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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
This book wasn't very interesting. At the beginning I didn't really want to keep reading it, but I wanted to find out how it ended. After a while, I didn't even care. It felt like the author was just rambling on and on. Underlying feminism.
I'm coming to realize my favorite type of fiction is fairy tales that are bound up in and rooted in the common place everyday vagaries of life, that stories that are preoccupied with what makes humans hold onto each other so tightly are, really, where my heart lies these days. And of course, this book encapsulates all of that for me.
An interesting and deceptively simple retelling of Sleeping Beauty, McKinley works her literary magic again, bringing a too-often told tale back to life.
In this version, the princess is Rosie, who being hidden from the evil fairy Pernicia by the young Katriona and her Aunt. Rosie is "as safe as ordinariness can make her" and grows up far away from court intrigue. Rosie also has the gift of "beast-speech" meaning she can talk to animals (makes all that Disney crap seem a little more believable) and a best friend named Peony. Peony is all that is good and sweet and gentle, while Rosie is tomboy and apprenticed to the local blacksmith.
There is little to no dialog in the book, but the descriptions are vivid and the world-building fascinating. This may annoy some readers depending on where you sit on the "show me/tell me" fence. I didn't mind it and preferred McKinley's 3rd person narration over some info-dump, stilted conversation between characters to learn why fish are so untrustworthy.
When I finished Spindle's End, there was one part at the end of the book that intrigued me and I was reading some of the other reviews here on Goodreads to see if anyone else picked up on it. One other review did but damn me if I can find it again. If you can find the review that references the gender queering of Rosie, PLEASE let me know. I would love to further explore that idea.
In this version, the princess is Rosie, who being hidden from the evil fairy Pernicia by the young Katriona and her Aunt. Rosie is "as safe as ordinariness can make her" and grows up far away from court intrigue. Rosie also has the gift of "beast-speech" meaning she can talk to animals (makes all that Disney crap seem a little more believable) and a best friend named Peony. Peony is all that is good and sweet and gentle, while Rosie is tomboy and apprenticed to the local blacksmith.
There is little to no dialog in the book, but the descriptions are vivid and the world-building fascinating. This may annoy some readers depending on where you sit on the "show me/tell me" fence. I didn't mind it and preferred McKinley's 3rd person narration over some info-dump, stilted conversation between characters to learn why fish are so untrustworthy.
When I finished Spindle's End, there was one part at the end of the book that intrigued me and I was reading some of the other reviews here on Goodreads to see if anyone else picked up on it. One other review did but damn me if I can find it again. If you can find the review that references the gender queering of Rosie, PLEASE let me know. I would love to further explore that idea.
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
tense
slow-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:
Yes
This book is definitely one of my all time favourite fairy tale retellings. I have vivid memories of listening to the audiobook as a kid and on a reread as an adult I love it so much. The worldbuilding is so much fun and I absolutely fell in love with the characters and their lives and relationships. I love the emphasis on family and friendship rather than romantic love, with a tiny bit of romance at the end. And once again, the worldbuilding is truly just so rich and intricate, it really brings the characters and the settings alive. One day I would love to write something this good.
It’s not a perfect book from a technical perspective- apparently the pacing is a little slow?, but it’s exactly what I was looking for and needed. I think the pacing works perfectly for the story being told.
It’s not a perfect book from a technical perspective- apparently the pacing is a little slow?, but it’s exactly what I was looking for and needed. I think the pacing works perfectly for the story being told.
http://wordnerdy.blogspot.com/2012/03/2012-book-76.html
Finally a Sleeping Beauty heroine I can stand behind! Rosie is bold, brave, stubborn, HUMAN, and it makes me love her! Generally good and multi-faceted characters, plus excellent worldbuilding at work.
However, the grand finale wasn't very satisfactory, it seemed too... random... too chance-driven (like, I know that was the concept, but it felt a tad flat, like the easy way out...)
Anyways, I would recommend this to fellow fairy tale lovers and magic fantasists, it is definitely worth a read!
However, the grand finale wasn't very satisfactory, it seemed too... random... too chance-driven (like, I know that was the concept, but it felt a tad flat, like the easy way out...)
Anyways, I would recommend this to fellow fairy tale lovers and magic fantasists, it is definitely worth a read!
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes