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East #1
East
Rose has always been different.
Since the day she was born, it was clear she had a special fate. Her superstitious mother keeps the unusual circumstances of Rose's birth a secret, hoping to prevent her adventurous daughter from leaving home... but she can't suppress Rose's true nature forever.
So when an enormous white bear shows up one cold autumn evening and asks teenage Rose to come away with it--in exchange for health and prosperity for her ailing family--she readily agrees.
Rose travels on the bear's broad back to a distant and empty castle, where she is nightly joined by a mysterious stranger. In discovering his identity, she loses her heart-- and finds her purpose--and realizes her journey has only just begun.
507 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2003
About the author
Edith Pattou
8 books827 followersEdith Pattou is the author of several fantasy novels, including East, an ALA Top Ten Best Book for Young Adults. She is a graduate of the Francis W. Parker School, Scripps College (B.A., English), Claremont Graduate School (M.A., English) and UCLA (M.L.I.S.). She is married to Charles Emery, a professor of psychology at The Ohio State University. They have one child, a daughter.
For more information, please see http://www.answers.com/topic/edith-pa...
For more information, please see http://www.answers.com/topic/edith-pa...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,328 reviews
July 14, 2019
This book was awesome! I have never heard of this fairytale, even though it sounded familiar. I’m glad one of my friends wanted to buddy read it, but now I want to get both books in paperback and the second one comes out in October. I always get scared about the cancer coming back if I get too excited about books on down the line 😫
Anyway, I recommend to those that love fairytales!
They journeyed far and the white bear said,
"Are you afraid?"
"No," she replied. "I am not afraid."
She would search for him. In the land that lay east of the sun and west of the moon. But there was no way there.
She traveled on the back of the North Wind to the very end of the world
Happy Reading!
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
March 5, 2010
I absolutely loved this book. I've read it so many times and never has it grown old. I love how it shifts views and tells you what other people are doing and how it has many plots that all tie together in the book. I love the White Bear and I love reading what he has to say and the riddles and poems he speaks in. The chapters weren't long so you could just fly through the book with no trouble. I fell inlove with Rose and her personality from the beginning, the first few pages a a little slow, but that is just setting the story. Push through them and I promise you will not be disappointed.
I also love that it is multiple books in one book, though never meant to be a serise. I really enjoyed how the characters evolved over the span of the book. Rose is just amazing and you can't help but admiring her persistence.
Now some people would be disappointed by the "romance" in the book, or lack there of, but that didn't bother me one bit. What Rose and the White Bear had was tender and fragile and real. Their relationship was amazing and wasn't all fluffed up. Most authors would have Rose run into the arms of the White Bear and they would live perfectly from that moment on. But Edith gave the two characters time to grow together. She did an amazing job of showing the uncertainty that was felt between the two.
All around I would recomend this book to anyone who loves a great adventure story.
Whenever I have nothing to read, this is the first book I pick up, and I read it all over again.
I also love that it is multiple books in one book, though never meant to be a serise. I really enjoyed how the characters evolved over the span of the book. Rose is just amazing and you can't help but admiring her persistence.
Now some people would be disappointed by the "romance" in the book, or lack there of, but that didn't bother me one bit. What Rose and the White Bear had was tender and fragile and real. Their relationship was amazing and wasn't all fluffed up. Most authors would have Rose run into the arms of the White Bear and they would live perfectly from that moment on. But Edith gave the two characters time to grow together. She did an amazing job of showing the uncertainty that was felt between the two.
All around I would recomend this book to anyone who loves a great adventure story.
Whenever I have nothing to read, this is the first book I pick up, and I read it all over again.
January 19, 2012
This novel is a retelling of "East of the Sun and West of the Moon" which is probably one of the most underappreciated fairy tales out there. Unfortunately, this retelling doesn't quite do it justice. The author chose to use multiple viewpoints, which felt more like a gimmick and less like the best way to tell the story (especially since I was only really interested in the stories from two of the five narrators). Also, no one ever seems to have given Edith that all important advice to "show and not tell." Despite the novel being almost 500 pages long, reading it feels more like skimming a summary than entering a world. For example, she uses phrases such as, "It was clear they really loved each other," without telling us what made it clear, which makes it sound like it actually wasn't all that clear at all.
Her treatment of the white bear and the four winds was interesting, but I didn't really appreciate the latter until I read her own afterward (which, incidentally, was more interesting than the story itself).
Even though it's only a two-star book, I find myself holding onto it because I'm rather proud of my collection of retold fairy tales.
Her treatment of the white bear and the four winds was interesting, but I didn't really appreciate the latter until I read her own afterward (which, incidentally, was more interesting than the story itself).
Even though it's only a two-star book, I find myself holding onto it because I'm rather proud of my collection of retold fairy tales.
January 4, 2019
3.5*
a lovely retelling of Beauty and the Beast.
a lovely retelling of Beauty and the Beast.
October 26, 2018
$1.99 Kindle sale, Oct. 25, 2018. The sequel to this 2005 folktale retelling, West, was just published this week (it's still waiting on my Kindle).
East is a retelling of the Norwegian tale "East of the Sun and West of the Moon;" you can read one version of it here. In East, a teenage girl named Rose has a sense of adventure that her worried mother has always tried, unsuccessfully, to quell. One day a huge white bear appears at their door and offers to magically to fix the family's dire financial and health problems if Rose will to come away with the bear, and she agrees. There's a hard and fast rule to their relationship, though, and when Rose eventually breaks it, the results are far worse than she imagined. Rose can go back home to her family ... or she can try to fix the problem she created.
Edith Pattou tells this story with lots of believable details. I really felt the cold. A fine retelling of an old, less well-known folktale.
East is a retelling of the Norwegian tale "East of the Sun and West of the Moon;" you can read one version of it here. In East, a teenage girl named Rose has a sense of adventure that her worried mother has always tried, unsuccessfully, to quell. One day a huge white bear appears at their door and offers to magically to fix the family's dire financial and health problems if Rose will to come away with the bear, and she agrees. There's a hard and fast rule to their relationship, though, and when Rose eventually breaks it, the results are far worse than she imagined. Rose can go back home to her family ... or she can try to fix the problem she created.
Edith Pattou tells this story with lots of believable details. I really felt the cold. A fine retelling of an old, less well-known folktale.
May 2, 2022
this book changed my entire human life when i was like 12 and the second i need a dose of serotonin but am also capable of reading 500 pages i will be rereading it.
watch this space.
part of a series i'm doing in which i review books i read a long time ago on a technicality
watch this space.
part of a series i'm doing in which i review books i read a long time ago on a technicality
April 28, 2021
4 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
East of the sun and west of the moon.” As unfathomable as the words were, I realized I must figure them out, reason it through. For I would go to this impossible land that lay east of the sun and west of the moon. From the moment the sleigh had vanished from sight and I could no longer hear the silver bells, I knew that I would go after the stranger that had been the white bear to make right the terrible wrong I had done him.
East is a retelling of the Norwegian fairytale called East of the Sun and West of the Moon which I found out was the original inspiration for the beloved fairytale of Beauty and the Beast
The setting of the story was beautifully crafted. The world-building was extremely atmospheric along with the vivid imagery of the lands Rose visits throughout her journey. I can almost smell the frost and feel the little tingles of coldness seeping into my bones. The experience almost felt real.
The pacing matched the plot which made me flick through the pages wanting to devour more of the story. The plot was layered with multiple stories although Rose’s POV is dominant, the other POVs did add to the story and I rather liked seeing what was happening in the background while focusing on Rose’s journey.
The Characters in this book were fantastic. It was a delight to meet all the characters through out this journey as each had a distinctive personality that gave this book a great cast of memorable characters. Rose being the hero of this story is definitely a main lead that will join my favorites list since she encompasses a lot of traits I like in female leads: courage, empathy, and individuality. However, the only complaint I have is I wish that the White Bear’s personality was fleshed out more although I understand why he is this way but I was really left with wanting to see more of him. I love that the roles are reversed and in this fairytale, it’s the female lead that is on a journey to save her love interest.
The romance was not heavy in this one despite it being marketed as a sweeping romantic epic, it more of a fluff romance. The romance to be completely honest was underdeveloped. I adored the growing affection between Rose and the White Bear but I needed more more build up for the romance so I could be wholly invested in it. I would not consider it to be insta-love which is a trope I dislike, but it gradually developed without much substance. I still like them and root for them but I’m not quite sold on the romance.
The reason why I did not give this a 5⭐️ was simply because the ending was rushed which left me feeling underwhelmed after following this wonderful journey.
It is obvious the author did her research regarding the period of time in which the story takes place and it’s in the 1500’s. It was a pleasant treat to see the author use old terms such as Gronland for Greenland and Iseland for Iceland which gifts the story with some authenticity.
I was instantly intrigued with the Nordic folklore and fairytales the author intricately weaves into the story and has quite a heavy presence in the book. Edith Pattou uses her characters to tell these stories; with Neddy, we enjoy his storytelling of the tales of Norse gods. With Rose’s mother Eugenia, we are unsettled by the superstitions she believes in. We learn of some old Nordic terms and words sprinkled here and there throughout the book. Not to mention I was fascinated with the birth direction and how it determines the set of characteristics the baby would have, North-borns being the wildest ones like our lovely Rose.
This is a captivating retelling that I would definitely recommend I look forward to follow Rose’s journey in the sequel which is called West.
East of the sun and west of the moon.” As unfathomable as the words were, I realized I must figure them out, reason it through. For I would go to this impossible land that lay east of the sun and west of the moon. From the moment the sleigh had vanished from sight and I could no longer hear the silver bells, I knew that I would go after the stranger that had been the white bear to make right the terrible wrong I had done him.
East is a retelling of the Norwegian fairytale called East of the Sun and West of the Moon which I found out was the original inspiration for the beloved fairytale of Beauty and the Beast
The setting of the story was beautifully crafted. The world-building was extremely atmospheric along with the vivid imagery of the lands Rose visits throughout her journey. I can almost smell the frost and feel the little tingles of coldness seeping into my bones. The experience almost felt real.
The pacing matched the plot which made me flick through the pages wanting to devour more of the story. The plot was layered with multiple stories although Rose’s POV is dominant, the other POVs did add to the story and I rather liked seeing what was happening in the background while focusing on Rose’s journey.
The Characters in this book were fantastic. It was a delight to meet all the characters through out this journey as each had a distinctive personality that gave this book a great cast of memorable characters. Rose being the hero of this story is definitely a main lead that will join my favorites list since she encompasses a lot of traits I like in female leads: courage, empathy, and individuality. However, the only complaint I have is I wish that the White Bear’s personality was fleshed out more although I understand why he is this way but I was really left with wanting to see more of him. I love that the roles are reversed and in this fairytale, it’s the female lead that is on a journey to save her love interest.
The romance was not heavy in this one despite it being marketed as a sweeping romantic epic, it more of a fluff romance. The romance to be completely honest was underdeveloped. I adored the growing affection between Rose and the White Bear but I needed more more build up for the romance so I could be wholly invested in it. I would not consider it to be insta-love which is a trope I dislike, but it gradually developed without much substance. I still like them and root for them but I’m not quite sold on the romance.
The reason why I did not give this a 5⭐️ was simply because the ending was rushed which left me feeling underwhelmed after following this wonderful journey.
