Midwinterblood
Ratings12
Average rating3.1
This is something I probably wouldn't have ever picked up if it hadn't won the Printz. I'd heard good reviews of it but to be totally honest, from the title and cover I assumed it was some kind of horror thing, maybe vampires, and I just don't tend to go in for that? So... FYI, it's not that.
It IS a cool, spooky story of past lives & sacrifice & emotional connections. I dug it.
After reading White Crow which kind of blew my mind, I have had this author on my “read every single book by this author!” list. This one is only kind of mind blowing. Here is what is great about it (and why I kept reading):
The story is told in reverse time, we start in 2073 and move backward, questions being answered with insight into the past. So, it's a puzzle that shows you the complete picture and then starts to take itself apart. Think Cloud Atlas or Memento. That in itself is kind of fascinating and I say kind of because it gets old. Quickly.
Here is why I wanted to stop: it got old, quickly. We are introduced to characters in new situations every couple of chapters. The times change, the personalities seem to change a bit, but the names do not. Overall, it's a story about two people who love each other so much that they follow each other through time. They don't know that about themselves however and sometimes these lovers are brother and sister, sometimes mother and son, and sometimes not related at all.
The main character here is the island, which is interesting enough, but I don't think we explored it enough to really get to know the island.
So, my gripes:
The cover makes no sense whatsoever. I had the copy with the pale girl who has some sort of art on her skin that kind of looks like futuristic alien language. Makes no sense.
Why is this a YA novel? I think this story would be greatly appreciated had it been released as an adult science fiction novel. That's the part of me that really liked this book. I can't think of who the teen audience is for this book. The characters are not even teens. shakeshead
I am not a fan of short stories, and these sections feel like short stories that share a common thread. I thought the viking section could have used a lot more explanation-why was Tor as upset as he was? Why take it out on the kids? I was lost.
The writing is still head and shoulders above much of the writing out there, but I just didn't like this story. I'm worried, too, that I won't like Revolver.
I found this book through my library's recommendation email that I get every couple of weeks. It sounded so interesting and different so I went and picked it up. It's a very short read. I ended up reading it in just under and hour and a half, yet it took me forever to read it because I kept getting distracted by other stuff!
The book is set up in a series of short stories that start in the year 2073 and move backwards in time. They are always on Blessed Island. The stories are intriguing and captivating, but for many I just wanted more, which I suppose is what the author wanted! It's one of those stories that when it's all over you find yourself piecing together moments you didn't put together while you were reading. Everything is happening in a strange backwards foreshadowing kind of way. Something is revealed, but there is no explanation for it and when the next story starts it takes place 50-100 years prior to the events you just read.
At times it feels confusing, incomplete, but what is happening is so interesting you have to keep reading. Even at this point I wish there was more to it instead of just these glimpses into slices of time, but it was a good read nonetheless.