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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Strangely gentle prose, considering how tragic the lives could be. Sedgwick was inspired to write this by Sweden’s ‘most controversial painting’, Midvinterblot by Carl Larsson, which stands in the National Museum in Stockholm. It depicts the sacrifice of a king to the gods so that his people will be lifted from the three years of famine they had suffered. Midwinterblood works backwards from the year 2077, to the sacrifice in Norse times. 7 lives, 7 different time periods, and 7 moons.
I read this one more out of duty than a real desire to read it. You know- "Well , it won the Printz after all!" I had read Revolver and liked it pretty well, but not enough to be chomping at the bit for Sedgwick's latest- now I'm chomping! :). I'm not sure why I liked this one so much- it can be difficult to read if you are not a fan of short stories- b/c that's what this is- a connected set of short stories. I just really liked each one and never had a moment where I lost interest. I think this is a testament to Sedgewick's talent as a writer. I am now looking forward to his next book- I think it's coming out this summer or maybe this fall.
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Lovely and poetic, and resoundingly like The Fountain to me. I loved the repetition, the way the various motifs interlocked and echoed throughout each of the seven parts of the story. Unsettling and a bit surreal, Midwinterblood feels more allegorical, more fable-like, than many of the other YA offerings I've read this year.
Interesting? Yes. Deserving of a Printz? Meh? Better than The Dream Thieves, my favorite 2013 title? Not Even Close. Printz folks just don't like chainsaw birds and fast cars, I guess.
(There are a lot of Printz honor books from the last few years that I liked better than Midwinterblood. Then again, there are some of Printz award books *koff*Going Bovine*koff* that I couldn't even get through.)
(There are a lot of Printz honor books from the last few years that I liked better than Midwinterblood. Then again, there are some of Printz award books *koff*Going Bovine*koff* that I couldn't even get through.)
Will not be adding that island to my travel plans! Interesting book, but I wish there had been more about the main characters when they were together (long ago and in the future).
