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Needle in a Haystack
Contrary to what...
Contrary to what it may look like, this is not a book. The thing is, I would like to call upon you to help me find a book, using your dectective skills and probably no decent clues at all.
See, a few years ago, I went to this small bookstore and found this book that I didn't read, but sparked this really cool story idea. I completely forgot the name of the novel and the author, and I would go back and find it, but the bookstore has closed down, and I really don't know any other way to look for it.
The only thing I remember about it is the cover and general idea.
The general idea was of winteriness and northerness, and the cover had a polar bear on it, kind of set in the middle distance, with a dark haired girl in the general vicinity. It was similar to Golden Compass, but I definitely don't think it was that, unless it was some different edition. It was also a pretty long book, like 500 pages, and was probably seperated by different parts.
If you know of a book like that or know of any other way I could find such a book, I would be really grateful!
submitted by Everinne, age 15, This is not a book
(May 15, 2014 - 11:33 pm)
(May 15, 2014 - 11:33 pm)
East by Edith Pattou? I read it a while ago and really loved it. So even if it isn't that, go read that anyway. But it does sound like that.
(May 16, 2014 - 2:45 pm)
Top!
@ Corina:
Just Googled East and I realized that might be it! I'll look for it at the library. Thanks for the help; you have no idea how long I've been looking for this.
(May 17, 2014 - 12:33 am)
You're welcome! I hope you enjoy it!
(May 17, 2014 - 11:33 am)
In the middle of East and it's pretty good so far! However, the changes in narration are a little disconcerting, especially because at the moment (Rose is at the Ice Castle), I don't really care what Neddy and Sara are doing back home (though I almost wish there was more to the Troll Queen's narration than just telling how she stole the "softskin" boy. She never said why, and all she does is whine about her father--I'd just like a bit more depth, that's all.)
The main problem is that I don't feel like I can sympathize with Rose enough. She's a nice character, but she feels like a supporting character, because, despite it being in first person, you never really get why she wants to go save the white bear. I know she has compassion for him, but you never get the sense that she loves him, which is pretty much the whole point, isn't it? And even though it's a fairy tale where there will likely be a happily ever after, there isn't nearly enough suspense. Rose is in the wild, stark north, for goodness' sake. Shouldn't there be a bit more danger? I'm interested to see how it ends, though--I love Tuki, and I'm interested to see how the White Bear will finally figure out what the heck is going on.
Will post again when I finish it; I do ramble on entirely too much!
(May 21, 2014 - 3:59 pm)
I partly agree with everything you said. And the changes in narration didn't really bother me, but that never does. *grins*
I just loved the way it's written, so whimsical and rich. :D
(May 22, 2014 - 3:53 pm)
Just finished East. The end was better than the beginning and middle, mostly because we got a little real emotion out of Rose. I kind of expected what happened to Tuki; he was too nice to let live. :)
And by the end, I did like the change in narration--maybe because we let up a bit on Neddy. I didn't mind him as a secondary character, but it felt like he didn't have a big enough part for what he had to say. Even Rose's father seemed more important.
I also kind of wish the White Bear wasn't a French noble. I mean, it wouldn't have made a difference if he was a farmer's son, but...maybe I would have liked it better if the whole story were just set in a real fantasy realm, not a kind of altered 15th-century France/Norway. Or maybe I just had a problem with the fact his name was Charles? But I agree, I like Edith's writing style and the way you do get a pretty vivid sense of place. Have you read any of her other books?
Last note: Even though it's classified as Young Adult at my library, I didn't really find it Young Adult. There was no violence, hardly any romance to speak of, and not a single swear word in all 500 pages. I guess you couldn't exactly call it kids fiction either, but the Damar novels by Robin McKinley that are kidlit feel more grown up.
(May 22, 2014 - 9:36 pm)
I have a sort of needle-in-the-haystack kind of book too. The book had a cover with a robin on a branch and a snowy owl and was about the robin (a bit like Redwall, that theme) and his life. I was wondering if anyone knew what the name of the book was because I can't seem to get the name up again. I was going to buy it, but the next time I went to the bookstore, it wasn't there.
(May 31, 2014 - 12:52 pm)