Reviews
La niña que recorrió Tierra Fantástica en un barco hecho por ella misma, by Catherynne M. Valente
biancahartley's review against another edition
This should be my cup of tea but I'm just not getting into it. Perhaps it's a touch too fanciful and not as grounded as I'd like. I think I'll try again in a year or so.
acrisalves's review against another edition
3.0
De uma autora de fantástico bastante conhecida (se não em Portugal, pelo menos fora de Portugal) e com uma capa deliciosa, este livro conta a história de uma rapariga, Setembro, levada pelo vento, para o Reino Encantado, um reino de regras estranhas, onde se vê sozinha. Mas tal não impede que se encha de coragem e vá escolhendo missão atrás de missão que a levam por um caminho bastante óbvio, aliás, que outro objectivo poderia ter a presença de uma rapariga no reino encantado, senão lutar contra a bruxa má que a todos subjugou?
Ao longo das aventuras novos amigos se juntam às sucessivas demandas: primeiro para confrontar quem reina naquele mundo, a marquesa, e, depois, dominada por esta, numa missão obscura. Entre os amigos encontra-se um dragão bibliotecário que decorou páginas e páginas. Mas só até à letra L. Pelo caminho vai encontrando estranhas personagens, desde uma mulher sabão que terá sido criada à semelhança de um Golem, a bruxas simpáticas.
Para além da belíssima capa, também o interior está repleto de imagens fantásticas e fantasiosas que iniciam cada parágrafo, sempre com resumos engraçados e curiosos, que nos introduzem à próxima aventura de Setembro no reino-encantado, aventuras surreais que parecem ter saído da mente de uma criança.
Mas nem tudo são rosas, e em vários aspectos. A vida de Setembro, antes da vinda para o Reino Encantado terá sido marcada pela ida do pai para a Guerra, e do abandono parcial do lar pela mãe que agora trabalha todo o dia na fábrica, deixando a rapariga com pequenas tarefas domésticas. Terá sido esta a principal razão pela qual Setembro se deixou levar para o Reino Encantado, mas também aqui encontra perigos que, mais do que a vez, a colocam em perigo mortal.
Mas se a história tem momentos bastante bons também tem outros medíocres. As ideias apresentadas são bastante boas mas a passagem entre aventuras consegue ser, por vezes, abrupta. Provavelmente porque o livro está feito para ser lido capítulo a capítulo, aventura a aventura, e não todo de seguida, em poucas horas. Por outro lado, as personagens apresentam-se, por vezes, demasiado lineares e pouco densas, o que as consegue tornar quase indiferentes ao leitor. E ser um livro para um público mais jovem não deveria ser desculpa para este ponto.
Entenda-se que estes pontos são pequenas arestas no conjunto todo, mas que são suficientes para não colocar este livro ao nível da série fantástica do Philip Pulman, por exemplo. Por outro lado, existem gralhas linguísticas – e eu não sou das pessoas mais atentas a este ponto. Existem algumas frases confusas que quebraram, por vezes, o ritmo da leitura. Felizmente, não são tão frequentes que retirem o prazer da leitura No final, gostei o suficiente para recomendar e para esperar que os seguintes também sejam publicados em português. Juvenil ou não, não é todos os meses (nem sequer todos os anos) que se publica fantástico de uma autora de referência.
(publicado inicialmente com fotos do livro em https://acrisalves.wordpress.com/2014/12/14/a-menina-que-circum-navegou-o-reino-encantado-num-barco-que-ela-mesma-fez-catherynne-m-valente/ )
Ao longo das aventuras novos amigos se juntam às sucessivas demandas: primeiro para confrontar quem reina naquele mundo, a marquesa, e, depois, dominada por esta, numa missão obscura. Entre os amigos encontra-se um dragão bibliotecário que decorou páginas e páginas. Mas só até à letra L. Pelo caminho vai encontrando estranhas personagens, desde uma mulher sabão que terá sido criada à semelhança de um Golem, a bruxas simpáticas.
Para além da belíssima capa, também o interior está repleto de imagens fantásticas e fantasiosas que iniciam cada parágrafo, sempre com resumos engraçados e curiosos, que nos introduzem à próxima aventura de Setembro no reino-encantado, aventuras surreais que parecem ter saído da mente de uma criança.
