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Title: Keturah and Lord Death
Author: Martine Leavitt
Publication date: 2006
Book's setting: Late medieval, somewhere.
Random facts: So I am rather behind on reviews. I'm still reading, I just haven't had time to review. Summer, whatchagonnado?
Plot summary: Keturah is a peasant girl, raised by loving grandparents in a small village. She sees her grandparents as a shining example of true love, and is dedicated to finding a True Love for herself. Her quiet life is disturbed the day she follows the legendary hart deep into the forest finds herself lost. After days of wandering aimlessly she knows that she is about to die, and Death comes. Except Death is a handsome Lord who she feels pity for. Desperate to live, Keturah challenges Death. She uses her storytelling skills to make him grant her a reprieve for one day. She tells a story of a love so pure that even Death cannot destroy her chances. He allows her to live another day on the condition that she come to him with an ending to the story and her true love. Can she find love in such a short time, and help her friends find their own? Can she continue to challenge Death when the plague reaches her beloved village?
Favorite aspects: This might sound dorky, but the message was really beautiful. I also really loved all the villagers. Leavitt creates such a real little world! In that way it reminded me of Shannon Hale's books, but I think that Leavitt's story was much more delicate and metaphorical and downright artistic than Hale's teenager fantasies.
Least favorite aspects: I found the incredibly old fashioned narrative to be rather hard to sink into... I don't know why. It's not like I am not accustom to reading older book, even incredibly old books. Actually my inability to really sink into the words worried me, because the novel I am working on has a very similar style, and now I am rethinking the entire style.
Other works it reminded me of: The Princess Academy by Shannon Hale; Tales of Beedle the Bard by JK Rowling; Beauty by Robin McKinley; Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier.
Sadie's merciless break-down: Truth timez! I didn't really enjoy this book much, mainly because I was not properly focused while reading it. It was beautiful, the story was gorgeous. The very concept makes my heart flutter. But I sort of just read the words dutifully.
I read it soon after arriving home from Germany, with a pile of seven books waiting for me. I had to get back to work, I had a couple of very overwhelming personal things to deal with. It was just the wrong time to read it. Keturah and Lord Death is exquisite. I'd recommend it in a heartbeat. I'm looking forward to reading it again in a few months, or even years, and being able to give it the respect it deserves.
Recommendation rate: If you like fantasies and all that, then you've gotta try it. Sadly it is out of print already, but check the library.
Title: The Rescuers
Author: Margery Sharp
Publication date: 1959
Book's setting: Sometime in the vague early 1900's.
Random facts: R-E-S-C-U-E RESCUE AID SOCIETY HANDS HELD HIGH TOUCH THE SKY YOU MEAN EVERYTHING TO ME.
Plot summary: So there is this massive society of mice. The Prisoners Aid Society. And their job is to comfort depressed prisoners around the world. There is this really sad poet who is imprisoned in the most terrifying prison of all time, in Norway. The only mouse who can get access to this prison is high class Miss Bianca. She's completely out of her depths in the dark and murky world of Norway's jails, but she's just brave enough. Besides, Barnard had asked her so nicely. Along with the help of Nils, a Norwegian sailor mouse, Miss Bianca fights cats and all manner of terrifying things, to save the sad poet.
Favorite aspects: I think that the illustrations were my favorite part of the book, which I know it actually cheating, but it's true. Either way, it was darling. I was very delicate and sweet and touching and careful and everything a good childrens book should be. I was actually very impressed, I wasn't anticipating liking it so much.
Least favorite aspects: I actually had a bit of a hard time falling into the writing. It was a bit old fashioned obviously, but I read tons of old(er) books and have always really enjoyed the stately language. This was probably more an error on my part, like I was really tired or something when I read it.
Other works it reminded me of: The Wonderful O by James Thurber.
Sadie's merciless break-down: The Disney movie of the same name was one of the most important things in my childhood. No lie. As much as I loved this book, it wasn't the Disney movie. Actually, it was probably better than the Disney movie, but it was still incapable to affecting me the way the cartoon did when I was a kid. Obviously. That's not exactly surprising, just confusing. Much like Ronia, this is a book I wish I had ten years ago.
Recommendation rate: If you are a big children's lit fan, then check it out.
Title: No One Belongs Here More Than You
Author: Miranda July
Publication date: 2007
Book's setting: Modern
Random facts: 200+ pages and I read it in a day, forsaking all else.
Plot summary: A collection of short stories written in that compelling and emotional voice that is ~modern~ literature. The stories are just little pictures of life- different lives and different heart break. Some of them are very odd, bordering upon metaphysical I'd almost say. Except it's not really the story itself that is otherworldly, it's just the way it's told.
Favorite aspects: All the emotions were sincear and they all felt so close to home... I even identified with the ones that I really had no reason to. I felt the character's pain in a way that is very rare, especially in short stories when none of the characters are actually fully developed. I have an easier time reviewing the books I didn't love. I loved this. I loved it. I think my favorite stories were The Swim Team, This Person, and How to Tell Stories to Children. The last one broke my heart in the most epic way of all time.
Least favorite aspects: I don't think I can think of anything... Sorry.
Other works it reminded me of: The Complete Short Stories of Evelyn Waugh by Evelyn Waugh; The Two Kinds of Decay by Sarah Manguso.
Sadie's merciless break-down: I'm in an incredibly vulnerable place in my life right now, so prehaps it isn't any wonder I cried. Even so, I don't cry often.
