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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
I've been doing this sort of indulgent thing where I reread books that I didn't entirely understand when I read them as a child. I'm really glad that I did reread this one, because it's definitely much better now that I'm an adult and not a fifth grader.
It's a pretty gorgeous retelling of Sleeping Beauty. I really appreciate the intricate world-building - I'm a sucker for lovely explanations of how magic works. All of the dialogue is fun, and I think a lot of the interactions are realistic, especially considering it's basically a book that follows a young girl growing up into a young woman who doesn't feel like she's doing any of the things she's supposed to do and can't really figure out why.
One frustrating thing about this book is how the above plot is gay, but not really. Like, this story is almost all about strong women who love each other so much and like, defeat strong magics because they love each other so much. Men do nothing. Rosie and her best friend are in love. But they're not. :(
It's a pretty gorgeous retelling of Sleeping Beauty. I really appreciate the intricate world-building - I'm a sucker for lovely explanations of how magic works. All of the dialogue is fun, and I think a lot of the interactions are realistic, especially considering it's basically a book that follows a young girl growing up into a young woman who doesn't feel like she's doing any of the things she's supposed to do and can't really figure out why.
One frustrating thing about this book is how the above plot is gay, but not really. Like, this story is almost all about strong women who love each other so much and like, defeat strong magics because they love each other so much. Men do nothing. Rosie and her best friend are in love. But they're not. :(
AARGH! Pacing, people!!!! What is wrong with writers and editors these days? This book suffers from the dreaded Pacing Problem: it's moving along at one pace then - BANG - everything speeds up at the end. Sheesh. If you've got to cut back on pages, please PLEASE tighten up all along the book, not just at the end. Really. It absolutely ruined the climax for me. Up until the final 50 pages, it was a good book.
Variation on Sleeping Beauty. The princess is raised completely away from court life and isn't suddenly thrown into a life that she is completely unprepared and unsuited for. I liked this one better than Rose Daughter but it still isn't one of my favorites.
Just a bit of fairy tale fluff, but it’s well-written and enjoyable fairy tale fluff! :-)
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I reread this to remind myself that I like to read and I enjoy writing, so that should tell you what you need to know.
No matter how many times I re-read this book, it will always enchant me. Easily the best take EVER on the Sleeping Beauty tale, McKinley manages to make me A) like and B) care about a princess that I had previously never given a second thought to. The climactic battle is properly thrilling and terrifying, the characters are well-rounded and charming, and the supporting cast of animals are fun and richly imagined. This is a simply beautiful book, full of whimsy and real magic, and manages to make a very old tale feel as brand new as the first time you ever heard it.
This is a retelling of Sleeping Beauty. I've read this before with the same result. I start off really into the story and somewhere along the line I get confused and bored, but not bored enough to quit, just bored enough to skim through to the end. Obviously I skimmed 'cause I didn't remember it at all for the first several chapters. My son says that is how he has felt reading several of her books. Looking back, he might be onto something. Anyway for what it is worth, I liked it enough to read/skim it twice.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is one of my favorite comfort reads. I’ve been rereading it since I was a kid. It’s slow and meandering, but in a way that is simply so cozy and beautiful to read. I love the rich descriptions and the characters and the world they live in. Would recommend to fans of Diana Wynne Jones’ Howl and Sophie series. Ultimate cozy read.
Content Warnings
After this summer and three consequitive books written by Robin McKinley, this is what I have to say.
Sunshine and Spindle's End are pretty similar, so I'm not surprised Susana liked them best. Both of them start with a flight throught the woods, my favourite trope, have a very long center composed of essentially no action and end with a long final battle fought in a fantastical landscape. I particularly enjoy the parts where nothing happens because they're very homey and take full advantage of McKinley's abilities for world building without encouraging her tendency to overpower everyone.
Her characters are made with rather broad strokes (Narl, blacksmith, doesn't talk very much. BAM! That's pretty much all). She clearly indulges what she likes, and I'm almost always onboard. But sometimes I wish she wanted to make it to the cap of adult literature, because I think I would really like it.
Sunshine and Spindle's End are pretty similar, so I'm not surprised Susana liked them best. Both of them start with a flight throught the woods, my favourite trope, have a very long center composed of essentially no action and end with a long final battle fought in a fantastical landscape. I particularly enjoy the parts where nothing happens because they're very homey and take full advantage of McKinley's abilities for world building without encouraging her tendency to overpower everyone.
Her characters are made with rather broad strokes (Narl, blacksmith, doesn't talk very much. BAM! That's pretty much all). She clearly indulges what she likes, and I'm almost always onboard. But sometimes I wish she wanted to make it to the cap of adult literature, because I think I would really like it.