Scan barcode
melissamalicious's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
All the feelings! This one is a twisted retell of a Japanese folktale The Crane's Wife. A dark tale narrated by a weaver's daughter, this story is one filled with
This book reminds me of a dark fractured fairytale. The twists of the retell is conveying an old message, rather than a more modern one: "mothers fly away like migrating birds. And fathers die too young. This is why farmers have daughters. To keep things going in the meantime, until it’s our time to grow wings. Go soaring away across the sky.”
The crane as an allegorical character is going to have me thinking about this story for a bit. The feathers shedding everywhere, suffocating and obscuring views, the talons taking over the past and damaging it, just whoa. The author presents this story to us and takes the outside world away.
The crane as literal character is done visually, both beautiful and a bit of the grotesque that makes this an enjoyably dark read. The crane as a metaphoric character, whether representing abuse, or expectations of women, or freedom,
I'm really looking forward to getting to discuss this a bit, specifically to what it means when a crane can represent different things. The author weaves this together into an evocative fable. It makes me want to read more of their work.
This book reminds me of a dark fractured fairytale. The twists of the retell is conveying an old message, rather than a more modern one: "mothers fly away like migrating birds. And fathers die too young. This is why farmers have daughters. To keep things going in the meantime, until it’s our time to grow wings. Go soaring away across the sky.”
The crane as an allegorical character is going to have me thinking about this story for a bit. The feathers shedding everywhere, suffocating and obscuring views, the talons taking over the past and damaging it, just whoa. The author presents this story to us and takes the outside world away.
The crane as literal character is done visually, both beautiful and a bit of the grotesque that makes this an enjoyably dark read. The crane as a metaphoric character, whether representing abuse, or expectations of women, or freedom,
I'm really looking forward to getting to discuss this a bit, specifically to what it means when a crane can represent different things. The author weaves this together into an evocative fable. It makes me want to read more of their work.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
Minor: Injury/Injury detail and Vomit
reading_rainbow_with_chris's review
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
“The Crane Husband” by Kelly Barnhill
At 15 years old, and mature for her age, a young girl in the Midwest carries far more than her fair share of household duties in the wake of her father’s death and her mother’s artistic impulses. But when her mother brings home a giant crane as her next lover, things in the house became far more tense than ever before.
In this tight 120 page tale, Kelly Barnhill has once again revealed herself as a master of magical realism. I pounced on this after having read her stunning novel “When Women Were Dragons” and devoured this in 24 hours. I do think it’s worth noting, however, that “The Crane Husband” has its fair share of flaws. If I sit and think through the experience with a critic’s eye, the pacing feels off for how quickly the major twist becomes apparent to the reader ahead of the characters. As a result, the suspense is not as effective. I also found myself at times incredulous at how skilled, how brilliant, how effective the protagonist was in roles well beyond her years or experience. Yet she was never found out. Somehow, this felt less believable than the giant crane lover. And yet, this story was riveting from start to finish and I absolutely loved the journey. It’s imperfect, but some of the best things in life are. Highly recommend for fans of magical realism tinged with a touch of horror.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Blood
Minor: Gun violence, Vomit, Sexual content, and Domestic abuse
didireadthat's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
I’m left feeling a little baffled and I know I’m going to be thinking of this story for a while. I already know I should reread it again in the future because I know I didn’t get everything in the first read.
This was a really fast read and very interesting. I loved the writing, it was descriptive but not to the point that the plot was lost in the narrative.
The basic story of the eldest child finding her widowed mother is deep in an abusive relationship and will do anything to protect their younger siblings was a sturdy backdrop for the magical realism in the story. Knowing how the plot would most likely develop made it easier for me to accept the crane in this story and not get so distracted by the impracticality of it and I could really enjoy the fable aspect.
This was a really fast read and very interesting. I loved the writing, it was descriptive but not to the point that the plot was lost in the narrative.
The basic story of the eldest child finding her widowed mother is deep in an abusive relationship and will do anything to protect their younger siblings was a sturdy backdrop for the magical realism in the story. Knowing how the plot would most likely develop made it easier for me to accept the crane in this story and not get so distracted by the impracticality of it and I could really enjoy the fable aspect.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, and Sexual content
Minor: Vomit and Blood
More...