The Snow Child

(Book 5 for OUaT, the Journey)

The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey

Hardcover: 400 pages
Publisher: Reagan Arthur Books (February 1, 2012)
ISBN-10: 0316175676

Amazon.com Review

In her haunting, evocative debut Eowyn Ivey stakes her claim on a Russian fairy tale, daring the reader--and the characters--to be lulled into thinking they know the ending. But, as with the Alaskan wilderness, there’s far more here than meets the eye. On the surface it’s the story of a childless pioneer couple running from their East Coast lives and struggling to survive in the harshest of climates while also attempting to reconnect with each other; but it’s also the story of the spring of hope that bubbles out of new friendships, of the slow realization of love for a surrogate child, of the ties between man and nature. Ivey spares no words in describing the beauty and the danger of her native Alaska, bringing the sheer magnitude of the wilderness alive on every page. With the transparent prose of a fairy tale and descriptions to put nature writing to shame, The Snow Child immerses readers in a 1920s Alaska that will draw them back again and again.

This book is not my usual type of reading.  But I heard so many positive things about it I put it on my wish list and low and behold a friend of mine sent it to me for my birthday. (thanks again Cathy!!!)

For me the book started off a little slower then I like but it did set the scene, and the main characters.  Since I did not know the  fairy tale that the story represents, I did not have any comparison.  Needless to say I liked the old couple, Mable and Jack, and so I found I wanted to read their story and the story of the Snow Child.

At first the child is very much related to a fairy tale, but as things go along you begin to think differently.  However, there are more twists and turns in your mind before the book ends!  Over all the book is a good read.  You get to “see” some of Alaska, and to meet good hearted neighbors.  And, as they say: you get to learn your lessons along the way.

There’s really not a lot to be said without telling the entire story .. but I will say it is different from any fairy tales I remember. (which is pretty easy since my memory is not very good!)  But I can mention one of my thoughts… they were strong, strong, people!  To be older and to move to Alaska and literally dig out the grounds for farming seems more than anything I could do!! (I could only wish to be healthy and strong enough to live like that!)

If you enjoy reading fairy tales, this book will be right up your alley!