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Egg & Spoon
In this tour de force, master storyteller Gregory Maguire offers a dazzling novel for fantasy lovers of all ages.
Elena Rudina lives in the impoverished Russian countryside. Her father has been dead for years. One of her brothers has been conscripted into the Tsar’s army, the other taken as a servant in the house of the local landowner. Her mother is dying, slowly, in their tiny cabin. And there is no food. But then a train arrives in the village, a train carrying untold wealth, a cornucopia of food, and a noble family destined to visit the Tsar in Saint Petersburg — a family that includes Ekaterina, a girl of Elena’s age. When the two girls’ lives collide, an adventure is set in motion, an escapade that includes mistaken identity, a monk locked in a tower, a prince traveling incognito, and — in a starring role only Gregory Maguire could have conjured — Baba Yaga, witch of Russian folklore, in her ambulatory house perched on chicken legs.
Elena Rudina lives in the impoverished Russian countryside. Her father has been dead for years. One of her brothers has been conscripted into the Tsar’s army, the other taken as a servant in the house of the local landowner. Her mother is dying, slowly, in their tiny cabin. And there is no food. But then a train arrives in the village, a train carrying untold wealth, a cornucopia of food, and a noble family destined to visit the Tsar in Saint Petersburg — a family that includes Ekaterina, a girl of Elena’s age. When the two girls’ lives collide, an adventure is set in motion, an escapade that includes mistaken identity, a monk locked in a tower, a prince traveling incognito, and — in a starring role only Gregory Maguire could have conjured — Baba Yaga, witch of Russian folklore, in her ambulatory house perched on chicken legs.
475 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2014
520 people are currently reading
10833 people want to read
About the author
Gregory Maguire
110 books9,126 followersGregory Maguire is an American author, whose novels are revisionist retellings of children's stories (such as L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz into Wicked). He received his Ph.D. in English and American Literature from Tufts University, and his B.A. from the State University of New York at Albany. He was a professor and co-director at the Simmons College Center for the Study of Children's Literature from 1979-1985. In 1987 he co-founded Children's Literature New England (a non-profit educational charity).
Maguire has served as artist-in-residence at the Blue Mountain Center, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, and the Hambidge Center. He lives in Concord, Massachusetts.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,251 reviews
October 25, 2014
The best part of the book are the characters - they are all interesting and well-portrayed, and I was both charmed and fascinated by Baba Yaga. The dialogue also is snappy and amusing - so much so, it seemed at time like a stage production as much as a novel (plenty of physical humour added to this effect).
However, I'm not sure who this book was written for - I can't see it appealing to many children or young adults, though it is being billed as a YA read. The narration is often slow and repetitive (there are many summations and commentaries of events we've already witnessed). For myself, I came close to abandoning it several times during its almost 500 pages - sheer determination kept me going.
While I did make it through the whole book, I would argue that it has all the faults of "literary" fiction (ponderous with a low plot-to-verbage ratio) without having enough substance (philosophical, linguistic) to really deserve that classification.
-Kirsten
However, I'm not sure who this book was written for - I can't see it appealing to many children or young adults, though it is being billed as a YA read. The narration is often slow and repetitive (there are many summations and commentaries of events we've already witnessed). For myself, I came close to abandoning it several times during its almost 500 pages - sheer determination kept me going.
While I did make it through the whole book, I would argue that it has all the faults of "literary" fiction (ponderous with a low plot-to-verbage ratio) without having enough substance (philosophical, linguistic) to really deserve that classification.
-Kirsten
February 15, 2022
Adventure begins with not knowing what comes next.
Two girls.
Two precious eggs
Two adventures, as one girl leads another's life, and the other finds herself trapped with a folktale witch in whom she doesn't quite believe . . .
That witch, Baba Yaga, steals the show in this enchanting and entertaining book.
Just listen in on this conversation with her snide cat, Mewster:
"I think I've kept my figure, don't you?" she asked Mewster.
"Who else would want it?"
"Don't be snarky." She batted her eyelashes at her reflection. "I do believe I have my mother's eyes."
"Maybe it's time to give them back. Your mother's been dead since the reign of Oleg the Incontinent."
"And everyone says I have the sweetest smile." She cracked open her lips. A few flakes of orange rust flew out of her mouth. Her teeth were made of iron and did not line up with conviction. "When a Russian maiden smiles, the balalaikas of the Volga boatmen strum in tune."
She smiled. The balalaika hanging on the wall snapped all its strings at once, a tangle of catgut and atonality, prefiguring Stravinsky.
That's my girl!
I loved every minute of this one, as all the characters join forces to stop global warming . . . yeah - I know but it's better, and more subtle than it sounds.
And, now, I think I'll let our dear Baba have the last word:
"I'm mature for my age," said the Prince. "You've no call to say that. I am skilled in life. I know all about suffering from my Dostoyevsky and my Balzac."
"You want suffering, I'll kick you in your Balzac," said Miss Yaga.
Two girls.
Two precious eggs
Two adventures, as one girl leads another's life, and the other finds herself trapped with a folktale witch in whom she doesn't quite believe . . .
That witch, Baba Yaga, steals the show in this enchanting and entertaining book.
Just listen in on this conversation with her snide cat, Mewster:
"I think I've kept my figure, don't you?" she asked Mewster.
"Who else would want it?"
"Don't be snarky." She batted her eyelashes at her reflection. "I do believe I have my mother's eyes."
"Maybe it's time to give them back. Your mother's been dead since the reign of Oleg the Incontinent."
"And everyone says I have the sweetest smile." She cracked open her lips. A few flakes of orange rust flew out of her mouth. Her teeth were made of iron and did not line up with conviction. "When a Russian maiden smiles, the balalaikas of the Volga boatmen strum in tune."
She smiled. The balalaika hanging on the wall snapped all its strings at once, a tangle of catgut and atonality, prefiguring Stravinsky.
That's my girl!
I loved every minute of this one, as all the characters join forces to stop global warming . . . yeah - I know but it's better, and more subtle than it sounds.
And, now, I think I'll let our dear Baba have the last word:
"I'm mature for my age," said the Prince. "You've no call to say that. I am skilled in life. I know all about suffering from my Dostoyevsky and my Balzac."
"You want suffering, I'll kick you in your Balzac," said Miss Yaga.
April 30, 2015
I'd never heard of this book before until I randomly seen it in Barnes and Noble months ago. The cover is so beautiful and different, I'd never seen anything like it. I was so extremely interested in this book that I actually read the synopsis, something I rarely do. I loved the synopsis and I knew I had to get this book right away. Egg & Spoon sat on my shelf for a few months before I picked it up. I wasn't sure what to expect so I kind of put it off for a while.
I'm not really sure how I feel about Egg & Spoon. On one hand, I loved it but on the other hand, I was a little disappointed.
