Helpful Score: 5
A totally awesome, cannot put it down, wonderful book. I hate to give it up, but it's time to share it.
Helpful Score: 5
I've never read anything by this author, and because of the sheer size of this book it sat on my TBR for I think a year or more. But I'm so glad I got sick and picked it up. Finished in one day, it's just an amazing book. It had some undertones of Beauty and the Beast and Snow White & Rose Red.
Reading the book you didn't feel it was as big as it was because the story never got boring, there was always something going on and if you skipped even a sentence you'd be lost on something small until you went back to read it. There was some fun tidbits in there about the Norwegian Gods (which I've always been fascinated with)some made up fun stuff to show the time period, and everything is so described I can picture it perfectly in my head. Reading it felt like I was watching a wonderful movie.
The only thing bad about this book, is I think it spoiled me. All my other books are boring now! Lol.
This book is totally going on my keeper shelf.
Reading the book you didn't feel it was as big as it was because the story never got boring, there was always something going on and if you skipped even a sentence you'd be lost on something small until you went back to read it. There was some fun tidbits in there about the Norwegian Gods (which I've always been fascinated with)some made up fun stuff to show the time period, and everything is so described I can picture it perfectly in my head. Reading it felt like I was watching a wonderful movie.
The only thing bad about this book, is I think it spoiled me. All my other books are boring now! Lol.
This book is totally going on my keeper shelf.
Helpful Score: 2
This is such a great book! :D
I just finished rereading this one (for the fifth time) and decided i had to own it.
It's loosely based off of the old fairytale "East of the Sun and West of the Moon" (i think that's the title anyway)
You'll fall in love with the characters, I did! lol
*kinda like a beauty and the beast, but with trolls and a lot of superstitions~
I give this book an A++!
I just finished rereading this one (for the fifth time) and decided i had to own it.
It's loosely based off of the old fairytale "East of the Sun and West of the Moon" (i think that's the title anyway)
You'll fall in love with the characters, I did! lol
*kinda like a beauty and the beast, but with trolls and a lot of superstitions~
I give this book an A++!
Helpful Score: 1
This book had me clinging to it's pages every step of the way
Helpful Score: 1
Loved this book. The female heroine was so fantastic. It's one of those "I threw myself into adventure and trusted that all would be well" books. I find that sort of book really inspiring - both as a teen and (now) as an adult. I never, ever get tired of such plots.
EAST is the tale of Rose, who sacrifices her freedom to save her sister, grows to care for the cursed white bear who is her captor, unwittingly betrays him, then goes beyond the ends of the earth to make things right. Its a classic folktale that never fails to move me, but Edith Pattous retelling of East of the Sun, West of the Moon went above and beyond, astounding me with its magical rendering of a traditional story and simple literary elements.
EAST is not extraordinarily sophisticated in writing style: narration alters between several different voices, and none of them particularly stand out as individual examples of great literariness. However, the magic of EAST lies in how these common elementsstraightforward prose, a retellingfit together. The multiple narrators adds a unique rhythm and scope to the story that makes the whole so much more than the sum of its parts.
Edith Pattou sets EAST in historical Europe, and the story traverses lands, cultures, seas, and languages for an astonishing and engrossing read. This is the second retelling of East of the Sun, West of the Moon that Ive had the pleasure of reading, and Im astonished at the different directions in which each author took this folktale. Im no history buff, but I was mesmerized by Edith Pattous description of the various people that Rose meets on her journey, by the variety of people and cultures that existed over great distances at the same time.
Words fail me when I try to describe an extraordinary book; indeed, there is no part of this book that was not amazing, and thus there is no part that I can describe well. There is a reason I still see this book in bookstores: it has the rare lasting power that only the most accomplished of fantasy reads possess.
EAST is not extraordinarily sophisticated in writing style: narration alters between several different voices, and none of them particularly stand out as individual examples of great literariness. However, the magic of EAST lies in how these common elementsstraightforward prose, a retellingfit together. The multiple narrators adds a unique rhythm and scope to the story that makes the whole so much more than the sum of its parts.
Edith Pattou sets EAST in historical Europe, and the story traverses lands, cultures, seas, and languages for an astonishing and engrossing read. This is the second retelling of East of the Sun, West of the Moon that Ive had the pleasure of reading, and Im astonished at the different directions in which each author took this folktale. Im no history buff, but I was mesmerized by Edith Pattous description of the various people that Rose meets on her journey, by the variety of people and cultures that existed over great distances at the same time.
