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Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey

25 reviews

tardycreative's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I loved this story, I was hoping all the way through the book that Garrett and Faina would be together, but I am very disappointed that Faina left like that - I was hoping Garrett and Faina would become wilderness hermits together, like Faina's family. Other than that it was a perfect book, followed in the direction I wanted it to go :)
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chrisljm's review against another edition

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reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

bittersweet ending
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hannahrenae's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful mysterious sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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em_reads's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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chalkletters's review against another edition

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emotional mysterious sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

As far as I remember, The Snow Child was a book I picked up from one of work's book sales, and first read over Christmas (very seasonally appropriate). I thought I remembered the basic story, and liked it well enough, so I thought I'd read it again during the even colder months of January and February. Maybe it would help me recapture my love of snow after it betrayed me. (Yes, yes, I am Lorelai Gilmore.) 

Eowyn Ivey's descriptions of snow are very lovely and cosy, like sitting inside in the warm and watching snow fall against the window. Even when the characters face the genuine dangers of an Alaskan winter, the prose is always light and enchanting. While I wouldn't say the story was predictable or obviously moving towards any particular happy ending, the danger to these characters is very rarely physical and immediate.

At first, it seems as though The Snow Child might be a version of Pollyanna: an unusual, pure-hearted child appears to bring new meaning into older characters' lives. (Which is absolutely fine, but a little overdone. Why must it always be a child?) Fortunately, there was more going on between Mabel and Jack, and the child's touch is not the only thing required to fix their relationship, which was very much appreciated. 

Faina (the titular snow child), too, has more going on than just being a child made of snow that came to life. Throughout the story, Eowyn Ivey presents evidence for both sides, that Faina is flesh-and-blood or that she's something more folkloric, and without spoiling the ending, even that is left fairly open for the reader to decide.

Overall, a lovely wintery read that had more nuance in it than I had remembered! Also, bonus cameo of an otter, which is always welcome.
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