It is obvious the author did her research regarding the period of time in which the story takes place and it’s in the 1500’s. It was a pleasant treat to see the author use old terms such as Gronland for Greenland and Iseland for Iceland which gifts the story with some authenticity.
I was instantly intrigued with the Nordic folklore and fairytales the author intricately weaves into the story and has quite a heavy presence in the book. Edith Pattou uses her characters to tell these stories; with Neddy, we enjoy his storytelling of the tales of Norse gods. With Rose’s mother Eugenia, we are unsettled by the superstitions she believes in. We learn of some old Nordic terms and words sprinkled here and there throughout the book. Not to mention I was fascinated with the birth direction and how it determines the set of characteristics the baby would have, North-borns being the wildest ones like our lovely Rose.
This is a captivating retelling that I would definitely recommend I look forward to follow Rose’s journey in the sequel which is called West.
May 26, 2017
This reimagining of East of the Sun and West of the Moon has a very good beginning, enhanced by the not so frequent technique (in retellings) of showing both sides of the story: the girl, her family, the enchanted bear and the Troll Queen. Quite intriguing, isn't it? Plus, it's historical fantasy rather than plain old-school fantasy, as the setting is 16th century Scandinavia, and the author uses a historical event from a century prior that's somewhat mysterious and apt for reinterpreting in fiction.
Unfortunately, once the story hits the middle of the narrative arc, decline settles in. The second half is terrible in comparison, and all ends in a rushed conclusion that leaves a sensation of emptiness rather than satisfaction despite the happy ending. By this point, the flaws in characterisation and storytelling begin to hit the story, and hit it hard they do. You begin to wonder why exactly it is that the brother and father of the protagonist have each their own POV, especially the father, who becomes just superfluous eventually, as the brother could've delivered all the father did just as well; and the brother gets too much onpage time, way more than the bear, who's the actual protagonist, and he also gets a bit of a side story all of his own that shouldn't take so much of the book as this isn't his story.
And then, there's the relationship between Rose and the white bear. It does start off credible enough, but soon becomes unbelievable. Why does Rose trust him so much immediately? And why does she end up falling in love with him? The little time they spend together, how little of his side is shown, and other characters getting too much of the cake influence this. It's very unconvicing for a love story, besides lacking couple chemistry, and pretty much you may believe they're together because conventions and the original fairy tale demand they be together.
Then there's the worldbuilding, that's just average if you look at it as a pure fantasy, but if you look at it as a historical fiction/historical fantasy novel, then the non-authenticity of the world is more obvious. If not for the insistence in describing the snowy landscape and throwing in words in the language of the locals, it wouldn't be that evident it's in the North. People travel unrealistically fast for the time period as well, showing that the author probably didn't do her research for this. There's a feel that the author isn't that familiar with Scandinavia and its languages, despite her including phrases and words in Norwegian, because she misses the correct spelling and umlauts, a frequent mistake by foreigners. People, when you're writing something in Germanic or Nordic languages, please do make sure to not miss those funny little marks over a vowel: they do have a function. And make sure the names you give people and places in your fictional world do follow the rules of your fictional world instead of names that don't feel authentic to the setting.
Unfortunately, once the story hits the middle of the narrative arc, decline settles in. The second half is terrible in comparison, and all ends in a rushed conclusion that leaves a sensation of emptiness rather than satisfaction despite the happy ending. By this point, the flaws in characterisation and storytelling begin to hit the story, and hit it hard they do. You begin to wonder why exactly it is that the brother and father of the protagonist have each their own POV, especially the father, who becomes just superfluous eventually, as the brother could've delivered all the father did just as well; and the brother gets too much onpage time, way more than the bear, who's the actual protagonist, and he also gets a bit of a side story all of his own that shouldn't take so much of the book as this isn't his story.
And then, there's the relationship between Rose and the white bear. It does start off credible enough, but soon becomes unbelievable. Why does Rose trust him so much immediately? And why does she end up falling in love with him? The little time they spend together, how little of his side is shown, and other characters getting too much of the cake influence this. It's very unconvicing for a love story, besides lacking couple chemistry, and pretty much you may believe they're together because conventions and the original fairy tale demand they be together.
Then there's the worldbuilding, that's just average if you look at it as a pure fantasy, but if you look at it as a historical fiction/historical fantasy novel, then the non-authenticity of the world is more obvious. If not for the insistence in describing the snowy landscape and throwing in words in the language of the locals, it wouldn't be that evident it's in the North. People travel unrealistically fast for the time period as well, showing that the author probably didn't do her research for this. There's a feel that the author isn't that familiar with Scandinavia and its languages, despite her including phrases and words in Norwegian, because she misses the correct spelling and umlauts, a frequent mistake by foreigners. People, when you're writing something in Germanic or Nordic languages, please do make sure to not miss those funny little marks over a vowel: they do have a function. And make sure the names you give people and places in your fictional world do follow the rules of your fictional world instead of names that don't feel authentic to the setting.
October 16, 2013
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Ever since I read the tale of "East of the Sun, West of the Moon," I've longed to give one of its numerous re-tellings a try. Edith Pattou's version, East, practically fell into my lap when I discovered it in the hidden recess of my Kindle and within moments, I was sucked into the tale. For those of you who don't know, "East of the Sun, West of the Moon" is similar to "Beauty and the Beast," only instead of a beast, we have a polar bear, and instead of a wicked witch, there is an evil troll queen. Of course, there are a variety of other differences, but the jist of the tale is the same - a girl must find it in her to remain with and love a creature who is more animal than man. And while East isn't the best re-telling I've read, it's nearly perfect in its own right.
For me, what makes or breaks a solid re-telling is the author's own insight into a traditional fairy tale. It's part of the reason why I'm so disenchanted with book-to-movie adaptations - I desperately want the director to push the story on screen with his or her interpretations instead of merely following the book word-for-word or deleting scenes altogether. In East, Pattou truly gives so much depth to this intriguing tale. For one, the novel is told in alternating perspectives, each chapter shifting from the point of views of Rose, her older brother Neddy, her Father, the Troll Queen, or the Bear himself. While, on one hand, I was initially skeptical about this method of story-telling, let me reassure you that it works beautifully. Not only are we able to gain a much fuller understanding of the entire story at hand, but we are also able to understand these central characters on a much deeper level.
Moreover, I love that the villains of this tale are so ambiguous in their "evil" label. The Troll Queen, for instance, is obsessed with the human prince she finds; so much so that she fakes his death and is punished for her actions by her father. Ironically, though, her punishment entails the imprisonment of the prince she loves. And thus, a boy is turned into a bear. Furthermore, it is not evil intent that drips from the Troll Queen, but rather a strange, obsessive longing. If anything, the Troll Queen is an anomaly among her kind, especially as trolls keep humans as servants. The Troll Queen, however, isn't our only "villain." Rose, the protagonist of our tale, is born facing the North, which indicates both that she will become a traveler and also that she will - as her mother's only North child - face death at the hands of ice and snow. As such, her mother does everything in her power to keep Rose safe, but often times that spells more harm than good.
I love that this family is painted so realistically. Rose is beloved by her brother Neddy, not to mention her father, and while her mother clearly cares for her, there is a distance between them that is written with poise. As the last child in a household of seven, not to mention a replacement child for the East daughter who died, Rose and her mother share a strained relationship. And yet, Rose's love and affection for her family - for all her sisters and brothers - is so palpably felt. In fact, Rose herself is such a remarkable heroine for the emotion she brings to this tale. While her adventurous spirit is one to get behind and her genuine loyalty to be admired, her flaws - her curiosity, her homesickness, her inability to follow directions - makes her all the more realistic. Moreover, I love that Rose never gives up. No matter how difficult the task before her seems, she keeps barreling forward.
Another beautiful aspect to this tale is the romance. The White Bear, as Rose comes to call him, is sweet and kind, hopeful that Rose will enjoy her stay at his castle. And yet, he too is not all perfect. Ultimately, the reason why I grew to love Rose's time in the castle was primarily because of her interactions with the Bear, which were both endearing and exasperating. Stuck in a difficult situation, tempers rise just as often as they fall, which made for intriguing reading. Once the bear is kidnapped away by the Troll Queen, however, the second-half of this story only picks up. I appreciated this not so much because of the change of pace, but rather because Rose sets out after the Bear solely because she let him down. Of course, she cares for him, but the extent of her feelings are hidden even from herself until much later in the story. The romance that brews in East is extraordinarily subtle, only hinting at the depth of affection that lies between Rose and the Bear, but the focus on trust that the novel took was far more important as a foundation for their future, fitting perfectly into this tale.
If you haven't already, I'd encourage you to look into this fairy tale. It's an interesting spin, especially as "Beauty and the Beast" is so well-known. Moreover, Pattou's rendition of it is more than satisfying, going so far as to touch upon Norse mythology and Inuit history. Although the ultimate conclusion regarding the Troll Queen seemed to tie up a little too neatly for my tastes, overall, this novel is perfect from beginning to end. What Pattou excels at, as a writer, is showing, not telling, which makes this story a true emotional experience. I dare you not to become completely enthralled by Rose's tale - I promise you, it is impossible!
You can read this review and more on my blog, Ivy Book Bindings.
Ever since I read the tale of "East of the Sun, West of the Moon," I've longed to give one of its numerous re-tellings a try. Edith Pattou's version, East, practically fell into my lap when I discovered it in the hidden recess of my Kindle and within moments, I was sucked into the tale. For those of you who don't know, "East of the Sun, West of the Moon" is similar to "Beauty and the Beast," only instead of a beast, we have a polar bear, and instead of a wicked witch, there is an evil troll queen. Of course, there are a variety of other differences, but the jist of the tale is the same - a girl must find it in her to remain with and love a creature who is more animal than man. And while East isn't the best re-telling I've read, it's nearly perfect in its own right.
For me, what makes or breaks a solid re-telling is the author's own insight into a traditional fairy tale. It's part of the reason why I'm so disenchanted with book-to-movie adaptations - I desperately want the director to push the story on screen with his or her interpretations instead of merely following the book word-for-word or deleting scenes altogether. In East, Pattou truly gives so much depth to this intriguing tale. For one, the novel is told in alternating perspectives, each chapter shifting from the point of views of Rose, her older brother Neddy, her Father, the Troll Queen, or the Bear himself. While, on one hand, I was initially skeptical about this method of story-telling, let me reassure you that it works beautifully. Not only are we able to gain a much fuller understanding of the entire story at hand, but we are also able to understand these central characters on a much deeper level.
Moreover, I love that the villains of this tale are so ambiguous in their "evil" label. The Troll Queen, for instance, is obsessed with the human prince she finds; so much so that she fakes his death and is punished for her actions by her father. Ironically, though, her punishment entails the imprisonment of the prince she loves. And thus, a boy is turned into a bear. Furthermore, it is not evil intent that drips from the Troll Queen, but rather a strange, obsessive longing. If anything, the Troll Queen is an anomaly among her kind, especially as trolls keep humans as servants. The Troll Queen, however, isn't our only "villain." Rose, the protagonist of our tale, is born facing the North, which indicates both that she will become a traveler and also that she will - as her mother's only North child - face death at the hands of ice and snow. As such, her mother does everything in her power to keep Rose safe, but often times that spells more harm than good.
I love that this family is painted so realistically. Rose is beloved by her brother Neddy, not to mention her father, and while her mother clearly cares for her, there is a distance between them that is written with poise. As the last child in a household of seven, not to mention a replacement child for the East daughter who died, Rose and her mother share a strained relationship. And yet, Rose's love and affection for her family - for all her sisters and brothers - is so palpably felt. In fact, Rose herself is such a remarkable heroine for the emotion she brings to this tale. While her adventurous spirit is one to get behind and her genuine loyalty to be admired, her flaws - her curiosity, her homesickness, her inability to follow directions - makes her all the more realistic. Moreover, I love that Rose never gives up. No matter how difficult the task before her seems, she keeps barreling forward.
Another beautiful aspect to this tale is the romance. The White Bear, as Rose comes to call him, is sweet and kind, hopeful that Rose will enjoy her stay at his castle. And yet, he too is not all perfect. Ultimately, the reason why I grew to love Rose's time in the castle was primarily because of her interactions with the Bear, which were both endearing and exasperating. Stuck in a difficult situation, tempers rise just as often as they fall, which made for intriguing reading. Once the bear is kidnapped away by the Troll Queen, however, the second-half of this story only picks up. I appreciated this not so much because of the change of pace, but rather because Rose sets out after the Bear solely because she let him down. Of course, she cares for him, but the extent of her feelings are hidden even from herself until much later in the story. The romance that brews in East is extraordinarily subtle, only hinting at the depth of affection that lies between Rose and the Bear, but the focus on trust that the novel took was far more important as a foundation for their future, fitting perfectly into this tale.
If you haven't already, I'd encourage you to look into this fairy tale. It's an interesting spin, especially as "Beauty and the Beast" is so well-known. Moreover, Pattou's rendition of it is more than satisfying, going so far as to touch upon Norse mythology and Inuit history. Although the ultimate conclusion regarding the Troll Queen seemed to tie up a little too neatly for my tastes, overall, this novel is perfect from beginning to end. What Pattou excels at, as a writer, is showing, not telling, which makes this story a true emotional experience. I dare you not to become completely enthralled by Rose's tale - I promise you, it is impossible!
You can read this review and more on my blog, Ivy Book Bindings.
January 6, 2024
1.68!
1st DNF of the year 🙇
The way it started was so gripping that i knew it was gonna be a 4 stars at least but oh boy how wrong i was because it just deteriorated. At the start the number of povs were gripping but soon became nuisance and it bothered me so much and the writing style wasn't for me either because to me it was just words on a paper, could not feel anything or imagine anything. it just got bland. I was like 75% through and i thought lets just go with it but i couldn't not when i have 100+ books in my tbr waiting to be read why the fuck would i read this when i have so many that are better.
~~~
I was saving this book for winter and it's the peak of winter as of now. So let's go on with it!!
1st DNF of the year 🙇
The way it started was so gripping that i knew it was gonna be a 4 stars at least but oh boy how wrong i was because it just deteriorated. At the start the number of povs were gripping but soon became nuisance and it bothered me so much and the writing style wasn't for me either because to me it was just words on a paper, could not feel anything or imagine anything. it just got bland. I was like 75% through and i thought lets just go with it but i couldn't not when i have 100+ books in my tbr waiting to be read why the fuck would i read this when i have so many that are better.
~~~
I was saving this book for winter and it's the peak of winter as of now. So let's go on with it!!
January 2, 2024
East is a retelling of "East of the Sun and West of the Moon." Which I haven't read before. But given how much I loved East, I want to pick it's origin up and then reread East and pick up the sequel afterwards.:)
I listened to the audiobook while baking sugar cookies on Christmas eve. And let me tell you, there isn't a more perfect activity, time or setting to read/listen to this book. (Although I do think I would have gotten even MORE out of this if I had been able to follow along in a physical copy. So I need to reread it regardless. But I still loved it any way!)
Thanks to East, I realized hoe much I love artic adventure books. I never thought myself as much of an adventure book reader. But now that I know that I am, I'm looking into other snowy adventure books. (Any suggestions? 🙂)
Seriously though, between the atmosphere and the epic adventures that our main character goes through throughout the book, it made for a cozy but page turning read. I read this in 24 hours! And that's with all the craziness that comes with Christmas and spending time with family. AND with it being over 500 pages. So I think that says a lot. I think if you're a plot based reader but still love some character and world building, this is for you.
The world made a lot of sense and was very well thought out. No plot holes that I noticed. And the characters were very charming... Er, well... Aside from the mom. The main characters mom has has some toxic morals and makes some toxic decisions in regards to her children. But she's meant to be that way to move the story along. 🤷🏼♀️ But aside from her, the rest of the characters are the sweetest little cinnamon rolls. And I loved getting to see their family dianamics. As for the plot, as I've mentioned before, it's got a lot going on almost all the time. And even when there's not a big adventure happening, there's things going on that keep you interested and invested in the story. Which as a plot based reader, I appreciated that.
I will say that the writting reads a little young. It leans more towards the younger side of YA. I kept getting uncomfortable because I perceived the bear as an older gentleman in his 20s and the main character as like 13. So when a romance blooms between them, I had to keep reminding myself that they're actually both late teens. (Or at least i know our main character is.)That was the biggest issue I had with this book. Everything else I loved and found myself enjoying. It's a great wintery, fantasy, adventure Young Adult book. If that sounds like something you'd like, please give this one a shot if you haven't read it yet already.:) I definitely recommend!
I listened to the audiobook while baking sugar cookies on Christmas eve. And let me tell you, there isn't a more perfect activity, time or setting to read/listen to this book. (Although I do think I would have gotten even MORE out of this if I had been able to follow along in a physical copy. So I need to reread it regardless. But I still loved it any way!)
Thanks to East, I realized hoe much I love artic adventure books. I never thought myself as much of an adventure book reader. But now that I know that I am, I'm looking into other snowy adventure books. (Any suggestions? 🙂)
Seriously though, between the atmosphere and the epic adventures that our main character goes through throughout the book, it made for a cozy but page turning read. I read this in 24 hours! And that's with all the craziness that comes with Christmas and spending time with family. AND with it being over 500 pages. So I think that says a lot. I think if you're a plot based reader but still love some character and world building, this is for you.
The world made a lot of sense and was very well thought out. No plot holes that I noticed. And the characters were very charming... Er, well... Aside from the mom. The main characters mom has has some toxic morals and makes some toxic decisions in regards to her children. But she's meant to be that way to move the story along. 🤷🏼♀️ But aside from her, the rest of the characters are the sweetest little cinnamon rolls. And I loved getting to see their family dianamics. As for the plot, as I've mentioned before, it's got a lot going on almost all the time. And even when there's not a big adventure happening, there's things going on that keep you interested and invested in the story. Which as a plot based reader, I appreciated that.
I will say that the writting reads a little young. It leans more towards the younger side of YA. I kept getting uncomfortable because I perceived the bear as an older gentleman in his 20s and the main character as like 13. So when a romance blooms between them, I had to keep reminding myself that they're actually both late teens. (Or at least i know our main character is.)That was the biggest issue I had with this book. Everything else I loved and found myself enjoying. It's a great wintery, fantasy, adventure Young Adult book. If that sounds like something you'd like, please give this one a shot if you haven't read it yet already.:) I definitely recommend!
October 17, 2021
I bought this book because
1) I like the story "East of the Sun and West of the Moon"
2) The cover is pretty
I've had this book for years -- I bought it when it was new in 2003 or 2004 -- and started multiple times and never got far because it is just so boring. Not terrible, not offensive, not badly researched, but for mercy's sake why are you talking about this for so many pages? Why is this included at all?! This book is 500 pages and could easily have been reduced to half that with no plots changes. Or, here's an idea, the characters could have been developed more?
Anyway. Excited about getting this large object that has been staring at me off the shelf into the Friends of the Library donation bin.
1) I like the story "East of the Sun and West of the Moon"
2) The cover is pretty
I've had this book for years -- I bought it when it was new in 2003 or 2004 -- and started multiple times and never got far because it is just so boring. Not terrible, not offensive, not badly researched, but for mercy's sake why are you talking about this for so many pages? Why is this included at all?! This book is 500 pages and could easily have been reduced to half that with no plots changes. Or, here's an idea, the characters could have been developed more?
Anyway. Excited about getting this large object that has been staring at me off the shelf into the Friends of the Library donation bin.
July 26, 2011
East was written when fantasy could still be fantasy. When young adult books weren't required to have a love triangle, a sexy love interest, and a heroine with low self-esteem. Rose, this novel's main character, is intelligent, resourceful, and courageous. She has a strong drive and a true moral compass. The plot reminds me of more classical fantasy that involves epic journeys over several countries over the course of years. The book is chaste and simple, which makes me think its more suited to a middle-school audience nowadays.
Yet, despite the intriguing premise, I found myself bored with it. There was little to none action, for instance. Since the book had such a large scope in following different characters over an extended period of time, it read like this:
"We journeyed across the tundra. Weeks passed." (not an actual quote)
It was just very slow pace, and there was more telling than showing.
Also, being a romantic girl, I wanted there to be more immediate romance. The romance was slow-building, more about trust and compassion, than about physical lust. Which, don't get me wrong, was certainly refreshing, but the novel was slow-paced already, and having nothing in the romance department along with nothing in the action department lead for a bored Morgan.
I did like this book, but when you are used to action-y, romance-y YA, it can be a bit too slow. I do appreciate it though. It was an altogether pleasant change of pace.
Yet, despite the intriguing premise, I found myself bored with it. There was little to none action, for instance. Since the book had such a large scope in following different characters over an extended period of time, it read like this:
"We journeyed across the tundra. Weeks passed." (not an actual quote)
It was just very slow pace, and there was more telling than showing.
Also, being a romantic girl, I wanted there to be more immediate romance. The romance was slow-building, more about trust and compassion, than about physical lust. Which, don't get me wrong, was certainly refreshing, but the novel was slow-paced already, and having nothing in the romance department along with nothing in the action department lead for a bored Morgan.
I did like this book, but when you are used to action-y, romance-y YA, it can be a bit too slow. I do appreciate it though. It was an altogether pleasant change of pace.
August 23, 2024
One of the reasons I started this was to know what it was before giving the book to my niece.
Well, I will absolutely not recommend it to any young girl.
First of all, it's misogynistic as all hell, of all the female characters only two were not evil or stupid. Heroine's mother, that widow, the woman in the dress shop, the Troll Queen and her servant, that kitchen troll were either assholes or just witless (like the mother)... But hey, the male characters (with one exception) were noble, good, helpful, and smart!! Thank god for the men, right?
The heroine [Marie Sue] Rose had the deepest connection with her father and brother - so deep in fact that we had to endure a bunch of chapters from their POV's. Fun statistics: out of 116 chapters, only 46 are actually by the heroine, 20 by the evil Troll Queen, the other 50 were male voices.
How is that okay in a book about a girl on her adventures?
Second of all, it's boring. Those boring as heck adventures, my god... It felt like the book was written for 5 year olds and not teenagers at how lame and convenient everything was! The Troll Queen was a cardboard cutout of a character, her voice was flat and idiotic. It seemed like for the past 150 years the only thing she could think of was
And let's fucking talk about that horrendousness for one fucking second!!
Are you fucking kidding me? Am I the only one or fucking what?
Where did people find romance in this pile of nonsense, I don't even know, because if that's romance for young girls, then heck help us all. Where a silent stranger appears to her night after night (taken from the blurb) - wasn't at all fucking strange and wasn't at all fucking stupid.
