Re-Reading

As an avid reader, I’ve often noticed that other bookworms can often be divided in their attitudes to re-reading books. Some people will never read the same book twice, no matter how much they’ve enjoyed it. Others re-read so frequently that I wonder how they ever manage to fit new books in. I’m somewhere in the middle, as I imagine most people are; I have a select few ultimate favourite books that I have re-read countless times and will probably continue to do so. However, I only have selected times that I will allow myself to re-read books; either as a treat when I’ve accomplished something tricky (when I was at university this was usually after an exam) or when I’m going through a difficult time (the amount of times I’ve run back to the comfort of Hogwarts during a bout of depression or a time of grief is countless). It’s a big deal if a book makes it on to my re-read list, so I thought I’d share those books with you here (I’m sure I’ve probably forgotten some!) and talk a bit about why I love them so much.

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

“It is true, we shall be monsters, cut off from all the world; but on that account we shall be more attached to one another.”

I studied Frankenstein at A-Level and absolutely fell in love with it. The fact that Mary Shelley was only eighteen years old when she penned this in a ghost-story contest with literary greats (but massive dickheads) Percy Bysshe Shelley and Lord Byron will never fail to blow my mind. I don’t feel that the story will ever lose its relevance; the line between life and death is something that all of us, to some extent and for whatever reason, wish that we could control . The Creature also remains, to me, at least the most empathetic – and, ironically, the most human – character that has ever been written. Plus, the novel in itself is pretty short – less than 200 pages if you buy the original 1818 text (which you MUST DO because the 1821 edition published by most companies was edited by Percy Shelley in the biggest example of  arrogant mansplaining I can think of ), so can be read in an afternoon if desired.

 

Harry Potter by J.K.Rowling

“Happiness can be found in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light”

I’m sure the Harry Potter books are on the lists of many people! Re-reading Harry Potter was a treat for when I finished my GCSE’s, AS Levels and A-Levels, and they were the first books I turned to when I was grieving for my Nan and couldn’t really cope with life at all. I always do feel like, in the words of Rowling herself, Hogwarts has always been here to welcome me home, no matter what I’m going through in the real world. It gives the escapism of magic whilst still making me feel understood, and preventing me from feeling alone in dark times.

 

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

“I have hated words and I have loved them, and I hope I have made them right.”

Never has a book broken my heart into quite so many pieces as ‘The Book Thief’ did, and continues to do every time I read it. The writing style is something I’ve never encountered before or since, and having the book be narrated by death is just so different and overwhelming. Probably not to be recommended when you are going through a down time – unless you need something to provoke you into having a good cry – but definitely highly recommended in any other instance.

 

The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter

“She herself is a haunted house. She does not possess herself; her ancestors sometimes come and peer out of the windows of her eyes and that is very frightening.”

‘The Bloody Chamber‘ is another text I studied for my A-levels and one that has always stayed with me. As well as being a bookworm I’m a huge Disney fan, and as such, love fairytales. The twisted fairytales of Angela Carter aren’t for the faint-hearted (particularly ‘The Snow Child‘) but they do put a beautifully feminist spin on traditional fairytales like ‘Sleeping Beauty‘ and ‘Red Riding Hood‘. My favourites in the collection are the title story,  ‘The Courtship of Mr Lyon‘, and ‘The Lady of the House of Love‘ (which the above quote is from).

North Child by Edith Pattou

“That’s the trouble with loving a wild thing: You’re always left watching the door.”

‘North Child‘ is a young adult novel that I read when I was about thirteen and have continued to re-read ever since. A beautifully written fantasy and adventure story based loosely on ‘Beauty and the Beast‘, this novel is perfect escapism. Rose, the protagonist, is also a feisty, intelligent and imaginative role model for young girls, and continues to inspire me as a reader now.

The Princess and the Captain by Anne-Laure Bondoux

I read this at about the same time as I read North Child, and love it for precisely the same reason – it offers an inspirational female heroine and the perfect blend of fantasy and adventure. It is, however, a much sadder story and has never failed to make me cry. Yet it also has such hope that it never fails to make my heart feel lighter.

