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A review by watermelleon
The Snow Spider by Jenny Nimmo
3.0
going to review these books separately as im reading a version with the whole trilogy inside.
it has really been some time since I have read this. And its weird because on reading I remembered all of the emotions I had reading it as a child, and wow this book kind of sucks! ok harsh, its just a bit "meh." Yet constantly, I cite this as being one of my favourite childhood series that I've read MULTIPLE TIMES. I don't really feel disappointed about my feelings reading this - rereading childhood favourites is always scary in case you discover the passion is gone, but im pretty sure that my feelings on this one is the same.
Making sense? no? well, the edition I used to read is the one I bought now, the 3in1 edition with all of the books inside. I never saw this book as a separate book. I was a fast reader as a kid, and I could read the entire thing in days. its simply written, this book comes to 120 pages. at no point did I ever consider the book as three separate things. now I see it as a single entity, the snow spider is a little bit... all over the place? things are really quick. a lot happens. you could say the events in this one book could in itself make three! But the magic in this series really comes in the books to come, so clearly this is just vital set up. however, like I said, I think I already knew this. I had memories of me trying to sludge through this first book to get to the good parts that I had completely forgotten because the other sections are SO GOOD.
the only thing I might add is I did cringe a little bit at gwyn and the other kids, like it just felt a bit make-believey for me at times and not actually real. and I LOVE EIRLYS SO MUCH, part of me cannot remember why BUT I DO, but oh my god WERE HER PARENTS REALLY TOO DUMB TO RECOGNISE THEIR OWN KID? REALLY. (also I think the characterisation for the dad went a bit too far, I don't think a parent would resent their kid so much for what happened like it was a bit weird)
Can I say I loved the welsh-ness of it however. Its rooted in tradition, and I love how gwyn is so tied to his landscape and nature around him through his powers (maybe its the wiccan in me idk). but its really nice, and I think probably (im not welsh) a very staple of welsh literature for kids in a world that is slowly losing large parts of its language, landscape and tradition. The grandmother being the only character who is consistently tied down to the language, landscape, and local lore is so telling and true: gwyn doesn't understand welsh until she gives him his powers and he is more tied to the nature around him. Its just really sweet and telling the themes about the key to keeping these traditions being through the connection of generations. Gwyn is disconnected from his dad, his dad disconnected from the grandmother: each of these disconnections down the generations results in a further distance from the culture of their surroundings which is only saved by reconnection. kind of sad really.
OK THERE ARE A FEW PROBLEMS AS STATED. but I cant wait to remember what the fuck this is about and why I loved it so much. loving the nostalgia of it all, rereads for the win.
it has really been some time since I have read this. And its weird because on reading I remembered all of the emotions I had reading it as a child, and wow this book kind of sucks! ok harsh, its just a bit "meh." Yet constantly, I cite this as being one of my favourite childhood series that I've read MULTIPLE TIMES. I don't really feel disappointed about my feelings reading this - rereading childhood favourites is always scary in case you discover the passion is gone, but im pretty sure that my feelings on this one is the same.
Making sense? no? well, the edition I used to read is the one I bought now, the 3in1 edition with all of the books inside. I never saw this book as a separate book. I was a fast reader as a kid, and I could read the entire thing in days. its simply written, this book comes to 120 pages. at no point did I ever consider the book as three separate things. now I see it as a single entity, the snow spider is a little bit... all over the place? things are really quick. a lot happens. you could say the events in this one book could in itself make three! But the magic in this series really comes in the books to come, so clearly this is just vital set up. however, like I said, I think I already knew this. I had memories of me trying to sludge through this first book to get to the good parts that I had completely forgotten because the other sections are SO GOOD.
the only thing I might add is I did cringe a little bit at gwyn and the other kids, like it just felt a bit make-believey for me at times and not actually real. and I LOVE EIRLYS SO MUCH, part of me cannot remember why BUT I DO, but oh my god WERE HER PARENTS REALLY TOO DUMB TO RECOGNISE THEIR OWN KID? REALLY. (also I think the characterisation for the dad went a bit too far, I don't think a parent would resent their kid so much for what happened like it was a bit weird)
Can I say I loved the welsh-ness of it however. Its rooted in tradition, and I love how gwyn is so tied to his landscape and nature around him through his powers (maybe its the wiccan in me idk). but its really nice, and I think probably (im not welsh) a very staple of welsh literature for kids in a world that is slowly losing large parts of its language, landscape and tradition. The grandmother being the only character who is consistently tied down to the language, landscape, and local lore is so telling and true: gwyn doesn't understand welsh until she gives him his powers and he is more tied to the nature around him. Its just really sweet and telling the themes about the key to keeping these traditions being through the connection of generations. Gwyn is disconnected from his dad, his dad disconnected from the grandmother: each of these disconnections down the generations results in a further distance from the culture of their surroundings which is only saved by reconnection. kind of sad really.
OK THERE ARE A FEW PROBLEMS AS STATED. but I cant wait to remember what the fuck this is about and why I loved it so much. loving the nostalgia of it all, rereads for the win.