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kandicez 's review for:
The Scorpio Races
by Maggie Stiefvater
Beautiful, beautiful book.
The Scorpio races are run every November on the beach by men on water horses they have "caught" from the sea. Or bought. Or paid someone to capture for them. Sean Kendrick has won four of the last six races. Kate, "Puck" Connelly, a young, orphaned girl, decides to race for very personal reasons. A woman has never raced before. While the idea of these races was terrific, I don't think the book is about the races at all. It's about the island, the people who live there. Their hopes, wishes, dreams, regrets and beliefs.
I had never heard of water horses, or the legends surrounding them, so found the gradual way that Stiefvater described them perfect. I was free to begin picturing a regular horse, slowly adding details and the strange differences between our horses and these.
Steifvater shows us all of this through alternating chapters told from Puck and Sean's points of view. I've lived in small, rural places and I think the feel of that sort of life is perfectly captured here. Outsiders don't quite understand everything that is said. Superstitions exist that the outside world is unaware of. The natives are leery of the unknown with few exceptions.
I wouldn't say this book had any actual magic in it, but there were numerous off-handed remarks made about using iron, bells and charms to tame or calm the water horses, I loved that! Steifvater didn't explain how or why the charms were used, just slipped the references in as if anyone would understand. As simply as you might say "she stopped for gas" to someone who has only ever seen electric automobiles, without realizing they have no idea what you are talking about. That made me, the reader, feel the way an outsider would feel on the island. Not quite "in the know."
There is a bit of romance, but not the ooshy-gooshy kind I hate. It was well written and never overpowered the rest of the story. I cared for Puck and Sean more because of the way they cared for each other. Mature, responsible love that grows slowly and steadily and surprises those who are feeling it even though everyone around them can see it coming. There's a lovely quote:"You swallow her with your eyes. I'm surprised there's any of her left for the rest of us to see." and this is said to a young man who doesn't yet know he is in love. That quote tells us what could have taken 20 pages to write. Like I said, beautiful, beautiful book.
There is a treat mentioned called November Cakes. They are described in exquisite detail, but with no indication of what they contain or how they might be made. I want one. I heard a rumor that Angie has a recipe and I think I may have to spend the next day or so tracking it down, then making my own November cakes this weekend. A book that can make you hunger for something you've never seen, heard of, or tasted is a very well written book!
Re-read 9/2014
This book was even more beautiful as an audio book. the two readers were perfect. I cannot recommend this book enough, in any form.
The Scorpio races are run every November on the beach by men on water horses they have "caught" from the sea. Or bought. Or paid someone to capture for them. Sean Kendrick has won four of the last six races. Kate, "Puck" Connelly, a young, orphaned girl, decides to race for very personal reasons. A woman has never raced before. While the idea of these races was terrific, I don't think the book is about the races at all. It's about the island, the people who live there. Their hopes, wishes, dreams, regrets and beliefs.
I had never heard of water horses, or the legends surrounding them, so found the gradual way that Stiefvater described them perfect. I was free to begin picturing a regular horse, slowly adding details and the strange differences between our horses and these.
Steifvater shows us all of this through alternating chapters told from Puck and Sean's points of view. I've lived in small, rural places and I think the feel of that sort of life is perfectly captured here. Outsiders don't quite understand everything that is said. Superstitions exist that the outside world is unaware of. The natives are leery of the unknown with few exceptions.
I wouldn't say this book had any actual magic in it, but there were numerous off-handed remarks made about using iron, bells and charms to tame or calm the water horses, I loved that! Steifvater didn't explain how or why the charms were used, just slipped the references in as if anyone would understand. As simply as you might say "she stopped for gas" to someone who has only ever seen electric automobiles, without realizing they have no idea what you are talking about. That made me, the reader, feel the way an outsider would feel on the island. Not quite "in the know."
There is a bit of romance, but not the ooshy-gooshy kind I hate. It was well written and never overpowered the rest of the story. I cared for Puck and Sean more because of the way they cared for each other. Mature, responsible love that grows slowly and steadily and surprises those who are feeling it even though everyone around them can see it coming. There's a lovely quote:"You swallow her with your eyes. I'm surprised there's any of her left for the rest of us to see." and this is said to a young man who doesn't yet know he is in love. That quote tells us what could have taken 20 pages to write. Like I said, beautiful, beautiful book.
There is a treat mentioned called November Cakes. They are described in exquisite detail, but with no indication of what they contain or how they might be made. I want one. I heard a rumor that Angie has a recipe and I think I may have to spend the next day or so tracking it down, then making my own November cakes this weekend. A book that can make you hunger for something you've never seen, heard of, or tasted is a very well written book!
Re-read 9/2014
This book was even more beautiful as an audio book. the two readers were perfect. I cannot recommend this book enough, in any form.