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Voices
Author David Elliott explores how Joan of Arc changed the course of history and remains a figure of fascination centuries after her extraordinary life and death.
Told through medieval poetic forms and in the voices of the people and objects in Joan of Arc’s life, (including her family and even the trees, clothes, cows, and candles of her childhood). Along the way it explores issues such as gender, misogyny, and the peril of speaking truth to power. Before Joan of Arc became a saint, she was a girl inspired. It is that girl we come to know in Voices.
Told through medieval poetic forms and in the voices of the people and objects in Joan of Arc’s life, (including her family and even the trees, clothes, cows, and candles of her childhood). Along the way it explores issues such as gender, misogyny, and the peril of speaking truth to power. Before Joan of Arc became a saint, she was a girl inspired. It is that girl we come to know in Voices.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published March 26, 2019
51 people are currently reading
6668 people want to read
About the author
David Elliott
206 books174 followersDavid Elliott is the author of THE COOL CRAZY CRICKETS and THE TRANSMOGRIFICATION OF ROSCOE WIZZLE. He says of AND HERE'S TO YOU!, "My neighbor’s rooster and I were having a disagreement. I wanted to sleep in the morning; he wanted to crow. The rooster won, of course. The first verse of AND HERE'S TO YOU! is a tribute to his victory and to the joys found in simply following your nature."
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January 28, 2019This was really fascinating! To be honest, I don't know too much about Joan of Arc, but it was neat learning more about her through this poetry format. I loved the unique perspective of her story being told through things like her armor, her sword, a tower, fire.. the list goes on and on. I did feel like sometimes the flow of the story felt a bit off, but for the most part I liked this quite a bit!
February 11, 2019
This is a creative book, a story told in different types of verse by Joan herself and by different people and objects that were present during her life and near her death (the flames at her pyre, St. Michael the Archangel, her banner, her sword, etc.). Its unique form and its attempt to deal with subject matter like medieval gender roles will likely make it popular with educators, librarians, and award committees. Other Goodreads reviews also suggest that readers unfamiliar with Joan of Arc liked the book as a general introduction to her life. However, as someone familiar with Joan and who studied medieval literature in graduate school, I was largely unimpressed. The book attempts to grapple with important questions of power, gender, and religion but ultimately misses any nuance and, frankly, seems completely unaware of what actual medievalists have to say about the subject.
First, I think the book doesn't take Joan's religion seriously, which is a problem I have in general when authors tackle religious figures and try to write them for a popular, secular audience. Elliott doesn't seem comfortable suggesting that Joan believes her own visions or that anyone else believes her. He has a whole poem from St. Michael's point of view that suggests he may or may not be real and ponders whether, if he is real, he can really be counted as a saint. (Which seems to overlook the Catholic definition that a saint is anyone in heaven so, yes, if Michael the Archangel is real he is 100% a saint; this has nothing to do with whether he feels his personality or actions deserve the title.) Another poem from St. Margaret reflects that "saints are just human" and she can't really do anything to help Joan, which also seems counter to actual Catholic teaching. The book obviously doesn't need to support Catholicism, but I do think a book that is about a Catholic saint and seems to be trying to celebrate that person should, in fact, take their religion and religious beliefs seriously instead of trying to minimize them.
I also have concerns about the discussion of gender. Elliott's portrayal of Joan is one (a stereotypical YA one?) of a young girl who never liked doing girly things like sewing, who hated wearing dresses, who always dreamed of going to war, and who says she is more comfortable in the military than anywhere else. There is no historical evidence to support this. Of course Joan and her supporters would have reason to lie and make her seem content with "women's work," but all the evidence we have suggests that Joan was a "good girl," a quiet religious girl who was good at sewing and such and never gave anyone the impression she was itching to throw away her mending, rip off her dress, and go to war.
Elliott further suggests that Joan was uncomfortable wearing women's clothes and feeling men's clothes felt "right" to her. Perhaps, but this is speculation on Elliott's part, a suggestion that perhaps she really did feel like or yearn to be a man. Historical evidence, on the other hand, suggests that she dressed as a man primarily to avoid being raped. She didn't want to obviously look like a woman when surrounded by men. Furthermore, historical evidence shows she had a number of fastenings and ties added to her clothing that would have been unusual on the average menswear--presumably to make it harder for someone to forcibly take it off her. The records are also clear that she regularly slept fully clothed AND fully armed; again, presumably for her personal safety. Elliott glosses over all of this.