Right from the first couple of pages, I loved the writing style. It's very classic and my mind is still blown by how beautiful and rich the writing was. That being said, the writing was almost too great. It required the reader to really constraint on everything and I was never really able to just read. It felt a little bit like I had to work at understanding everything.
The characters are so insanely well written. I loved how each character was able to hold their own in the story. I can't really pick a favorite character because all of them are so wonderful.
The plot was slow at times and at a few points of the story, it crossed my mind that I might not be able to fully finish the book. I pushed though it and it got a lot better in the middle. The whole book is slow but not always in a bad way, if that makes sense.
Overall, I did enjoy this book but it's not one of my all time favorites. I loved every scene with Baba Yaga and I loved how the book took place in Russia. Egg & Spoon is slow but definitely well written and original.
I was confused on places though out the whole book and I had to really work at reading.
If you're looking for something original and a little mind blowing, Egg & Spoon is a great book for you.
I'm not really sure how I feel about Egg & Spoon. On one hand, I loved it but on the other hand, I was a little disappointed.
Right from the first couple of pages, I loved the writing style. It's very classic and my mind is still blown by how beautiful and rich the writing was. That being said, the writing was almost too great. It required the reader to really constraint on everything and I was never really able to just read. It felt a little bit like I had to work at understanding everything.
The characters are so insanely well written. I loved how each character was able to hold their own in the story. I can't really pick a favorite character because all of them are so wonderful.
The plot was slow at times and at a few points of the story, it crossed my mind that I might not be able to fully finish the book. I pushed though it and it got a lot better in the middle. The whole book is slow but not always in a bad way, if that makes sense.
Overall, I did enjoy this book but it's not one of my all time favorites. I loved every scene with Baba Yaga and I loved how the book took place in Russia. Egg & Spoon is slow but definitely well written and original.
I was confused on places though out the whole book and I had to really work at reading.
If you're looking for something original and a little mind blowing, Egg & Spoon is a great book for you.
May 29, 2014
Gregory Maguire's Egg & Spoon is a rich and layered story, full of gorgeous images and sentences, a matryoshka doll sort of tale. That is, like those nested dolls that show-up themselves in the story one inside the other, this book involves bits and pieces of stories, one inside the other and then coming out again. We begin meeting Elana Rudina, a peasant girl starving in a village with a dead father, a dying mother, a brother taken off to serve the Tsar, and the other as a servant for the local landowner. One day, out of nowhere, a train appears containing the wealthy Ekaterina, another young girl, this one wealthy, on her way to visit the Tsar in St. Petersburg. Things take off from this point --- journeys, mistaken identities, magical eggs, magical beings, mysterious monks, a prince, a magical festival, the Tsar, and -- most wonderful of all, Baba Yaga and her house on chicken feet. This fabulous witch of Russian folklore is a fabulously written character, funny, scary, wry, and just about everything possible in Maguire's capable hands. At moments she reminded me of some of Diane Wynne Jones' similarly gorgeously cranky and wonderful characters.
The plot is unique and complex, swirling around in highly unusual directions. It is staying with me and the more I mull it over the more I love it. Kids who are able and flexible readers, those with a predilection for older books of complexity and rich language and the ability to go with it wherever it goes will love it too I think. The child characters are delightful, brave and smart and complicated. And those magical characters --- wow. This made me think of so many classical books I have loved over the years. Fairy tales galore, Russian and Scandinavian, especially, but other tales too --- at one moment I thought of a favorite of my childhood, The Wonderful Adventures of Nils. A unique and wonderful read.
The plot is unique and complex, swirling around in highly unusual directions. It is staying with me and the more I mull it over the more I love it. Kids who are able and flexible readers, those with a predilection for older books of complexity and rich language and the ability to go with it wherever it goes will love it too I think. The child characters are delightful, brave and smart and complicated. And those magical characters --- wow. This made me think of so many classical books I have loved over the years. Fairy tales galore, Russian and Scandinavian, especially, but other tales too --- at one moment I thought of a favorite of my childhood, The Wonderful Adventures of Nils. A unique and wonderful read.
July 22, 2015
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Actual Rating: 1.5 stars
I'm not usually one to build books up too much before reading them. I just try not to. My opinions and views can be so different from others sometimes. I love some of the well-liked and popular series, and hate others. I guess we all do. I do have my favorite authors, usually established after years of reading and liking their books. Like Anne Rice, J.K. Rowling, C.S. Lewis, Jane Austen, and Gregory Maguire. Yep, Gregory Maguire is on the list of top ten authors. I have read and loved his Wicked series numerous times since I was in high school. I like how his writing creeps up on you, you suddenly find yourself crying over a character you thought you hated and didn't care about.
So when I saw he was releasing a middle grade stand alone book, I squee'd with excitement! I requested the ARC, got it, and was SO happy I couldn't wait to start. Plus, it historical fantasy based on the Russian folklore and fairy tale of Baba Yaga. I was so sure it was going to be brilliant, I hadn’t really thought of any other possibility. That’s why there's no easy way of saying this. I was extremely disappointed in this book. It didn’t live up to my expectations at all. I'm going to try to spell out why:
- The pacing was horrendous. I can’t even tell you how bad it was. The first 1/3 of the book, nothing happened. It was so boring I wanted to slam my head against the wall. Look, I read books fast. I read YA and MG books in one day if they’re good.If they’re not so good, I read them in one week. I can’t remember the last time it took me 30 days to complete a middle grade novel. I’m embarrassed that this is supposed to be one of my favorite authors.
-It didn’t feel like a middle grade book. The vocabulary was incredibly advanced. I had to look up a few words. I don’t think I’ve ever had to look up words in a middle grade novel. Even in YA, it's rare. Adult novels, sure, and I look forward to learning new words when I’m reading an adult book. But when I’m in the mood for a middle grade book – it’s because I DON'T want to be reading a slow paced book. I especially don’t want to read something that has complicated and obscure words as filler.
*Examples of words I was annoyed at finding within a middle grade novel: [ proboscis, flotsam, calliope, soporific, cupola, calve, farrago]. I'm not opposed to kids looking up words in books, not at all. But all of these combined (there were many more, I just highlighted a FEW) made it feel super pretentious.
When I think about the fact that kids ages 9-12+ will be reading this, it makes me wonder. I can’t help but think they won’t finish it. If I almost abandoned it for not having that levity and fresh air that is necessary in a great middle grade novel, I think a kid who is probably less patient than I am will not give it a chance.
-Baba Yaga DIDN'T GET INTRODUCED UNTIL 1/3 WAY IN. What a disappointment! She definitely livened up the novel, and should have at least been introduced earlier. I thought she was funny and a great character. One of the most redeeming facets of this novel was baba yaga and how she was portrayed.
