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A review by kevinc
The Dark Is Rising by Susan Cooper
3.0
I’ve held this book as one of my favourites since I first read it as a child 30+ years ago and it’s probably 20+ years since I last read it. I find that I now have to downgrade it.
While the story itself still holds up and the use of British mythology still gives it a somewhat dark and somber tone it is very much a children’s book.
The characters are drawn quite starkly, the divide between the good and bad characters is unambiguous, there’s no mistaking which side someone is on.
Our main character, Will Stanton, makes his way though a number of mini quests but when he succeeds it’s through no skill of his own. His triumphs are handed to him on a plate and his failures don’t have lasting consequences.
There were often points where Will would ask questions of his mentors/advisors and they weren’t answered for reasons that I’d describe as “for the drama”. Often the question wasn’t answered when asked but would just be answered a few pages later. This seemed to be less about allowing space for the character and reader to work out the answer than it was to manufacture some suspense.
I still think this is a really great book for children and a good read for adults. I fear that nostalgia raised my expectations a little to high for reading again as an adult.
While the story itself still holds up and the use of British mythology still gives it a somewhat dark and somber tone it is very much a children’s book.
The characters are drawn quite starkly, the divide between the good and bad characters is unambiguous, there’s no mistaking which side someone is on.
Our main character, Will Stanton, makes his way though a number of mini quests but when he succeeds it’s through no skill of his own. His triumphs are handed to him on a plate and his failures don’t have lasting consequences.
There were often points where Will would ask questions of his mentors/advisors and they weren’t answered for reasons that I’d describe as “for the drama”. Often the question wasn’t answered when asked but would just be answered a few pages later. This seemed to be less about allowing space for the character and reader to work out the answer than it was to manufacture some suspense.
I still think this is a really great book for children and a good read for adults. I fear that nostalgia raised my expectations a little to high for reading again as an adult.