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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
This is a syrup of a book. Not as in being sweet, if anything it's salty, but as in being a slightly sickly, too condensed version of something good.
I love fairy tales, I love the sea and all things maritime, I probably am a seal on the inside. I love the Asian legend of the Heavenly Maidens, which this sort of is, and god help me I love overusing adjectives and descriptions even though I have a degree that says I shouldn't.
But I have never read atmospheric, sensual descriptions of the ocean in closer proximity than in this book.
The word-bingo to play here is: Ocean, Sea, Wild, Free, *insert name of sea creature*, Salt, Oil, Cold, *description of dark eyes*, Smell of Death, Skin, Fur, Seal.
Every sentence is a poem and sooner or later you run out of variety and it becomes suffocating.
That being said, it's not a long book, so instead of as a book, you can just read it as a bit of poetry, as an piece of art, a performance piece if you will, that will forcefully relocate you and put the salt in your nose and the cold in your fingers.
It's a fairy tale, it is supposed to have weighty language and transport you. And it does the job very well. The language draws a beautiful picture, which is a bit ironic because the much praised artwork the book includes, didn't really do it for me. The story feels raw and gritty and has harsh, broad strokes, it's tribal and earthy. The illustrations were shiny and detailed and shaded, like epic fantasy fanart in fancy pencil, and no matter how old-timey the subject matter, the pictures feel new and tame.
I would have loved to see this illustrated in a more authentic tone.
But that's really just a matter of personal taste.
I realise I have an awful lot of complaints for actually having enjoyed the book. I finished it in one sitting (a mistake, maybe), I had a good time. I would lend it and recommend it, I would read it to my theoretical kids. The cover is gorgeous. Most of all, I am glad people still write fairy tales these days and they aren't just morally outdated things of the past we dig up for novelty. Fairy tales have their own language and can (and should and will) exist with new lessons to learn and outgrow old gender roles and aspirations. They are, like poetry, like storytelling- immortal. And The Blue Salt Road is a worthy new entry.
I love fairy tales, I love the sea and all things maritime, I probably am a seal on the inside. I love the Asian legend of the Heavenly Maidens, which this sort of is, and god help me I love overusing adjectives and descriptions even though I have a degree that says I shouldn't.
But I have never read atmospheric, sensual descriptions of the ocean in closer proximity than in this book.
The word-bingo to play here is: Ocean, Sea, Wild, Free, *insert name of sea creature*, Salt, Oil, Cold, *description of dark eyes*, Smell of Death, Skin, Fur, Seal.
Every sentence is a poem and sooner or later you run out of variety and it becomes suffocating.
That being said, it's not a long book, so instead of as a book, you can just read it as a bit of poetry, as an piece of art, a performance piece if you will, that will forcefully relocate you and put the salt in your nose and the cold in your fingers.
It's a fairy tale, it is supposed to have weighty language and transport you. And it does the job very well. The language draws a beautiful picture, which is a bit ironic because the much praised artwork the book includes, didn't really do it for me. The story feels raw and gritty and has harsh, broad strokes, it's tribal and earthy. The illustrations were shiny and detailed and shaded, like epic fantasy fanart in fancy pencil, and no matter how old-timey the subject matter, the pictures feel new and tame.
I would have loved to see this illustrated in a more authentic tone.
But that's really just a matter of personal taste.
I realise I have an awful lot of complaints for actually having enjoyed the book. I finished it in one sitting (a mistake, maybe), I had a good time. I would lend it and recommend it, I would read it to my theoretical kids. The cover is gorgeous. Most of all, I am glad people still write fairy tales these days and they aren't just morally outdated things of the past we dig up for novelty. Fairy tales have their own language and can (and should and will) exist with new lessons to learn and outgrow old gender roles and aspirations. They are, like poetry, like storytelling- immortal. And The Blue Salt Road is a worthy new entry.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Warm, beautiful, and dark.
adventurous
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Another novella based on a folktale, this time Child Ballad 113, ππ©π¦ ππ³π¦πΊ ππ¦ππ¬πͺπ¦ π°π§ ππΆππ¦ ππ¬π¦π³π³πΊ. Unfortunately, this one didn't quite grab me. It felt longer than necessary which is saying something for a short novella.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated