Once Upon a Winter's Night by Dennis McKiernan

Title: Once Upon a Winter's Night

Author: Dennis McKiernan

Pages: 380

Finished: October 25, 2017

First Sentence: They lived in a one-room stone cottage on the edge of Faery, there where the world ends and the mystical realm begins, there where golden sunshine abruptly becomes twilight all silver and grey, there where night on one side instead of the other is darkness, sometimes absolute, sometimes illumined with a glorious scatter of bright stars and silvery moonlight, sometimes illumined by small, dancing luminosities atwinkle among hoary trees, there where low, swampy lands and crofters' fields and shadowed forests on this side change on that side into misty fens and untilled meadows and deep, dark, mysterious woods.

Summary: The Prince of the Summerwood proposes marriage to Camille, the daughter of a poor farmer who lives on the edge of Faery. His scheming, unhappy wife accepts for her, and thus Camille travels to fairy on the back of a giant bear. There she spends her days with her bear and nights with her prince, though she never sees his face. Upon traveling back home, her mother convinces her to light a candle to see his face. When she does, a giant wind carries Camille's prince and the entire household away. It's up to Camille to travel through Faery to the place east of the sun and west of the moon where she can hopefully free the Prince of the Summerwood from a curse.

Thoughts: This is an adult retelling of East of the Sun and West of the Moon, set against a backdrop of a larger series. I liked that Camille actually built a relationship with Prince Alain. It made the idea of going to find her true love that much easier.

But Camille herself bugged me. I had no problem with her being so clever earlier in the book. Her ability to beat him at chess, her ability to solve riddles. All very good. However, it seemed like all her cleverness left her when she went on her quest to save Alain.

I wasn't a huge fan of the writing either. The author was trying to sound like he was writing a bardic tale, only the lilt didn't really work in prose writing. That being said, I'm interested in how the rest of this series turns out and will probably find reason to read the other four.

Read for my Fairy Tale Challenge.

The Once and Future King by T. H. White

Title: The Once and Future King

Author: T. H White

Pages: 677

Finished: October 14, 2017

First Sentence: On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays it was Court Hand and Summulae Logicales, whil the rest of the week it was the Organon, Repetition and Astrology.

Summary: The story of King Arthur from his childhood to his death. It's all there - The Wart's education with Merlyn as his master. His experiences as different animals. His ascension to King of England as he pulls the sword out of the stone. His attempt to civilize England with his Round Table and the idea of Might for Right. His love triangle between him, Lancelot, and Guenever. And his ultimate downfall.

Thoughts: Wow. Last time I read this was the summer before I started high school. It kicked off a four year obsession with the Arthurian Legends, and I read so many of them.

I got so much more out of this book this time around. And it is indeed kicking off a new King Arthur love.

The Sword in the Stone was funny in a way I don't remember it being before. I chuckled more than was probably warranted, but was also charmed by Wart's lessons. I wish we had seen the geese lessons in Disney's Sword and the Stone, but I suppose it wouldn't have been quite as fun as the squirrel and Madame Mim...

The Queen of Air and Darkness set up the Orkney Clan in a way that was super dark. Darker than most of what I remember reading in other books. This is also the chapter that talks a lot about anti-war. There was a quote that I really want to chuck at our leader's head right now about sending the leaders to war rather than the citizens etc. Morgause was a rather horrific lady. I also thought it was rather interesting how all her boys really loved her. Agravaine (and I believe later Mordred) in a way that was incestuous. The image of the "tape" that she used to seduce Arthur was really memorable too. I remember reading it as a teen and not really understanding what was happening.

The Ill-Made Knight is the bread and butter of the book. Everything seems so good, and then it's all dashed to pieces. I did not remember much of this book - and I found it a little boring too. Guenever was very unlikable. Jealous to a fault, and flaunting her relationship with Lancelot in a way that Arthur would have had to really turn a blind eye to ignore. Interestingly enough, as I read the book, I was reading Lancelot as bisexual. I was starting to feel like perhaps I was reading it with modern sensibilities, but upon further research, I found out that T.H. White was a closeted homosexual and that he had toyed around with actually making Lancelot gay. Mostly though, I don't think any of our main three characters came out looking all that good in this chapter. Arthur tried, but his constant turning a blind eye was difficult.

And then came The Candle in the Wind. Oh my heart. Mordred? I despise him. I understand he was brought up by the hateful Morgause, but it seemed not only did he want to hurt Arthur as best he could, he wanted to just set the world in a tailspin. Hateful man. But then again, none of our main three came out looking all that much better. Most heartbreaking though, was Arthur remembering his lesson as a goose at the very last minute. Also, the image of the candle in the last chapter was one that remained with me since my freshman year of high school, and that made much more sense than it had before.

