Sunday, February 7, 2010

Some of my Re-Reads

Frankly, I re-read almost everything. If I can get through it the first time, I usually want to revisit a second, third, fourth, and on and on. I could post about so many, but I'll just start with one author.

One of my favorite fantasy authors is Robin McKinley. I recommended her to my mom and she doesn't like her writing at all. It's pretty wordy and has some strange sentence structure, but I love it. I was wandering through the library recently wishing that I owned almost all of her books and that she had written more of them.

In order of recommendation, or perhaps the order I was introduced ...

Beauty.
  • Reading level: Ages 9-12
  • Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages
It doesn't seem like it could possibly be over 300 pages. It must have really large margins. This is a fun retelling of Beauty and the Beast.

Spindle's End.
  • Reading level: Young Adult
  • Paperback: 384 pages
A version of Sleeping Beauty. It gets a little strange near the end. Most of her books do, but I love all the rest of it.

The Hero and the Crown and The Blue Sword
  • Reading level: Young Adult
  • Mass Market Paperback: 227 pages
  • Newberry Medal
  • Reading level: Young Adult
  • Mass Market Paperback: 248 pages
  • Newberry Honor
These two are about the same land, but are set generations apart. I love The Blue Sword more. In fact I don't think I'd use the word love in relation to The Hero and the Crown, but it's fairly interesting and a fun read.

The Outlaws of Sherwood
  • Reading level: Young Adult
  • Paperback: 368 pages
I haven't read this one very much, but it seems like I liked it pretty well.

Chalice
  • Reading level: Young Adult
  • Paperback: 272 pages
I liked this one a lot, but I think it is pretty weird and I wish it was longer.

Rose Daughter
  • Reading level: Young Adult
  • Paperback: 304 pages
I don't think I liked this one until I'd read it a couple of times so I don't know that I can recommend it strongly. It is another telling of Beauty and the Beast and Beauty is much better!

She also has a couple collections of short stories that are fun but not marvelous. DON'T read Deerskin- seems like it is a bit offensive. I didn't care for Dragonhaven- it wasn't bad- just didn't really like it. Her adult book Sunshine is an intriguing vampire tale, but has two pages that I wish I'd never read as they were too graphic for me.
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5 comments:

  1. AnnaFebruary 8, 2010 at 2:48 PM

    I tried reading Spindle's End several years ago, but I found the language a little overwhelming. I think I would enjoy it a lot better now.

    There are a few titles that I did not recognize, is she still actively writing?

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  2. TarmyFebruary 8, 2010 at 3:48 PM

    Her writing definitely isn't for everyone. I think The Blue Sword and Beauty are easier to read than Spindle's End. She still writes. She's supposed to have a new book coming out this fall.
    I have Beauty, Spindle's End, The Blue Sword, and The Hero and the Crown if you ever have time to give her a try again you could borrow them.

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  3. RuthFebruary 9, 2010 at 8:43 AM

    I really enjoyed the Outlaws of Sherwood. Can you read the Blue Sword without reading The Hero and the Crown first?

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  4. SarahFebruary 9, 2010 at 9:41 AM

    If I remember right, the Blue Sword is a prequel to Hero and the Crown. The books are rather independent but share history and culture etc.

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  5. TarmyFebruary 12, 2010 at 3:59 AM

    You can read the two independently and the Blue sword is the second one chronologically.

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