So, with all these faults, why did I give it two stars? I think, I had to give it 1.5 stars because the ending and latter half of the book did pick up. Once the deception was brought to light, the plot became infinitely more manageable, interesting, and made more sense to me. It felt more like a middle grade novel at that point. For me though, it was pretty much too little too late. I won’t be buying this novel. I don’t even think I’ll recommend it to any young adults.
I would maybe recommend this to an avid Maguire reader, only after assuring them this is perhaps his worst work (aside from Mirror Mirror). He should stick with adult literature, as that is where he excels. I think with better pacing, and less adult vocabulary this book could have been salvageable. As it is, it was boring and didn’t have the spontaneity and lightness that is necessary for a successful middle grade novel. Also, if it takes me 30 days to finish a novel..I can't really recommend it to many people.
Actual Rating: 1.5 stars
I'm not usually one to build books up too much before reading them. I just try not to. My opinions and views can be so different from others sometimes. I love some of the well-liked and popular series, and hate others. I guess we all do. I do have my favorite authors, usually established after years of reading and liking their books. Like Anne Rice, J.K. Rowling, C.S. Lewis, Jane Austen, and Gregory Maguire. Yep, Gregory Maguire is on the list of top ten authors. I have read and loved his Wicked series numerous times since I was in high school. I like how his writing creeps up on you, you suddenly find yourself crying over a character you thought you hated and didn't care about.
So when I saw he was releasing a middle grade stand alone book, I squee'd with excitement! I requested the ARC, got it, and was SO happy I couldn't wait to start. Plus, it historical fantasy based on the Russian folklore and fairy tale of Baba Yaga. I was so sure it was going to be brilliant, I hadn’t really thought of any other possibility. That’s why there's no easy way of saying this. I was extremely disappointed in this book. It didn’t live up to my expectations at all. I'm going to try to spell out why:
- The pacing was horrendous. I can’t even tell you how bad it was. The first 1/3 of the book, nothing happened. It was so boring I wanted to slam my head against the wall. Look, I read books fast. I read YA and MG books in one day if they’re good.
-It didn’t feel like a middle grade book. The vocabulary was incredibly advanced. I had to look up a few words. I don’t think I’ve ever had to look up words in a middle grade novel. Even in YA, it's rare. Adult novels, sure, and I look forward to learning new words when I’m reading an adult book. But when I’m in the mood for a middle grade book – it’s because I DON'T want to be reading a slow paced book. I especially don’t want to read something that has complicated and obscure words as filler.
*Examples of words I was annoyed at finding within a middle grade novel: [ proboscis, flotsam, calliope, soporific, cupola, calve, farrago]. I'm not opposed to kids looking up words in books, not at all. But all of these combined (there were many more, I just highlighted a FEW) made it feel super pretentious.
When I think about the fact that kids ages 9-12+ will be reading this, it makes me wonder. I can’t help but think they won’t finish it. If I almost abandoned it for not having that levity and fresh air that is necessary in a great middle grade novel, I think a kid who is probably less patient than I am will not give it a chance.
-Baba Yaga DIDN'T GET INTRODUCED UNTIL 1/3 WAY IN. What a disappointment! She definitely livened up the novel, and should have at least been introduced earlier. I thought she was funny and a great character. One of the most redeeming facets of this novel was baba yaga and how she was portrayed.
So, with all these faults, why did I give it two stars? I think, I had to give it 1.5 stars because the ending and latter half of the book did pick up. Once the deception was brought to light, the plot became infinitely more manageable, interesting, and made more sense to me. It felt more like a middle grade novel at that point. For me though, it was pretty much too little too late. I won’t be buying this novel. I don’t even think I’ll recommend it to any young adults.
I would maybe recommend this to an avid Maguire reader, only after assuring them this is perhaps his worst work (aside from Mirror Mirror). He should stick with adult literature, as that is where he excels. I think with better pacing, and less adult vocabulary this book could have been salvageable. As it is, it was boring and didn’t have the spontaneity and lightness that is necessary for a successful middle grade novel. Also, if it takes me 30 days to finish a novel..I can't really recommend it to many people.
September 14, 2014
I am a *huge* fan of Gregory Maguire's 'Wicked', though I think some of his other books kind of were...not at good. So I was very curious to read this one and to see if it was capable of living up to its promise. In short - yes and no.
I loved the writing overall - it definitely reminded me of an old-fashioned fairy tale. The characters were interesting, including the narrator who pops in every so often to describe his part in the story. Where I think it went wrong was its length - in places, it felt like it was dragging on and on. I think had the editor been a bit more precise in his/her cutting, the book would have read better. Also - Baba Yaga. Loved her. Thought she was fabulous. BUT. I'm not certain how throwing in elements of the future advanced the story. It didn't make much sense at all, and was a bit jarring during the reading.
In all - a good story, but only if you have the patience to wade through its slightly-too-long length and don't mind the "time traveling Baba Yaga" thing.
I loved the writing overall - it definitely reminded me of an old-fashioned fairy tale. The characters were interesting, including the narrator who pops in every so often to describe his part in the story. Where I think it went wrong was its length - in places, it felt like it was dragging on and on. I think had the editor been a bit more precise in his/her cutting, the book would have read better. Also - Baba Yaga. Loved her. Thought she was fabulous. BUT. I'm not certain how throwing in elements of the future advanced the story. It didn't make much sense at all, and was a bit jarring during the reading.
In all - a good story, but only if you have the patience to wade through its slightly-too-long length and don't mind the "time traveling Baba Yaga" thing.
September 9, 2016
If this doesn't win the Newbery I will go into utter flaming Firebird apoplexy. Gorgeous writing, pee-your-pants humor, twisted Russian fairy tale characters, and The Prince and the Pauper Faberge-style. This is one of those wonderful reads that just gets better with re-reading, and it's even better read aloud. Disney better get on this one -- looks like fodder for the next Frozen. Hurray for Gregory Maguire!!!
October 7, 2014
I can't read any more of this. It is so very tedious. It takes forever for anything to happen and and the language is forced and pompous. And I don't care about any of the people. Watch, it will probably win the Newbery.
June 20, 2017
I was given Egg & Spoon as a gift from Riverbend books at the conclusion of the Young Adult Bookclub that I had participated in. Having not chosen the book and having never read a Gregory Maguire novel, I didn’t know what to anticipate. Therefore, the pure joy of this book was a delightful surprise.
Full of magic and mayhem, this book is part fairytale, part mythology, part prince and pauper tale and part grand quest. This mashup of style is a lot of fun and achieves success through the well-paced plot and the masterfully written prose that is funny, eloquent and often poignant.
The story begins in a poverty stricken Russian village called Miersk. In this village, misery is rife, the ruling noble family have abandoned the place, the majority of daughters were drowned in a tragic accident and the Tsar has conscripted the sons. Here lives Elana, who is all but starving and whose mother is dying. The monotony of this misery is interrupted one day when a rare train passing through on the way to St Petersberg is waylaid. Aboard this train is Ekaterina, or Cat, who could not be more different. She is pampered, educated and on her way to the social event of the year – a ball being held by the Tsar to find a bride for his godson, Prince Anton.