The Black Magician Trilogy by Trudi Canavan

The Black Magician Trilogy by Trudi Canavan

“He had given her too much. He had given her everything”

It is usually the third installment in the trilogy, ‘The High Lord‘ that I tend to re-read, but this whole trilogy is incredible. Sonea is a fantastic protagonist, but the accompanying characters, have personalities and storylines that are just as fascinating, and means that none of the books ever become dull. They are written in such a way that, despite being about magic, the stories feel very realistic and believable.

Tess of the d’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy

“Why didn’t you tell me there was danger? Why didn’t you warn me? Ladies know what to guard against, because they read novels that tell them of these tricks; but I never had the chance of discovering in that way; and you did not help me!”

‘Tess of the d’Urbervilles’ is one of my favourite classic novels because, much like ‘Frankenstein‘, it is so ahead of its time. The men in this novel are AWFUL, and the brave heroine Tess faces defeat after defeat without ever losing her sense of self or where she has come from. I admire Tess tremendously, and also love Hardy’s writing and the fact that he did not shy away from writing strong women.

The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory

“You can smile when your heart is breaking because you’re a woman.”

Despite its inaccuracies, I have a lot to thank this book for, as it was what set me on the course to studying History, with a specialism in the Tudors and Early Modern Europe, at university. The story of the sisterly rivalry between Mary and Anne Boleyn in the tumultuous world of the Tudor court is gripping and never fails to entertain me,as well as break my heart.

 

So, there you have it –  my ultimate re-reads! What are the books that you would re-read? Are there any particular books you turn to in times of difficulty? Let me know in the comments section!

Mistress of All Evil by Serena Valentino

RATING: 3/5

BLURB: “What of the Dark Fairy, Maleficent? Why does she curse the Princess Aurora to fall into an eternal sleep?

Many tales have tried to explain her motives. Here is one account, pulled from those passed down through the ages. It is a story of love and betrayal, magic and fantasy. It is a tale of the mistress of all evil.”

REVIEW: As a Disney fan and reader of all of Valentino’s previous novels on the Disney villains, I was looking forward to reading her take on the story of Maleficent, who is one of my favourite villains. I enjoyed instantly the links to Valentino’s previous novels, as the story opens where the last novel (‘Poor Unfortunate Soul’) left off, with the funeral of Ursula taking place and the Weird Sisters placed under a sleeping spell by their younger sister Circe. Other links to the previous novels occured throughout this tale, including the return of the characters Grimmhilde and Snow White, as well as Princess Tulip and Prince Popinjay. The return of these characters really added to the story; particularly the return of Nanny, who serves as a focal character in this novel in particular. We learn that she was once Maleficent’s adoptive mother, having found Maleficent as a young fairy abandoned in the Fairylands due to her green skin and growing horns. Maleficent was able to lead a happy childhood with Nanny, despite opposition and hostility from other members of the fairy community including Flora, Fauna and Merryweather, who essentially act as the high-school bullies of the story. From reading of this backstory, Maleficent becomes a highly empathetic character, as readers begin to understand the trauma of her past and the events which led her to become the Mistress of All Evil. In the present day, however, Maleficent has just put the Princess Aurora under a sleeping curse and seems determined to kill her, something she insists is for Aurora’s protection, though none can understand her motives.

When Maleficent’s motives are revealed, however, my interest in the novel waned slightly as this was the point where, for me, the plotline became just a bit too far-fetched. It is revealed that Maleficent is Aurora’s mother, and that Aurora was born of a magic spell invented by the Weird Sisters (through which they created their own daughter, Circe) in order to give Maleficent the company she craved after her magic destroyed the Fairylands and she lost all contact with those she loved. Maleficent soon realises, however, that Aurora will also have magic as she does, and rather than let it turn her daughter evil, she decides to put her into an enchanted sleep and attempt to kill her. I felt this whole section of the novel was stretched beyond what would be believeable purely to fit in with the traditional Disney storyline, and found that somewhat disappointing.