And hey, let's not forget how the bear noticed Rose when she was a child - and then his POV went all sobbing of "hope and happines" when looking into her eyes, that's such a lovely start of any romantic story, right? FFS.
Don't get me started on the lame ass conflict resolution done in half a page, it was as if the author got so tired of her own writing, she just wanted to finish it quickly.
I'm done. Bye.
Well, I will absolutely not recommend it to any young girl.
First of all, it's misogynistic as all hell, of all the female characters only two were not evil or stupid. Heroine's mother, that widow, the woman in the dress shop, the Troll Queen and her servant, that kitchen troll were either assholes or just witless (like the mother)... But hey, the male characters (with one exception) were noble, good, helpful, and smart!! Thank god for the men, right?
The heroine [Marie Sue] Rose had the deepest connection with her father and brother - so deep in fact that we had to endure a bunch of chapters from their POV's. Fun statistics: out of 116 chapters, only 46 are actually by the heroine, 20 by the evil Troll Queen, the other 50 were male voices.
How is that okay in a book about a girl on her adventures?
Second of all, it's boring. Those boring as heck adventures, my god... It felt like the book was written for 5 year olds and not teenagers at how lame and convenient everything was! The Troll Queen was a cardboard cutout of a character, her voice was flat and idiotic. It seemed like for the past 150 years the only thing she could think of was
And let's fucking talk about that horrendousness for one fucking second!!
Are you fucking kidding me? Am I the only one or fucking what?
Where did people find romance in this pile of nonsense, I don't even know, because if that's romance for young girls, then heck help us all. Where a silent stranger appears to her night after night (taken from the blurb) - wasn't at all fucking strange and wasn't at all fucking stupid.
And hey, let's not forget how the bear noticed Rose when she was a child - and then his POV went all sobbing of "hope and happines" when looking into her eyes, that's such a lovely start of any romantic story, right? FFS.
Don't get me started on the lame ass conflict resolution done in half a page, it was as if the author got so tired of her own writing, she just wanted to finish it quickly.
I'm done. Bye.
May 27, 2023
Another re-read, I first read this in high school, about 20 years ago. It's held a place in my heart ever since.
Rose has always been different.
Since the day she was born, Rose had a special fate; but her highly superstitious mother keeps the unusual circumstances of Rose's birth a secret, hoping to prevent her adventurous daughter from leaving home... but she can't suppress Rose's true nature forever.
So when an enormous white bear shows up one cold autumn evening and asks teenage Rose to come away with it--in exchange for health and prosperity for her ailing family--she readily agrees.
Rose travels on the bear's broad back to a distant and empty castle, where she is nightly joined by a mysterious stranger. In discovering his identity, she loses her heart-- and finds her purpose--and realizes her journey has only just begun.
Rose has always been different.
Since the day she was born, Rose had a special fate; but her highly superstitious mother keeps the unusual circumstances of Rose's birth a secret, hoping to prevent her adventurous daughter from leaving home... but she can't suppress Rose's true nature forever.
So when an enormous white bear shows up one cold autumn evening and asks teenage Rose to come away with it--in exchange for health and prosperity for her ailing family--she readily agrees.
Rose travels on the bear's broad back to a distant and empty castle, where she is nightly joined by a mysterious stranger. In discovering his identity, she loses her heart-- and finds her purpose--and realizes her journey has only just begun.
January 23, 2009
What a GREAT young adult fantasy! I loved everything about this book! Although it is almost 500 pages, it is a quick read. (Short chapters, larger print.) The story is based on the Norwegian fairytale "East of the Sun and West of the Moon" which I didn't know until I read the author's notes at the end. I liked that even though it was a fantasy, it took place in a real time and place-16th Century Norway. (Read the glossery in the very back for modern names) I loved the mother's superstition, her brother, Neddy- their love and close relationship, Rose, of course was a brave, smart girl, The White Bear-it's amazing how you can start to love an animal in a book, Thor (didn't think I'd like him but I did!) Malmo, to whom Rose owes her life in the artic, and Tuki, sweet boy. The author titled each chapter after a character to piece together the story from different perspectives. She rotated these characters so you really got to "know" them. That, to me, always makes a book more interesting! This is a great book for all ages. I love stories that come to a nice clean end, no questions, no pieces left unturned. I am going to read more by this author, and soon!
August 7, 2013
I'm going to replace that old, shitty review now, because that was enormously embarrassing to read back over. SORRY, EVERYONE WHO READ IT! I APOLOGIZE PROFUSELY!
Anyway, my opinion hasn't changed, just my method of delivering it. I still think that this was a horrendous novel, badly plotted with shoddy characters.
In fact, I think the lack of development from the characters was the novel's biggest downfall. Rose is such a blank protagonist. I spent 200 pages with her (before I gave up), and through that entire time, not once did I feel like she had any tangible qualities. The only word I could think of to describe her was 'adventurous', and that doesn't come organically from her personality, but rather because the plot and a prophecy require her to be. It really didn't stick at all - once Rose's plot reasons for being adventurous and reckless went away, so did her sense of adventure and... lack of reck? Is that a real thing? But anyway. None of the side characters were any better developed - the two other 'real' narrators we got (more about the book's narration later), were equally bland, without even a prophecy to define their personality. Of particular annoyance was Rose's mother - she was incredibly superstitious, and nothing else. It got to the point that when she did something that didn't come from superstition, the narrator at that moment felt the need to lampshade it. And the sad thing is he (I'm pretty sure it was a he) really did - I had trouble believing that any of these characters would do anything that didn't come directly from their plot-mandated 'personalities'.
The narration style didn't help things. The book had no less than FIVE narrators - yes, you read that right, five. Rose, Nathaniel, their father, White Bear, and Troll Queen all narrated. The result were many very short chapters, and it didn't take long for me to get a sense of whiplash - one small thing would happen, and then we'd switch to someone else's narration for another small thing to happen. It didn't help that every single narrator had the exact same voice, with the sole exception of White Bear, whose reason for talking differently was - you guessed it - plot-mandated. Everyone else sounded exactly the same to me, and I often had to check back to see who was narrating. It's a shame, really because the prose was largely fine on a sentence level - the dialogue was inconsistent in voice, but the prose itself worked pretty well for me. But the narration style and voice problems prevented me from enjoying it at all.
You'd think, with all the plot-mandated things that I've mentioned before, that the plot, at least, would be strong. You'd be wrong. Of the two hundred pages I read, not a single thing happened that didn't feel like buildup to something else. The White Bear takes Rose away, and her father starts looking for her, the Troll Queen does... something (we never really got an explanation as to what), and Nathaniel... well, he doesn't do anything, really. Nothing I saw was engaging in and of itself - it always felt like I was waiting for something engaging to happen. The pace, which should've been fast, at least, from the whiplash-style narration, went at a sluggish crawl, leaving me bored throughout.
Alright, I can stop feeling like I've polluted GoodReads with a horribly written review. The book was a failure in most respects - other than the prose on a sentence level, which as I said before, was actually pretty good. I know absolutely nothing about the fairy tale this book is retelling, but I feel certain there's a better retelling out there.
Anyway, my opinion hasn't changed, just my method of delivering it. I still think that this was a horrendous novel, badly plotted with shoddy characters.
In fact, I think the lack of development from the characters was the novel's biggest downfall. Rose is such a blank protagonist. I spent 200 pages with her (before I gave up), and through that entire time, not once did I feel like she had any tangible qualities. The only word I could think of to describe her was 'adventurous', and that doesn't come organically from her personality, but rather because the plot and a prophecy require her to be. It really didn't stick at all - once Rose's plot reasons for being adventurous and reckless went away, so did her sense of adventure and... lack of reck? Is that a real thing? But anyway. None of the side characters were any better developed - the two other 'real' narrators we got (more about the book's narration later), were equally bland, without even a prophecy to define their personality. Of particular annoyance was Rose's mother - she was incredibly superstitious, and nothing else. It got to the point that when she did something that didn't come from superstition, the narrator at that moment felt the need to lampshade it. And the sad thing is he (I'm pretty sure it was a he) really did - I had trouble believing that any of these characters would do anything that didn't come directly from their plot-mandated 'personalities'.
The narration style didn't help things. The book had no less than FIVE narrators - yes, you read that right, five. Rose, Nathaniel, their father, White Bear, and Troll Queen all narrated. The result were many very short chapters, and it didn't take long for me to get a sense of whiplash - one small thing would happen, and then we'd switch to someone else's narration for another small thing to happen. It didn't help that every single narrator had the exact same voice, with the sole exception of White Bear, whose reason for talking differently was - you guessed it - plot-mandated. Everyone else sounded exactly the same to me, and I often had to check back to see who was narrating. It's a shame, really because the prose was largely fine on a sentence level - the dialogue was inconsistent in voice, but the prose itself worked pretty well for me. But the narration style and voice problems prevented me from enjoying it at all.
You'd think, with all the plot-mandated things that I've mentioned before, that the plot, at least, would be strong. You'd be wrong. Of the two hundred pages I read, not a single thing happened that didn't feel like buildup to something else. The White Bear takes Rose away, and her father starts looking for her, the Troll Queen does... something (we never really got an explanation as to what), and Nathaniel... well, he doesn't do anything, really. Nothing I saw was engaging in and of itself - it always felt like I was waiting for something engaging to happen. The pace, which should've been fast, at least, from the whiplash-style narration, went at a sluggish crawl, leaving me bored throughout.
Alright, I can stop feeling like I've polluted GoodReads with a horribly written review. The book was a failure in most respects - other than the prose on a sentence level, which as I said before, was actually pretty good. I know absolutely nothing about the fairy tale this book is retelling, but I feel certain there's a better retelling out there.
March 10, 2018
4.5 stars
I never would have thought that there could be a whole chapter book retelling of a classic fairy tale other than Shannon Hale’s “The Goose Girl.” Well, I have just recently stumbled upon this book called “East” that happens to be a great retelling of a classic fairy tale! “East” is a retelling of a classic Scandinavian folktale called “East of the Sun West of the Moon” by Edith Pattou and anyone who is a huge fan of fairy tales will definitely get a kick out of this book!
Rose is the youngest child of seven children and because she was a born a North born child, according to her mother, she always loved exploring her homeland Njord and getting into trouble. One day, however, a mysterious white bear comes in and promises Rose’s family that he will make them rich if they agree to let Rose come away with him to his cave. At first, Rose’s family did not want her to leave with the white bear, but Rose decided to go with the white bear to save her family and so she and the white bear traveled for days until they reached the white bear’s magnificent cave where Rose lived for many years. During her years with the white bear, Rose realizes that a mysterious stranger has been sleeping in bed next to her and when she discovers the stranger’s true identity, she embarks on a journey to save her true love from a terrible curse!
Beautiful! Simply Beautiful! I never would have thought that I would have read a retelling of a popular folktale that was written so beautifully! Edith Pattou has certainly done an excellent job at retelling the ancient Scandinavian folktale. I loved the way that Edith Pattou added more elements to this story such as adding background information about each character in the book, especially Rose and we actually get to read about the other point of views of each character associated with Rose’s life like her father, her brother Neddy, the White Bear and the Troll Queen. What I loved the most about this book is that each chapter is split up into a different character’s point of view. Like for example, you have one chapter entitled “Rose” and the chapter is narrated by Rose herself and her point of view on the situation she is thrown into and then another chapter would be entitled “White Bear” and the white bear is narrating the chapter, and I really love this setup because you can actually get a feel of what each character is thinking about the situation at hand. Another thing that I loved about this book was the relationships between all the characters in this book, especially between Rose, Neddy and her father. I loved the way that Neddy and Rose’s father cared so much about Rose that they were willing to put their lives at stake in order to rescue her from any kind of danger. I also loved the fairy tale elements in this story, especially since this story is based off of “East of the Sun West of the Moon” and I am a huge fan of many fairy tales and folktales, so the fairy tale elements in this story (enchantment, epic journey) are always relaxing to me. I also think many people would enjoy this story if they enjoyed “The Golden Compass” since this book does have a similar element to “The Golden Compass” which is a girl riding a white bear on her journey.