Geeze this is a long review. I loved this book. I loved it even more than I did 15 years ago because I understood so much more about it. T.H. White was a conscientious objector in World War II, something that came out so clearly this time around. I somehow didn't get that last time, and it's not like it's deeply hidden. I think I was just reading for the plot points of King Arthur. I'm interested in seeing how this one goes in 30 more years.

Two minor things: the author does not use the Oxford comma, and the edition has two spaces after a period. Found it mildly irritating.
Read for Back to the Classics AND Retellings Challenge.

October Reads

Rinkitink in Oz by L Frank Baum - Wizard of Oz
I Am Princess X by Arthur A. Levine - Caudill Challenge
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin - Bluestem Challenge
Eleven Birthdays by Wendy Mass - Bluestem Challenge
Once Upon a Winter's Night by Dennis McKiernan - Retelling Challenge
Last in a Long Line of Rebels by Nancy Paulsen - Caudill Challenge
The Once and Future King by T H White - Back to the Classics

This is a significantly easier month for me. I was supposed to read the Caudills and Bluestems last month, but that obviously didn't happen. Once and Future King might take some time. My goal is to finish it by mid-month which means averaging 45 pages a day. I already started The Once and Future King. It's so much funnier than I remember.

The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden

Title: The Bear and the Nightingale

Author: by Katherine Arden

Pages: 319

Finished: September 21, 2017

First Sentence:  It was late winter in Northern Rus', the air sullen with wet that was neither rain nor snow. 

Summary: Vasilisa's mother died in childbirth, leaving the girl with the ability to see all the old spirits of Rus'. Years later, her father travels to Moscow to remarry. He brings home a devout Christian woman who, with the help of a new Priest, forbids the town to leave offerings to the old spirits. Winters become harsher than normal. Crops, livestock, and people fail and die. Only Vasilisa sees whats happening and does what she can to keep everyone alive, even though it labels her a witch.

Thoughts: This may be one of my favorite books from this year. The book started a little slow, but once Pyotr remarried, I was hooked. Vasilisa is exactly the type of character I love. Headstrong, compassionate, and very independent. I'm also a complete sucker for stories of old religions fighting to stay relevant while Christianity tries to take over. Mostly though, I was very impressed with the world building in this story. So very immersive.

Read for the retellings challenge.

September Reads

The Bear and the Nightingale - Retellings Challenge
The Creeping Shadow by Jonathan Stroud (Not Pictured)
Eleven Birthdays by Wendy Mass - Bluestem Challenge
The Empty Grave by Jonathan Stroud (Not Pictured)
Haroun and the Sea of Stories by Salman Rushdie - Personal Reading Challenge
Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne - Back to the Classics Challenge
I Am Princess X by Arthur A. Levine - Caudill Challenge

Last in a Long Line of Rebels by Nancy Paulsen - Caudill Challenge

The Odyssey by Homer - Back to the Classics Challenge
The Scarecrow of Oz by L Frank Baum - Wizard of Oz Challenge
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin - Bluestem Challenge

Another very ambitious list. I looked at the calendar and realized many challenges are coming to an end soon. I have until February of 2018 for the Bluestem and Caudill challenges, so I'm pushing those books to the end of the month. The Stroud books aren't part of any challenge, but the fifth (and hopefully final) book comes out this month. I didn't read book four because I wanted to wait for this last one. I'm really excited for the book I picked for my personal challenge, and the book on my retellings challenge.

Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier

Title: Wildwood Dancing

Author: Juliet Marillier

Pages: 400

Finished: August 9, 2017

First Sentence: I've heard it said that girls can't keep secrets.

Summary: Jena and her sisters go dancing every full moon in the fairy realm located in the woods behind their home. When their father leaves for the winter to hopefully avoid the cold and get healthy again, he leaves two oldest sisters in charge with help from their cousin. When their cousin takes over the household and threatens to bring down the woods, it's up to Jena and her sisters to figure a way out of their situation. Part Twelve Dancing Princesses, part Dracula, and part Frog Prince, this is a very interesting story set in Transylvania.

Thoughts: The book took a little while to hook me. Cezar was intensely unlikable, to the point where I actually threw my book across the room in anger at him. The gaslighting was intense and very uncomfortable.  I did really appreciate a fairy tale set in Romania. I don't know my Romanian folklore so well, and I'm really looking forward to studying it more. In the end, I really did like the book, and I'm glad the bad guy got what was coming to him. I also really enjoyed the fact that the dancing was what the girls wanted to do rather than something they were forced to do by a malicious spirit as so many of the retellings talk about.

Read for my retelling challenge.