As you can guess, the girls meet and when the inevitable accident occurs, their places are switched leaving Elana hurtling toward St Petersberg, masquerading as the daughter of wealth and privilege. Cat, meanwhile, begins to make her way back to her own life by foot. Along the way, she is tricked from the train tracks into the domain of the famous witch, Baba Yaga and here begins the true adventure.
The highlight of this book for me was the character of the witch, Baba Yaga and her wit and whimsy. She swings from melodramatic, to hilarious to insightful and is always entertaining. This is one of the best books I have read in a long time – I am an immediate fan of Gregory Maguire and my dream to see Wicked, developed from the book he authored, is stronger than ever. I give it five stars and highly recommend it for Middle School readers, YA readers and adults!
Some favourite quotes:
Sooner or later you realize that everythingyou experience, especially something like being arrested, is never only about you. Your life story is really about how the hands of history caught you up, played with you, and you with them. History plays for keeps; individuals play for time. p.2
Being vulnerable to desolation also arises from being unable to picture a set of choices with which to change your lot in life. p.96
That’s the beginning of heroism. The decision to try. p.107
It was the most enchanting thing Elana had ever seen. Often this feels true about whatever we are seeing for the first time, whether it be a newly discovered best beloved of steep mountains. Or justice. Whatever that is. p.172
“Perhaps.” A safe word. Perhaps the safest. p. 176
“The hoity are very toity in this town,” said the witch. p. 269
You leave home, I have learned, counting the trip day by day. If you ever get to return, you count the trip miracle by miracle. p.446
Full of magic and mayhem, this book is part fairytale, part mythology, part prince and pauper tale and part grand quest. This mashup of style is a lot of fun and achieves success through the well-paced plot and the masterfully written prose that is funny, eloquent and often poignant.
The story begins in a poverty stricken Russian village called Miersk. In this village, misery is rife, the ruling noble family have abandoned the place, the majority of daughters were drowned in a tragic accident and the Tsar has conscripted the sons. Here lives Elana, who is all but starving and whose mother is dying. The monotony of this misery is interrupted one day when a rare train passing through on the way to St Petersberg is waylaid. Aboard this train is Ekaterina, or Cat, who could not be more different. She is pampered, educated and on her way to the social event of the year – a ball being held by the Tsar to find a bride for his godson, Prince Anton.
As you can guess, the girls meet and when the inevitable accident occurs, their places are switched leaving Elana hurtling toward St Petersberg, masquerading as the daughter of wealth and privilege. Cat, meanwhile, begins to make her way back to her own life by foot. Along the way, she is tricked from the train tracks into the domain of the famous witch, Baba Yaga and here begins the true adventure.
The highlight of this book for me was the character of the witch, Baba Yaga and her wit and whimsy. She swings from melodramatic, to hilarious to insightful and is always entertaining. This is one of the best books I have read in a long time – I am an immediate fan of Gregory Maguire and my dream to see Wicked, developed from the book he authored, is stronger than ever. I give it five stars and highly recommend it for Middle School readers, YA readers and adults!
Some favourite quotes:
Sooner or later you realize that everythingyou experience, especially something like being arrested, is never only about you. Your life story is really about how the hands of history caught you up, played with you, and you with them. History plays for keeps; individuals play for time. p.2
Being vulnerable to desolation also arises from being unable to picture a set of choices with which to change your lot in life. p.96
That’s the beginning of heroism. The decision to try. p.107
It was the most enchanting thing Elana had ever seen. Often this feels true about whatever we are seeing for the first time, whether it be a newly discovered best beloved of steep mountains. Or justice. Whatever that is. p.172
“Perhaps.” A safe word. Perhaps the safest. p. 176
“The hoity are very toity in this town,” said the witch. p. 269
You leave home, I have learned, counting the trip day by day. If you ever get to return, you count the trip miracle by miracle. p.446
August 31, 2017
This was a fun, nonsensical fairy tale about two girls who inadvertently switch lives, find adventure, and discover that helping others, even in small ways, can encourage change
May 12, 2016
Im finally done with this book. it took me a month. Unfortunately I didn't like it. I really tried because I thought that it would be feeling like a fairytale set in Russia. Two things I absolutely love but it didn't do it for me. Although the chapters were very short it was hard getting through them. I really wanted more of a real baba yaga, the russian witch but she was just a grandma. The other characters were also not that interesting Elena was poor and Cat was rich and that was it. I give this a 2 out of 5 and hope to get the Russian set fairytale feeling with wolf wilder by Katherine Rundell!
January 25, 2022
Nothing about this book engaged me. In fairness, I only gave it about 150 pages, but I found the setting entirely too familiar, the pace plodding, and the characters thinly developed - and so I didn't feel compelled to finish.
It's funny; I usually finish books no matter what. Lately I've had a few real duds, though.
It's funny; I usually finish books no matter what. Lately I've had a few real duds, though.
October 30, 2014
In Egg and Spoon, Gregory Maguire takes a classic tale of an identity exchange (a la Prince and the Pauper), integrating Russian folklore. Ekaterina, a privileged city girl attending boarding school in London is being paraded in front of the Tsar's nephew, and Elena, a country girl, is trying to survive poverty and familial loss. Their paths collide in Elena's hamlet as Kat's train is delayed because of a damaged bridge. Ambitious.
Unfortunately, the two girls are dullards for much of the novel, and become upstaged by story developments, including the loss of a porcelain Faberge egg and the theft of the Firebird's egg. Baba Yaga, a legendary Russian witch takes a central role, but is relatively benign, not evil. There are some decent moments, but not enough. The two young women eventually take more active roles, but the groundwork for these developments seems almost accidental. I thought the writing was good, and liked the secondary characters better than the primary ones.
Unfortunately, the two girls are dullards for much of the novel, and become upstaged by story developments, including the loss of a porcelain Faberge egg and the theft of the Firebird's egg. Baba Yaga, a legendary Russian witch takes a central role, but is relatively benign, not evil. There are some decent moments, but not enough. The two young women eventually take more active roles, but the groundwork for these developments seems almost accidental. I thought the writing was good, and liked the secondary characters better than the primary ones.
October 21, 2014
First off, this book is not YA, no matter that it's nearly 500 pages long and billed as such by bookstore and library. It's very firmly middle grade. The characters are capable of certain things because they're specifically children, there is no "icky" romance (at least, that's how they see it), and it's about fitting in with your world at large, not pitting one solitary teen against the universe. It's got that sense of now-I'm-going-to-tell-you-a-story (about someone else) that sets it off, too. So if you're looking for angsty teen, you might not feel like this book is properly shelved. However, one's age does not mean that you can only read books written FOR that age, and this is the kind of book that will appeal to a wide range of readers. In that sense, it's a bit like Terry Pratchett's books--where exactly does it go in the library? Because a lot of people will find something that resonates with them.