Overall, however, I still really enjoyed the novel and I loved the ending; it was my favourite yet of Valentino’s novels, despite the extraordinary plot. I am very much looking forward to reading her next Disney villains novel, which I believe will centre on Mother Gothel from ‘Tangled’.

 

Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan

“A heart may desire a thing powerfully indeed, but that heart’s desire might be what a person least needs, for her health, for her continuing happiness”

RATING: 3/5

BLURB: “In her inspired re-working of the fairy tale Snow White and Rose Red, Margo Lanagan has created characters that are vivid, passionate, flawed and fiercely devoted to their hearts’ desires, whether these desires are good or evil. It is the story of two worlds – one real, one magical – and how, despite the safe haven her magical world offers to those who have suffered, her characters can never turn their backs on the real world, with all its beauty and brutality”

REVIEW: I have often said how much I enjoy reading novels that are retellings or reworkings of fairytales, and I’ve had ‘Tender Morsels’ on my bookshelf for so long that I’d almost completely forgotten about it. I was really excited to get stuck in, and see how Lanagan had managed to twist the traditional Snow White and Rose Red story.

‘Tender Morsels’ tells the story of Liga, a young woman who is raped and abused by her father and, after his death, is gang raped by a group of boys from the nearby village. Destroyed by what has happened, Liga hardly knows where to turn, and ends up opening a kind of magical portal to a new world, in which she and the two daughters she has bourne from these terrifying encounters will be safe. However, there are other points of view that appear throughout the story, such as that of the midget Collaby Dought and Davit Ramstrong, a man who accidentally enters into Liga’s magical world in the form of a bear, becoming close to her and both of her daughters. These points of view seem to switch very suddenly, and the fast move from third to first person can be quite confusing, particularly in the beginning of the novel when the reader is not yet used to it. The writing style also seems a little jumbled at times, but I think this may just be due to the author’s attempt to keep up a fast pace and to ensure that the stories of all the characters are included. It only appears to be the male characters in the novel who are granted a first-person perspective, despite the fact that the female characters – particularly Liga and her daughters, Branza and Urdda – are more central to the plot of the novel. This was another thing that I found slightly confusing, and I would have much rather heard more from the female characters; particularly as I found the character of Collaby to serve very little purpose as a whole in the novel, other than as an illustration of how dangerous the magical world could be despite the safety it provided to Liga and her family.

I did begin to enjoy the book significantly more from around halfway through, with the introduction of the first bear that the girls learn to befriend. From this point onwards the novel became more gripping, and it was from this point that the gradual discovery of the two parallel worlds began. Even in this section, however, which I enjoyed,  I found some aspects of the plot to be disappointing. The disappearance of Urdda, who finds her way into the real world from within the magical, is strangely dealt with by both Liga and Branza, neither of whom seemed to feel any hugely significant emotion towards her loss. The later transition of Liga and Branza into the real world, and their reunion with Urdda and the character of Annie (a favourite of mine) was well-written, with the real world being portrayed in stark contrast and Liga and Branza’s adjustment to this being completely believable. The reader also feels a grim satisfaction when Urdda uses the hidden magic within her to accidentally reap a terrible revenge on the five men who gang raped and abused Liga, leading to Urdda’s conception. However, I also felt that the announcement of Davit’s marriage to Branza came too close to the end of the novel and too suddenly, which did not allow Lanagan to sufficiently explore the emotions of Liga, who had nursed feelings for Davit ever since the time he spent with her as a bear in the magical world.

Lanagan’s writing style is unusual, and often vividly descriptive. The story itself, however, is highly complex and fast-paced, and could sometimes have done with being more detailed in places to ensure that the reader understood what was happening. As previously mentioned, the transitions from third- to first-person were also confusing and sometimes made the story hard to follow, and it would have been  nice to hear first-hand from the female characters. I enjoyed this novel, but would not read it a second time, and nor would I neccessarily make an enthusiastic recommendation. It was intriguing, but I had expected something a little different and think Lanagan could have gone down a different and more engaging route.

Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George

RATING: 3.5/5

BLURB: “As the crown princess, Rose is never without a dance partner. She and her eleven sisters are treated to beautiful gowns, slippers and dances at party after party in their father’s palace. But their evenings do not end when the guests return home. Instead, Rose and her sisters must travel deep into the earth to the wicked King Under Stone’s palace. There the girls are cursed to dance each night, even when they grow exhausted or ill. Many princes have tried – and failed – to break the spell. But then Rose meets Galen, a young soldier-turned-gardener with an eye for adventure. Together they begin to unravel the mystery. To banish the curse they’ll need an invisibility cloak, enchanted silver knitting needles, and, of course, true love.”

REVIEW:  I always enjoy a fairytale retelling and this novel, based on the story of The Twelve Dancing Princesses, is an imaginative and engaging story based on this classic tale. The story focuses mainly on the characters of Galen and Rose. Galen is a young, orphaned soldier recently returned from war who seeks out his Aunt and Uncle to give him a new home in the Kingdom of Westfalin. Galen is welcomed with joy by his Aunt but with much more reservation by his Uncle, still wounded over the loss of his own son in the recent wars. He is reluctantly offered a job with his Uncle as an under-gardener at the palace, tending the beautiful and infamous gardens of the deceased Queen Maude. These gardens are now roamed by her twelve beautiful daughters, and Galen develops a particularly strong attachment to Rose, the eldest daughter. But the twelve sisters are hiding a dark secret which they cannot speak of, and which is constantly perplexing their father and the members of their household. Every night the girls appear not to move from their beds; but every morning, their dancing slippers are worn threw and their gowns strewn across the room. Increasingly growing in despair, particularly after their nightttime exertions begin to make the girls unwell, their father the King announces that any prince who can solve the mystery may choose one of his daughters to marry, and will rule Westfalin alongside her upon his death. Many Princes try and fail, but as they all soon after find themselves killed in supposed accidents, the girls find themselves under an increasing suspicion of witchcraft that places the whole kingdom of Westfalin under an interdict that forbids any religious ceremonies. Galen is the only person left willing to try and find a way to stop the curse, due to his growing love for Rose, and this leads him along on a terrifying adventure with the twelve princesses from which there seems to be very little likelihood of escape.

This is a well-told, entertaining and beautifully written story which truly captures the atmosphere of a fairytale. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and am very much looking forward to reading more of Jessica Day-George’s fairytale retellings.

Fairest of All by Serena Valentino

RATING: 4/5

BLURB: “How did the Wicked Queen become so evil? When the King asks for her hand in marriage, the beautiful daughter of a cruel mirror-maker accepts, hoping her fortunes will change for the better…but will they? This is the untold tale of love, loss and dark magic behind the classic story of Snow White”

REVIEW: Having previously read Valentino’s novel ‘The Beast Within’, I was really looking forward to getting my teeth into ‘Fairest of All’, and it certainly did not disappoint – in fact, I enjoyed this novel even more! It tells the story of the daughter of a mirror-maker. Bullied and tormented by her father, she is both amazed and delighted when the King of their realm begins to pay attention to her and, after her father’s death, asks her to marry him and become his Queen. The new Queen, dazzlingly beautiful, is thrilled by this change in her life; she falls deeply in love with her new husband and also with his precious daughter, Snow White, whom she treats as her own child. The three form a new family, and with her dear friend Verona by her side the Queen feels as though nothing can go wrong – despite her husband’s frequent war campaigns and the arrival of his three very peculiar cousins, three strange sisters who seem determined to frighten Snow White and encourage the Queen to cruelty through the use of a gift they provide her with; a magic mirror that contains the face and soul of her dead father. Things begin to take a turn for the worse, however, when the King dies in battle. Despite Snow White needing her more than ever, the Queen sinks into grief, neglecting her new little daughter and becoming more and more dependent on her magic mirror. As she begins to obsess over remaining the fairest in the land, her wild fixation on her own beauty leads her to turn against not only the budding Snow White, but also Verona, who is beginning to eclipse her in beauty. With the encouragement to the three sisters, this leads us to the events of the story that we know and love from the Disney film ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarves’; the Queen sends her huntsman to kill Snow White but, when he fails and Snow White runs away, she transforms herself into an old crone and kills Snow White herself with a poisoned apple. In this version of events, when running away from the Dwarves the Queen knows what will lead to her end, and sacrifices herself in falling from the cliff, knowing that Snow White will be revived by her Prince and find happiness with him. I absolutely loved this book and can’t wait for the UK release of ‘Poor Unfortunate Souls’ next month, as Ursula is my favourite Disney Villain!

