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katykelly's review
3.0
I recently read Siobhan Dowd's Ransom of Dond, a tale told in the style and form of a traditional tale. This is similar - based itself on the stories of the selkie, seals who change form into humans. I'm afraid I found myself struggling with this.
I listened to the audio version, read by Sian Phillips. At only two hours, it felt much longer.
Berlie Doherty certainly doesn't write down to children. But the appeal of a tale like this is going to be very limited. I read it in advance of my Junior Book Group all reading a Doherty book. While I might say that the language is beautiful, the writing evocative, it's also a little bit (and I hate to say it) dull. I've read and loved Street Child and know Doherty's range but I'll be hard-pushed to manage to 'sell' this to my group.
It concerns a childless couple who long for a baby and whose wish appears to be granted by the appearance of a little girl from the sea. But she is destined to be discovered a selkie, a seal in human form. It's a tale that works well as a short folk tale. But for me didn't work as a longer one. Very sorry Berlie, as I'm looking forward to trying some of your others!
I listened to the audio version, read by Sian Phillips. At only two hours, it felt much longer.
Berlie Doherty certainly doesn't write down to children. But the appeal of a tale like this is going to be very limited. I read it in advance of my Junior Book Group all reading a Doherty book. While I might say that the language is beautiful, the writing evocative, it's also a little bit (and I hate to say it) dull. I've read and loved Street Child and know Doherty's range but I'll be hard-pushed to manage to 'sell' this to my group.
It concerns a childless couple who long for a baby and whose wish appears to be granted by the appearance of a little girl from the sea. But she is destined to be discovered a selkie, a seal in human form. It's a tale that works well as a short folk tale. But for me didn't work as a longer one. Very sorry Berlie, as I'm looking forward to trying some of your others!
kellysavagebooks's review
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.5
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