Now to the book itself. Russia! Tension between the rich and poor! Mixed up identities! Global warming! Faberge eggs! Phoenixes! Baba Yaga! Oh, Baba Yaga. She is one funny lady.
Two girls meet when a train breaks down in rural Russia, where people are starving to death. The girl on the train is supposed to meet the Tsar's godson and present him with a gift (the Faberge egg) for a someday-hopeful match. Not that she has the slightest interest in getting married at the moment--she's only 13. The girl in the village wants to tell the Tsar to return her brother from the army because everyone else is gone and she needs help caring for her sick mother. They are both on the train when it starts to roll, and the wrong girl falls off. With the egg. So we have two girls trying to reach the Tsar, each with the wrong set of circumstances. Plus global warming, did I mention that? And Baba Yaga, who doesn't call it global warming, but who recognizes that there is something wrong with the ur-magic of Russia, and so she joins the journey to put a stop to it.
I realize I may be a tad biased towards this book (Russian minor), but I think that a lot of people will love it.
Now to the book itself. Russia! Tension between the rich and poor! Mixed up identities! Global warming! Faberge eggs! Phoenixes! Baba Yaga! Oh, Baba Yaga. She is one funny lady.
Two girls meet when a train breaks down in rural Russia, where people are starving to death. The girl on the train is supposed to meet the Tsar's godson and present him with a gift (the Faberge egg) for a someday-hopeful match. Not that she has the slightest interest in getting married at the moment--she's only 13. The girl in the village wants to tell the Tsar to return her brother from the army because everyone else is gone and she needs help caring for her sick mother. They are both on the train when it starts to roll, and the wrong girl falls off. With the egg. So we have two girls trying to reach the Tsar, each with the wrong set of circumstances. Plus global warming, did I mention that? And Baba Yaga, who doesn't call it global warming, but who recognizes that there is something wrong with the ur-magic of Russia, and so she joins the journey to put a stop to it.
I realize I may be a tad biased towards this book (Russian minor), but I think that a lot of people will love it.
August 28, 2017
"Something too few of us know when we are alive, he told her. We are all crowned with glory. Peasants no less than kings."
This in its purest form is a wonderful adventure. Picture, "The Wizard of Oz" and all it's oddities. As a child you see the colorful characters that made that story fun and exciting, but as you get older you start to realize the themes of home and true friendship. That's what, "Egg & Spoon" is: a very beautiful story with lessons that are timeless.
Gregory Maguire, the author of, "Wicked" has taken a similar road in writing, "Egg & Spoon". He introduces us to two very different young girls: one poor and one rich. When a train wrecks in a small Russian town, Elena, a peasant girl, meets Ekaterina, a girl of wealth, and through a series of events they end up switching places. Ensuing, adventure for both girls; its heartwarming, comical, and VERY strange (which docked my rating slightly-some word phrasing was just very odd!).
But, Maguire is certainly creative and knows how to write unique characters, even inanimate objects such as a house with chicken legs (definitely gave me a chuckle). There's also a wicked witch, a stubborn prince, and a lazy dragon; all who belong in a folklore fairytale!
The voice behind the narration and that ending...everyone, it was beautiful and perfect!!
This in its purest form is a wonderful adventure. Picture, "The Wizard of Oz" and all it's oddities. As a child you see the colorful characters that made that story fun and exciting, but as you get older you start to realize the themes of home and true friendship. That's what, "Egg & Spoon" is: a very beautiful story with lessons that are timeless.
Gregory Maguire, the author of, "Wicked" has taken a similar road in writing, "Egg & Spoon". He introduces us to two very different young girls: one poor and one rich. When a train wrecks in a small Russian town, Elena, a peasant girl, meets Ekaterina, a girl of wealth, and through a series of events they end up switching places. Ensuing, adventure for both girls; its heartwarming, comical, and VERY strange (which docked my rating slightly-some word phrasing was just very odd!).
But, Maguire is certainly creative and knows how to write unique characters, even inanimate objects such as a house with chicken legs (definitely gave me a chuckle). There's also a wicked witch, a stubborn prince, and a lazy dragon; all who belong in a folklore fairytale!
The voice behind the narration and that ending...everyone, it was beautiful and perfect!!
October 19, 2016
I was able to secure a free copy of this on Overdrive via a Summer Reading programme which encourages youth to read or in this case to listen.
Not having heard of the author before in quick skim of the synopsis I thought I was reading a Russian novel translated into English, but soon worked out what was what and who was who. I'm glad for the confusion I may not have elected to listen to this great little story of Elena and Cat and the Faberge Egg. It's was witty and clever if not a bit long, but lots of quotes I would recall if I had the print version to cut n paste from!
I'm not sure kids will get many of the references that pulled me back into the noaughties or the 90s but I sure got a kick and a laugh along the way.
Narrator was fantastic too.
Not having heard of the author before in quick skim of the synopsis I thought I was reading a Russian novel translated into English, but soon worked out what was what and who was who. I'm glad for the confusion I may not have elected to listen to this great little story of Elena and Cat and the Faberge Egg. It's was witty and clever if not a bit long, but lots of quotes I would recall if I had the print version to cut n paste from!
I'm not sure kids will get many of the references that pulled me back into the noaughties or the 90s but I sure got a kick and a laugh along the way.
Narrator was fantastic too.
October 9, 2021
A fun, sarcastic fairy tale, with many historical and cultural references, with political criticism and a great sense of humor.
The way I see it, a real treasure.
The way I see it, a real treasure.
April 19, 2023
It's not "Wicked," or "Confessions" of an Ugly Stepsister." But it does have some Russian/Ukrainian folk myths in it. The firebird is there, Faberge eggs, A Tsar and a crown prince. Two young girls who look almost exactly alike, one brutally poor, one pampered and rich who get mixed up with each other on a train. A hut on hen's legs. And yes, Baba Yaga. Of course Baba Yaga.
Worth reading if you habe the time.
Worth reading if you habe the time.
March 2, 2020
I absolutely loved this middle take on some Russian folklore. Gregory Maguire wrote a heartfelt book filled with humor and beautiful prose.
April 10, 2022
been a looong time since I’ve read any ya/fantasy stuff! this was ok. I liked the fairytale elements, but wish they were more seamlessly integrated into the story - a lot of the magic felt like lazy plot device, left many loose ends. pacing was off too, really dragged on at times and then a bunch of action way too quick. lots of genuinely charming secondary characters but the protagonists felt underdeveloped. heavy on telling vs showing dialogue. 2.5
December 19, 2017
I know I'm at risk of sounding blasphemous, but when I finally closed the cover on this stupid book this morning I may or may not have whispered to myself "It is finished" and held a moment of silence.