Red Riding Hood by Sarah Blakley-Cartwright and David Leslie Johnson

RATING: 3/5

BLURB: “Valerie’s sister was beautiful, kind and sweet. Now she is dead. Henry, the handsome son of the blacksmith, tries to console Valerie, but her wild heart beats fast for another: the outcast woodcutter, Peter, who offers Valerie another life far from home. After her sister’s violent death, Valerie’s world begins to spiral out of control. For generations, the Wolf has been kept at bay with a monthly sacrifice. But now no-one is safe. When an expert Wolf hunter arrives, the villagers learn that the creature lives among them – it could be anyone in town. It soon becomes clear that Valerie is the only one who can hear the voice of the creature. The Wolf says she must surrender herself before the blood moon wanes…or everyone she loves will die.”

REVIEW: This novel is a spin-off from the 2011 film of the same name, loosely based on the classic fairytale and directed by Catherine Hardwicke, who writes in the introduction to the novel that she felt the story would work just as well on paper as it had on screen. I saw the film not long after its release, and I enjoyed it – as many of you will probably have noticed, I do like fairytale retellings – though I did feel while watching it as though something was lacking. The story was much the same in the book. At the beginning of the novel, all of Valerie’s worries are centred on who she will chose to dedicate her life to – the handsome blacksmith Henry who wishes to marry her, or the unpredictable Peter who was once her childhood friend and wishes for her to run away with him. When her older sister Lucie is killed by the Wolf, however, everything changes for Valerie. The situation worsens upon the arrival of the priest, Father Solomon, who claims that the Wolf is someone from the village itself. This leads neighbours to turn against each other, and Valerie’s friends to turn against her so severely that she is labelled a witch for being the only person who can communicate with the Wolf. The novel does indeed mirror an Early Modern witch hunt, particularly with its fear of the supernatural and things it doesn’t understand – like the young boy Claude, who is mentally disabled and targeted by Father Solomon for his differences, in what is undoubtedly the only moment in both the novel and film where the reader feels truly distressing emotions, horrified and upset by the treatment of the innocent Claude. Although the finger of suspicion is pointed at many characters in the novel, one of the major letdowns of the book for me was how obvious it appeared to me who the Wolf really was -though I still will not mention the name in the review, for the sake of spoilers. I also found the writing to be simplistic and often very clunky, with unemotive dialogue, though the description of the violence endured by the villagers during Solomon’s crusade was very well-written. Overall, I feel that this could have been a much better novel had the writers been able to diversify a little more from the events of the film and perhaps expand on them.

Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson

RATING: 4/5

BLURB: “Tiger Lily doesn’t believe in love stories or happy endings…until she meets Peter Pan in the forbidding woods of Neverland. Immediately, she falls under his spell – holding him like a secret in her heart. Peter is unlike anyone she has ever known. Reckless and brave, he both scares and enthralls her. She will risk everything – her family, her future – to be with him. But Tiger Lily soon discovers that the most dangerous enemy can live inside even the most loyal and loving heart.”

