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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loved this book!! History, mystery, romance, fantasy all combined for an awesome read.
I loved this book. The history, stories and characters all mingled to create a story that kept you wanting to know more long after the last page. Such a great read!
Firstly, and this is the most important thing to note on this book, IT IS NOT NOT NOT YOUNG ADULT!
It is so far removed from the YA books full of teenage angst and love triangles that I am still baffled as to why this would be classified as such.
The book is reminiscent of [b:Cloud Atlas|49628|Cloud Atlas|David Mitchell|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1344305390s/49628.jpg|1871423] and [b:The Law of Love|25520|The Law of Love|Laura Esquivel|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1388353931s/25520.jpg|1672379] and I loved every second of it – so much so that I tried to stretch out my reading experience for as long as possible but still finished it in 2 sittings.
7 seemingly unrelated stories are told, each at a different point in history, with one or two constants that bind each story to the other. Starting in the year 2037 where a journalist goes to a mysterious island where people never seem to get sick or old, and ending up in the time of the Vikings.
Each story captures the essence of its time perfectly and the nagging questions I had throughout were answered in the end where everything came together. This has a complex plot that will not suite a YA audience at all.
Highly recommended!
It is so far removed from the YA books full of teenage angst and love triangles that I am still baffled as to why this would be classified as such.
The book is reminiscent of [b:Cloud Atlas|49628|Cloud Atlas|David Mitchell|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1344305390s/49628.jpg|1871423] and [b:The Law of Love|25520|The Law of Love|Laura Esquivel|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1388353931s/25520.jpg|1672379] and I loved every second of it – so much so that I tried to stretch out my reading experience for as long as possible but still finished it in 2 sittings.
7 seemingly unrelated stories are told, each at a different point in history, with one or two constants that bind each story to the other. Starting in the year 2037 where a journalist goes to a mysterious island where people never seem to get sick or old, and ending up in the time of the Vikings.
Each story captures the essence of its time perfectly and the nagging questions I had throughout were answered in the end where everything came together. This has a complex plot that will not suite a YA audience at all.
Highly recommended!
Age: Middle School-High School
Midwinterblood is a quickly paced story taking place during seven time periods from seven different perspectives--or are they so different? Inspired by a painting from the Swedish painter Carl Larsson,:
Sedgwick presents a romance that stretches across an immense amount of time, reincarnating itself seven times as lovers Eric and Merle find each other each time. I believe that they were drawn to each other each reincarnation but that they did not entirely know why, until their final hour. Also appreciated: this romance remained between Eric and Merle. NO LOVE TRIANGLE! Tor seemed to be their opposition each life, but it wasn't because he was in love with Merle. His opposition varied, oftentimes focused on power.
This definitely has Printz potential due to its deeper telling with a slew of literary devices including motif (a ridiculous amount of motif) and the play on foreshadowing. Sedgwick doesn't analyze the book for us; rather, he opens a gateway of discussion about eternal life, reincarnation, and the pain surrounding everlasting love.
In reference to this book being classified as horror: "If you're the type of reader who prefers goth over gore, mood over mayhem, or disquiet over digust, this is exactly the kind of horror story that will appeal to you" (Wendy Darling's review).
"Have you ever had the feeling that you've lived another life? Been somewhere that has felt totally familiar, even though you've never been there before, or felt that you know someone well, even though you are meeting them for the first time? It happens. In 2073 on the remote and secretive island of Blessed, where rumour has it that no one ages and no children are born, a visiting journalist, Eric Seven, and a young local woman known as Merle are ritually slain. Their deaths echo a moment ten centuries before, when, in the dark of the moon, a king was slain, tragically torn from his queen. Their souls search to be reunited, and as mother and son, artist and child, forbidden lovers, victims of a vampire they come close to finding what they've lost" (Goodreads feature review).
Midwinterblood is a quickly paced story taking place during seven time periods from seven different perspectives--or are they so different? Inspired by a painting from the Swedish painter Carl Larsson,:
Sedgwick presents a romance that stretches across an immense amount of time, reincarnating itself seven times as lovers Eric and Merle find each other each time. I believe that they were drawn to each other each reincarnation but that they did not entirely know why, until their final hour. Also appreciated: this romance remained between Eric and Merle. NO LOVE TRIANGLE! Tor seemed to be their opposition each life, but it wasn't because he was in love with Merle. His opposition varied, oftentimes focused on power.
This definitely has Printz potential due to its deeper telling with a slew of literary devices including motif (a ridiculous amount of motif) and the play on foreshadowing. Sedgwick doesn't analyze the book for us; rather, he opens a gateway of discussion about eternal life, reincarnation, and the pain surrounding everlasting love.
In reference to this book being classified as horror: "If you're the type of reader who prefers goth over gore, mood over mayhem, or disquiet over digust, this is exactly the kind of horror story that will appeal to you" (Wendy Darling's review).
"Have you ever had the feeling that you've lived another life? Been somewhere that has felt totally familiar, even though you've never been there before, or felt that you know someone well, even though you are meeting them for the first time? It happens. In 2073 on the remote and secretive island of Blessed, where rumour has it that no one ages and no children are born, a visiting journalist, Eric Seven, and a young local woman known as Merle are ritually slain. Their deaths echo a moment ten centuries before, when, in the dark of the moon, a king was slain, tragically torn from his queen. Their souls search to be reunited, and as mother and son, artist and child, forbidden lovers, victims of a vampire they come close to finding what they've lost" (Goodreads feature review).
I really don't know what to think of this one and will probably change my rating several times. On the one hand, it is quite the page turner, and I read it almost within a day. I loved the creepy tone, throughout.
I loved the first six stories, but I'm not sure that they connect as well as they should. The seventh story was a bit of a disappointment. The love story had potential, but the passion was rather dull in the end.
I'm not a big fan of the writing style, but perhaps I'm reading the book too critically. Had I read this before the Printz announcement, would I have enjoyed it more? I think I might have. I also think I would have enjoyed this as a teen, which is what really matters, right?
I can't decided between 3 and 4 stars.
I loved the first six stories, but I'm not sure that they connect as well as they should. The seventh story was a bit of a disappointment. The love story had potential, but the passion was rather dull in the end.
I'm not a big fan of the writing style, but perhaps I'm reading the book too critically. Had I read this before the Printz announcement, would I have enjoyed it more? I think I might have. I also think I would have enjoyed this as a teen, which is what really matters, right?
I can't decided between 3 and 4 stars.
I was skeptical about this book in the beginning, but it grew on me.
My third time reading this and it gets better every time. Recommended if you like historical fiction/fantasy (and maybe the concept of cloud atlas). It’s a little creepy and also a beautiful story.
fast-paced
Why does Marcus Sedgwick have such a hard-on for women who need their man? Women with no purpose other than their man?
It's gross.
It's gross.