When you start a book on an all-inclusive vacation you expect to finish it for a number of reasons:
1) You've got nothing better to do than read so you might as well
2) You've been drinking on and off all day anyway so who cares if it doesn't make sense?
3) Reading is a thing you enjoy doing and you were looking forward to doing MORE of it in a warm, picturesque location
While there are undoubtedly other reasons you would expect to finish a book on vacation, these were just my top 3. So there I was, in St. Lucia, ready to devour some books and maybe, just maybe, catch up on my Goodreads reading goal (because being 14 books behind is NOT acceptable) but as soon as I started reading I realized I had made a mistake. For ONE thing, I didn't realize that this book was by the same guy who wrote the book that Wicked was inspired by. This is an issue for me because that is one of the only (if not THE only books) that I've had to stop reading because it's just too brutal in the past 10 years of my life. Seriously, in a DECADE the only book I couldn't finish because I hated it so much was Wicked. It just didn't GO ANYWHERE and Maguire seems to think he's this fantastic author with so many wonderful ideas and sure, it makes a great stage show, but the book just blows chunks. There, I said it, no regrets just moving on with my life.
So yeah, there I am with the dawning horror that this book is probably going to be horrible. And wow, would you look at that? I really, truly think it was. I hated all of the characters, there were way too many magic-but-not-really-magic elements to keep track of and stay interested in, and all of the stuff with potential (aka Baba Yaga and the matryoshkas COMING TO LIFE) were all kind of lost in this hot mess of children running away and magical cats and boring conversations that go nowhere and dying mothers. Like, what am I supposed to feel after reading this (besides relief that it's over?). I couldn't even tell you what the main crux of the plot was because I didn't care and it wasn't clear.
Why do authors inSIST on wasting my time with books like this? And why do critics ALWAYS THINK THESE BOOKS ARE GOOD?! Why are reviews always positive for super boring drawn out and long fantasy stories that aren't so much fantastical as they are murder weapons (because, y'know, dying of boredom and all that).
I'm honestly just so overjoyed to be done this book it almost doesn't even matter what else happens to me today because this horrible reading journey is finally over. Like, it took me ALMOST A MONTH TO READ - if that isn't a clear indicator that this is garbage than I'm not sure what is.
When you start a book on an all-inclusive vacation you expect to finish it for a number of reasons:
1) You've got nothing better to do than read so you might as well
2) You've been drinking on and off all day anyway so who cares if it doesn't make sense?
3) Reading is a thing you enjoy doing and you were looking forward to doing MORE of it in a warm, picturesque location
While there are undoubtedly other reasons you would expect to finish a book on vacation, these were just my top 3. So there I was, in St. Lucia, ready to devour some books and maybe, just maybe, catch up on my Goodreads reading goal (because being 14 books behind is NOT acceptable) but as soon as I started reading I realized I had made a mistake. For ONE thing, I didn't realize that this book was by the same guy who wrote the book that Wicked was inspired by. This is an issue for me because that is one of the only (if not THE only books) that I've had to stop reading because it's just too brutal in the past 10 years of my life. Seriously, in a DECADE the only book I couldn't finish because I hated it so much was Wicked. It just didn't GO ANYWHERE and Maguire seems to think he's this fantastic author with so many wonderful ideas and sure, it makes a great stage show, but the book just blows chunks. There, I said it, no regrets just moving on with my life.
So yeah, there I am with the dawning horror that this book is probably going to be horrible. And wow, would you look at that? I really, truly think it was. I hated all of the characters, there were way too many magic-but-not-really-magic elements to keep track of and stay interested in, and all of the stuff with potential (aka Baba Yaga and the matryoshkas COMING TO LIFE) were all kind of lost in this hot mess of children running away and magical cats and boring conversations that go nowhere and dying mothers. Like, what am I supposed to feel after reading this (besides relief that it's over?). I couldn't even tell you what the main crux of the plot was because I didn't care and it wasn't clear.
Why do authors inSIST on wasting my time with books like this? And why do critics ALWAYS THINK THESE BOOKS ARE GOOD?! Why are reviews always positive for super boring drawn out and long fantasy stories that aren't so much fantastical as they are murder weapons (because, y'know, dying of boredom and all that).
I'm honestly just so overjoyed to be done this book it almost doesn't even matter what else happens to me today because this horrible reading journey is finally over. Like, it took me ALMOST A MONTH TO READ - if that isn't a clear indicator that this is garbage than I'm not sure what is.
November 24, 2019
My thanks to NetGalley and Candlewick Press for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.
This just didn't work for me. Maybe I'm too old for books that are geared towards middle readers, but the beginning was too stark and the coincidence of the two girls resembling each other so closely just didn't work for me. I also wasn't overly thrilled with the narrator and Baba Yaga using modern American terms in the middle of a magical, steam-powered Russia that still had tsars. I get that she is magical and isn't constrained by the normal laws of time and space, but it took me out of the world the author had attempted to create.
DNF at 43%. I really did try to push through, but I have other books that are waiting for me and I can't see trudging through this reluctantly when I could be flying through something that I am really enjoying. My time to read is at an all time low this year, so I have to be more picky in what I am reading.
Please note that the book wasn't bad, it was written quite well, but the characters, coincidences, the over-the-top horribleness in the peasant girl's life and the fourth-wall breaking by Baba Yaga added up to not working for me. I can see a middle reader really enjoying the fairy tale aspect of it, as well as the exotic time and place (if Russia is exotic for the reader.) 2, I was expecting more and maybe not the right time for this book for me, stars.
This just didn't work for me. Maybe I'm too old for books that are geared towards middle readers, but the beginning was too stark and the coincidence of the two girls resembling each other so closely just didn't work for me. I also wasn't overly thrilled with the narrator and Baba Yaga using modern American terms in the middle of a magical, steam-powered Russia that still had tsars. I get that she is magical and isn't constrained by the normal laws of time and space, but it took me out of the world the author had attempted to create.
DNF at 43%. I really did try to push through, but I have other books that are waiting for me and I can't see trudging through this reluctantly when I could be flying through something that I am really enjoying. My time to read is at an all time low this year, so I have to be more picky in what I am reading.
Please note that the book wasn't bad, it was written quite well, but the characters, coincidences, the over-the-top horribleness in the peasant girl's life and the fourth-wall breaking by Baba Yaga added up to not working for me. I can see a middle reader really enjoying the fairy tale aspect of it, as well as the exotic time and place (if Russia is exotic for the reader.) 2, I was expecting more and maybe not the right time for this book for me, stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 23, 2020
4.5 stars While I wish I had read this in order to savor its beauty, the audiobook was incredibly well done and I'm glad for the experience. This story reminded me why I once listed Gregory Maguire as a favorite author: he knows how to retell a fairytale so it feels new, and old, and humorous, and touching. He even introduced me to some new Russian fairy tales. I would read this again. I love a good Baba Yaga tale.