Finally, the book suggests that Joan was primarily killed for acting/dressing like a man. Certainly this was a sticking point in her trial, part of the evidence that she was unnatural, possibly a witch. However, it's clear that she was killed by the English because, well, she was French and winning battles for the French. Again, Elliott completely overlooks an important medieval discussion: the fine line between being a saint and a witch for women in the Middle Ages. Joans actions were praised by the French and condemned by the English; the French thought she was from God, and the English thought she was the devil. This was obviously for political reasons, and she was not killed for acting like a man. I think if Elliott had even really dipped his toes into medieval scholarship or discussions surrounding Joan, the witch/saint dichotomy would have been evident to him, and it should have played a larger role in this book.
It's clear from reading other Goodreads reviews that I am currently the only one taking these types of issues with the book. If you just want an overview of Joan's life and to get a general sense of what she did and how others responded, this certainly will work as an introduction. I think anyone who has a particular interest in Joan and has read a lot about her will be disappointed by how speculative this is and how it seems grounded more in the author's opinions and interpretations than solid research.
First, I think the book doesn't take Joan's religion seriously, which is a problem I have in general when authors tackle religious figures and try to write them for a popular, secular audience. Elliott doesn't seem comfortable suggesting that Joan believes her own visions or that anyone else believes her. He has a whole poem from St. Michael's point of view that suggests he may or may not be real and ponders whether, if he is real, he can really be counted as a saint. (Which seems to overlook the Catholic definition that a saint is anyone in heaven so, yes, if Michael the Archangel is real he is 100% a saint; this has nothing to do with whether he feels his personality or actions deserve the title.) Another poem from St. Margaret reflects that "saints are just human" and she can't really do anything to help Joan, which also seems counter to actual Catholic teaching. The book obviously doesn't need to support Catholicism, but I do think a book that is about a Catholic saint and seems to be trying to celebrate that person should, in fact, take their religion and religious beliefs seriously instead of trying to minimize them.
I also have concerns about the discussion of gender. Elliott's portrayal of Joan is one (a stereotypical YA one?) of a young girl who never liked doing girly things like sewing, who hated wearing dresses, who always dreamed of going to war, and who says she is more comfortable in the military than anywhere else. There is no historical evidence to support this. Of course Joan and her supporters would have reason to lie and make her seem content with "women's work," but all the evidence we have suggests that Joan was a "good girl," a quiet religious girl who was good at sewing and such and never gave anyone the impression she was itching to throw away her mending, rip off her dress, and go to war.
Elliott further suggests that Joan was uncomfortable wearing women's clothes and feeling men's clothes felt "right" to her. Perhaps, but this is speculation on Elliott's part, a suggestion that perhaps she really did feel like or yearn to be a man. Historical evidence, on the other hand, suggests that she dressed as a man primarily to avoid being raped. She didn't want to obviously look like a woman when surrounded by men. Furthermore, historical evidence shows she had a number of fastenings and ties added to her clothing that would have been unusual on the average menswear--presumably to make it harder for someone to forcibly take it off her. The records are also clear that she regularly slept fully clothed AND fully armed; again, presumably for her personal safety. Elliott glosses over all of this.
Finally, the book suggests that Joan was primarily killed for acting/dressing like a man. Certainly this was a sticking point in her trial, part of the evidence that she was unnatural, possibly a witch. However, it's clear that she was killed by the English because, well, she was French and winning battles for the French. Again, Elliott completely overlooks an important medieval discussion: the fine line between being a saint and a witch for women in the Middle Ages. Joans actions were praised by the French and condemned by the English; the French thought she was from God, and the English thought she was the devil. This was obviously for political reasons, and she was not killed for acting like a man. I think if Elliott had even really dipped his toes into medieval scholarship or discussions surrounding Joan, the witch/saint dichotomy would have been evident to him, and it should have played a larger role in this book.
