Happiness is...a good book. (Summer Reading edition #27)

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making

Author: Catherynne Valente
Pages: 247
Age Range: 10+
Published: 2011
Genre: Fantasy
Cover Score: ****
Overall Grade: ***
Rating: G

In the midst of WWII, young September finds herself being whisked away from her Nebraska home on the back of a leopard headed to Fairyland. She has a series of adventures ala Alice in Wonderland, meets an amazing array of creatures, comes face to face with a wicked queen and must save her friends and sacrifice herself in order to return home (and more importantly to September, be able to return again to Fairyland.)

This book has gotten a lot of buzz in the blogosphere and I can definitely see its merits but try as I might I just never found myself becoming lost in its magical world. It’s beautifully written. The language is flowery and old-fashioned giving it the feel of a timeless classic in the vein of E. Nesbit or the Oz adventures.  The plot, characters and scenery are all creatively inventive from the Wyverary (a wyvern with a library for a father) to the golem made of soap.  And some of the conversations and ‘logic’ rival those put forth in The Phantom Tollbooth.  Here’s a quick sample:

"When you are born," the golem said softly, "your courage is new and clean. You are brave enough for anything: crawling off of staircases, saying your first words without fearing that someone will think you are foolish, putting strange things in your mouth. But as you get older, your courage attracts gunk...and fear and knowing how bad things can get you and what pain feels like. By the time you're half-grown, your courage barely moves at all...So every once in a while, you have to scrub it up and get the works going or else you'll never be brave again." (pg. 60)

"Stories have a way of changing faces. They are unruly things, undisciplined, given to delinquency and the throwing of erasers. This is why we must close them up into thick, solid books, so they cannot get out and cause trouble." (pg. 36)

Lovely, yes? Many, many others will agree. But as I said, I just never fell completely under its spell.  Perhaps it was just my mood and I had I read it on any other day I would have felt differently. I will keep it on my backburner as a potential re-read but my first taste I would have to judge as pleasant but not exquisite. Read it for yourself and tell me what you think.  Do you agree or am I completely off base?  I’d love to know!

Happiness is...a good book. (Summer Reading edition #6.)

My apologies for being a day late.  I figured this weekend would be a little bit of a struggle but I didn't think any issues would come up until Monday.  Oh well!

The Iron Queen
Author: Julie Kagawa
Pages: 358
Age Range: 13+
Published: 2011
Genre: Fantasy
Cover Score: ****
Overall Grade: ****
Rating: PG-13

This is the third installment in the Iron Fey series so while I’ll try not to give away any major spoilers for this book I can’t promise there won’t be spoilers about the previous two. Consider yourselves warned.

Meaghan Chase, half mortal daughter of King Oberon of the Summer Court, and Prince Ash of the Winter Court find themselves exiled from the Nevernever after standing up to their respective parents and declaring their love for each other.  Forced to find refuge they first try the mortal world but realize that neither will be comfortable or truly safe there and instead seek the protection of Leanansidhe, Queen of the Exiles.  But their days of peace are few in number.

The Winter and Summer Courts have formed an uneasy alliance in order to fight the Iron fey who are destroying the entire realm of Faery. Knowing Meaghan has unique powers stemming from her lineage as well as her previous battles with the Iron fey, the Courts offer to remove their earlier exiling in exchange for her help.  But the Iron fey are aware of her powers as well and send offers of their own inviting her to come and rule as Queen.

Meaghan and Ash return to the faery realm and are re-joined by Puck, exile from the Summer Court and Meaghan’s former best friend. Ash and Puck resume their mutual dislike of each other and competition for Meaghan’s affections while the three journey to find the new leader of the Iron fey and their source of power. 

Meaghan is forced to make many difficult decisions and come to terms with her powers and who she is and decide who and which life (her mortal or her fey) is most important.

These are fun fantasy tales full of familiar characters and mythology but with some interestingly modern twists particularly involving the Iron Fey who are influenced by technology rather than dreams and imagination as the old ones are. There are some fascinating (and frightful) creatures, epic battles, humor and romance. I read the first book and enjoyed it enough to pick up the second though it wasn’t one I’d fallen in love with. However my love has grown with each new volume.  It’s still not one I would consider one of my all-time favorites but it is definitely enjoyable and well-written.  Recommended for fans of Twilight and such though of a slightly higher quality than most of its ilk. There was no truly happy ending here but the final page offers the promise of a fourth installment later this year.  Iron Knight, you are now on my TBR pile. Do not disappoint!

Book 1-Iron King

Book 2-Iron Daughter

Book 3-Iron Queen

Book 4-Iron Knight (release date Oct 25, 2011)