August Reads

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath - Back to the Classics (Not Pictured)
Crossing Niagara by Matt Tavares - Bluestem 

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury - Back to the Classics

The Most Amazing Creature in the Sea by Brenda Z Guiberson - Bluestem

A Night Divided by Jennifer A. Nielsen

The Odyssey by Homer - Back to the Classics

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline - For Work

Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson - Bluestem & Caudill

Separate is Never Equal by Duncan Tonatiuh - Bluestem

Sunshine by Robin McKinley - Personal Challenge Quit Book

Tik-Tok of Oz by L Frank Baum - Wizard of Oz 

Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier - Retellings

Slade House by David Mitchell - Personal Challenge

Three of these are picture books and will probably be reviewed in one entry. One is a graphic novel. One was thrust upon me when I got to work today and has to be read by August 21st. So twelve but really eight or nine. So not so bad.

Thomas the Rhymer by Elen Kushner

Title: Thomas the Rhymer

Author: Elen Kushner

Pages: 258

Finished: July 8, 2017

First Sentence: I'm not a teller of tales, not like the Rhymer.

Summary: (from Goodreads) A minstrel lives by his words, his tunes, and sometimes by his lies. But when the bold and gifted young Thomas the Rhymer awakens the desire of the powerful Queen of Elfland, he finds that words are not enough to keep him from his fate. As the Queen sweeps him far from the people he has known and loved into her realm of magic, opulence—and captivity—he learns at last what it is to be truly human. When he returns to his home with the Queen’s parting gift, his great task will be to seek out the girl he loved and wronged, and offer her at last the tongue that cannot lie.
 

Thoughts: I will freely admit, most of my negative thoughts towards this come from the fact that I was expecting something completely different. One of my favorite legends is Tam Lin. I've read many adaptations of the Tam Lin tale and was told that Thomas the Rhymer is similar. The problem is, the part I love most about Tam Lin is Janet. And Elspeth was no Janet.

I found the use of the different narrators interesting, though it didn't do too much for me in the story. I wasn't a huge fan of Thomas though. He just wasn't all that sympathetic to me. I also wasn't a huge fan of Elspeth. The best parts of the book? Fairyland and the riddles in Fairyland.

Read for the Retelling Challenge.

July Reads

1. Thomas the Rhymer by Ellen Kushner - Retellings Challenge
2. Who was Louis Braille by Margaret Frith - Bluestem Challenge
3. Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier - Retellings Challenge
4. House Arrest by K. A. Holt - Caudill Challenge
5. Hilo: The Boy who Crashed to Earth by Judi Winick - Bluestem Challenge
6. Full Cicada Moon by Marilyn Hilton - Caudill Challenge
7. The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod
8. The Odyssey by Homer - Back to the Classics Challenge
9. The Patchwork Girl of Oz by L Frank Baum - Wizard of Oz Challenge
10. Catch - 22 by Joseph Heller - Back to the Classics Challenge

Ahahahahah! Look at that stack of books! It's enormous, and there is no way I'm reading it in a month. Focus is on the Bluestems and Caudills, the Oz book, Catch-22, and Thomas the Rhymer. You'll notice I picked two slim novels for the Bluestems, and the Caudill titled House Arrest is in verse.

I am also reading Miracle Morning in the mornings. It's a book I picked up for personal development, and while it reads like a sales pitch, some of the ideas are great. So I'm going to continue reading that in the morning as one of the parts to my morning routine. Once I finish that (which should take the week), I'm going to plug The Odyssey in there instead. I expect this to be a 9 week endeavor.

The Marillier was a can't help myself. I've always seen it categorized as an adult novel, but my library has it set as a Teen novel. I'm counting it for my Retelling Challenge regardless.

ALSO, there's an 11th book that will probably end up on this list. I'm continuing a children's series called the Lockwood and Company series. I have book three on hold and will probably push all reading aside to finish it because the books are mild horror books and therefore have to be read as quickly as possible so I don't get too freaked out.

And now off to the reading!

The Fairy Godmother by Mercedes Lackey

Title: Mercedes Lackey The Fairy Godmother

Author: Mercedes Lackey

Pages: 417

Finished: 4/4/17

First Sentence: This is not the way to spend a beautiful spring morning! Elena Klovis thought, as she peered around the pile of bandboxes in her arms.

Summary: Elena's story seems familiar. Young girl treated as a servant by her stepmother and two stepsisters. She was supposed to be the Kingdom's Cinderella, but the prince happens to be about 10 years younger than her. When her step family tries to outrun their debts leaving Elena behind, she finds herself apprenticed to her Fairy Godmother. And when she becomes a Godmother in turn, it's up to Elena to keep her kingdoms running smoothly even as she bucks Tradition-with-a-capital-T.

Thoughts: First and foremost, I dislike it when the author's name is more prominent than the title. It's the same on the spine. In fact, the sticker that labels this "Fic Lackey" from the library covers most of the title. 

Anyway.