Words fail me when I try to describe an extraordinary book; indeed, there is no part of this book that was not amazing, and thus there is no part that I can describe well. There is a reason I still see this book in bookstores: it has the rare lasting power that only the most accomplished of fantasy reads possess.
Teen fantasy. It is a very good read.
Retelling of Beauty and the Beast
A fun and heartfelt retelling of a little known fairy tale. Though similar in several ways to Beauty and the Beast, East of the Sun and West of the Moon is very much its own story and Edith Pattou brings it to life very well in her novel.
The characters are fleshed out well. Rose stands out as the main protagonist, even though she is not the only narrator. The white bear is given a great deal of character, despite the fact that he does not get that much time on the page. Even the Troll Queen, who is wonderfully sympathetic, is a fun character to read. The minor characters dont get as much development but still show enough variety and personality to keep them interesting.
The story is engaging. Even the parts that could potentially be very dull, such as the long stretches of silence in the castle where Rose has little to do but explore and work on her needlepoint, still hold the readers attention.
My only complaints are the ending and the frame story. For the entire long and difficult journey that Rose faces to get to the land of the trolls, the Troll Queens defeat is a little too easy. Of course, its following the original tale but for all the liberties to book took, I wish the ending had been a little more exciting. And the frame story gives away the ending! Despite there being a prophecy that says Rose will die, it is completely spoiled when the frame story of Rose writing down her journey at the end of it all is revealed on the very first page.
Despite these minor issues, its still a wonderful story that hooked me. Ive read it twice now, once when I was in high school and now again years later. Oddly enough, I enjoyed more during the second read than I did the first, even though this is a YA book. But whatever my age, I still find this to be a great read, especially for those eager to read a fairy tale they might not be familiar with from their childhood.
The characters are fleshed out well. Rose stands out as the main protagonist, even though she is not the only narrator. The white bear is given a great deal of character, despite the fact that he does not get that much time on the page. Even the Troll Queen, who is wonderfully sympathetic, is a fun character to read. The minor characters dont get as much development but still show enough variety and personality to keep them interesting.
The story is engaging. Even the parts that could potentially be very dull, such as the long stretches of silence in the castle where Rose has little to do but explore and work on her needlepoint, still hold the readers attention.
My only complaints are the ending and the frame story. For the entire long and difficult journey that Rose faces to get to the land of the trolls, the Troll Queens defeat is a little too easy. Of course, its following the original tale but for all the liberties to book took, I wish the ending had been a little more exciting. And the frame story gives away the ending! Despite there being a prophecy that says Rose will die, it is completely spoiled when the frame story of Rose writing down her journey at the end of it all is revealed on the very first page.
Despite these minor issues, its still a wonderful story that hooked me. Ive read it twice now, once when I was in high school and now again years later. Oddly enough, I enjoyed more during the second read than I did the first, even though this is a YA book. But whatever my age, I still find this to be a great read, especially for those eager to read a fairy tale they might not be familiar with from their childhood.
One of her best books!
EAST is the tale of Rose, who sacrifices her freedom to save her sister, grows to care for the cursed white bear who is her captor, unwittingly betrays him, then goes beyond the ends of the earth to make things right. Its a classic folktale that never fails to move me, but Edith Pattous retelling of East of the Sun, West of the Moon went above and beyond, astounding me with its magical rendering of a traditional story and simple literary elements.
EAST is not extraordinarily sophisticated in writing style: narration alters between several different voices, and none of them particularly stand out as individual examples of great literariness. However, the magic of EAST lies in how these common elementsstraightforward prose, a retellingfit together. The multiple narrators adds a unique rhythm and scope to the story that makes the whole so much more than the sum of its parts.
Edith Pattou sets EAST in historical Europe, and the story traverses lands, cultures, seas, and languages for an astonishing and engrossing read. This is the second retelling of East of the Sun, West of the Moon that Ive had the pleasure of reading, and Im astonished at the different directions in which each author took this folktale. Im no history buff, but I was mesmerized by Edith Pattous description of the various people that Rose meets on her journey, by the variety of people and cultures that existed over great distances at the same time.
Words fail me when I try to describe an extraordinary book; indeed, there is no part of this book that was not amazing, and thus there is no part that I can describe well. There is a reason I still see this book in bookstores: it has the rare lasting power that only the most accomplished of fantasy reads possess.