Now the reason why I gave this book a four and a half star rating instead of a five star rating is because the story tends to drag on too long in certain scenes such as during the scenes where Rose is exploring the cave of the white bear and she is describing every single item she comes across. It is alright to describe some items that have significance to the story, but to describe every other item that has nothing to do with the main point of the story does become tiresome really fast.
Overall “East” is truly an absolute masterpiece in its own right as it is filled with drama, fantasy and romance that anyone who is a huge fan of fairy tales will instantly take a liking to.
Review is also on: Rabbit Ears Book Blog
February 6, 2021
5☆
They journeyed far and the white bear said, "Are you afraid?"
"No," she replied. "I am not afraid."
Once upon a time there was an "east-born" beautiful girl who was named Ebba Rose. She was one of the eight children of a poor farmer and his supertitious wife, and the family reside in a village called Andalsnes in Njord. One day, a white bear showed up at their home and demanded to take Rose with him in exchange for a good fortune for her ill-fated family. Of course her family, except for her mother, opposed this. In the end, however, Rose decided to go with the bear thinking by doing so, she would be able to help her sick sister and her struggling family. It turned out that the white bear was cursed by the Troll Queen, and was hoping that Rose would be the one to break that curse, but Rose's curiosity got the better of her before that happen. And so her adventure to save her white bear began.
I really loved the story of the Polar Bear King. It's one of my favorites among the fairy tales I've read when I was younger. This was my first time reading this version, and I must admit, I loved it as well. It was told in multiple povs, which sometimes I find boring to read at on some books, but not this one. I enjoyed reading Rose's perilous adventures in the sea and in the snow/ice lands in search for the white bear. I admire her resiliency and determination to right her mistakes and prove her love for the bear. What a brave girl..
I hated the Troll Queen when I first read about her, and in this version, I hated her even more. I hope that she's already dead when her ice palace broke into pieces, but I need to read West to make sure.
They journeyed far and the white bear said, "Are you afraid?"
"No," she replied. "I am not afraid."
Once upon a time there was an "east-born" beautiful girl who was named Ebba Rose. She was one of the eight children of a poor farmer and his supertitious wife, and the family reside in a village called Andalsnes in Njord. One day, a white bear showed up at their home and demanded to take Rose with him in exchange for a good fortune for her ill-fated family. Of course her family, except for her mother, opposed this. In the end, however, Rose decided to go with the bear thinking by doing so, she would be able to help her sick sister and her struggling family. It turned out that the white bear was cursed by the Troll Queen, and was hoping that Rose would be the one to break that curse, but Rose's curiosity got the better of her before that happen. And so her adventure to save her white bear began.
I really loved the story of the Polar Bear King. It's one of my favorites among the fairy tales I've read when I was younger. This was my first time reading this version, and I must admit, I loved it as well. It was told in multiple povs, which sometimes I find boring to read at on some books, but not this one. I enjoyed reading Rose's perilous adventures in the sea and in the snow/ice lands in search for the white bear. I admire her resiliency and determination to right her mistakes and prove her love for the bear. What a brave girl..
I hated the Troll Queen when I first read about her, and in this version, I hated her even more. I hope that she's already dead when her ice palace broke into pieces, but I need to read West to make sure.
November 29, 2020
THE PERFECT WINTER READ! Obsessed. ❄️😍
September 17, 2023
I initially read this book in high school, at least once, and remembered very little about it except that I was intrigued by the premise and drawn to the characters. Recently, I discovered that this book has a sequel (although stands beautifully as a stand-alone; no sequel needed). So I reread it to remember detail going into West.
Reading it again, years later, I realize that this is a Scandinavian myth retold. My family lineage is HEAVY with Scandinavia, Sweden especially. And I'm finding as years go on, I gravitate towards stories that have a Nordic flair.
Regardless, highly recommend this book! Wonderful read with a strong female lead who is driven off of loyalty, grace, and kindness rather than brash, obnoxious anything-you-can-do-I-can-do-better mentality. It's a refreshing and needed change.
I'd rate this book a PG.
Original review posted 5/20/21.
Reading it again, years later, I realize that this is a Scandinavian myth retold. My family lineage is HEAVY with Scandinavia, Sweden especially. And I'm finding as years go on, I gravitate towards stories that have a Nordic flair.
Regardless, highly recommend this book! Wonderful read with a strong female lead who is driven off of loyalty, grace, and kindness rather than brash, obnoxious anything-you-can-do-I-can-do-better mentality. It's a refreshing and needed change.
I'd rate this book a PG.
Original review posted 5/20/21.
May 30, 2021
Rose es diferente, es intrépida, aventurera y curiosa. Es distinta a cualquier niño que que naciera hacia el Este. Un día que no parecía ser diferente a cualquier otro, un enorme oso blanco irrumpe en la casa de su familia exigiendo llevarse a Rose con él. A cambio, promete que la enfermedad de su hermana desaparecerá. Rose tendrá que decidir si quedarse en la comodidad de su hogar y arriesgarse a perder a su hermana o embarcarse en un viaje que no sabe a dónde la llevará.
Esta historia es un retelling de un cuento noruego llamado East of the sun and west of the moon, publicado en 1841. No he leído el cuento original, pero esta historia me ha parecido encantadora.
Aunque es un libro middle grade, ha conseguido sorprenderme en varias ocasiones y la trama consigue mantenerte enganchado a la historia hasta comprender todos los secretos que se intuyen en ella.
La ambientación de cada una de las partes de esta novela ha sido totalmente de cuento, al igual que los personajes y las criaturas que le dan vida. Me he encontrado muchas cosas en este libro que me han hecho revivir a la niña que hay en mí: una protagonista joven y aventurera, un oso que no es lo que parece, reinas malvadas, trolls, castillos y secretos. Todo ello ha conseguido que leyera este libro con una sonrisa en la cara.
He adorado el personaje de Rose, me ha parecido una niña encantadora con una voluntad de hierro, ansiosa por ver mundo y luchar por lo que quiere sin ceder ante las dificultades. Aunque me ha encantado la relación que tiene con el Oso y todo lo que vive con él, lo que más ha conseguido dejarme el corazón calentito ha sido la relación tan especial que mantiene con su hermano y con su padre, que la seguirían al fin del mundo si hiciera falta.
En definitiva ha sido una historia entrañable, que aunque no vaya a cambiaros la vida, sí que conseguirá sacaros más de una sonrisa.
Inglés: Os la recomiendo mucho si queréis empezar a leer algo en inglés. El lenguaje es sencillo aunque tenga tintes de fantasía. Aunque no sea un libro corto, los capítulos sí lo son, así que conseguirá que queráis seguir avanzando mucho más con la lectura.
Esta historia es un retelling de un cuento noruego llamado East of the sun and west of the moon, publicado en 1841. No he leído el cuento original, pero esta historia me ha parecido encantadora.
Aunque es un libro middle grade, ha conseguido sorprenderme en varias ocasiones y la trama consigue mantenerte enganchado a la historia hasta comprender todos los secretos que se intuyen en ella.
La ambientación de cada una de las partes de esta novela ha sido totalmente de cuento, al igual que los personajes y las criaturas que le dan vida. Me he encontrado muchas cosas en este libro que me han hecho revivir a la niña que hay en mí: una protagonista joven y aventurera, un oso que no es lo que parece, reinas malvadas, trolls, castillos y secretos. Todo ello ha conseguido que leyera este libro con una sonrisa en la cara.
He adorado el personaje de Rose, me ha parecido una niña encantadora con una voluntad de hierro, ansiosa por ver mundo y luchar por lo que quiere sin ceder ante las dificultades. Aunque me ha encantado la relación que tiene con el Oso y todo lo que vive con él, lo que más ha conseguido dejarme el corazón calentito ha sido la relación tan especial que mantiene con su hermano y con su padre, que la seguirían al fin del mundo si hiciera falta.
En definitiva ha sido una historia entrañable, que aunque no vaya a cambiaros la vida, sí que conseguirá sacaros más de una sonrisa.
Inglés: Os la recomiendo mucho si queréis empezar a leer algo en inglés. El lenguaje es sencillo aunque tenga tintes de fantasía. Aunque no sea un libro corto, los capítulos sí lo son, así que conseguirá que queráis seguir avanzando mucho más con la lectura.
February 7, 2019
Чудесна зимова казка!
Хто не знає, вона за тією ж норвезькою оповідкою, що й книга Джесіки Дей Джордж "Сонце і Місяць, Сніг і Лід", але версія Едіт Пату мені сподобалася більше. Згодом напишу детальніше, і мабуть, зі спойлерами, і поясню, чим саме.
Якщо шукаєте сезонну чарівну історію, то палко рекомендую!
UPD. Отже, виконую обіцяне, і прочитавши оригінальну казку (двічі), ретелінґ від Джесіки Дей Джордж "Сонце і Місяць, Сніг і Лід" (надалі "СіМ, СіЛ") і ретелінґ від Едіт Пату "Схід", спробую пояснити, чому саме остання версія найбільше припала мені до смаку. Можливі спойлери, я вас попередила.
Ілюстрація Катерини Штанко із книги "Норвезькі народні казки".
Мене заінтригувало те, що, хоча версія Едіт Пату вийшла на кілька років раніше, в обох ретелінґах є певні дуже подібні елементи, які відсутні в оригінальній казці. Що це, плагіат? Хотілося б вірити, що ні, а просто авторки думали в одному напрямку.
До спільного можна віднести, наприклад, таке:
- Батьки головної героїні. Обидві дівчини мають тата-добряка, який не надто вміє заробляти. Натомість обидві матусі з дивацтвами, але якщо в "С��М, СіЛ" мама виразно карикатурна, таке враження, що жадібність витискає всі інші риси її характеру, то, на щастя, в Едіт Пату мама просто трохи занадто забобонна. Особливо вона підвладна одному забобону про те, що сторона світу, на яку народжується немовля, визначає його вдачу і долю. Тому власних дітей вона народжує, так би мовити, з компасом в руках. Звісно, життя втручається в її плани, і наша Роуз (або Роза, бо це ім'я на честь рози вітрів) народжується передчасно у лісі під час сніговію в "лихому" північному напрямку. Мама відмовляється визнати очевидне, і вдає, що донька народилася, як і було заплановано — на схід.
Я читала, закочуючи очі, і думала собі, чи й справді мама сімейства така дурна? А тоді згадала всіх тих людей, яких мені доводилося зустрічати, які на повному серйозі вірять, що знак зодіаку якось впливає на їхній характер чи долю. У корені це дуже подібний забобон, і в принципі, нешкідливий, тож загалом мама зі "Сходу" значно адекватніша. (Хоча свічку вона таки дає, але майже відразу шкодує про свій вчинок).
- З-поміж численних сіблінґів головна героїня особливо близька з одним із братів, який має досить важливе значення в історії. В "СіМ, СіЛ" дівчина спілкується з братом за допомогою чарівної книги і з усіх сил прагне зцілити його зранену душу, в Едіт Пату брат з сестрою мають настільки міцний зв'язок, що він буквально відчуває її на відстані і готовий зробити абсолютно все, щоб їй допомогти.
— Обидві героїні абсолютно добровільно вирушають з Білим Ведмедем (в оригінальній казці в переказі Ольги Сенюк батько вмовляє доньку піти з ним). Обидві дівчинки змалечку відчувають свою інакшість і десь в глибині душі знають, що пропозиція чарівного ведмедя може бути ледь не єдиним їхнім шансом пізнати інше життя. Знову ж таки в Едіт Пату основна мотивація благородніша, бо ведмідь обіцяє вилікувати важкохвору сестру Роуз, а не лише зваблює багатством, як у Джесіки Дей Джордж.
— Дівчина під час свого проживання-ув'язнення в чарівному замку вивчає мову тролів. Цікаво, що в "СіМ, СіЛ" героїня вивчає її письмо, розшифровуючи таємничі рунічні написи (деякі руни вона вивчила ще вдома від свого брата), а в "Сході" — усну мову, спілкуючись з кумедним і дуже симпатичним маленьким тролем-прислужником. До речі, в Джесіки Дей Джордж героїня також прагне спілкування зі слугами, але це зрештою призводить до певних сумних подій.
Тепер перейдімо до відмінностей:
- Загальний тон історії. Джесіка Дей Джордж написала версію для середнього шкільного віку, з усіма відповідними недоліками (чи перевагами, це як з якого боку глянути). Єдине місце, яке дещо вибивається із middle-grade стилістики — коли вовчик Роло каже, що крижані стіни замку на смак, як гниле м'ясо. О, подумала тут собі я, зараз історія поверне на темний бік і ми дізнаємося приголомшливо моторошний секрет! І що ж? Ця сцена взагалі нікуди не привела, а розповідь повернулася до звично-наївної оповідки. Едіт Пату набагато краще витримує стилістику, її героїня здається значно адекватнішою і куди дорослішою. Її дитячі роки описані так, щоб ми одразу зрозуміли — це непосидюче, дике дитятко (яке, втім, має одне досить несподіване спокійне хобі, яке не раз стане в нагоді). Походячи з давнього роду картографів (she will be reaching compass faster than her mother's milk), дівчина добре дає собі раду з орієнтацією у просторі, роботою з відповідними приладами, прекрасно читає карти, але при нагоді може і шикарну сукню пошити, і тут ж сукню вчасно сплавити, щоб оплатити собі далеку подорож на кораблі. Вона вміє знаходити спільну мову з найрізноманітнішими персонажами, і не боїться кинути виклик повному замку тролів.
— Історія в Едіт Пату виразно масштабніша, охоплює куди більше географії і має в своєму запасі багатьох цікавих персонажів і місцин. Там, де Джесіка Дей Джордж пішла легким шляхом, і після зруйнування "палацових" чарів, провела героїню сюжетом оригінальної казки, Едіт Пату дає волю фантазії. Подорож Роуз видалася мені значно тривалішою і значно складнішою, ніж у героїні "СіМ, СіЛ", і саме в цій частині книги нам дали відчути, чого варта наша персонажка, а сама вона має час подумати навіщо вона робить те, що робить. До слова, на відміну від ДДД, Едіт Пату написала розділи з кількох PoV, завдяки чому історія набуває об'єму. Мені особливо сподобалися короткі розділи, написані від імені Білого Ведмедя чи, якщо хочете, чоловіка в ведмедячій шкурі. Авторка дуже виразно показала, як відчайдушно він намагається вберегти останнє людське в собі, багато років живучи в подобі тварини. Я слухала full cast аудіокнигу, і наратор цих розділів дуже гарно впорався зі своїм завданням. (До слова, чудова аудіокнига, мені лише один із оповідачів не сподобався, а я перебірлива.)
— Ще однією суттєвою відмінністю для мене є те, як авторки зобразили у своїх книгах тролів. Якщо в "СіМ, СіЛ" їхні знову ж таки карикатурні образи "переїхали" до книги прямісінько із казок для малюків, то в "Сході" вони вийшли більш виразними, зі зрозумілішою мотивацією й просто різноманітнішими. По-перше, цьому послужили розділи, написані від імені королеви тролів, а по-друге, той факт, що Роуз в чарівному замку подружилася з маленьким тролем і він направду один із найсимпатичніших персонажів книги.
Якщо тролі у цьому чарівному світі живуть набагато довше, ніж люди, то нічого дивного немає в тому, що вони не сприймають тих, як рівню. Хіба люди часто задумаються про життєву драму мухи-одноденки? Мене завжди зачіпає ця тема в фентезійних книгах, адже той, хто живе 700 років не може і не має вважати того, хто живе 70, такою ж розумною істотою, як сам.
Хух, що ж це був для мене цікавий експеримент, і мені насправді сподобалися обидві книжки, хоча я й "топлю" за "Схід". А у вас яка улюблена зимова казка?
Хто не знає, вона за тією ж норвезькою оповідкою, що й книга Джесіки Дей Джордж "Сонце і Місяць, Сніг і Лід", але версія Едіт Пату мені сподобалася більше. Згодом напишу детальніше, і мабуть, зі спойлерами, і поясню, чим саме.
Якщо шукаєте сезонну чарівну історію, то палко рекомендую!
UPD. Отже, виконую обіцяне, і прочитавши оригінальну казку (двічі), ретелінґ від Джесіки Дей Джордж "Сонце і Місяць, Сніг і Лід" (надалі "СіМ, СіЛ") і ретелінґ від Едіт Пату "Схід", спробую пояснити, чому саме остання версія найбільше припала мені до смаку. Можливі спойлери, я вас попередила.
Ілюстрація Катерини Штанко із книги "Норвезькі народні казки".
Мене заінтригувало те, що, хоча версія Едіт Пату вийшла на кілька років раніше, в обох ретелінґах є певні дуже подібні елементи, які відсутні в оригінальній казці. Що це, плагіат? Хотілося б вірити, що ні, а просто авторки думали в одному напрямку.
До спільного можна віднести, наприклад, таке:
- Батьки головної героїні. Обидві дівчини мають тата-добряка, який не надто вміє заробляти. Натомість обидві матусі з дивацтвами, але якщо в "С��М, СіЛ" мама виразно карикатурна, таке враження, що жадібність витискає всі інші риси її характеру, то, на щастя, в Едіт Пату мама просто трохи занадто забобонна. Особливо вона підвладна одному забобону про те, що сторона світу, на яку народжується немовля, визначає його вдачу і долю. Тому власних дітей вона народжує, так би мовити, з компасом в руках. Звісно, життя втручається в її плани, і наша Роуз (або Роза, бо це ім'я на честь рози вітрів) народжується передчасно у лісі під час сніговію в "лихому" північному напрямку. Мама відмовляється визнати очевидне, і вдає, що донька народилася, як і було заплановано — на схід.
Я читала, закочуючи очі, і думала собі, чи й справді мама сімейства така дурна? А тоді згадала всіх тих людей, яких мені доводилося зустрічати, які на повному серйозі вірять, що знак зодіаку якось впливає на їхній характер чи долю. У корені це дуже подібний забобон, і в принципі, нешкідливий, тож загалом мама зі "Сходу" значно адекватніша. (Хоча свічку вона таки дає, але майже відразу шкодує про свій вчинок).
- З-поміж численних сіблінґів головна героїня особливо близька з одним із братів, який має досить важливе значення в історії. В "СіМ, СіЛ" дівчина спілкується з братом за допомогою чарівної книги і з усіх сил прагне зцілити його зранену душу, в Едіт Пату брат з сестрою мають настільки міцний зв'язок, що він буквально відчуває її на відстані і готовий зробити абсолютно все, щоб їй допомогти.
— Обидві героїні абсолютно добровільно вирушають з Білим Ведмедем (в оригінальній казці в переказі Ольги Сенюк батько вмовляє доньку піти з ним). Обидві дівчинки змалечку відчувають свою інакшість і десь в глибині душі знають, що пропозиція чарівного ведмедя може бути ледь не єдиним їхнім шансом пізнати інше життя. Знову ж таки в Едіт Пату основна мотивація благородніша, бо ведмідь обіцяє вилікувати важкохвору сестру Роуз, а не лише зваблює багатством, як у Джесіки Дей Джордж.
— Дівчина під час свого проживання-ув'язнення в чарівному замку вивчає мову тролів. Цікаво, що в "СіМ, СіЛ" героїня вивчає її письмо, розшифровуючи таємничі рунічні написи (деякі руни вона вивчила ще вдома від свого брата), а в "Сході" — усну мову, спілкуючись з кумедним і дуже симпатичним маленьким тролем-прислужником. До речі, в Джесіки Дей Джордж героїня також прагне спілкування зі слугами, але це зрештою призводить до певних сумних подій.
Тепер перейдімо до відмінностей:
- Загальний тон історії. Джесіка Дей Джордж написала версію для середнього шкільного віку, з усіма відповідними недоліками (чи перевагами, це як з якого боку глянути). Єдине місце, яке дещо вибивається із middle-grade стилістики — коли вовчик Роло каже, що крижані стіни замку на смак, як гниле м'ясо. О, подумала тут собі я, зараз історія поверне на темний бік і ми дізнаємося приголомшливо моторошний секрет! І що ж? Ця сцена взагалі нікуди не привела, а розповідь повернулася до звично-наївної оповідки. Едіт Пату набагато краще витримує стилістику, її героїня здається значно адекватнішою і куди дорослішою. Її дитячі роки описані так, щоб ми одразу зрозуміли — це непосидюче, дике дитятко (яке, втім, має одне досить несподіване спокійне хобі, яке не раз стане в нагоді). Походячи з давнього роду картографів (she will be reaching compass faster than her mother's milk), дівчина добре дає собі раду з орієнтацією у просторі, роботою з відповідними приладами, прекрасно читає карти, але при нагоді може і шикарну сукню пошити, і тут ж сукню вчасно сплавити, щоб оплатити собі далеку подорож на кораблі. Вона вміє знаходити спільну мову з найрізноманітнішими персонажами, і не боїться кинути виклик повному замку тролів.
— Історія в Едіт Пату виразно масштабніша, охоплює куди більше географії і має в своєму запасі багатьох цікавих персонажів і місцин. Там, де Джесіка Дей Джордж пішла легким шляхом, і після зруйнування "палацових" чарів, провела героїню сюжетом оригінальної казки, Едіт Пату дає волю фантазії. Подорож Роуз видалася мені значно тривалішою і значно складнішою, ніж у героїні "СіМ, СіЛ", і саме в цій частині книги нам дали відчути, чого варта наша персонажка, а сама вона має час подумати навіщо вона робить те, що робить. До слова, на відміну від ДДД, Едіт Пату написала розділи з кількох PoV, завдяки чому історія набуває об'єму. Мені особливо сподобалися короткі розділи, написані від імені Білого Ведмедя чи, якщо хочете, чоловіка в ведмедячій шкурі. Авторка дуже виразно показала, як відчайдушно він намагається вберегти останнє людське в собі, багато років живучи в подобі тварини. Я слухала full cast аудіокнигу, і наратор цих розділів дуже гарно впорався зі своїм завданням. (До слова, чудова аудіокнига, мені лише один із оповідачів не сподобався, а я перебірлива.)
