helpless damsels and not everything is fluffy happy rainbows. In fact, it gets mildly gruesome at times, but that's only to be expected when a fierce and determined girl has to face some dangerous obstacles. (it was a perfectly tolerable level of gruesome though, not gory but rather there was some mention of blood being spilled in some of the more intense scenes)
The title led me to expect it would be a bit more tame and lighthearted. I think it has to do with the connotations of "fairyland." However, it was refreshing to find a lot of thought-provoking themes about human nature (and its darker sides). Fairyland had some serious issues with oppression and a leader who is in many ways a dictator. There was also a lot of symbolism! In some ways it surprises me that this is a middle grade book, because there is a lot to chew on. There were plenty of themes of friendship, loyalty, good vs evil and whether a person can just be one or the other.
This book is also quite bewildering, bizarre, and at times baffling. There is a definitive Alice in Wonderland feeling to it all. At the same time it brings in allusions of the Wizard of Oz, Peter Pan, and Narnia-- so it doesn't surprise me that the author says she found inspiration in many of these.
There were some interesting themes about time, how time stands still, runs out, how it doesn't move in a logical order like
That warmed my heart!
I was also interested in the motif of shoes (missing shoes, new shoes, shoes betraying September in various situations), the green jacket, hair (changing colours, falling off, being cut off), and the symbol of the key. At least, I have to assume this was symbolic (at least to me it may be meaningful) because it was all so random and bizarre that my mind wants to make some sense out of it!
There were also a lot of interesting statements made about grownups and childhood. I loved that the narrator spoke directly to the reader.
I LOVED the language! I should have said this earlier! I love the formal yet ironic style! And I LOVE A-THROUGH-L THE WYVERARY!!! Whose mother is a wyvern (type of dragon ish) and father is a library??! How amazing is that!!! I was also perplexed though why, out of all the things that were unbelievable about fairyland, September never seemed to believe that A-Through-L was actually descended from a library. Why is that so hard to believe compared to the rest of it?
There were some spectacular names in this book. And I also really appreciated that September was ill-tempered and irascible. Not that we should encourage kids to be these things in all situations, but I think it's awesome to see a young strong-willed girl acting as a role model with these traits, which historically have been discouraged in young ladies. September is altogether a really cool, well-rounded, complex, interesting role model. I'm glad this character has been written.
I recommend this book to anyone who would like to exercise their imagination, read a fantastic young female protagonist, and be taken on a bizarre and delightful adventure! Well-written, would be fantastic to read together with a middle grade child. There's a lot for all ages in here. So much fun!
The title led me to expect it would be a bit more tame and lighthearted. I think it has to do with the connotations of "fairyland." However, it was refreshing to find a lot of thought-provoking themes about human nature (and its darker sides). Fairyland had some serious issues with oppression and a leader who is in many ways a dictator. There was also a lot of symbolism! In some ways it surprises me that this is a middle grade book, because there is a lot to chew on. There were plenty of themes of friendship, loyalty, good vs evil and whether a person can just be one or the other.
This book is also quite bewildering, bizarre, and at times baffling. There is a definitive Alice in Wonderland feeling to it all. At the same time it brings in allusions of the Wizard of Oz, Peter Pan, and Narnia-- so it doesn't surprise me that the author says she found inspiration in many of these.
There were some interesting themes about time, how time stands still, runs out, how it doesn't move in a logical order like
Spoiler
for Saturday and the Marids, whose offspring appear at different times and ages than them. And how Saturday and September's daughter appeared before them at the end!That warmed my heart!
I was also interested in the motif of shoes (missing shoes, new shoes, shoes betraying September in various situations), the green jacket, hair (changing colours, falling off, being cut off), and the symbol of the key. At least, I have to assume this was symbolic (at least to me it may be meaningful) because it was all so random and bizarre that my mind wants to make some sense out of it!
There were also a lot of interesting statements made about grownups and childhood. I loved that the narrator spoke directly to the reader.
I LOVED the language! I should have said this earlier! I love the formal yet ironic style! And I LOVE A-THROUGH-L THE WYVERARY!!! Whose mother is a wyvern (type of dragon ish) and father is a library??! How amazing is that!!! I was also perplexed though why, out of all the things that were unbelievable about fairyland, September never seemed to believe that A-Through-L was actually descended from a library. Why is that so hard to believe compared to the rest of it?
There were some spectacular names in this book. And I also really appreciated that September was ill-tempered and irascible. Not that we should encourage kids to be these things in all situations, but I think it's awesome to see a young strong-willed girl acting as a role model with these traits, which historically have been discouraged in young ladies. September is altogether a really cool, well-rounded, complex, interesting role model. I'm glad this character has been written.
I recommend this book to anyone who would like to exercise their imagination, read a fantastic young female protagonist, and be taken on a bizarre and delightful adventure! Well-written, would be fantastic to read together with a middle grade child. There's a lot for all ages in here. So much fun!
An extraordinary novel; another example of a book that works for children but would melt the hearts of any adult who remembers having a soaring heart and a desire to visit Narnia or other dream worlds. September is a revelation as is the self-assured, confident, funny, poignant writing of Catherynne Valente. I will be looking up her other fiction straightaway.
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced