lucyblack's review
3.0
I liked the blue pages, the white pages were a bit too spacey and the brownish pages were annoyingly nonsensical.
The blue pages are great though. Russell Hobans characters are very realistic and I like the strong female characters like the protaganists wife and daughter.
I guess it's kindof about the fear of bringing a child into this shit world aye?
The blue pages are great though. Russell Hobans characters are very realistic and I like the strong female characters like the protaganists wife and daughter.
I guess it's kindof about the fear of bringing a child into this shit world aye?
noodles01's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
dianchie's review
I am adding this book to my DNF shelf.
I really tried to like it but I just could not get past the names and the writing style.
The idea intrigued me but it was hard to get into the actual book. Even though it is a short book, every page felt like a hill I had to climb. It took the same level of effort for me to read this as it does my textbooks. That is not a good thing.
I may try again at a later date but for not it is a DNF.
I really tried to like it but I just could not get past the names and the writing style.
The idea intrigued me but it was hard to get into the actual book. Even though it is a short book, every page felt like a hill I had to climb. It took the same level of effort for me to read this as it does my textbooks. That is not a good thing.
I may try again at a later date but for not it is a DNF.
backonthealex's review
5.0
From the Publisher:
Somewhere in te Artic Circle, Sixteen-Face John, a shaman, learns that his first child, a soonchild, cannot hear the World Songs from her mother's womb. The World Songs are what inspire all newborns to come out into the world, and John must find them for her. But how? The answer takes him through many lifetimes and many shape-shifts, as well as encounters with beasts, demons and a mysterious benevolent owl spirit, Ukpika, who is linked to John's past...
My Thoughts:
In Soonchild, Russell Hoban has given us contemporary myth-making at its best. Based in part on Inuit mythology and in part on Hoban's incredible imagination, then perfectly complimented with the wonderful illustrations of Alexis Deacon, it is a concoction not to be missed - if you like myth-making that will take you on a journey away from time and space as you know them.
Sixteen-Face John is a shaman in the far north where it's "so cold that your nose hairs get still and your eyeballs get brittle and your face hurts and your hands will freeze if you leave them uncovered for too long."
Sixteen-Face John may have been a shaman, but he is afraid of everything and if he couldn't face his fear with one face, well, he had 15 others to choose from. Sixteen-Face John is married to No Problem, who is pregnant with their Soonchild (so called because it is soon to be born and be a child.) But Soonchild tells her father that she does not hear the World Songs in her mother's womb and so is unwilling to be born. Now, Sixteen-Face John must go on a journey to bring these songs back to her.
On his journey, Sixteen-Face John will become No-Face John, Three Times Dead John, he will shape-shift, and meet an idluitok, a bad-person gull who feeds the Master Song containing the all the World Songs to Yiwok the World Swallower, who wants to destroy the world by swallowing everything in it. But in the end, John, and the reader, sees the importance of our connection to our past, present and future.
Sound confusing? It actually isn't. Soonchild does require a little suspension of disbelief on the part of the reader, but that is true of all storytelling, isn't it? And you feel somehow renewed when you have finish it.
I found Soonchild to be funny, strange, beautiful, weird and satisfying all at the same time - sort of like the different aspects of the World Songs. And Sixteen-Face John, afraid of everything, must face the biggest most fearful thing of all - Yiwok the World Swallower - showing us that courage is really about being afraid but doing what is right regardless.
Interestingly, the pages change color each time the story moves forward. As you read, you might was to pay attention to why that is a part of the story. And do dwell on the excellent charcoal and pencil illustrations that add so much to the whole story.
I loved Soonchild but it probably isn't for everyone. It is supposed to be a YA book, but some critics have questioned that. I think that, like all good myths, it will appeal to YA readers as well as adults. It is most unfortunate the Russell Hoban passed away shortly after he finished this and one other book in 2011. Hoban was an American expat who had lived in London since 1969.
This book is recommended for readers 14+
This book was obtained from the publisher.
Somewhere in te Artic Circle, Sixteen-Face John, a shaman, learns that his first child, a soonchild, cannot hear the World Songs from her mother's womb. The World Songs are what inspire all newborns to come out into the world, and John must find them for her. But how? The answer takes him through many lifetimes and many shape-shifts, as well as encounters with beasts, demons and a mysterious benevolent owl spirit, Ukpika, who is linked to John's past...
My Thoughts:
In Soonchild, Russell Hoban has given us contemporary myth-making at its best. Based in part on Inuit mythology and in part on Hoban's incredible imagination, then perfectly complimented with the wonderful illustrations of Alexis Deacon, it is a concoction not to be missed - if you like myth-making that will take you on a journey away from time and space as you know them.
Sixteen-Face John is a shaman in the far north where it's "so cold that your nose hairs get still and your eyeballs get brittle and your face hurts and your hands will freeze if you leave them uncovered for too long."
Sixteen-Face John may have been a shaman, but he is afraid of everything and if he couldn't face his fear with one face, well, he had 15 others to choose from. Sixteen-Face John is married to No Problem, who is pregnant with their Soonchild (so called because it is soon to be born and be a child.) But Soonchild tells her father that she does not hear the World Songs in her mother's womb and so is unwilling to be born. Now, Sixteen-Face John must go on a journey to bring these songs back to her.
On his journey, Sixteen-Face John will become No-Face John, Three Times Dead John, he will shape-shift, and meet an idluitok, a bad-person gull who feeds the Master Song containing the all the World Songs to Yiwok the World Swallower, who wants to destroy the world by swallowing everything in it. But in the end, John, and the reader, sees the importance of our connection to our past, present and future.
Sound confusing? It actually isn't. Soonchild does require a little suspension of disbelief on the part of the reader, but that is true of all storytelling, isn't it? And you feel somehow renewed when you have finish it.
I found Soonchild to be funny, strange, beautiful, weird and satisfying all at the same time - sort of like the different aspects of the World Songs. And Sixteen-Face John, afraid of everything, must face the biggest most fearful thing of all - Yiwok the World Swallower - showing us that courage is really about being afraid but doing what is right regardless.
Interestingly, the pages change color each time the story moves forward. As you read, you might was to pay attention to why that is a part of the story. And do dwell on the excellent charcoal and pencil illustrations that add so much to the whole story.
I loved Soonchild but it probably isn't for everyone. It is supposed to be a YA book, but some critics have questioned that. I think that, like all good myths, it will appeal to YA readers as well as adults. It is most unfortunate the Russell Hoban passed away shortly after he finished this and one other book in 2011. Hoban was an American expat who had lived in London since 1969.
This book is recommended for readers 14+
This book was obtained from the publisher.
aprilbooksandwine's review
4.0
You ever stumble on a book that you’ve heard nothing about, but immediately find yourself immensely attracted to? Soonchild by the late Russell Hoban was that book for me — the Patrick Ness blurb on the cover acting as a sort of siren call. Friends, this genius, slim little book evoked the same sort of feelings in me that The Alchemist and Life Of Pi did.
Read the rest of my review here link goes live 7/18/12
Read the rest of my review here link goes live 7/18/12
thecommonswings's review
5.0
Unless a writer deliberately squirrels away a book for posthumous publication like Christie did, do authors ever know their final book is going to be their final book? Because Soonchild really does feel like Hoban trying to weave all the ideas his books have thrown into one world into a sort of definitive statement. It’s a book that plays with myth and myth building and it seems fitting that he explores his most frequent themes through this medium. It’s dense and strange and frequently incredibly beautiful. It also reminds you that even at his weirdest, Hoban is an incredibly funny writer. And Deacon doesn’t so much match Hoban’s text but almost feels like a commentary on it. It’s spectacular and beautiful and strange and the whole volume must rank as one of the best final flourishes in literary history. It’s extraordinary
casualskimreader's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I found this book incredibly interesting.
The structure of my edition also added to the chaos of the storyline. Chapters started mid page and some pages just had images.
My favourite part of the book was its ability to weave Inuit mythology and the modern world in way that highlights it’s complexity but makes it understandable. I appreciate that every spirit such as Sixteen Face John, Nanuq, Timertik, Ukpika, etc. had their moment in the book. It is explained who they are and how they contribute to John’s journey to finding the songs of the world. I am unsure how much of Hoban’s own imagination is woven into this book but I did find it fun to read.
A smaller aspect I really liked is the onomatopoeia. All of it assisted to engrain me into the world of the North as well as John’s Dream Brew trance.
Another aspect I enjoyed was the names of characters and how they perfectly describe each character. Some names are more practical. Soonchild is called soon child as she is soon to be born and characters such as Mr Ugly highlight his crudeness.
This book also plays with some epistemological questions and has an Everyman type of story structure. John’s journey is spiritual and individual but it is representative of the philosophical journey that we take to help people we love and face our own internal battles.