— Ще однією суттєвою відмінністю для мене є те, як авторки зобразили у своїх книгах тролів. Якщо в "СіМ, СіЛ" їхні знову ж таки карикатурні образи "переїхали" до книги прямісінько із казок для малюків, то в "Сході" вони вийшли більш виразними, зі зрозумілішою мотивацією й просто різноманітнішими. По-перше, цьому послужили розділи, написані від імені королеви тролів, а по-друге, той факт, що Роуз в чарівному замку подружилася з маленьким тролем і він направду один із найсимпатичніших персонажів книги.
Якщо тролі у цьому чарівному світі живуть набагато довше, ніж люди, то нічого дивного немає в тому, що вони не сприймають тих, як рівню. Хіба люди часто задумаються про життєву драму мухи-одноденки? Мене завжди зачіпає ця тема в фентезійних книгах, адже той, хто живе 700 років не може і не має вважати того, хто живе 70, такою ж розумною істотою, як сам.
Хух, що ж це був для мене цікавий експеримент, і мені насправді сподобалися обидві книжки, хоча я й "топлю" за "Схід". А у вас яка улюблена зимова казка?
January 10, 2019
Rose has always been different.
Since the day she was born, it was clear she had a special fate. Her superstitious mother keeps the unusual circumstances of Rose's birth a secret, hoping to prevent her adventurous daughter from leaving home... but she can't suppress Rose's true nature forever.
So when an enormous white bear shows up one cold autumn evening and asks teenage Rose to come away with it--in exchange for health and prosperity for her ailing family--she readily agrees.
East is a retelling of East of the Sun and West of the Moon, a fairy tale similar to Beauty and the Beast. I had previously read Ice by Sarah Beth Durst and really liked it so I put this one on my list to read. It's been on my list for several years now and I'm glad I finally got around to reading it. There are some differences in the two retellings. This one is a historical fantasy where Ice was set in modern day. I liked that this book has a historical setting. There were some things about this book that I liked better than Ice , but some things I liked less. The main character Rose was easy to like and so was the love interest, but I do feel like the book lacked in that we don't get enough chapters from his point of view, so we don't get to know him as well as we could. I also feel that the author could have used less telling and more showing at times, especially when it came to the interactions between Rose and the bear.
Rose's mother was a very superstitious woman who was definitely not in her right mind and she was hard to like at times. There were some inconsistencies in the way her character is written and some of the things she did didn't make a lot of sense, although I suppose you could chalk it up to her being kind of crazy. I did really like that the book had multiple points of view and I thought they were well done. I liked Rose's brother Neddy a lot, although it took a while to see why his point of view was needed in the story.
After reading this book I kept thinking about it and the more I thought about it the darker it seemed. There are some things that happen that are rather disturbing if you think about them.
Overall this was a good read. It is a great standalone, but I'm considering reading the sequel West, even though I don't really think it was necessary. I recommend this if you like fairytale retellings.
Review also posted at Writings of a Reader
Since the day she was born, it was clear she had a special fate. Her superstitious mother keeps the unusual circumstances of Rose's birth a secret, hoping to prevent her adventurous daughter from leaving home... but she can't suppress Rose's true nature forever.
So when an enormous white bear shows up one cold autumn evening and asks teenage Rose to come away with it--in exchange for health and prosperity for her ailing family--she readily agrees.
East is a retelling of East of the Sun and West of the Moon, a fairy tale similar to Beauty and the Beast. I had previously read Ice by Sarah Beth Durst and really liked it so I put this one on my list to read. It's been on my list for several years now and I'm glad I finally got around to reading it. There are some differences in the two retellings. This one is a historical fantasy where Ice was set in modern day. I liked that this book has a historical setting. There were some things about this book that I liked better than Ice , but some things I liked less. The main character Rose was easy to like and so was the love interest, but I do feel like the book lacked in that we don't get enough chapters from his point of view, so we don't get to know him as well as we could. I also feel that the author could have used less telling and more showing at times, especially when it came to the interactions between Rose and the bear.
Rose's mother was a very superstitious woman who was definitely not in her right mind and she was hard to like at times. There were some inconsistencies in the way her character is written and some of the things she did didn't make a lot of sense, although I suppose you could chalk it up to her being kind of crazy. I did really like that the book had multiple points of view and I thought they were well done. I liked Rose's brother Neddy a lot, although it took a while to see why his point of view was needed in the story.
After reading this book I kept thinking about it and the more I thought about it the darker it seemed. There are some things that happen that are rather disturbing if you think about them.
Overall this was a good read. It is a great standalone, but I'm considering reading the sequel West, even though I don't really think it was necessary. I recommend this if you like fairytale retellings.
Review also posted at Writings of a Reader
February 4, 2021
This was a retelling of East of the Sun, West of the Moon, a story I'd never heard before, although it had some inklings of Beauty and the Beast mixed in, with a maiden required to break the curse of a prince transformed into a bear.
This had the welcome feel of a classic fantasy story, built upon magic, legend, and superstition. Rose was born a North born child, meant to wander, with a prophesy over her head that she will die, buried in snow and ice in the frozen North. As such, her mother does her best to keep her close, which proves to be impossible.
When Rose's sister, Sarah, becomes ill, a white bear comes to their door, and says he will heal Sarah and make the family wealthy, if Rose will go away with him. She agrees, and he takes her to a magical palace in the mountain where her days are spent weaving and telling stories to the bear and her nights are spent in a magical darkness with a strange visitor sleeping beside her.
What I liked best about this story, I think, was the slow build and extensive character development. Piece by piece this story comes together, and everything Rose learns along her journey is put to good use in the climax. While it did slow down a bit in the journey portion of the story, my attachment to Rose kept me well-immersed until the last page.
This had the welcome feel of a classic fantasy story, built upon magic, legend, and superstition. Rose was born a North born child, meant to wander, with a prophesy over her head that she will die, buried in snow and ice in the frozen North. As such, her mother does her best to keep her close, which proves to be impossible.
When Rose's sister, Sarah, becomes ill, a white bear comes to their door, and says he will heal Sarah and make the family wealthy, if Rose will go away with him. She agrees, and he takes her to a magical palace in the mountain where her days are spent weaving and telling stories to the bear and her nights are spent in a magical darkness with a strange visitor sleeping beside her.
What I liked best about this story, I think, was the slow build and extensive character development. Piece by piece this story comes together, and everything Rose learns along her journey is put to good use in the climax. While it did slow down a bit in the journey portion of the story, my attachment to Rose kept me well-immersed until the last page.
November 17, 2010
I'm conflicted about this novel. I really am.
On one hand, "East of the Sun, West of the Moon" is one of my favorite fairy tales and this isn't a bad retelling of it.
On the other hand, there are several parts to this novel that don't quite gel.
Let's nickpick.
But first, in case you don't know, "East of the Sun, West of the Moon" is a wonderful fairy tale. It is why I love polar bears. It is a Northern version of Cupid and Psyche, but instead of some silly boy with iddy biddy wings, it has a POLAR BEAR!
ROAR!!!!
So in short, polar bear is really a prince who has to be saved by a girl who screws up once, but redeems herself and her love by saving them both in the end.
Now, to the nitpick.
My first problem, my first nitpicking problem, is the names. Most of the whole family has English names - Neddy, Eugenia - yet they are basically Norwegians. Did I miss something? And why is an Inuit woman named after a place in Sweden?
Second nitpicking problem - I've seen better world building. However, in all fairness, I've seen worse, much worse.
Third nitpicking problem - The emotional bond between Beauty (called Rose in this novel) and her Beast just doesn't seem real. I get she is kind, but love?
Fourth nitpicking - Rose is one those too perfect and too different cliché heroines.
All the nitpicking aside, there are some interesting bits in this book, but here's where the conflict comes from, at least for me. It's like something that looks and sounds really good, but somehow doesn't come off really well, kinda like an apple omelet. I also can't promise I make sense for the rest of the review because I'm trying to puzzle this out.
Pattou does something very interesting when she retells this tale, and that is to use multiple viewpoints. Her narrators are Rose (the heroine), the Bear (the enscrolled human), Rose's Father, Neddy (Rose's brother), and finally, the Troll Princess (Rose's rival and the evil witch).
This is also slightly disturbing. Most of the voices are male. It's true this is a YA book, but it seems to be geared towards young women and girls more than young men and boys. Then why, I have to wonder, are the men given more place? Why do we not get the view of Rose's mother or her sister? One of whom comes off as silly, cruel, and silly again; the other is simply someone who needs help. Wouldn't it be more interesting to hear from the sister who was aided by Rose's going with the bear instead of hearing how silly the mother is, how husband and son seem to reject her?
It also is slightly disturbing because Rose is far closer to the male members of her family than her sisters. I understand this YA, and I understand that YA novel geared towards girls is going to have a mother/daughter rift. What teenage girl doesn't feel like an outcast from her family, or that her mother doesn't understand her? I get that, I get it's a trope. But if Rose shares a bed with her sister (or sisters) wouldn't she be a little close to one of them? Wouldn't her agreeing to go off with the bear make more sense if the reader saw her interact with members of her family other than her brother and father? (I'm discounting her damaged relationship with her mother).
Malmo, the Inuit woman, is the only truly older woman (i.e. old enough to be a parent of an adult) that is shown in a good light. Every other older woman is shown to be stupid, silly, or cruel (or all three). While Rose does form a type of relationship with Malmo and two other females, none of these relationships seems as deep as the ones with her father and brother. It seems like the women are more tools (they are, basically, the helper figures of the fairy tale). It is also telling that when Rose decides to make friends with the Bear's servants, it is the male servant she reaches out to. Malmo is also interesting because Rose thinks that she works with the older woman like a long married husband and wife. Funny, considering some of those Inuit stories about women romancing their daughter-in-laws.
Yet, despite this, Rose succeeds because she can sew, because she knows material. This knowledge she gained from her mother and an older neighbor. Additionally, Rose's book knowledge and small language knowledge comes from her mother. This seems to indicate that the mother did spend time with her, so why aren't we shown this? Additionally if Rose was always running off, how did she get these lessons?
It's true that Rose isn't the only female voice of the novel. The Troll Princess gets to have her say as well. Like Rose, the Troll Princess has an older woman as quasi helper. Like Rose, the Troll Princess' closest relationship seems to be with the male member of her family (her father; her sin is not respecting him. Rose is better because Rose respects her father). But the Troll Princess, too, is part of the problem. Princess and Rose are too similar. When she gets to the Troll kingdom, Rose describes the other humans there with the troll word for human, soft skin. She sets herself apart from them. She sees herself as better (she also is the best slave ever). Like the Troll Princess, Rose uses someone and then spares no thought for his fate (and it is a sad fate). It is hard to see this as much better than the Troll Princess and her version of inhumanity. At least, the Princess has an excuse. She's a troll.
So I'm conflicted about this book. It's not good, but it's not bad.
And at least it has polar bears
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 14, 2024
Was für ein bezauberndes Wintermärchen <3 Trotz kleiner Verständigungsschwierigkeiten am Anfang durch die Sprache hab ich diese Handlung mit großer Spannung verfolgt und bin gebannt an den Seiten geklebt. Eine wundervolle, wilde winterliche Atmosphäre, ein starkes Mädchen das ihren Weg sucht und ein alter Fluch, der endlich gebannt werden will...
