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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
No idea where I found this--guess I need to keep a list that includes that information?--but it was on my list and I got it for Christmas. Very cute spin on the fairytale with the spunky female lead. The sequel is also available, and I would love to read it.
3 1/2 stars. Some bits were quite good, others needed a good editor. Overall, it's a very satisfying and welcome adventure tale and I'm looking forward to the sequels. I did not see the turn at the end coming at all, which in this case was a wonderful surprise except for the stupid logic fault of it, namely: if Maud was brilliant enough to be queen and live a long and happy life, why didn't she take her brilliance home with her? Why wasn't she canny enough to run away and have her own adventures in Ontario? A grown woman trapped in the body of an eleven-year-old? Well, yes, it would be hell in a lot of ways, but she could have been a prodigy and had an amazing life in the real world. I don't get how that turned into a motive to destroy the connection between the worlds. Mallow was so incredibly imaginative -- so why Maud's failure of imagination once back in her own attic?
I hate being able to poke holes through otherwise fabulous villains.
I do rather like the variety of ways children can arrive in Fairyland, though. That has a lot of excellent potential.
I hate being able to poke holes through otherwise fabulous villains.
I do rather like the variety of ways children can arrive in Fairyland, though. That has a lot of excellent potential.
Ending was brilliant. Reminded me of The Magicians by Lev Grossman
2020 Popsugar Reading Challenge prompt: A book recommended by your favorite blog, vlog, podcast, or online book club.
I thought the beginning of the book was interesting, but unfortunately this book went up and down like a rollercoaster for me - I enjoyed some parts of it and others not so much. Truth be told, at times, I had trouble remembering what was exactly going on.
I thought the beginning of the book was interesting, but unfortunately this book went up and down like a rollercoaster for me - I enjoyed some parts of it and others not so much. Truth be told, at times, I had trouble remembering what was exactly going on.
This was an entirely charming, well-written, enjoyable story. A very quick read, and clearly appropriate for younger readers, it was still satisfying for this adult. The writing was lovely, and including some eminently quote-worthy phrases. The protagonist was likeable without being irritating or false.
I'm very much looking forward to reading the sequel(s).
I'm very much looking forward to reading the sequel(s).
It's like a modern "Alice and Wonderland" only not so creepy and very very awesome. I'm already planning on reading this again sometime. It's one that can be understood on different levels at different ages of your life. It's rich with symbols and allusions and five-dollar words, but it's still fun and readable and entertaining if you don't understand all of that. In short, I was Ravished.
This book isn't for adults, and doesn't seem to come out of the adult mindset at all, which should be read as a compliment. As an adult, at the beginning of the book, I kept thinking, "Oh, this is so cute it's just TWEE." And getting annoyed with it.
The difficulties of the story become more and more difficult, realistic, and almost saddening, and eventually lay down a believable choice from the villain:
Make fairyland safe,
or let it return to a wild and usually heartbreaking state.
The question was answered to my great satisfaction.
The difficulties of the story become more and more difficult, realistic, and almost saddening, and eventually lay down a believable choice from the villain:
Make fairyland safe,
or let it return to a wild and usually heartbreaking state.
The question was answered to my great satisfaction.
This was an absolutely lovely book. I was particularly fond of the way that the author made it clear that it was for children without being condescending. The story was complex and occasionally frightening with enough mystery to keep an adult interested. Someday I will read this to my children.
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I would have liked this better as a movie, I think. There are wonderful imaginative characters and settings. Valente's writing is rich. But I felt an impatience for the story to move forward. (Maybe I'm more into hero quests than adventuring for adventure's sake!)