The Snow Child
2012 • 318 pages
Ratings43
Average rating4.1
15
Ratings43
Average rating4.1
A bewitching tale of heartbreak and hope set in 1920s Alaska, Eowyn Ivey's THE SNOW CHILD was a top ten bestseller in hardback and paperback, and went on to be a Finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. Alaska, the 1920s. Jack and Mabel have staked everything on a fresh start in a remote homestead, but the wilderness is a stark place, and Mabel is haunted by the baby she lost many years before. When a little girl appears mysteriously on their land, each is filled with wonder, but also foreboding: is she what she seems, and can they find room in their hearts for her? Written with the clarity and vividness of the Russian fairy tale from which it takes its inspiration, The Snow Child is an instant classic.
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Combining the magical themes of an old Russian fairy tale with the harsh realities of homesteading in the Alaskan wilderness in the 1920s, this novel manages to sweep the reader into the sights, sounds and feelings associated with the experience of snow and the other-worldliness a snowy landscape can evoke. The characters in this novel are wonderfully imagined and fulfill the job of moving the story forward despite a familiar plot. Although I knew this was inspired by a children's fairy tale, the story is told in a way that makes it universal. I found myself wrapped up in the theme of the significance of family and friends, how essential these aspects of life are especially when you are in survival mode.
Incredible. It's written with such attention to detail, both in the icy landscapes it depicts and the characters, that every moment is captivating. I'll admit, it is somewhat repetitive. It doesn't leave its couple of locations, and yet I never found my attention wavering.
The Snow Child is a stunningly poignant, human, and engaging novel.
The ending was unsatisfying for me, but loved loved loved the book overall.
I loved the blended genres in this book. It was perfect to get me ready for my trip to Alaska.