Schon die Geburt von Rose war von einer Lüge geprägt.
Ihre Mutter ist vom Aberglauben durchdrungen und will nicht wahrhaben, dass Rose ein "Nordkind" ist. Die Weissagung darüber, dass dieses Kind in Eis und Kälte sterben wird lässt die Mutter mit allen Mitteln versuchen, sie in eine andere Richtung zu drängen als es ihre Wesensart ist. Denn Rose ist nicht wie ihre Geschwister. Sie ist ungezähmt und von Abenteuerlust geprägt - und der Freude am Entdecken und einem Drang, alles zu erforschen und ihren Willen durchzusetzen.
Man hat schon früh den Eindruck, dass die Mutter mit ihr nicht so recht warm wird und kann dadurch manche Entscheidungen besser verstehen. Rose lässt sich dadurch aber nicht verändern. Ihr Vater liebt sie, wie sie ist und auch mit ihrem Bruder Neddy verbindet sie eine starke Zuneigung.
Das Buch ist in fünf Abschnitte unterteilt und während man im ersten Rose´s Familie kennenlernt, beginnt im zweiten ihre Reise mit dem mysteriösen weißen Bären. Auch über ihn erfährt man Stück für Stück mehr und über die alten Wesen im eisigen Norden, die Huldra, die mancher vielleicht schon aus den skandinavischen Mythen kennt.
Durch die verschiedenen Perspektiven erhält man einen weiträumigen Blick über die Ereignisse.
Neben Rose und ihrem Bruder Neddy sowie ihrem Vater erleben wir auch den Weißen Bären, der seine Gedanken und Gefühle nur schwer ausdrücken kann. Somit sind das nur sehr kurze Einblicke, die aber umso intensiver sind. Besonders ein Zitat möchte ich euch zeigen, bei dem ich direkt Gänsehaut bekam:
All changed, in a moment.
Lost.
But now...
Hope.
Zitat Seite 112
Jetzt so aus dem Zusammenhang gerissen wirkt es sicher nicht so, wie bei mir als ich es gelesen habe. Aber glaubt mir, dass es einige Gänsehautmomente gegeben hat, die mich sehr berührt haben!
Ein weiteres Zitat möchte ich euch ebenfalls noch zeigen. Im eisigen Norden ist das Überleben ja stark von der Jagd abhängig, weil es einfach nicht viel anderes an Essbarem gibt. Der Respekt vor dem Leben entgegen gestellt der Tötung von Tieren hat eine Schamanin hier sehr schön in Worte gefasst:
Because it is part of the cycle. Wie must hunt to survice. Disrespect would be to hunt when you are not hungry and then to treat the dead in a wasteful, unclean way. The words I sing are to ask forgiveness for taking the seal´s life, and to send its soul safely to the spirit world.
Zitat Seite 342
Es gibt einige Märchenelemente, die eher unscheinbar mitschwingen, und den mystischen Charme umso mehr unterstreichen. Es ist auch eine Liebesgeschichte, die nur nach und nach durchsickert, während man Rose auf ihrer langen Reise begleitet, die sie durch viele Abenteuer lotst, um schließlich - vielleicht - an ihrem Ziel anzukommen.
Sie muss einiges auf sich nehmen und harte Zeiten durchleben, und während man mit ihr bangt und um das Ende fürchtet, empfindet man die letzten Seiten umso spannender, weil die Autorin immer wieder neue Überraschungen bereit hält.
Ich war absolut verzaubert von der märchenhaften Atmosphäre, dem klirrenden Winter und den harten Prüfungen, der liebevollen Protagonistin Rose und dem "verlorenen" Weißen Bären - und dem langen Weg, der durch Hoffnung und Liebe geprägt ist und die schließlich zu einem Ziel führen sollen: der wahren Freiheit, auch wenn diese einen Verlust bedeuten.
Jedes Märchen hat ein Happy End und so auch dieses: und es hat mich unglaublich berührt.
Weltenwanderer
Schon die Geburt von Rose war von einer Lüge geprägt.
Ihre Mutter ist vom Aberglauben durchdrungen und will nicht wahrhaben, dass Rose ein "Nordkind" ist. Die Weissagung darüber, dass dieses Kind in Eis und Kälte sterben wird lässt die Mutter mit allen Mitteln versuchen, sie in eine andere Richtung zu drängen als es ihre Wesensart ist. Denn Rose ist nicht wie ihre Geschwister. Sie ist ungezähmt und von Abenteuerlust geprägt - und der Freude am Entdecken und einem Drang, alles zu erforschen und ihren Willen durchzusetzen.
Man hat schon früh den Eindruck, dass die Mutter mit ihr nicht so recht warm wird und kann dadurch manche Entscheidungen besser verstehen. Rose lässt sich dadurch aber nicht verändern. Ihr Vater liebt sie, wie sie ist und auch mit ihrem Bruder Neddy verbindet sie eine starke Zuneigung.
Das Buch ist in fünf Abschnitte unterteilt und während man im ersten Rose´s Familie kennenlernt, beginnt im zweiten ihre Reise mit dem mysteriösen weißen Bären. Auch über ihn erfährt man Stück für Stück mehr und über die alten Wesen im eisigen Norden, die Huldra, die mancher vielleicht schon aus den skandinavischen Mythen kennt.
Durch die verschiedenen Perspektiven erhält man einen weiträumigen Blick über die Ereignisse.
Neben Rose und ihrem Bruder Neddy sowie ihrem Vater erleben wir auch den Weißen Bären, der seine Gedanken und Gefühle nur schwer ausdrücken kann. Somit sind das nur sehr kurze Einblicke, die aber umso intensiver sind. Besonders ein Zitat möchte ich euch zeigen, bei dem ich direkt Gänsehaut bekam:
All changed, in a moment.
Lost.
But now...
Hope.
Zitat Seite 112
Jetzt so aus dem Zusammenhang gerissen wirkt es sicher nicht so, wie bei mir als ich es gelesen habe. Aber glaubt mir, dass es einige Gänsehautmomente gegeben hat, die mich sehr berührt haben!
Ein weiteres Zitat möchte ich euch ebenfalls noch zeigen. Im eisigen Norden ist das Überleben ja stark von der Jagd abhängig, weil es einfach nicht viel anderes an Essbarem gibt. Der Respekt vor dem Leben entgegen gestellt der Tötung von Tieren hat eine Schamanin hier sehr schön in Worte gefasst:
Because it is part of the cycle. Wie must hunt to survice. Disrespect would be to hunt when you are not hungry and then to treat the dead in a wasteful, unclean way. The words I sing are to ask forgiveness for taking the seal´s life, and to send its soul safely to the spirit world.
Zitat Seite 342
Es gibt einige Märchenelemente, die eher unscheinbar mitschwingen, und den mystischen Charme umso mehr unterstreichen. Es ist auch eine Liebesgeschichte, die nur nach und nach durchsickert, während man Rose auf ihrer langen Reise begleitet, die sie durch viele Abenteuer lotst, um schließlich - vielleicht - an ihrem Ziel anzukommen.
Sie muss einiges auf sich nehmen und harte Zeiten durchleben, und während man mit ihr bangt und um das Ende fürchtet, empfindet man die letzten Seiten umso spannender, weil die Autorin immer wieder neue Überraschungen bereit hält.
Ich war absolut verzaubert von der märchenhaften Atmosphäre, dem klirrenden Winter und den harten Prüfungen, der liebevollen Protagonistin Rose und dem "verlorenen" Weißen Bären - und dem langen Weg, der durch Hoffnung und Liebe geprägt ist und die schließlich zu einem Ziel führen sollen: der wahren Freiheit, auch wenn diese einen Verlust bedeuten.
Jedes Märchen hat ein Happy End und so auch dieses: und es hat mich unglaublich berührt.
Weltenwanderer
June 21, 2021
This was such a good fantasy retelling! I have never read the original story East is based on, East of the Sun and West of the Moon, but this book reminded me a lot of Beauty and the Beast and of Eros and Psyche, granted I don't know which of those stories predates which. I loved the world building of East (such as the mother's superstitions regarding birth directions) and the romance was really cute. In fact, I found all the relationships, both romantic and familial, to be quite strongly written. I also was really impressed by Edith Pattou's writing style overall. I liked having chapters from different POV's and I feel like it helped paint a really well rounded picture of Rose, as we saw her from multiple perspectives. My only complaint for this book is the pacing. Whereas the first 300 pages of the book are slow-burn, the last 200 are just slow. About 100 pages of this book are just Rose travelling, and even though the last 100 pages ended strong, it was hard to get back into the story after such a lull in action. Still, overall I really liked this book and I look forward to reading the sequel. I'd definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a book with a fairy-tale like atmosphere who may be sick of seeing the same couple fairy tales retold over and over again. (Also I would recommend this to reader's of any age. Although it's technically middle grade, the writing is quite mature)
December 21, 2018
Yeah, so honestly. I didn't hate this, but the author stated in the "Authors Note" that she had really researched and done her homework with this in terms of setting it in Norway and all. And for some of the parts, I agree. She had done her homework but there were so many things that annoyed the shit outta me that I wanted to scream. I know you have to adapt to the English language for this, and she a whole fucking lot better than I would have done but it annoyed me.
Some things are:
It's not Askoy Forest, it's Askøy!
Literally no one is called Esbjorn, I don't know a fucking soul called it and I checked Norway's like statistic central because this shit annoyed the fuck out of me and I wondered if I was the dumb AF person but no, it's fucking Esbjørn and/or Asbjørn.
Skjebne-soke?? Which apparently is called "fate-seeker" in English which is a thing we have had here yeah, but it's not called skjebne-soke.
Brann om hode? Det finnes bedre måter og bruke den ispedde norsken på.
Also, it's called Tønsberg
Erlend, who liked to roam but had a frugal, organized side. Elise, the quiet, perfect east; practical and obedient. Selme Eva, who was comfortable and kind. Sara, a strong-willed, passionate girl. Sonja Wende, who was good with animals and a little bit prescient, farseeing. Willem, capable and decisive, who also had an easy hand with the farm animals. And Neddy Wilfrid,
She got some Norwegian names at least.
Honestly, I'm kinda sad because the writing wasn't bad it just felt kinda.. bad. Honestly, wish I had chosen something else for my book bingo because damn.
Some things are:
It's not Askoy Forest, it's Askøy!
Literally no one is called Esbjorn, I don't know a fucking soul called it and I checked Norway's like statistic central because this shit annoyed the fuck out of me and I wondered if I was the dumb AF person but no, it's fucking Esbjørn and/or Asbjørn.
Skjebne-soke?? Which apparently is called "fate-seeker" in English which is a thing we have had here yeah, but it's not called skjebne-soke.
Brann om hode? Det finnes bedre måter og bruke den ispedde norsken på.
Also, it's called Tønsberg
Erlend, who liked to roam but had a frugal, organized side. Elise, the quiet, perfect east; practical and obedient. Selme Eva, who was comfortable and kind. Sara, a strong-willed, passionate girl. Sonja Wende, who was good with animals and a little bit prescient, farseeing. Willem, capable and decisive, who also had an easy hand with the farm animals. And Neddy Wilfrid,
She got some Norwegian names at least.
Honestly, I'm kinda sad because the writing wasn't bad it just felt kinda.. bad. Honestly, wish I had chosen something else for my book bingo because damn.
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