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3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book lowkey triggered personal character development, so that's wild. The first third of the book had me charmed through and through with the fairy tale vibe. The second third of the book was a fight to the death between me and the main character Marinka. The final third wrapped up everything in such a way that I realized I was approaching Marinka's actions from the wrong perspective.
I saw people characterizing Marinka's reactions to plot events as her being a whiner or toxic, but I think Marinka is a striking example of someone who doesn't handle things well. She's grieving, but she's not doing it in an idyllic, acceptable way. She neglects Benji at times, lashes out at anyone who tries to care for her, and is kind of at war with the house for a good chunk of the book. I'm personally fascinated by people who have been through traumatic events and don't handle the trauma 'perfectly,' so I think this book has way more to say on that front than I've seen other people give it credit for.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
What an odd little book for that odd little time between Christmas and new years. I love fairytales and folklore and magic so I loved learning about the Yaga, or those who help the dead make their final journey. A coming of age about finding out who you really are; all on a house with chicken legs!
I feel like if I were to have read this during my second year of college, I forsure would’ve cried because of how relevant the story would’ve been for me. Still, this book holds a very valuable message at its core.
We get to see our main character grow and try to figure out what she wants in life. I don’t know about you but that’s still something I struggle with, and I’m double her age. Such a great story for any age, especially kids.
We get to see our main character grow and try to figure out what she wants in life. I don’t know about you but that’s still something I struggle with, and I’m double her age. Such a great story for any age, especially kids.
I have no idea how to rate this book.
I enjoyed the last 10% the most. I enjoyed the last couple of chapters and the epilogue quite a bit.
I appreciate a story that tackles death and loss and how to find meaning in life. I love that family can be created and does not need to be born. I’m glad not all of the living are mean and dangerous. I love the house, but badly want it to have some boundaries. Even a relationship with a 12/13 year old can have some mutuality. I’m not sure whether Marinka actually follows through and does anything she says she will. There are also inconsistencies. Can the house repair itself without Guidings? Or not.
But.
Despite all of my annoyance I stayed with it because there is also something so compelling.
And the magic of the houses is really fun. And I can feel Marinka’s pain.
I don’t know.
My not knowing lands on 3.
I enjoyed the last 10% the most. I enjoyed the last couple of chapters and the epilogue quite a bit.
I appreciate a story that tackles death and loss and how to find meaning in life. I love that family can be created and does not need to be born. I’m glad not all of the living are mean and dangerous. I love the house, but badly want it to have some boundaries. Even a relationship with a 12/13 year old can have some mutuality. I’m not sure whether Marinka actually follows through and does anything she says she will. There are also inconsistencies. Can the house repair itself without Guidings? Or not.
But.
Despite all of my annoyance I stayed with it because there is also something so compelling.
And the magic of the houses is really fun. And I can feel Marinka’s pain.
I don’t know.
My not knowing lands on 3.
This is a great, creative addition to the baba Yaga story. It integrated culture and pieces of the folk tale with a new, coming of age /coming of wisdom story. I picked it up at the library and literally laughed out loud at the title, I knew the folk tale of baba Yaga and her chicken legged house and I was hooked from the beginning.
This had a strong start and an ok finish, with a whole lot of whining and complaining in the middle. It had such a neat premise that I had such high hopes for it. Besides the whining, I'm not sure why I didn't love it. It just felt like a story where it all could've been avoided if she'd been honest and communicated from the start. So I was a little annoyed most of the book.
A delightful exploration into the folktale myth of the Baba Yaga and death. The story had twists and turns and I especially liked the House as a character. I grew a bit weary of Marinka and her whining but had to remind myself that she was a young teen whose life had been pre-determined and isolated. the author has an enjoyable writing style and I have just picked up her latest book, The Girl Who Speaks Bear.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
So much to ponder as I read this book: destiny, identity, life, death, rebirth, alone and loneliness, relationships, regret, expectations, disappointments. I loved traveling today with Marinka on the House with Chicken Legs.
A favorite quote (p. 241) "Baba used to say it's not how long a life but how sweet a life that counts, and I think maybe the same is true with friendships. I'm not sure how long I will get to spend with Benjamin, but I will appreciate the time I have. I wish I had appreciated the moments I had with Baba more. Nobody is yours to keep. Nothing is forever."
A favorite quote (p. 241) "Baba used to say it's not how long a life but how sweet a life that counts, and I think maybe the same is true with friendships. I'm not sure how long I will get to spend with Benjamin, but I will appreciate the time I have. I wish I had appreciated the moments I had with Baba more. Nobody is yours to keep. Nothing is forever."
It was good but i was hoping for something abit more , it was a sweet book , I guess i was expecting something more adventure based , i skem read alot of this book because I wanted to finish it because it was a nice story but i just couldn’t get invested in it , glad a read it but Not worth a re read , i LOVE the cover tho so beautiful.