A review by poetrynati
The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

In my old age, I see that life itself is often more fantastic and terrible than the stories we believed as children, and that perhaps there is no harm in finding magic among the trees.

One of my favorite books is Marley and Me, though not for the reasons you'd think. Following that crazy dog and his shenanigans was certainly fun, but what drew me in was the family. Their story was intimate, honest, gentle. By the time I was done, I felt like I knew those people personally.

I love that book, and I loved this one too. The charm of The Snow Child lies entirely in how realistic each character is, and how strongly atmospheric the setting was from the start. Mabel and Jack were an amazing representation of an older couple torn by grief, but in this story where only a few characters were involved, they weren't the only compelling ones. I loved Garrett and Esther. And I loved Faina and the mystery of her existence. So far, this is my favorite read of January.