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roseleaf24's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. David, the father, was difficult to read about to begin with because he had so little understanding of his children's grief. But he came around as the family grew closer. And the rest of the story was great; I loved the weaving of the story of Taliesin, and the Welsh magic. The characters were likeable and full.
tamara_danielle's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
desushi's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
basbleu_dans_labiblioteque's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
ehays84's review against another edition
4.0
We picked this one up randomly at a little library or from a used bookstore, and had it lying around in the basement for a while. I knew that it was a Newbery Honor winner, so every once in a while, I would get it out and look at it, and it finally rose to the top of my reading list. I am very glad that it did.
This book is definitely the closest I have read to something by Madeline L'Engle, so if you are a fan of hers (and why wouldn't you be?), you should definitely read this. The main connections to her work are a well-written family with lots of strong character development and development as a family overall and a world in which fantasy and magic blend in with real life in ways that the characters don't always understand. And in both, the fantasy element is a part of helping the family and character growth.
But probably the strongest element of this book is its portrayal of Wales. I grew up loving the Lloyd Alexander books, so I have always had a love for Wales and Welsh mythology from that time (not to mention that my first name is Welsh). And there is plenty of that in this book because Taliesin is essentially a character in this book. But this portrayal of Wales is much more real to modern times--at least I have a strong feeling that it is not having been there myself (yet). She manages, quite well, to portray the, in many ways, prosaic (or perhaps even dreary) reality of the weather and life in general in Wales while at the same time capturing its beauty and charm. To me, that sort of complicated reality is what things are actually life in real life, and she draws this out so well about Wales. She lived for a while in the area that she wrote about, but I think I also connect with this book because she, like myself, is an American who grew up loving the British Isles. For Bond, and myself, the British Isles are the place where fantasy and reality meet in our imaginations. And I think ultimately the reason for that is that Britain's history goes back beyond the edges of our human stories and memories, unlike here in America for those of us whose families come originally from Europe.
I really can't find anything too critical to say about this book, and if you are someone who is a fan of children's books overall, or fantasy overall, or mythology, or books about Wales/Great Britain, you should add this one to your reading list.
This book is definitely the closest I have read to something by Madeline L'Engle, so if you are a fan of hers (and why wouldn't you be?), you should definitely read this. The main connections to her work are a well-written family with lots of strong character development and development as a family overall and a world in which fantasy and magic blend in with real life in ways that the characters don't always understand. And in both, the fantasy element is a part of helping the family and character growth.
But probably the strongest element of this book is its portrayal of Wales. I grew up loving the Lloyd Alexander books, so I have always had a love for Wales and Welsh mythology from that time (not to mention that my first name is Welsh). And there is plenty of that in this book because Taliesin is essentially a character in this book. But this portrayal of Wales is much more real to modern times--at least I have a strong feeling that it is not having been there myself (yet). She manages, quite well, to portray the, in many ways, prosaic (or perhaps even dreary) reality of the weather and life in general in Wales while at the same time capturing its beauty and charm. To me, that sort of complicated reality is what things are actually life in real life, and she draws this out so well about Wales. She lived for a while in the area that she wrote about, but I think I also connect with this book because she, like myself, is an American who grew up loving the British Isles. For Bond, and myself, the British Isles are the place where fantasy and reality meet in our imaginations. And I think ultimately the reason for that is that Britain's history goes back beyond the edges of our human stories and memories, unlike here in America for those of us whose families come originally from Europe.
I really can't find anything too critical to say about this book, and if you are someone who is a fan of children's books overall, or fantasy overall, or mythology, or books about Wales/Great Britain, you should add this one to your reading list.
kybart's review against another edition
3.0
i thought this book was confusing at most parts, but i enjoyed it.
caroparr's review against another edition
3.0
As a new children's librarian, I read this when it first came out and loved it. This time around, I found it very slow. I was also taken aback that the 15-year-old daughter becomes the family housekeeper when she decides to stay in Wales after the holidays - this felt very dated. But the fantasy worked for me. I loved Peter's glimpses of the sixth century world. And I especially loved the descriptions of the Welsh countryside and the natural world - though it might not have been so enthralling if I had not just returned from Wales.
kxu65's review against another edition
3.0
This book is about the aftermath of 3 siblings when their mom dies, and 2 of them has to stay with their dad in Ireland, while the oldest stays back to live with their aunt and uncle in New England, but then reunite for the holidays at their dad's house. During the holidays, one of the siblings find a mysterious object that allows myth and history to be seen.
This book is not so great because I felt there was no conflict within the book, and what was there was made up in order to fill the void of needing one. I felt no danger or be connected with the characters more because of the so called conflict.
P. S. I didn't like or find it great that in child's book when they call adults by their first name, especially with a parent, and then other adults are called by their last name like they should be.
