Scan barcode
A review by flajol
A Pocketful of Crows by Joanne M. Harris
5.0
A beautiful little book, both physically and in content. Pencil illustrations by Bonnie Helen Hawkins are scattered throughout, and faithfully reflect the story. I love the endpapers - a slightly disturbing figure amongst ivy, calling to mind old folk tales of the Green Man and Herne, and somehow capturing one of the main themes of the book: the cyclical nature of life. Ooh, all that in an endpaper design! I *really* like the illustrations.
Harris' tale is good too. I love folk tales, and I love retellings, so this was perfect for me. The writing is lyrical, and has that timeless quality that you find in good folk and fairy tales. I really felt for our nameless heroine, and wanted to kick young William in the shins (I'm trying to be kind -he'd have been better kicked elsewhere). The story had a sort of dreadful inevitability to it, which tied in very well with the final reveal.
Harris' tale is good too. I love folk tales, and I love retellings, so this was perfect for me. The writing is lyrical, and has that timeless quality that you find in good folk and fairy tales. I really felt for our nameless heroine, and wanted to kick young William in the shins (I'm trying to be kind -he'd have been better kicked elsewhere). The story had a sort of dreadful inevitability to it, which tied in very well with the final reveal.