I appreciated that all the shamans had questions for names. This highlighted that they were wise people as well as reminded me of questions posed in a philosophy class as well as questions that would be asked by young children such as “Where is it?”, etc. Also these names/questions are reminiscent of actual philosophical questions.
In addition to reminding me of Descartes, this journey that John goes on helps him remember his position of shaman, face his fears and restore his sense of reality. This is similar to the morality play Everyman.
Alexis Deacon’s illustrations added to the story. His illustrations assisted me with visualising a journey that is quite fractured and downs necessarily logically follow. It is a journey in trance so we go from one character to the next quite quickly and change location often. So, the illustrations helped me with following the journey as well as highlighting some of the questions physicality of the spirits as well as tension. My favourite illustrations were:
The ending seemed a little short but I enjoyed it. I really like that
This was a relatively quick read and the pictures definitely assisted with keeping me focused. The names can be confusing at times but it’s doable if you have minimal distractions.
The structure of my edition also added to the chaos of the storyline. Chapters started mid page and some pages just had images.
My favourite part of the book was its ability to weave Inuit mythology and the modern world in way that highlights it’s complexity but makes it understandable. I appreciate that every spirit such as Sixteen Face John, Nanuq, Timertik, Ukpika, etc. had their moment in the book. It is explained who they are and how they contribute to John’s journey to finding the songs of the world. I am unsure how much of Hoban’s own imagination is woven into this book but I did find it fun to read.
A smaller aspect I really liked is the onomatopoeia. All of it assisted to engrain me into the world of the North as well as John’s Dream Brew trance.
Another aspect I enjoyed was the names of characters and how they perfectly describe each character. Some names are more practical. Soonchild is called soon child as she is soon to be born and characters such as Mr Ugly highlight his crudeness.
This book also plays with some epistemological questions and has an Everyman type of story structure. John’s journey is spiritual and individual but it is representative of the philosophical journey that we take to help people we love and face our own internal battles.
I appreciated that all the shamans had questions for names. This highlighted that they were wise people as well as reminded me of questions posed in a philosophy class as well as questions that would be asked by young children such as “Where is it?”, etc. Also these names/questions are reminiscent of actual philosophical questions.
Spoiler
Soonchild doesn’t want to come into the world because she doesn’t know if there is one. This reminded me of Descartes Meditations. Descartes was famous for this work as it delves into how can we tell what is reality and if things exist. John’s journey is a similar concept. He goes on a journey/into trance to help assist another individual to prove that the world is real. It differs to Descartes in the sense that John is able to pass on his understanding of reality to Soonchild whereas Descartes’ work could only be used to prove to yourself if you are real and experiencing life but you can’t be sure/convince another person that you exist.In addition to reminding me of Descartes, this journey that John goes on helps him remember his position of shaman, face his fears and restore his sense of reality. This is similar to the morality play Everyman.
Spoiler
(I might be rusty with my history and dramatic arts theory) In the play, Everyman is representative of all people and the journey he goes on brings him closer to God and faith. Along his journey he meets characters that embody Christian values and they assist his journey. The purpose of morality plays such as Everyman is to help educate people and assist them in understanding and conceptualising philosophical ideas and religious ideology. Reading this book, it is clear that Hoban mimics this sort of storytelling (knowingly or unknowingly).Alexis Deacon’s illustrations added to the story. His illustrations assisted me with visualising a journey that is quite fractured and downs necessarily logically follow. It is a journey in trance so we go from one character to the next quite quickly and change location often. So, the illustrations helped me with following the journey as well as highlighting some of the questions physicality of the spirits as well as tension. My favourite illustrations were:
Spoiler
Yarluk, Timertik, Nanuq, Ukpika, the wolves of John, the ritual and the journey through the Long White Alone. I think these illustrations managed to get emphasise the power of the spiritual beings as well as how frightening John’s journey is particularly John’s wolves as well as the Long White Alone. The wolves sometimes have human faces and look deformed and the laughing spirits and figures in the Long White Alone were ominous and creepy. They captured various characters that John had/was going to meet as well as John’s fear in the face of death.The ending seemed a little short but I enjoyed it. I really like that
Spoiler
Soonchild wasn’t just a representative character but her existence helped the world from ending. We tend to forget that she is the reason why we still have a word yet she’s such an ordinary person and her father helped prevent the world from ending. Idk how to say it but it’s great.This was a relatively quick read and the pictures definitely assisted with keeping me focused. The names can be confusing at times but it’s doable if you have minimal distractions.