This book is not so great because I felt there was no conflict within the book, and what was there was made up in order to fill the void of needing one. I felt no danger or be connected with the characters more because of the so called conflict.
P. S. I didn't like or find it great that in child's book when they call adults by their first name, especially with a parent, and then other adults are called by their last name like they should be.
sonofthunder's review against another edition
4.0
A lovely book. Ok yes, it is a children's book written back in the 70s. It is not an intricately plotted epic or a book of exquisite literary quality. But it sang. This is a book that I couldn't wait to get back to every time I was absent from it. It is a book about a family, about a land, about sadness and loss and fellowship and discovery and joy. Set in a small coastal Welsh village, this book is about a family transplanted from America to Wales, adrift both body and soul. It starts out simply enough and just tells their story as they struggle to deal with their grief over losing their mother/wife. I will not tell too much more, but this story also has fantastical elements linking back to far-ago Welsh history! Those elements I honestly felt were the weaker bits. Still lovely, but not as engrossing as just reading about this family trying to get through a year as they also seek to become closer to one another and the community in which they live. Reading this book, the details and meandering storytelling were so vivid and seemingly well-informed, I assumed the author must have first hand knowledge, and so it turned out to be. The author herself spent time in small-town Wales and so she writes with the assuredness of someone who's walked the same streets, talked to the same people and lived the same life. I was very sad to leave this book. A brilliantly-told story - not complex, but beautiful.
lory_enterenchanted's review against another edition
I read this after reading Constance's 1976 Club review, remembering I had read it long ago as a child and not liked it much. It seemed like something I should adore (Wales, harps, magic) - I couldn't recall why I had disliked it.
Upon starting the reread, I immediately understood why. The first half of the book is incredibly depressing. Wales is cold and wet. The family in the story is sad and dysfunctional. Neither Peter nor Jen, the two main viewpoint characters, are very sympathetic, although I feel sorry for them and their plight. Their bereaved father is frankly in need of therapy and advice as to how to be a parent (hint: you don't do it by blaming your son for being unhappy at being torn away from all his friends and familiar surroundings immediately after his mother dies, nor by expecting your 15 year old daughter to step into the role of caregiver and confidante).
The "magic" consisted of Peter finding a harp tuning key from the 6th century bard Taliesin, and having visions of his life that also sometimes bled into the present day. However, it was all very static and lacking in interactivity or tension, like Peter was watching Taliesin TV. Even when things happened in the present, it did not affect anyone in any lasting way.
Peter's depression and anger eases through his magical experience, though it's not really clear why, unless it's just that it distracts him from obsessing over his negative feelings. And the family grows into a new kind of relationship, mostly through the children realizing they have to be the grownups and take care of their father. "I can't help thinking of you as my children," he says near the end. Um yes ... maybe you should treat them that way and actually give them some care and attention?
The descriptions of Wales are sometimes interesting, although clearly drawn from the author's trips, which seem to have inspired her to take her travel journal and turn it into a novel.
Overall, a pale imitation of Susan Cooper's The Grey King, which won the Newbery the previous year, and includes many of the same elements, including a grieving bereaved man, a troubled father-son relationship, and a dramatic hunt for a sheep-killing canine. And harps, of course.
Upon starting the reread, I immediately understood why. The first half of the book is incredibly depressing. Wales is cold and wet. The family in the story is sad and dysfunctional. Neither Peter nor Jen, the two main viewpoint characters, are very sympathetic, although I feel sorry for them and their plight. Their bereaved father is frankly in need of therapy and advice as to how to be a parent (hint: you don't do it by blaming your son for being unhappy at being torn away from all his friends and familiar surroundings immediately after his mother dies, nor by expecting your 15 year old daughter to step into the role of caregiver and confidante).
The "magic" consisted of Peter finding a harp tuning key from the 6th century bard Taliesin, and having visions of his life that also sometimes bled into the present day. However, it was all very static and lacking in interactivity or tension, like Peter was watching Taliesin TV. Even when things happened in the present, it did not affect anyone in any lasting way.
Peter's depression and anger eases through his magical experience, though it's not really clear why, unless it's just that it distracts him from obsessing over his negative feelings. And the family grows into a new kind of relationship, mostly through the children realizing they have to be the grownups and take care of their father. "I can't help thinking of you as my children," he says near the end. Um yes ... maybe you should treat them that way and actually give them some care and attention?
The descriptions of Wales are sometimes interesting, although clearly drawn from the author's trips, which seem to have inspired her to take her travel journal and turn it into a novel.
Overall, a pale imitation of Susan Cooper's The Grey King, which won the Newbery the previous year, and includes many of the same elements, including a grieving bereaved man, a troubled father-son relationship, and a dramatic hunt for a sheep-killing canine. And harps, of course.