I finished a book, put it down, and thought, “That was really, really great.” But the thing is, reading it, I didn’t necessarily feel that way. I picked it up because several friends recommended it. And I trust them. So, I plodded through it a little. With a few exceptions: times the author’s prose made me suck in my breath a little and go, “Oh. I wish I’d written those words.”
So the book is THE SCORPIO RACES by Maggie Stiefvater. It’s the first one of hers I’ve read, and here are some words that make me envious: “Dad had dark curly hair that was like me — in that he told it first thing in the morning what he wanted it to do and then it went and did pretty much whatever it wanted to do. (p.59)”
Or these: “Mum said that before I was born, it rained for seven days and seven nights solid, and when she went out into the yard to ask the sky what it was weeping for, I dropped out of the clouds at her feet and the sun came out. I always liked the idea of being such a bother that I affected even the weather. (p. 294)”
See? Some brilliant prose, startling and surprising. And a sense of magic and wonder and danger, because it’s about killer water horses, unpronounceable and mysterious. It appears that what I’m saying is that if you’re looking for an adventure-y book with a little sweet, a little scary, a little romance-y, and a few take-my-breath turns of phrase, this one ends well, making me think maybe I didn’t love it enough while I was reading along. 3.5*/5*
(20) Comments for this blog
Wow. I think I need to go check it out!
Wow. I think I need to go check it out!
This was my FAVORITE book of 2011 (I read about 5 minutes after it came out. I love horses, so I had high hopes for it). It would still make my list of top 10 YA books. I love Stiefvater’s prose. And I agree, there are some lines where you just wish you could have written them.
Sadly, I loved the book SO much I don’t really love any others of hers. And come to think of it…I think I loved the book more on a re-read (via audiobook [oh the accents of the narrators–swoon!]) than I did the first go around.
This was my FAVORITE book of 2011 (I read about 5 minutes after it came out. I love horses, so I had high hopes for it). It would still make my list of top 10 YA books. I love Stiefvater’s prose. And I agree, there are some lines where you just wish you could have written them.
Sadly, I loved the book SO much I don’t really love any others of hers. And come to think of it…I think I loved the book more on a re-read (via audiobook [oh the accents of the narrators–swoon!]) than I did the first go around.
I really liked this one. It’s a quieter book, but when you think about what she pulls off . . . yeah, I liked it.
I really liked this one. It’s a quieter book, but when you think about what she pulls off . . . yeah, I liked it.
Oh wow. That is good. I need to read some more of her stuff!
Oh wow. That is good. I need to read some more of her stuff!
I loved this book. Stiefvater writes so beautifully and this is my favorite of hers. The setting, the story, the writing–loved it all.
I loved this book. Stiefvater writes so beautifully and this is my favorite of hers. The setting, the story, the writing–loved it all.
I’ve had this one on my review shelf for awhile now, but I’m still a little hesitant. I read the first page or so and … put it down. Everyone says it’s a really good book, so I’ll definitely give it another go, I’m just not chomping at the bit (a HORSE analogy – ha ha!). One of these days …
I’ve had this one on my review shelf for awhile now, but I’m still a little hesitant. I read the first page or so and … put it down. Everyone says it’s a really good book, so I’ll definitely give it another go, I’m just not chomping at the bit (a HORSE analogy – ha ha!). One of these days …
That’s incredible. There’s so much CHARACTER in those descriptions. I didn’t think I realized that description could have character like that. Wow.
That’s incredible. There’s so much CHARACTER in those descriptions. I didn’t think I realized that description could have character like that. Wow.
Love the weather passage!
Love the weather passage!
So my comment has NOTHING
So my comment has NOTHING
… to do with Scorpio. I’ve been more away from your blog longer than you have. I think I’ve pretty much tamed the whole teaching thing this semester; could it be the last ever? And I’m reading again: Brad Thor and Atlas Shrugged and thoughts on CS Lewis and handbooks 1 & 2. And all without glasses (except when I want to read stretched out in bed. Then Mim’s old drugstore reading glasses let me snuggle the book close enough so that my hilly personal geography doesn’t get in the way of the bottom 4 lines of each page.)
… to do with Scorpio. I’ve been more away from your blog longer than you have. I think I’ve pretty much tamed the whole teaching thing this semester; could it be the last ever? And I’m reading again: Brad Thor and Atlas Shrugged and thoughts on CS Lewis and handbooks 1 & 2. And all without glasses (except when I want to read stretched out in bed. Then Mim’s old drugstore reading glasses let me snuggle the book close enough so that my hilly personal geography doesn’t get in the way of the bottom 4 lines of each page.)