Mas nem tudo são rosas, e em vários aspectos. A vida de Setembro, antes da vinda para o Reino Encantado terá sido marcada pela ida do pai para a Guerra, e do abandono parcial do lar pela mãe que agora trabalha todo o dia na fábrica, deixando a rapariga com pequenas tarefas domésticas. Terá sido esta a principal razão pela qual Setembro se deixou levar para o Reino Encantado, mas também aqui encontra perigos que, mais do que a vez, a colocam em perigo mortal.
Mas se a história tem momentos bastante bons também tem outros medíocres. As ideias apresentadas são bastante boas mas a passagem entre aventuras consegue ser, por vezes, abrupta. Provavelmente porque o livro está feito para ser lido capítulo a capítulo, aventura a aventura, e não todo de seguida, em poucas horas. Por outro lado, as personagens apresentam-se, por vezes, demasiado lineares e pouco densas, o que as consegue tornar quase indiferentes ao leitor. E ser um livro para um público mais jovem não deveria ser desculpa para este ponto.
Entenda-se que estes pontos são pequenas arestas no conjunto todo, mas que são suficientes para não colocar este livro ao nível da série fantástica do Philip Pulman, por exemplo. Por outro lado, existem gralhas linguísticas – e eu não sou das pessoas mais atentas a este ponto. Existem algumas frases confusas que quebraram, por vezes, o ritmo da leitura. Felizmente, não são tão frequentes que retirem o prazer da leitura No final, gostei o suficiente para recomendar e para esperar que os seguintes também sejam publicados em português. Juvenil ou não, não é todos os meses (nem sequer todos os anos) que se publica fantástico de uma autora de referência.
(publicado inicialmente com fotos do livro em https://acrisalves.wordpress.com/2014/12/14/a-menina-que-circum-navegou-o-reino-encantado-num-barco-que-ela-mesma-fez-catherynne-m-valente/ )
ferrisscottr's review against another edition
1.0
Tried on two different occasions to read this book and can't do it.
I'm sure it was a blast to write (you could tell she was having fun) and I'm sure for some people this is right up their alley but it's just not for me.
If this is what I liked I would give it 5 stars but I tried to finish twice and couldn't so I'm giving it 1 star.
I'm sure it was a blast to write (you could tell she was having fun) and I'm sure for some people this is right up their alley but it's just not for me.
If this is what I liked I would give it 5 stars but I tried to finish twice and couldn't so I'm giving it 1 star.
_sar_ah's review against another edition
2.0
the language was just too elaborate for me but I think I would have loved this when I was in middle school
saguaros's review against another edition
5.0
'm going to be honest, I love Catherynne Valente's work. Love. This story was first published on her website, and I somehow missed it. When I finally found my way to it, the last part of the book had been taken down in anticipation for its print publication. There was no way I was starting this book without finishing it, so I put down the publication date in my calendar, and waited. And waited. And waited. Finally, by chance, luck, or my good star looking down on me, I was offered to review an advanced copy of the book by the publishers. I was so happy I could barely contain myself. And when I received it, I held it in my hands, preciously, almost scared to open the first page. But what else can one do with a book, but dive in, and see where it takes you? So I did. and, boy, what a trip it took me on. What an adventure!
Twelve-year old September is met one day at her window by a Green Wind (riding a panther). He offers to take her on an adventure into Fairyland, where wonders await her. September slowly finds that her help might be needed there. The Marquess, ruler of Fairyland, is fickle, unpredictable, and even cruel. September makes friends, including a wyvern whose father is a library and a strange boy named Saturday, and offers her help. She soon finds herself on a quest that takes her further than she ever thought she would ever go.
This book did not dissapoint my over-the-top anticipation and expectation in any way. It even surpassed them. I should have known. I should have known it would be more than what I could imagine. It is a testament to Ms. Valente's storytelling talent that she can do that. Not only is her prose absolutely gorgeous, it makes you want to write down or underline a quote every single page, but the way she weaves a story is remarkable.
This book is a treasure. Truly. I can barely find the words to describe how delighted it made me. How I enjoyed the twists and turns of the story, the adventure, the love, the friendship, and the courage. Oh the Bravery of this book, the Bravery of September. She starts as such an interesting, but well-known type of character, like Alice and her Wonderland. But soon, she morphs into her own character, puts her feet down, and become so tangible, she felt like a friend or a little sister. But it was more than that, I wanted to be September, or at the very least it made me wish I could have been like her when I was younger. But September is not the only one stealing my heart in this book, oh no, every character that she meets, all of her friends and ennemies, have something special and interesting. Catherynne M. Valente has this ability to take well-known creatures such as dragons, wyverns, witches and fairies and create them anew, so they become unique with their own mythology, their own world.