March 6, 2016
YOU SHALL NOT BE SPOILED
A lot of people have been asking me to review this book for a while now.
They want to know my thoughts.
Well, here it comes.
THIS.
BOOK.
IS
SO
WOW.
That's about all I can say or else you would get tired of me talking about it.
Appropriate for all ages, with the exception of one H-word and one D-word.
Until the next adventure,
Leah The Bird
A lot of people have been asking me to review this book for a while now.
They want to know my thoughts.
Well, here it comes.
THIS.
BOOK.
IS
SO
WOW.
That's about all I can say or else you would get tired of me talking about it.
Appropriate for all ages, with the exception of one H-word and one D-word.
Until the next adventure,
Leah The Bird
October 15, 2014
Delightful book with layers of cultural, historical, and literary references. I do think kids will miss a few of the jokes, such as references to "drinking the Kool-Aid" and threatening to kick a character in the "Balzac."
November 13, 2025
Absolutely despised this. I spent the whole time thinking about the review I would write at the end, and I now I can't even be bothered.
Baba Yaga mentions Cheerios, Kool-Aid, Gary Larsen's The Far Side, Hoboken NJ (on multiple occasions!), and numerous other American pop-cultural references. She perpetually calls people 'Honeybucket'. She once says, "Put her there, pardner!". Here we have a rich, mythological Slavic figure, and she's a ruddy 'Murican. Words cannot express how cheated I feel.
The whole thing read like the script for a madcap film or play, with cheap laughs for every modern groundling. In stark contrast to its lack of sophistication on the comedic front, Maguire chucks in references to every Russian novel he's ever read. I got most of them, but I think if you stayed because the under-cooked humour appealed, you probably aren't also the type to appreciate all of the obscure references to Tolstoy and Dostoyesky.
Since Brevity is the Soul of Wit, I think I'll steer clear of any book over 300 pages long for the remainder of the year.
Sorely disappointed. Will not read this author again. Yuckers.
Baba Yaga mentions Cheerios, Kool-Aid, Gary Larsen's The Far Side, Hoboken NJ (on multiple occasions!), and numerous other American pop-cultural references. She perpetually calls people 'Honeybucket'. She once says, "Put her there, pardner!". Here we have a rich, mythological Slavic figure, and she's a ruddy 'Murican. Words cannot express how cheated I feel.
The whole thing read like the script for a madcap film or play, with cheap laughs for every modern groundling. In stark contrast to its lack of sophistication on the comedic front, Maguire chucks in references to every Russian novel he's ever read. I got most of them, but I think if you stayed because the under-cooked humour appealed, you probably aren't also the type to appreciate all of the obscure references to Tolstoy and Dostoyesky.
"I'll kick you in the Balzac." - Baba YagaIt was just painful. it was also 300 pages too long (and had editing errors: "Shall I shall..", etc.), full of unloveable characters, written to be clever, and possibly the worst book I've read since Kate Moss's Labyrinth.
Since Brevity is the Soul of Wit, I think I'll steer clear of any book over 300 pages long for the remainder of the year.
Sorely disappointed. Will not read this author again. Yuckers.
July 17, 2023
This is my first Gregory Maguire novel outside of The Wicked Years series. I really appreciate how vastly different it is from those books! Egg & Spoon is a the story of two girls who come from completely opposite social castes who fall into an accidental adventure to save the world with a Russian prince, Baba Yaga, and her talking cat, Mewster. It's very intwined with fairytale lore and classic literature speckled throughout the entire novel, but it still manages to be completely its own story. At nearly 500 pages, I did think it could have been a little bit shorter, and I found myself checking out on occasion, but overall I was pretty intrigued and there were plenty of page-turning moments, especially near the end!
February 8, 2025
Audiobook
September 30, 2017
Demir dişli cadı, Miyavcık, matruşka bebek ordusu, yumurtası içinde henüz doğmamış Ateş Kuşu, bir kez daha yumurtlamak için yaşamaya devam eden tundranın tavuğu, Anton Antonoviç Romanov-Çar'ın uzaktan kuzeni ve vaftiz oğlu- Ekaretina Inonev- Londra'da okuyan zengin Rus-Fransız kızı -ve Elena Maksimovna... Miersk'ten gelen köylü kız; sihirli buz dünyasını arkalarında bırakmaya hazırlandılar.
4,5/5🌟🌟🌟🌟
Çok ama çok beğendim! Hatta bu yorumu yazarken okuduğum sayfaları düşünerek suratıma tatlı bir tebessüm filizleniyor. Elime aldığımda zaten kapağının güzelliğini bir kenara bırakırsak konusu ilgimi çekmişti ama okumak için en çok sabırsızlanmamı sağlayan şeyse giriş kısmındaki genel bölüm incelemeleriydi. Öncesi, Sonrası, Sonranın Sonrası, Daha Sonrası, Hala Daha Sonrası şeklinde kitap geniş bölüm başlıklarından oluşuyor. Bu bölüm başlıklarının altında da bir sürü kısa bölüm isimleri mevcut. Böyle bir girişle kitaba başlayınca içim hevesle doldu ve beni kesinlikle zengin karakter ve detaylı bir kurguyla harmanlanmış bir kitabın beklediğine emin gibiydim. Ayrıca bu bölüm başlıkları sayesinde uzun zamandır okumadığım masallara yarışır bir konunun aklıma kazınacağını tahmin ediyordum. İlk başlangıcında beni korkutan kısım; doğa üstü anlatımda hemen abartıya geçilmesi ve asıl konuya anlam vermek konusunda gecikme yaşanma ihtimaliydi ama hiçbir şey kafa karıştırı ya da korktuğum gibi gereksiz satırlarla uzatılmadı. İlk bölümden Elena'nın ailesinin başına gelenleri, Ekaretine ile tanışmasına uzanan macerayı okumaya başlıyoruz. Elena ve Ekaretina'nın yaşamlarının birbirine bu kadar zıt olması ikilinin bir araya gelmesinin kitaba daha farklı, daha güzel dökülmesini sağlamıştı. Özellikle yulaf ve elma mevzusu içimi sımsıcak bir samimiyet yaymadan geçemedi. Kitap ilerledikçe karmaşıklıklar ortaya çıkıyor ve ikilinin yolları birbirleri yerine geçmeleri gereken bir şekilde ayrılıyor. Bundan sonrasında zengin Cat'i deli dolu bir cadıyla, Elena'yı ise aslında tek istediği şey olan Çar ile görüşmesini sağlayacak bir baloya sürüklenirken okuyoruz. Kitap ilerledikçe ortaya doğa üstü, maceraperest konular da ekleniyor ama çoğunlukla bunların hiçbiri kitabın çizgisini bozmadı. Son yüz sayfada birkaç yerde kafa karışıklığı yaşarak satırları tekrar tekrar okusam da bunun dışında baştan sona büyük keyif aldım. Elimden bırakamadığım hem eğlenceli, hem samimi hem de yazarın sıradışı kalemi sayesinde zengin bir anlatımı vardı. Dostluğa, aileye ve nice güzel kavramlara yerinde değinerek bir yandan da altı çizilesi harika alıntılar içeren bir kitaptı. Gerçekten çok ama çok beğendim ve size de canı gönülden öneririm. Unutmadan kitapta en çok sevdiğim şeylerden biri de geçen ortamı gözlerimin önüne getirmekte zorlanmamamdı. O Rus topraklarındaki karlı muhteşem ortam kitabın sonuna kadar zihninizin bir tarafında asılı kalıyor. Keyifli okumalar dilerim..
