Just finished reading this magical book . More than two thirds of the book is pure unadulterated writing at its best. Felt like a combination of Pearl S Buck (Good Earth, to be specific) and Hemingway (for the non-flowery but engaging style of writing) of all people! I can assure you with confidence that it will be difficult for you to put it down once you start. There is no starting trouble for this one. You are in from page one! Then, depending on what held your interest, you might feel a let down towards the end. As if the book's end compromised on the enormous promise it held at the beginning. Not a show stopper though.This is Eowyn Ivey's first book but the writing feels more like pure gold formed over burning hot coal. The book is populated by catchy stories and evolving characters, not to mention pure magic threaded through the story fabric. I love this book. I do. Ivey has a master hand in what she does which is obvious from early on. Magical realism has never been so real for me. Story revolves around Mabel and Jack moving up to remote Alaska to farm virgin land and the mystery child who enters their lives as if through a snow fall. Let me just quote a few lines here for the yet hesitant: "She could not fathom the hexagonal miracle of snowflakes formed from clouds, crystallized fern and feather that tumble down to light on a coat sleeve, white stars melting even as they strike. How did such force and beauty come to be in something so small and fleeting and unknowable?" I have only advise for you now. Please do not skip lines. Each line is imbibed with a beauty that should be devoured slowly. I have splattered superlatives all over this post which is not at all how Ivey handles her prose. In her hands words are like pliable mud formed so dexterously into what she wants. Ok, I'll stop babbling but I hope you got the point. And remember not to be too disappointed at the end. It is still enjoyable, just not as much as the majority of it. That is all.
On other news, see what my girl got on her hands with the henna kit we got from amazon? She saw it on a friend's hands who had gone to India, waited for summer to come since school won't allow it, reminded me promptly and went for it. It was fun. Took me back some days...
We then topped it off with a strawberry pattern on the nails that I had seen somewhere! My little customer was as happy as a butterfly!
On other news, see what my girl got on her hands with the henna kit we got from amazon? She saw it on a friend's hands who had gone to India, waited for summer to come since school won't allow it, reminded me promptly and went for it. It was fun. Took me back some days...
4 comments:
Hi, I noted down the names of all the books you had mentioned in the last post but could not get even one in my online library.. well it seems i'd have to look for other options. Yes you are so right, the henna design sure takes us back to our child hood, the strawberry nail art looks so cute :)
The book sounds very interesting Lan but for the prose, like old english is it;-P????
@henna - ur lil one must have been so thrilled. Even here it's the same, as soon as the hols start, the nail paint is carefully stowed away is hunted out & I'm hounded till I put it for them;-).
And here in Dubai there are these henna tents in malls[during festivals & celebrations] where one can get henna drawn for free or for a nominal amt depending on the event. The kids never miss an opportunity[during hols ie];-D.
@strawberry nail art - u did tht???? wow coool!!!!
ss, that is disappointing. i wish they had at least some.. even here i think this particular library has the most varied collection of books which is why i pay the extra fee they charge because we are out of its zone...i do hope you will come across some of the books...
nance, i am a sucker for the old i guess:-) succinctly written despite the part i chose... as for henna, yes i understand their excitement. free henna tattoos? even i'd be lining up. i did one pattern on my hands but it attracts too much attention at work. some love it and some thinks it odd.. i loved the strawberry pattern when i saw it on someone. easy to do. paint all red. do the three pronged leaf on top with green and then dot it --ideally with yellow.
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