The story is told by a third-person omniscient narrator that oftens talks directly to the reader, and even points out details and insights into the process of storytelling itself. But instead of feeling condescending or taking you away from your immersion in the story, it feels familiar and comforting. Like having a story told by a particularly gifted person around a campfire at Summer camp. Or your mom weaving a story while you slowly fall asleep with your head on her stomach, staring at the changing shapes on your ceiling created by your nightlight.
I could go on and on about this book. How it's both for children and adults because it speaks to the same place in our hearts. Or how, even if you are not as enthusiastic about it as I am, it is just a lot of fun. It has funny moments, dark moments, quests, friendships, wonders and adventure. What more can you want?
The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making comes out May 10th 2011. Take note, write it down. Buy yourself a copy.
(thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the ARC copy)
Twelve-year old September is met one day at her window by a Green Wind (riding a panther). He offers to take her on an adventure into Fairyland, where wonders await her. September slowly finds that her help might be needed there. The Marquess, ruler of Fairyland, is fickle, unpredictable, and even cruel. September makes friends, including a wyvern whose father is a library and a strange boy named Saturday, and offers her help. She soon finds herself on a quest that takes her further than she ever thought she would ever go.
This book did not dissapoint my over-the-top anticipation and expectation in any way. It even surpassed them. I should have known. I should have known it would be more than what I could imagine. It is a testament to Ms. Valente's storytelling talent that she can do that. Not only is her prose absolutely gorgeous, it makes you want to write down or underline a quote every single page, but the way she weaves a story is remarkable.
This book is a treasure. Truly. I can barely find the words to describe how delighted it made me. How I enjoyed the twists and turns of the story, the adventure, the love, the friendship, and the courage. Oh the Bravery of this book, the Bravery of September. She starts as such an interesting, but well-known type of character, like Alice and her Wonderland. But soon, she morphs into her own character, puts her feet down, and become so tangible, she felt like a friend or a little sister. But it was more than that, I wanted to be September, or at the very least it made me wish I could have been like her when I was younger. But September is not the only one stealing my heart in this book, oh no, every character that she meets, all of her friends and ennemies, have something special and interesting. Catherynne M. Valente has this ability to take well-known creatures such as dragons, wyverns, witches and fairies and create them anew, so they become unique with their own mythology, their own world.
The story is told by a third-person omniscient narrator that oftens talks directly to the reader, and even points out details and insights into the process of storytelling itself. But instead of feeling condescending or taking you away from your immersion in the story, it feels familiar and comforting. Like having a story told by a particularly gifted person around a campfire at Summer camp. Or your mom weaving a story while you slowly fall asleep with your head on her stomach, staring at the changing shapes on your ceiling created by your nightlight.
I could go on and on about this book. How it's both for children and adults because it speaks to the same place in our hearts. Or how, even if you are not as enthusiastic about it as I am, it is just a lot of fun. It has funny moments, dark moments, quests, friendships, wonders and adventure. What more can you want?
The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making comes out May 10th 2011. Take note, write it down. Buy yourself a copy.
(thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the ARC copy)
sharonskinner's review against another edition
4.0
Fun use of language. Imaginative twist on tropes. Satisfying theme and arc.
nnn's review against another edition
4.0
da will ich hin 🥲 wunderschöne wenngleich skurrile welt, die einen an die kindheit erinnert (zumindest bei mir, weil ich das buch schonmal gelesen hab, als ich 10 war oder so)
lavendermarch's review against another edition
5.0
This book was amazing! It was a true fairytale adventure, with all the hallmarks of something fabulous. I loved all of the characters, and the author's writing was great, too. I loved the style of it. I am definitely in need of book two! 5 stars.
evaeviux's review against another edition
5.0
Hands down the best book I have read all year. Beautifully written and engaging. I don't know what else to tell you, except that I wish I could write like that.
brynebo's review against another edition
3.0
I started this book some time ago and chose to set it aside each time new library holds came in. I started rereading from the beginning about a week ago. I enjoyed it and some parts are really quite clever, but overall I wasn't as wowed as I thought I would be.