EAST is not extraordinarily sophisticated in writing style: narration alters between several different voices, and none of them particularly stand out as individual examples of great literariness. However, the magic of EAST lies in how these common elementsstraightforward prose, a retellingfit together. The multiple narrators adds a unique rhythm and scope to the story that makes the whole so much more than the sum of its parts.
Edith Pattou sets EAST in historical Europe, and the story traverses lands, cultures, seas, and languages for an astonishing and engrossing read. This is the second retelling of East of the Sun, West of the Moon that Ive had the pleasure of reading, and Im astonished at the different directions in which each author took this folktale. Im no history buff, but I was mesmerized by Edith Pattous description of the various people that Rose meets on her journey, by the variety of people and cultures that existed over great distances at the same time.
Words fail me when I try to describe an extraordinary book; indeed, there is no part of this book that was not amazing, and thus there is no part that I can describe well. There is a reason I still see this book in bookstores: it has the rare lasting power that only the most accomplished of fantasy reads possess.
It' has been a couple of years since I read this book to my kids. It still is a wonderful memory and will be a book I have on my keeper shelf forever! The storyline combines familiarity and newness in a beautiful way and you learn to feel that these characters are ones that you know. You want to yell, scream, interact with them...to give them your opinion on the mess they are in. And in the long run that really is the test of a good book. This is a wonderful book to read to your kids. We all have differing standards of books for kids, but mine are pretty stringent. Please...read this book! I gave it five stars!
A fun and heartfelt retelling of a little known fairy tale. Though similar in several ways to Beauty and the Beast, East of the Sun and West of the Moon is very much its own story and Edith Pattou brings it to life very well in her novel.
The characters are fleshed out well. Rose stands out as the main protagonist, even though she is not the only narrator. The white bear is given a great deal of character, despite the fact that he does not get that much time on the page. Even the Troll Queen, who is wonderfully sympathetic, is a fun character to read. The minor characters dont get as much development but still show enough variety and personality to keep them interesting.
The story is engaging. Even the parts that could potentially be very dull, such as the long stretches of silence in the castle where Rose has little to do but explore and work on her needlepoint, still hold the readers attention.
My only complaints are the ending and the frame story. For the entire long and difficult journey that Rose faces to get to the land of the trolls, the Troll Queens defeat is a little too easy. Of course, its following the original tale but for all the liberties to book took, I wish the ending had been a little more exciting. And the frame story gives away the ending! Despite there being a prophecy that says Rose will die, it is completely spoiled when the frame story of Rose writing down her journey at the end of it all is revealed on the very first page.
Despite these minor issues, its still a wonderful story that hooked me. Ive read it twice now, once when I was in high school and now again years later. Oddly enough, I enjoyed more during the second read than I did the first, even though this is a YA book. But whatever my age, I still find this to be a great read, especially for those eager to read a fairy tale they might not be familiar with from their childhood.
The characters are fleshed out well. Rose stands out as the main protagonist, even though she is not the only narrator. The white bear is given a great deal of character, despite the fact that he does not get that much time on the page. Even the Troll Queen, who is wonderfully sympathetic, is a fun character to read. The minor characters dont get as much development but still show enough variety and personality to keep them interesting.
The story is engaging. Even the parts that could potentially be very dull, such as the long stretches of silence in the castle where Rose has little to do but explore and work on her needlepoint, still hold the readers attention.
My only complaints are the ending and the frame story. For the entire long and difficult journey that Rose faces to get to the land of the trolls, the Troll Queens defeat is a little too easy. Of course, its following the original tale but for all the liberties to book took, I wish the ending had been a little more exciting. And the frame story gives away the ending! Despite there being a prophecy that says Rose will die, it is completely spoiled when the frame story of Rose writing down her journey at the end of it all is revealed on the very first page.
Despite these minor issues, its still a wonderful story that hooked me. Ive read it twice now, once when I was in high school and now again years later. Oddly enough, I enjoyed more during the second read than I did the first, even though this is a YA book. But whatever my age, I still find this to be a great read, especially for those eager to read a fairy tale they might not be familiar with from their childhood.
I'm not finished with it yet - but I really enjoyed this story! Normally, I'm not a fan of jumping around between multiple characters, it annoys me, but in "East" its coming together at the end so quickly that I'm afraid to finish it and then there will be no more!
A lovely adaptation of "East of the Sun, West of the Moon".
A lovely adaptation of "East of the Sun, West of the Moon".