REVIEW: This twist on the classic tale of Peter Pan had me hooked from start to finish and I read the entire book in one sitting. Anderson turns the character of Tiger Lily, a mere footnote in the pages of J.M. Barrie’s book and the majority of the film adaptations into a protagonist in her own right, introducing the reader to a brave and admirable young woman who makes her own way in life regardless of the disdain of the rest of her tribe. Tiger Lily was raised by the leader of the tribe, Tik Tok, an extremely interesting character who seems to represent the transgender community in a way we rarely see in young adult fiction; he is a male noted as being extremely feminine, preferring to wear his hair long and dress in clothes usually prescribed to the female members of his tribe. The fact that he retains a position of power despite his differences is something I felt was really inspiring and I thoroughly enjoyed reading about his character, only wishing that we could have learnt more about him and his backstory. Tiger Lily may be the protagonist of the story, which initially revolves around her relationship with the parental Tik Tok and her closest friend, a young boy named Pine Sap who is clearly in love with her  – but the story is, in fact, narrated by a far more famous character; Tinker Bell. Tinker Bell follows Tiger Lily from the beginning to the end of the story, as an almost unnoticed companion whose devotion for Tiger Lily – and later for Peter Pan – comes through with every word. Through Tinker Bell we learn of Tiger Lily’s daring exploits, such as her saving of the shipwrecked Englander Phillip and her later friendship with Peter Pan. Upon meeting Peter, Tiger Lily soon becomes lost in spending time with him and the Lost Boys, partly to escape her fears of the marriage that has been arranged for her with Giant, a frightening and violent older member of the tribe. The love that blossoms between Tiger Lily and Peter is gradually built up and extremely well written despite being told through the jealous eyes of Tinker Bell, who has also fallen for Peter but loves Tiger Lily too much to prevent her from losing out. Peter is also written extremely well – vulnerable yet arrogant, he is the perfect combination of wild and daring hero and frightened little boy, so that the reader can understand why Tiger Lily so wants to care for him. Things change dramatically with the arrival of Wendy, however, and as the Englander Phillip makes drastic changes to the lives of Tiger Lily and the rest of the tribe, Tiger Lily’s world begins to fall apart. This book is one of the best reimaginings of a classic story I have ever read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Each and every one of the characters was engaging and often bought a unique element of suffering to the story that made the reader keen to learn more about them. I would highly recommend this book not only to fans of J.M. Barrie’s original but also anyone looking for an adventurous, exciting, easy read that can be enjoyed at leisure.

Rating

The Storyteller’s Daughter by Cameron Dokey

RATING: 3/5

BLURB: “After a bitter betrayal, a King vows never to be deceived again. But the King’s plan to protect himself will endanger all of the realm’s young women, unless one of them volunteers to surrender her life to marry the King. To everyone’s relief and horror, Shahrazad, the daughter of a legendary storyteller, steps forward. On her wedding night, Shahrazad begins to weave a tale for the King. Fascinated, the King lets her live night after night. Just when Shahrazad dares to believe that she has found a way to keep her life – and has discovered an unexpected love – a treacherous plot disrupts her plan. Now Shahrazad must hope that love is strong enough to save her”

REVIEW: This book is one of many in the ‘Once Upon a Time’ collection, a project by a number of authors (including Dokey) designed to reimagine fairytales in a new and vibrant way, turning the women of these tales into true protagonists. This is the first novel of the project I have read, and I found it enjoyable. ‘The Storyteller’s Daughter’ is a retelling of the Arabian Nights tale, and Dokey introduces a strong and likeable main character with the blind but gifted Shahrazad, an outcast of society who remains the beloved apple of her father’s eye. The majority of the novel is a mixture of stories that Shahrazad reads from the scrolls left to her by her dead mother Maju, and the relationship that develops between Shahrazad and Shahrayar when she marries him in order to save other women from certain death. I enjoyed the tales told by Shahrazad, and the blossoming romance between herself and Shahrayar; I also enjoyed the coup that was staged against them both towards the end of the book. However, I did find that the writing sometimes seemed stilted, often simplistic and rushed, which made it a little dull at times. The relationship between Shahrazad and Shahrayar was also built up very mildly and never seemed to reach a point of culmination for the reader. This, and the simplistic writing style, could both be explained by the fact that these books are based on fairytales which, after all, are meant to teach and guide us rather than launch into vivid and length descriptions of each and every detail. I did, however, think that some elements of this book could have used more description and visualisation in order to give it more depth and prevent it from being just another traditional fairytale.

