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Snow
When a young woman, accompanied by her two cats, leaves her dissolving marriage and heads up north to start over, amidst the white and barren landscape, she becomes poised on the brink of reality, until the arrival of three mysterious visitors sparks a quest to find her own personal identity. A first novel.
151 pages, Hardcover
First published February 15, 1998
243 people want to read
About the author
Betsy Howie
16 books3 followersAfter graduating from high school, Betsy moved to New York City where she attended New York University and studied acting at the renowned Stella Adler Studio. She wrote the book for Cowgirls, a musical that she also performed in, which was staged across the country. In 1987, Betsy produced and performed in Caryl Churchill's Top Girls with fellow staff members from Phebe's bar on the Bowery, at the nearby New Theater.
Betsy was a prolific writer. During her life, she wrote numerous books, including a humorous memoir, Callie's Tally: An Accounting of Baby's First Year (Or, What My Daughter Owes Me), and the novel Snow. She also wrote many children's books under the pen name Howie Dewin.
Betsy was a prolific writer. During her life, she wrote numerous books, including a humorous memoir, Callie's Tally: An Accounting of Baby's First Year (Or, What My Daughter Owes Me), and the novel Snow. She also wrote many children's books under the pen name Howie Dewin.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 13, 2021
An absolutely phenomenal, unique, captivating, lyrical, whimsical read!!!!!! This book quickly became one of my new all-time favorites and I’m already looking forward to rereading it.
It’s a journey of self-love and self-discovery told through such gorgeous symbolism, emotion, and writing. Truly a masterpiece.
It’s a journey of self-love and self-discovery told through such gorgeous symbolism, emotion, and writing. Truly a masterpiece.
January 7, 2023
Our unnamed thirty-year-old narrator leaves New York and a failed marriage and holes up in a snowbound cabin with her two cats to heal. Warm baths magically appear when wished for, one of the cats starts talking and the woman is swept into a surreal journey of self-discovery.
I absolutely flew through this strange little gem of a novel, and while I sometimes couldn't relate to the narrator's specific struggles and hang-ups, I found it beautiful, moving and wonderfully unique. (And what is fiction for, after all, other than to experience the minds of people different to you?) The author clearly loves cats, and they are described with so much warmth and humour - when they are kneading bread dough, the narrator notes, 'the dough is more than ready to rise but they can't seem to stop. They are, after all, excellent kneaders and seem to find the work very gratifying. We have nothing but time as we wait for the visitor to reappear so I let the afternoon slip by.'
Sadly this novel is out of print and unavailable on Kindle - I wouldn't have heard of it if not for August's recommendation on her YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@cozyrosyread...), so thank you, August!
I absolutely flew through this strange little gem of a novel, and while I sometimes couldn't relate to the narrator's specific struggles and hang-ups, I found it beautiful, moving and wonderfully unique. (And what is fiction for, after all, other than to experience the minds of people different to you?) The author clearly loves cats, and they are described with so much warmth and humour - when they are kneading bread dough, the narrator notes, 'the dough is more than ready to rise but they can't seem to stop. They are, after all, excellent kneaders and seem to find the work very gratifying. We have nothing but time as we wait for the visitor to reappear so I let the afternoon slip by.'
Sadly this novel is out of print and unavailable on Kindle - I wouldn't have heard of it if not for August's recommendation on her YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@cozyrosyread...), so thank you, August!
July 21, 2013
I have no idea what I just read, it was so strange. A deeply unhappy woman, talking cats...I don't know what was real and what wasn't. Confusing, but I couldn't put it down.
April 11, 2024
This book was a mesmerizing and thought-provoking read. The author masterfully weaves together themes of identity, relationships, and self-discovery, creating a complex and relatable protagonist. The writing is beautiful, with a unique blend of magical realism and poignant introspection.
I particularly appreciated the exploration of the protagonist's inner world, as she navigates her past, present, and future. The supporting characters, including the enigmatic cat Vinny, whom I loved dearly and wished we got more of his wisdom and adventures, add depth and intrigue to the story.
While the ending is ambiguous, it's also hauntingly beautiful, leaving us to ponder the protagonist's fate and the power of hope and resilience.
Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a captivating and thought-provoking story.
I particularly appreciated the exploration of the protagonist's inner world, as she navigates her past, present, and future. The supporting characters, including the enigmatic cat Vinny, whom I loved dearly and wished we got more of his wisdom and adventures, add depth and intrigue to the story.
While the ending is ambiguous, it's also hauntingly beautiful, leaving us to ponder the protagonist's fate and the power of hope and resilience.
Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a captivating and thought-provoking story.
December 8, 2024
“There is a rage in me. It comes up and out of my core, it offers no warning, only a sudden burning above my gut, then it hits the bone, the sternum, the place between my breasts, and then it is in charge.”
“You say nothing the first time you hear it. I was a child. Lying in my bed, listening for the noise of a long-distance truckers, confirmation that someone else was awake in my world.”
“The yelling has not returned, it did not leave. It is only that I have stopped making so much noise, I can hear it.”
“I was a girl sitting directly atop that cusp that spills out onto womanhood. I can spot it on the street, there is nearly a smell to it, the woman-child who doesn’t see how carefully she is balanced. That is the beauty of it. The fall is in the comprehension.”
“You say nothing the first time you hear it. I was a child. Lying in my bed, listening for the noise of a long-distance truckers, confirmation that someone else was awake in my world.”
“The yelling has not returned, it did not leave. It is only that I have stopped making so much noise, I can hear it.”
“I was a girl sitting directly atop that cusp that spills out onto womanhood. I can spot it on the street, there is nearly a smell to it, the woman-child who doesn’t see how carefully she is balanced. That is the beauty of it. The fall is in the comprehension.”
August 11, 2020
It's been probably 10-15 years since I read this. I remember really enjoying it, and being envious of the woman who was able to escape from the everyday crazies to figure herself out. Having stumbled across it again, I think I'll have to re-read it.
It's definitely magic realism. I loved the two sentient cats, and the build-up culminating in Sophie (the cat) doing her dance, which I thought was brilliant. If you can't enjoy talking, dancing cats in a book about a believable, fairly normal human woman, you probably won't care for this.
It's definitely magic realism. I loved the two sentient cats, and the build-up culminating in Sophie (the cat) doing her dance, which I thought was brilliant. If you can't enjoy talking, dancing cats in a book about a believable, fairly normal human woman, you probably won't care for this.
April 7, 2022
she had me at talking cats to be honest
August 10, 2016
A strange book that makes sense if you think of it as a vision quest, with totem animals (and one totem human) who help the narrator see her way forward. It's puzzling, a little incoherent, but very vivid. I admit it that I'm soft on snarky talking cats, and "Vinny" is a winner. His wry tone reminds me of "Mrs. Chippy" in Mrs. Chippy's Last Expedition, by Caroline Alexander. But Vinny has a little more insight than Mrs. Chippy, a thoroughly deluded egotist if ever there was one. (Yet we love her.)
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews