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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
My only complaints about this book aren't even complaints.. More like one wish and one warning.
WISH: I would have enjoyed more pictures in the book. The artwork was stunning and really perfect for the story.
WARNING: Although this book is touted for younger people, it has quite a complex vocabulary... There were some words I had to look up! I would suggest reading it to your child, rather than just giving it to them. They might not enjoy it if they don't understand.
I loved this book and I hope book 2 measures up. I don't even know where to start. The Wyverary is my favourite character. I want to go to the fairy baths. I loved how each chapter started with a one sentence summary of what was going to happen.... Anyways, I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fairy tales, young or old.
WISH: I would have enjoyed more pictures in the book. The artwork was stunning and really perfect for the story.
WARNING: Although this book is touted for younger people, it has quite a complex vocabulary... There were some words I had to look up! I would suggest reading it to your child, rather than just giving it to them. They might not enjoy it if they don't understand.
I loved this book and I hope book 2 measures up. I don't even know where to start. The Wyverary is my favourite character. I want to go to the fairy baths. I loved how each chapter started with a one sentence summary of what was going to happen.... Anyways, I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fairy tales, young or old.
I picked this up because the title seemed so cute. There were a lot of parallels to the Wizard of Oz. It was a quick cute read but it seemed like it bounced to much between characters and experiences without having a deep enough thread to tie them together.
September, a wily young girl, takes a ride on a flying snow leopard to enter Fairyland, where she meets an adventure all her own.
I took my time with this book. I wanted to take it in slowly and savor it. it recalled all the things i love most in a fairy tale. mystical creatures, adventure, excitement, magic, all led by a likable female protagonist. the details are vivid and create fantastic images. i liked the story, the narrative framing, the characters, all of it. it even fixed the things i don't like about some fantasy stories. certain tropes that always seem to happen, and never fail to leave me feeling unsatisfied and betrayed. this story defies these tropes (which i don't want to go into, in the interest of keeping the story unspoilt). in short, this is the story that i always longed for when certain aspects of other stories failed me.
i'm sad to see it end.
I took my time with this book. I wanted to take it in slowly and savor it. it recalled all the things i love most in a fairy tale. mystical creatures, adventure, excitement, magic, all led by a likable female protagonist. the details are vivid and create fantastic images. i liked the story, the narrative framing, the characters, all of it. it even fixed the things i don't like about some fantasy stories. certain tropes that always seem to happen, and never fail to leave me feeling unsatisfied and betrayed. this story defies these tropes (which i don't want to go into, in the interest of keeping the story unspoilt). in short, this is the story that i always longed for when certain aspects of other stories failed me.
i'm sad to see it end.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
A modern fairytale from an author with extraordinary skill with language and story, Catherynne M. Valente's The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fariyland in a Ship of Her Own Making is a fantastic treat for readers of all ages. Valente bends and breaks the tropes of faerie stories to create a tale full of daring, magic, and whimsy that can delight most anyone who reads it. Highly recommend.
Very well done. Somehow, oddly, reminds me of Neil Gaiman.
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Now I was surprised nothing in this book felt tacky, because books of this nature often do…. But the only thing that felt off to me is the Nasnas… yep, they didn’t feel like they fit, but I know they had their purpose, to show what the Marquess was doing right. So I’ll forgive it . The Marquess’s backstory was very well written, I’d say. Definitely didn’t expect that. Anyways, perfect for someone who wants a whimsical, offbeat fantasy, or wants to add some whimsy back to their jaded eyes.
This book is absolutely wonderful. At first, it read a bit like The Phantom Tollbooth, and I was worried it would just feel like a version of that. But as I continued to read, the story and especially the protagonist September enchanted me more and more, and thoughts of the other book were pushed away. September is a wonderful heroine, at times unsure and so very young, but at others entirely composed and ready to take on whatever comes her way. The twists and surprises weren't anything I expected, which was delightful. All in all, an amazing book.
As usual, Cat Valente hits the nail on the head. This is lush, beautiful, full of images that you want to wrap around yourself like a soft blanket on a cold autumn day---and it manages to be a children's book that doesn't feel like it's talking down to kids at all.