The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey

RATING: 3/5

BLURB: “Alaska, the 1920s. Jack and Mabel have staked everything on a fresh start in a remote homestead, but the wilderness is a stark place, and Mabel is haunted by the baby she lost many years before. When a little girl appears mysteriously on their land, each is filled with wonder, but also foreboding – is she what she seems, and can they find room in their hearts for her?”.

REVIEW:

I was really looking forward to this book; I give myself a mission, every so often, of reading what sounds like the most interesting bestseller in a certain month. I’ve had ‘The Snow Child’ for well over a year now, and was expecting quite a lot from it due to its status as a famed bestseller. This is, perhaps, why I was slightly disappointed by what the book had to offer. I enjoyed the book – the writing is especially beautiful, with vivid descriptions of the snowy landscape and tough farmland that made me feel like I was really in the midst of icy cold 1920’s Alaska. Mabel and Jack’s relationship was also extremely realistically written, with Ivey unafraid to show the flaws of the characters and how these impact their relationships. The Benson family are a lively, likeable and sometimes comical addition to the novel, allowing for a brief respite from the heavy emotions the reader feels after reading about Jack and Mabel’s growing attachment to the snow child herself, Faina, a wildling who acts as their daughter in the winter months but heartbreakingly disappears each summertime. Faina herself remains a mystery even at the end of the novel – which gives the reader an extreme sense of unfulfillment. Throughout the book, I kept expecting something big to happen, some big secret of Faina’s to be revealed – even during her period of romantic, almost domestic life close to the end of the book, Faina never does anything to make the reader gasp in shock or excitement. The character I found most likeable, in fact, was Garrett Benson; although not one of the main characters, he brings a practical, strong dimension to the book that increased my enjoyment of the tale greatly.

Overall, though a much pleasanter retelling of the old Russian fable than some stories I have read *coughangelacartercough*, ‘The Snow Child’ is a somewhat anticlimatic novel. As an easy, relatively enjoyable read, however, I may recommend it again.

Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult and Samantha van Leer

RATING: 4/5

BLURB: “Delilah knows it’s weird, but she can’t stop reading her favourite fairy tale. Other girls her age are dating and cheerleading. But then, other girls are popular.She loves the comfort of the happy ending, and knowing there will be no surprises. Until she gets the biggest surprise of all, when Prince Oliver looks out from the page and speaks to her.
Now Delilah must decide: will she do as Oliver asks, and help him to break out of the book? Or is this her chance to escape into happily ever after?”

REVIEW:

Okay, so I haven’t read any YA fiction for a while, but I’m really glad I read this. The plotline may sound quite simple, even childish – which is understandable, considering the fact that the main character’s life revolves around a fairytale – but this book really spoke to me. It’s perfect for people like me – if you’ve ever wanted to escape into your favourite book, or fallen in love with a fictional character and desperately wished that he (or she) were real, then this book is perfect for you too. It’s pure escapism, and a quick, easy read. Delilah is a likeable, relatable character, especially to the target audience of the book – daydreamy, lonely, living in a fantasy world. Prince Oliver presents interesting questions for the reader about books and their characters, as does Delilah’s meeting with the author of Oliver’s story, Jessamyn Jacobs. The plot twist at the end was excellently done, as the reader spends the entire book hoping and praying for Delilah and Oliver to finally be allowed to meet and exist in the same world – and of course, with it’s fairytale structure, the book has to have a happy ending: but not in the way readers might expect.

I would definitely recommend this book to any young bookworm, dreamer or escapist, as the book deals with these themes and gives the sense that there are millions of other people out there who feel exactly the same.