Take a photo of a barcode or cover
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
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
2nd time through: I loved this even more the second time I read it. Quite possibly my all-time favorite book.
1st read:
Have you ever finished a book and hugged it to your chest because you loved it so much? No? Me neither. Just kidding. That's exactly what I did when I finished The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making (that title's a mouthful). I absolutely adored this one, and it's now on my favorites list.
Mind you, this isn't a book everyone will love. It's got a quirkiness to it that some people will find a little too precious. But I think most people will fall in love with it just like I did. It's a beautiful, magical fairy tale that is perfect for the young at heart. Here's a sample:
“When you are born,” the golem said softly, “your courage is new and clean. You are brave enough for anything: crawling off of staircases, saying your first words without fearing that someone will think you are foolish, putting strange things in your mouth. But as you get older, your courage attracts gunk, and crusty things, and dirt, and fear, and knowing how bad things can get and what pain feels like. By the time you’re half-grown, your courage barely moves at all, it’s so grunged up with living. So every once in awhile, you have to scrub it up and get the works going, or else you’ll never be brave again.”
There were so many lovely quotes like that all throughout the book. Catherynne Valente is a talented writer whose style flows, and is completely different than the typical YA. She is in a class all her own. And what's even better is that there is another book to come! I can't wait to read it, and I will definitely be re-reading this one. I highly recommend it.
1st read:
Have you ever finished a book and hugged it to your chest because you loved it so much? No? Me neither. Just kidding. That's exactly what I did when I finished The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making (that title's a mouthful). I absolutely adored this one, and it's now on my favorites list.
Mind you, this isn't a book everyone will love. It's got a quirkiness to it that some people will find a little too precious. But I think most people will fall in love with it just like I did. It's a beautiful, magical fairy tale that is perfect for the young at heart. Here's a sample:
“When you are born,” the golem said softly, “your courage is new and clean. You are brave enough for anything: crawling off of staircases, saying your first words without fearing that someone will think you are foolish, putting strange things in your mouth. But as you get older, your courage attracts gunk, and crusty things, and dirt, and fear, and knowing how bad things can get and what pain feels like. By the time you’re half-grown, your courage barely moves at all, it’s so grunged up with living. So every once in awhile, you have to scrub it up and get the works going, or else you’ll never be brave again.”
There were so many lovely quotes like that all throughout the book. Catherynne Valente is a talented writer whose style flows, and is completely different than the typical YA. She is in a class all her own. And what's even better is that there is another book to come! I can't wait to read it, and I will definitely be re-reading this one. I highly recommend it.
I had to start this twice and it was a friend mentioning some of the loveliest bits that brought me back to it. The second time I absolutely loved it. The lines all sounded so fresh and separated in my mind. I actually never knew what was going to happen next. It is a total parable without at all being preachy. And if by chance you assume for a moment that it is going to be, the narrator says something particular devious. The bad things that happen also felt very real, unfair, and nonsensical in a way that only real-world events are. There is also a great deal of real sadness felt by the main character. For all this, the joys are particularly bright and real too. I loved the settings--incredibly imaginative, especially Pandemonium and her description of fall. The best line is "There is grief without adventure, but no adventure without grief." I try to remember that in the weekly adventures I try to nudge myself to take. It makes me less scared about pain in taking risks; it's there, it's a given, but it doesn't take away from the joys of the adventure.
I think that I'm not on the same page with most of the people, but I didn't enjoy the book that much... I liked it, but I didn't love it...
I liked the descriptions and nonsenses in the beggining, but along the book they ended up boring me (too much!) And to be honest, I didn't like September that much... But I loved Ell! I want one!!!!
I liked the descriptions and nonsenses in the beggining, but along the book they ended up boring me (too much!) And to be honest, I didn't like September that much... But I loved Ell! I want one!!!!
This is a cute story that makes me think of a proper kid's version of the Wayward Children books. (Those are definitely not for children.) This one has the concept of the Ravished, the Stumbled, and the Changeling - all different ways for children to enter Fairyland. I love how your time in Fairyland depended on how you entered. And all of the children will remember Fairyland when they return.
With that said, I loved the various inhabitants of Fairyland. It took me a little bit to change my mindset and accept the silly, nonsensical things. It was a bit like Alice in Wonderland like that. But this is a world of Fairies and children, so really this makes perfect sense!
It pleased me greatly that the narrator was a reliable one. That isn't always the case! If it weren't reliable, I wouldn't have been able to finish the book because of all the other nonsensical things going on. But goodness! The creativity in this book just knows no bounds. The Nasnas, in particular, were quite peculiar. And I loved the 100+ year old furniture.
If you want a book where you just don't know what to expect, then pick this one up!
With that said, I loved the various inhabitants of Fairyland. It took me a little bit to change my mindset and accept the silly, nonsensical things. It was a bit like Alice in Wonderland like that. But this is a world of Fairies and children, so really this makes perfect sense!
It pleased me greatly that the narrator was a reliable one. That isn't always the case! If it weren't reliable, I wouldn't have been able to finish the book because of all the other nonsensical things going on. But goodness! The creativity in this book just knows no bounds. The Nasnas, in particular, were quite peculiar. And I loved the 100+ year old furniture.
If you want a book where you just don't know what to expect, then pick this one up!
oh, well this was very, very good... saturday! ell! green wind! lots of big cats!!!!!!!!!!!!
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I liked this book more like a 3.5 stars. The ending was worth the wait.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
This will probably seem overly critical to the many fans of this book, but this book disappointed me. It felt like it tried too hard, tried to be and do too many things. It was like a mishmash of the classics -- The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, The Phantom Tollbooth, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe -- but without enough explicit allusions to make it purposeful and fun, and with parts as dark and gruesome as the original Grimm stories. As much as the author tried to include a different message than these other books (as described in the excessively long author interview at the back of the book), even that idea derived from a Greek myth specifically used as an analogy by one of the characters. The whole thing about September's mother's profession felt over-the-top and self-congratulatory. I appreciated the twist, but I was left with many questions as well: Are we supposed to make something of the fact that September and Mallow both have moles on their left cheeks? How is it that no one recognized Mallow when even September thought she looked familiar just from seeing pictures of her? How did the Marquess rise to power if no one knew who she was? I am such a nitpicker when it comes to world building that fantasy has to be really inventive and cohesive to woo me, and this came nowhere close.