I really loved the premise of the Tradition, i.e. a force that shapes people's lives. It explains the various fairy tales so well, and it's very interesting to see it showing up again and again across the Five Hundred Kingdoms. I also really liked the idea that, if people miss their story, they can become fairy godmothers. Actually, all the explanations worked for me. Overall the book was fine. I enjoyed it plenty. I'll probably check out the rest of the series at some point.

April Reads

1. Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate - Bluestem Challenge
2. The Bitter Side of Sweet by Zara Sullivan - Caudill Challenge
3. The Terrible Two by Mac Barnett - Bluestem Challenge
4. Goodbye Stranger by Rebecca Stead - Caudill Challenge
5. How to Raise and Adult by Julie Lythcott-Haims - for fun
6. Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell - Back to the Classics
7. Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz by L Frank Baum - Wizard of Oz Challenge
8. The Fairy Godmother by Mercedes Lackey - Retellings Challenge/Personal Challenge

Full disclosure, I'm 300 pages into Fairy Godmother, so that won't be so difficult to finish. I've started breaking up my reading differently too. Since I am allowed to read children's literature while on the desk at work, I've started reading Bluestems/Caudills/Wizard of Oz books on the weekends and Monday when I work. Then Tuesday through Friday I read adult literature.

I'm most looking forward to How to Raise and Adult even though it's not something for my challenge list.

Gone With the Wind intimidates me a bit. I'm hoping it goes well, but I wonder if it'll take a little longer than just one month to finish.

The Caudills are the last two of the ones that I marked as not interested in reading, so hopefully they'll surprise me the way the other four did. I don't have much of an opinion on the Bluestems other than they should be fairly quick reads.

March Reads

1. Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell - Classics Challenge Written by a Women Author
2. The Boy on the Wooden Box by Leon Leyson - Caudill Challenge
3. Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt - Caudill Challenge
4. Hour of the Bees by Lindsay Eagar - Caudill Challenge
5. Ozma of Oz by L. Frank Baum - Wizard of Oz Read Along
6. The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker - Personal Reading Challenge To Be Read List
7. The Fairy Godmother by Mercedes Lackey - Retellings Challenge
8. Drowned City: Hurricane Katrina and New Orleans by Don Brown - Caudill Challenge

Ambitious. Actually, last month was the ambitious month. Normally I would only read two Caudills in a month, but we don't have the Bluestem list yet (another children's challenge) so I'm going to knock four out of the way this month and maybe four Bluestems next month.

The Lackey and the Wecker didn't get read last month, primarily because it took me SO LONG to read Jungle Book and Moonheart. I didn't realize how long Wives and Daughters is (600+ pages!), so I think I'm going to break it up every 100 pages or so with another book.

Ideally I'd like to get through all of these. Reality? I anticipate managing all the children's books, and possibly one of the adult books. Of course, if any of the Caudills don't grab me, it'll take longer. Wish me luck!

February's Reads

I had originally planned on taking February easy as it's only 28 days long, but various circumstances led me to grab six books to read for February. From top to bottom:

Moonheart by Charles de Lint - Personal Reading Challenge Fantasy
Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman - Personal Reading Challenge Fantasy
The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker - Personal Reading Challenge To Be Read List
The Marvelous Land of Oz by L. Frank Baum - Wizard of Oz Challenge
The Fairy Godmother by Mercedes Lackey - Retellings Challenge
The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling - Classics Challenge Book about Animals

I couldn't decide between the De Lint and the Gaiman for the Fantasy portion of my personal challenge, so I decided to read them both. I had planned to save The Golem and the Jinni for later, but I found it misshelved in the kids section while closing the other day; I figured if the book was just going to fall into my lap like that, I might as well take it home.

Starting next month, I'll be adding even more books to each month's picture, as the Rebecca Caudill and Bluestem lists will be out. Happy Reading Everyone!

Retellings Challenge 2017

This is the last challenge I'm signing up for (except for the Bluestem and Caudill challenge in February). The challenge is hosted by Once Upon a Bookcase. It's fairly simple. Read retellings of fairytales, myths, famous legends, etc. I'm reading at the medium level of 5 - 8 books. As of right now, I'm thinking six books. I have no list for this - I'm hoping to just find stuff as I go along. I'd like for this to be all adult books rather than YA or middle grade as the point of this blog is to read more adult books. But if I'm finding that difficult, I'll definitely start looking in the children's section again. Books read will be listed here.

1. The Fairy Godmother by Mercedes Lackey
2. Thomas the Rhymer by Elen Kushner
3. Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier
4. The Bear and the Nightengale by Katherine Arden
5. The Once and Future King by T. H. White
6. Once Upon a Winter's Eve by Dennis McKiernan

Possible Reads:




Fairy Tale Possiblities