So there is this style of writing. It's called "modern." And I've realized I love it. I'm cautious with it because it can be easily abused, or at least I think it can be. I don't think it possible that all "modern" writing could possible be as meaningful as No One Belongs Here More Than You. It's like poetry in proses form. It has a new set of rules and it's rhythmic. I'm a bit afraid of modern literature because I think it's more emotionally powerful than older styles of writing. It can grab you and haunt you so easily. I think that's because emotion is the point of modern literature. Not theme or morals or social commentary- the point is conveying emotion and making the reader feel it too. So in that sence it's a bit frightening, but it can also be compelling and eye-opening and really, really exquisite.
Note: Because I don't know who reads this blog or what their personal standards are I just feel the need to note that this book has sex and cursing in it. You have been warned.
Recommendation rate: It's a pity you can't force someone to read because you should all be forced to read this.
Title: Ronia the Robber’s Daughter
Author: Astrid Lindgren
Publication date: 1981
Book's setting: Medieval timesish
Random facts: It was turned into a film in Sweden, one that did incredibly well. And then it was turned into a stage play in Germany.
Plot summary: Ronia is the only daughter of Mattis, the chief of a band of thieves in the forest. Ronia grows up as the only child in a world of men until she meets Birk, the only son of Mattis' rival. The two bands of thieves have fought for years, but become forced to unite for their children's sake.
Favorite aspects: Childhood romances are my kryptonite!! Okay, so it was more like a friendship, but you know what I mean. Cute little playmate stories are my kryptonite. It was just a charming story. It's really short... I read it in an afternoon... but it's still worth reading if you like children's literature. It's by Lindgren, so you know it's hysterical as well as charming.
Least favorite aspects: It's funny, I think I am just a bit old for this book... Or rather, I enjoyed it because I knew I'd have loved it as a child. It's a book I'd love to give a little girl, more than actually read again for my own personal pleasure.
Other works it reminded me of: The Minstrel in the Tower by Gloria Skurzynski.
Sadie's merciless breakdown: I have a long list of book I want to give a little girl one day. Not even my own daughter necessarily, but any little girl. I want to give her Ransom for a Knight and The Minstrel in the Tower and The Maude Reed Tale... and I want to give her Ronia the Robber's Daughter. I'm sure eventually one of my sisters or friends will have a daughter... and when that happens I have a large stack waiting for her.
Recommendation rate: Buy it as a present for your niece.
Title: Bleak House
Author: Charles Dickens
Publication date: 1853
Book's setting: Early 19th century
Random facts: I read this book because of Gillian Anderson and Carey Mulligan. Also because I was bored.
Plot summary: So there is this massive court case over the fortune of a guy who has been dead for a really long time. The case is called Jarndyce and Jarndyce. In a way Bleak House has two plot lines, that don't come together till the very end. The first plot line is regarding three young orphaned wards of the court- Esther, Ada, and Richard. They are taken in by a Mr. Jarndyce, one who wants nothing to do with the case and discourages his young wards from getting involved. Romance and tragedy and inevitable entanglement with the case draw the three young adults together toward their uncertain futures. The other plot line centers around one Lady Dedlock. Lady Dedlock has a secret, one that her husband's lawyer is hellbent on uncovering. This second strand of story unfolds like a whodunit mystery, pulling in all manner of classic "Dickens" characters. By the end of the thousand page novel, the two stories are binded together in more way than one.
Favorite aspects: Ada and Richard. I stumbled and crawled and cried through the dull parts and the political parts and the massive chapters filled with old men yelling at each other for Ada and Richard's sake. I never thought Dickens could be capable of such a subtle, sweet romance. I want to buy my own copy and just highlight all the sweet Ada and Richard bits and read those alone over and over. (And just ignore their tragic end.) The other best part was Lady Dedlock. I'll go through the book with a different colored highlighter and cover all the amazing, tragic, heartbreaking thoughts of Lady Dedlock. Maybe the fact that I'd seen the miniseries helped bring these characters to life in a fully emotional way... or maybe Dickens is just capable of much more romantic subtlety than I had thought.
Least favorite aspects: Those stinking Smallweeds. I sort of glazed over those parts. I mean, "shake me up Judy!" gets boring after a while. I feel like I needed an index of characters and back stories and family secrets while reading Bleak House. Maybe I'm just a bit too lazy to give it the attention it desires. Oh well. Nothing regarding Snagsby or Jo will be highlighted or given too much thought.
Other works it reminded me of: Let's be honest. Dickens is only ever really like other Dickens.
Sadie's merciless break-down: So, remember two months ago when I begrudgingly had to admit I liked Little Dorrit, but was pretty certain I wouldn't be throwing myself into any more Dickens anytime soon? Well. I guess that plan fell through.
I took it out from the library because I was going on vacation and I needed something incredibly long and not too interesting to read on the plane, and in bed every night while in Germany. I needed something interesting enough that I'd actually read it, but nothing so good that I'd forsake enjoying myself for the book. So I read it on the plane and in bed and while my friends were napping before dinner was served. I read it while charging my mp3 player and while drinking a beer in the evening. I read it in fits and burst and skimmed the parts that bore me and read my favorite parts a couple of times over.
Basically, I read it incredibly badly. Then again, I don't really care. Usually I believe that all literature should be paid express attention to, that it needs to be, I guess, respected. But I read Bleak House the way one might read a romance novel while on a business trip. It relaxed me. Book critics and historians and all those people are probably crying right now, but I don't really care. I enjoyed it. Maybe the reason I have a hard time reading Dickens is because I try too hard. Maybe the secret to enjoying him is just letting yourself fall into the story and read it your way... even if that means you miss 89% of the political commentary. Whatever. Ada and Richard. The end.
Recommendation rate: I don't know. What do you think?
