East is a beautifully crafted tale about love, family, growing up and I enjoyed reading it immensely. The story is told in the point of view of five people- Rose, her father, Neddy (her older brother), her mother, and White Bear. The multiple perspectives threw me off a bit at first, but as I got more into the book, I realized how much better it was because of them. You got to know each person in and out, and could easily connect with them. (I particularly thought the White Bear chapters at the beginning were beautifully written, because Edith Pattou captures his emotions so well with such few words.)
The story is wonderful mix of Beauty and the Beast, the myth of Cupid and Psyche, and is actually a retelling of an old Norwegian folk tale, East of the Sun and West of the Moon. There are some parts that will made me smile, grip the book tightly with fear, gush with happiness, maybe even tear up, but once I started, I never wanted to put it down. (I can assure you that I had a difficult time trying to persuade myself to close it, and continue my homework. :-D)
I wholeheartedly give East five stars, and especially recommend it to Shannon Hale fans, or anyone who loves a good fairy-tale retelling (although anyone can read it and enjoy).
P.S. Isn't the cover so pretty? C'est magnifique, non?
The story is wonderful mix of Beauty and the Beast, the myth of Cupid and Psyche, and is actually a retelling of an old Norwegian folk tale, East of the Sun and West of the Moon. There are some parts that will made me smile, grip the book tightly with fear, gush with happiness, maybe even tear up, but once I started, I never wanted to put it down. (I can assure you that I had a difficult time trying to persuade myself to close it, and continue my homework. :-D)
I wholeheartedly give East five stars, and especially recommend it to Shannon Hale fans, or anyone who loves a good fairy-tale retelling (although anyone can read it and enjoy).
P.S. Isn't the cover so pretty? C'est magnifique, non?
I loved this book! There are so many retellings of this story, but I think this was one of my favorites.
ReplyDeletePriya- This one is my favorite retelling too! I read Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow by Jessica Day George and a little bit of Ice (I still have to finish it), and each are special in their own way, but I have to say that this one is too beautiful not to like.
ReplyDeleteI agree- beautiful cover!
ReplyDeleteIsn't the Mysterious Benedict Society good? I didn't think the third one was quite as good, but still fun.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I liked the Perilous Journey the best. I still loved the Prisnor's Dilemma, but I think I read it too fast to actually enjoy it. :/
ReplyDeleteWas this published under a different name in the UK? Because I found a book with an almost identical cover and blurb, written by the same author, called North Star?
ReplyDeleteRachel- I looked it up, and I read the UK version was called the North Child, not the North Star, so yeah, it was published under a different name in the UK. :)
ReplyDeleteI should have commented on this a while ago. It really is a great review. You cover a lot of good points. And I hadn't thought of comparing it to Shannon Hale's books, but I think it is very apt.
ReplyDelete