4,5/5🌟🌟🌟🌟
Çok ama çok beğendim! Hatta bu yorumu yazarken okuduğum sayfaları düşünerek suratıma tatlı bir tebessüm filizleniyor. Elime aldığımda zaten kapağının güzelliğini bir kenara bırakırsak konusu ilgimi çekmişti ama okumak için en çok sabırsızlanmamı sağlayan şeyse giriş kısmındaki genel bölüm incelemeleriydi. Öncesi, Sonrası, Sonranın Sonrası, Daha Sonrası, Hala Daha Sonrası şeklinde kitap geniş bölüm başlıklarından oluşuyor. Bu bölüm başlıklarının altında da bir sürü kısa bölüm isimleri mevcut. Böyle bir girişle kitaba başlayınca içim hevesle doldu ve beni kesinlikle zengin karakter ve detaylı bir kurguyla harmanlanmış bir kitabın beklediğine emin gibiydim. Ayrıca bu bölüm başlıkları sayesinde uzun zamandır okumadığım masallara yarışır bir konunun aklıma kazınacağını tahmin ediyordum. İlk başlangıcında beni korkutan kısım; doğa üstü anlatımda hemen abartıya geçilmesi ve asıl konuya anlam vermek konusunda gecikme yaşanma ihtimaliydi ama hiçbir şey kafa karıştırı ya da korktuğum gibi gereksiz satırlarla uzatılmadı. İlk bölümden Elena'nın ailesinin başına gelenleri, Ekaretine ile tanışmasına uzanan macerayı okumaya başlıyoruz. Elena ve Ekaretina'nın yaşamlarının birbirine bu kadar zıt olması ikilinin bir araya gelmesinin kitaba daha farklı, daha güzel dökülmesini sağlamıştı. Özellikle yulaf ve elma mevzusu içimi sımsıcak bir samimiyet yaymadan geçemedi. Kitap ilerledikçe karmaşıklıklar ortaya çıkıyor ve ikilinin yolları birbirleri yerine geçmeleri gereken bir şekilde ayrılıyor. Bundan sonrasında zengin Cat'i deli dolu bir cadıyla, Elena'yı ise aslında tek istediği şey olan Çar ile görüşmesini sağlayacak bir baloya sürüklenirken okuyoruz. Kitap ilerledikçe ortaya doğa üstü, maceraperest konular da ekleniyor ama çoğunlukla bunların hiçbiri kitabın çizgisini bozmadı. Son yüz sayfada birkaç yerde kafa karışıklığı yaşarak satırları tekrar tekrar okusam da bunun dışında baştan sona büyük keyif aldım. Elimden bırakamadığım hem eğlenceli, hem samimi hem de yazarın sıradışı kalemi sayesinde zengin bir anlatımı vardı. Dostluğa, aileye ve nice güzel kavramlara yerinde değinerek bir yandan da altı çizilesi harika alıntılar içeren bir kitaptı. Gerçekten çok ama çok beğendim ve size de canı gönülden öneririm. Unutmadan kitapta en çok sevdiğim şeylerden biri de geçen ortamı gözlerimin önüne getirmekte zorlanmamamdı. O Rus topraklarındaki karlı muhteşem ortam kitabın sonuna kadar zihninizin bir tarafında asılı kalıyor. Keyifli okumalar dilerim..
August 19, 2014
This was my first foray into the world of Gregory Maguire, and I'm not certain I'll be back. The overall premise of the book was interesting. The primary message was good: being content is important. The secondary messages were also commendable: family is incredibly important, whether you're related by blood or become family through other means; friendship requires work; commitment and constancy can take you far; etc. Also, despite some very mature concerns for the child protagonists, they were handled in a manner that I think the audience could handle and appreciate.
However, I found the tone, and particularly certain conversations in the book, uneven and distracting. Babba Yaga threw in too many references to past, present (for the story), and future (our recent past) for me to give the story any credibility at all despite its billing as a fantasy. In other words, the cleverness of the author kept throwing me out of the world he built and into reality--which is not how I like my fantasy. I like to be immersed in the story.
One other gripe, there were more lead-ins to what I thought would be the conclusion of the book than in Peter Jackson's "Return of the King." While I tolerated and could appreciate Jackson's attempt to wrap up what should have been a long aftermath to the battle and gradual return of a war-ravaged land to normalcy in a brief period of movie time rather than simply ending the film at the end of the battle as the producers would probably have preferred, I had no such tolerance for this book. It almost felt like two books were merged together, and I wish the story would have resolved itself about 150 pages before it did, skipping the third mythical creature of Russia--although I suppose then the story would be missing it's primary message.
All this being said, I did enjoy the book and do recommend it for children who are strong readers, those with some familiarity of Russian history and Russian folklore, and fans of Lemony Snickett.
Disclaimer: I received an electronic preview copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
However, I found the tone, and particularly certain conversations in the book, uneven and distracting. Babba Yaga threw in too many references to past, present (for the story), and future (our recent past) for me to give the story any credibility at all despite its billing as a fantasy. In other words, the cleverness of the author kept throwing me out of the world he built and into reality--which is not how I like my fantasy. I like to be immersed in the story.
One other gripe, there were more lead-ins to what I thought would be the conclusion of the book than in Peter Jackson's "Return of the King." While I tolerated and could appreciate Jackson's attempt to wrap up what should have been a long aftermath to the battle and gradual return of a war-ravaged land to normalcy in a brief period of movie time rather than simply ending the film at the end of the battle as the producers would probably have preferred, I had no such tolerance for this book. It almost felt like two books were merged together, and I wish the story would have resolved itself about 150 pages before it did, skipping the third mythical creature of Russia--although I suppose then the story would be missing it's primary message.
All this being said, I did enjoy the book and do recommend it for children who are strong readers, those with some familiarity of Russian history and Russian folklore, and fans of Lemony Snickett.
Disclaimer: I received an electronic preview copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
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