It's clear from reading other Goodreads reviews that I am currently the only one taking these types of issues with the book. If you just want an overview of Joan's life and to get a general sense of what she did and how others responded, this certainly will work as an introduction. I think anyone who has a particular interest in Joan and has read a lot about her will be disappointed by how speculative this is and how it seems grounded more in the author's opinions and interpretations than solid research.
August 7, 2023
Saints are only human.
This was a very well-written little book. I'm a huge fan of Joan of Arc (although I don't know nearly enough about her), so I was very excited for this. The writing is absolutely gorgeous, the way the poems are written gave me chills, and I loved reading this. I was anticipating everything up until the very last moment, and yet I was not fully prepared. Also, the title's great.
However, there were two things about this that affected my rating.
1.) The Religious Aspect
I'm sorry, but you can't write a story about a girl who saw angels all her life and died for her faith and talk about it with this cavalier attitude. Clearly Elliot isn't religious, because he's doubtful of Joan the whole time. The poem from Saint Michael's perspective is just him saying "Maybe she saw us, maybe not, but does it matter?" Yes, it does. Joan's faith was an incredibly major part of her life, and it's just wrong to write about it from this standpoint. Honestly, as beautifully as this book was written, maybe Elliot wasn't the right one to write it.
2.) The Sexual Aspect
This isn't a large part of the book in any way, but there are a few strange sexual mentions that left me confused and a bit uncomfortable. The poem about a certain sword is very sexualized, talking about its own "man parts" and "penetration" and actually uses the word "phallus." And then the fire is described in the beginning of the book as "an ardent lover's adventuring tongue" and at the end, when it burns Joan, very sexual language is used, as if the fire is raping her. It was just strange and I don't see what it added to the story. I wish this aspect had been dropped and the religious aspect was better explored (or explored at all).
I give Voices 3/5 stars. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed reading this. I'd probably read it again. But first, I'd want to read an official biography of Joan of Arc. I just really, really wish the religious aspect was better.
This was a very well-written little book. I'm a huge fan of Joan of Arc (although I don't know nearly enough about her), so I was very excited for this. The writing is absolutely gorgeous, the way the poems are written gave me chills, and I loved reading this. I was anticipating everything up until the very last moment, and yet I was not fully prepared. Also, the title's great.
However, there were two things about this that affected my rating.
1.) The Religious Aspect
I'm sorry, but you can't write a story about a girl who saw angels all her life and died for her faith and talk about it with this cavalier attitude. Clearly Elliot isn't religious, because he's doubtful of Joan the whole time. The poem from Saint Michael's perspective is just him saying "Maybe she saw us, maybe not, but does it matter?" Yes, it does. Joan's faith was an incredibly major part of her life, and it's just wrong to write about it from this standpoint. Honestly, as beautifully as this book was written, maybe Elliot wasn't the right one to write it.
2.) The Sexual Aspect
This isn't a large part of the book in any way, but there are a few strange sexual mentions that left me confused and a bit uncomfortable. The poem about a certain sword is very sexualized, talking about its own "man parts" and "penetration" and actually uses the word "phallus." And then the fire is described in the beginning of the book as "an ardent lover's adventuring tongue" and at the end, when it burns Joan, very sexual language is used, as if the fire is raping her. It was just strange and I don't see what it added to the story. I wish this aspect had been dropped and the religious aspect was better explored (or explored at all).
I give Voices 3/5 stars. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed reading this. I'd probably read it again. But first, I'd want to read an official biography of Joan of Arc. I just really, really wish the religious aspect was better.
September 4, 2019
3.5 stars
Enjoyed it for the most part. Author is very talented in this format.
*awkward phrasing but too tired right now. *
Some of the POVs from inanimate objects were weird to me (didn't care for most of them). Especially .
Some of the formats for the different POVs are formatted different and have smaller print. So fair warning to those who also have a problem with small print. Its not much of the book at least.
(Picture of one in status update if you are interested. )
Would recommend.
Already ordered Bull , looking forward to that:)
Enjoyed it for the most part. Author is very talented in this format.
*awkward phrasing but too tired right now. *
Some of the POVs from inanimate objects were weird to me (didn't care for most of them). Especially .
Some of the formats for the different POVs are formatted different and have smaller print. So fair warning to those who also have a problem with small print. Its not much of the book at least.
(Picture of one in status update if you are interested. )
Would recommend.
Already ordered Bull , looking forward to that:)
April 6, 2019
I read this in the span of 45 minutes, and while the writing was so beautiful, I really didn’t care much for this at all. I don’t think it was as awe inspiring as I hoped, and I really struggled because it wasn’t holding my attention well. Perhaps it’s a case of its-not-you-it’s me, but I just felt this wasn’t exactly my cup of tea.
May 7, 2021
3 stars
I do not read a lot of books in verse, but the premise of this one peaked my interest. As Joan starts burning on the pyre, the story of her life is recounted through various Voices of her past: people, objects, and ideas/emotions. In execution, David Elliott definitely accomplished his vision, yet I am not quite sure that it worked for me.
Sometimes, when looking at a piece of art your opinion might be elevated when finding out some contextual information. Voices is one of those books. When I was about half way through, I decided to read the author's note. For context, at this point, the book was sitting at a maybe 2.5 rating, just because I found it to be ok, but it didn't exactly grab my attention like I thought it would. In the author's note, Elliott mentions how he used popular poem structures of Joan's time to create this book. Knowing this, I started to pay attention to the presentation and differences of the poems and found that I enjoyed the novel much more, or at least was more in awe of Elliott's skill.
Building off of that idea, I believe that if you love poetry and know something more about it, you'll like this book a lot more. As it stands, I simply don't think I have enough knowledge about this style of writing to fully realise and appreciate Elliott's work.
In the end, I think a 3 star rating reflects how I view this work because it takes into account my initial reaction to the text, my later reactions to the text, and the fact that I believe Elliot accomplished his goals very well.
*book completed as part of the April history challenge
I do not read a lot of books in verse, but the premise of this one peaked my interest. As Joan starts burning on the pyre, the story of her life is recounted through various Voices of her past: people, objects, and ideas/emotions. In execution, David Elliott definitely accomplished his vision, yet I am not quite sure that it worked for me.
Sometimes, when looking at a piece of art your opinion might be elevated when finding out some contextual information. Voices is one of those books. When I was about half way through, I decided to read the author's note. For context, at this point, the book was sitting at a maybe 2.5 rating, just because I found it to be ok, but it didn't exactly grab my attention like I thought it would. In the author's note, Elliott mentions how he used popular poem structures of Joan's time to create this book. Knowing this, I started to pay attention to the presentation and differences of the poems and found that I enjoyed the novel much more, or at least was more in awe of Elliott's skill.
Building off of that idea, I believe that if you love poetry and know something more about it, you'll like this book a lot more. As it stands, I simply don't think I have enough knowledge about this style of writing to fully realise and appreciate Elliott's work.
In the end, I think a 3 star rating reflects how I view this work because it takes into account my initial reaction to the text, my later reactions to the text, and the fact that I believe Elliot accomplished his goals very well.
*book completed as part of the April history challenge
September 3, 2019
WOW! What a fantastic read. This is a medieval poem masterpiece. The sharing of Joan the Arc's last days and thoughts through various poem/verse styles. Each one cleverly told by Joan or those within the drama of her life. Each poem cleverly presented in a creative, artistic manner to accentuate the mastery of the wordsmith.
November 17, 2023
Every life is its own story-
not without a share of glory,
and not without a share of grief.
I lived like a hero at seventeen.
At nineteen, I die like a thief.
This was my first time ever diving into a book written in verse, and I was NOT LET DOWN. Jeannette- more commonly known as Joan of Arc- was my biggest idol during my childhood years. I aspired to be her, I read tons of kid friendly history books about her, I wrote all my essays about her in some way or form, etc. She was a big part of forming who I am today. So trust me when I say that I'm pretty damn knowledgable about her.
That being said, this book did a spectacular job in summarizing the formative and, consequentially, the end years of Joan's life. While there are definitely some parts glossed over or ignored entirely (come on, this book would have to be WAY longer), David Elliott does a good job in playing with different poetic forms and words to put a unique voice to her story. He not only uses multiple forms- nine, to be precise- he also uses multiple perspectives of both animate and inanimate objects to shine a new light on the true tale of Joan of Arc.
He swaps between Joan's POV to the cattle in the fields, the red dress she wore every single day to the suit of armor and the sword she donned, the Saint Michael to the banner Joan flew under.
...Above her head
I scream a terrifying prayer. Above her head,
a warning from the newly dead to not resist for who
would dare to fight the angels singing there above her head?
Just, like, does anyone have any recommendations similar to this? Where the author brilliantly uses the key objects that defined a person to actually describe said person? Even her warhorse has some words to share!
...though she was a maid,
she was like me and so we were one
when we were the wind, untamed, unafraid.
Many a knight had been cowed and outdone
by my spirit, left broke, unseated, unmade.
But she understood.
And not only does he incorporate all these incredible poems from different perspectives, but Elliott also throws in direct quotes from the Trial of Condemnation AND the Trial of Nullification!
All I'm going to say in conclusion is-
May 31, 2019
I am giving this book 2 stars for my personal reading experience and enjoyment of this story, but it truly does deserve a higher rating when it comes to the talent of the author's writing. While reading, I could identify that the author was clearly talented in his writing skill; however, the verse format was too complex for me to enjoy the story that was being told through it.
I find everything surrounding the story of Joan of Arc interesting and due to that it was a good read for the content, but this book will be for those who have an enjoyment in different styles of poetry. Specifically complicated poetry because in no way was the writing in this volume simple.
Unfortunately, I think this was a case of where the writing style was not my 'taste' and because of that, it affected my overall reading experience. I know that there will be others who have an interest in this style of writing and for them, this novel will be beautiful.
***Thank you to Raincoast Books for sending me an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review***
I find everything surrounding the story of Joan of Arc interesting and due to that it was a good read for the content, but this book will be for those who have an enjoyment in different styles of poetry. Specifically complicated poetry because in no way was the writing in this volume simple.
Unfortunately, I think this was a case of where the writing style was not my 'taste' and because of that, it affected my overall reading experience. I know that there will be others who have an interest in this style of writing and for them, this novel will be beautiful.
***Thank you to Raincoast Books for sending me an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review***
January 24, 2022
It’s clear that David Elliott is a talented writer, but he was the wrong person to write this book. When will male authors realize that an uber-feminist approach is actually, anti-woman? What was the point in girlbossifying Joan of Arc? Did Elliott even do any research into WHO Joan was? Seems to me, he only knows of the events surrounding her life, not the truth of her. What possessed him to essentially omit, talk down on, and almost poke fun at Joan’s religiousness? Joan of Arc was incredibly devout. But Elliott seems to think that makes her less awe-worthy. Men, please stop projecting what you think it means to be a strong woman onto LITERAL REAL WOMEN WHO EXISTED AND THAT WE KNOW KINDA A LOT ABOUT. A woman should have written this book. This was a pretty bad reflection of who Joan was as a woman.
February 6, 2022
this was very well written and well thought out, but i’m giving it a low rating because i didn’t really enjoy it at all :( the format was super interesting but it was difficult to read on my phone which made me sad, and the part from virginity’s point of view really weirded me out? but david elliott did an amazing job writing this and i wish i enjoyed stories like this more! so basically, sorry book, it’s not you, it’s me.
November 3, 2019
“It seems to me my only real
transgression was to invade and
triumph in the sacred land of
men; a woman in their landscape
was a repugnant, mortal sin,
unless she was a loving wife
or kneeling nun or knowing
prostitute. They would have hated
me far less if I had been a
girl of ill repute instead of
what I was and who I am: a
girl who dared to live the life of
a brave and honest man.”
transgression was to invade and
triumph in the sacred land of
men; a woman in their landscape
was a repugnant, mortal sin,
unless she was a loving wife
or kneeling nun or knowing
prostitute. They would have hated
me far less if I had been a
girl of ill repute instead of
what I was and who I am: a
girl who dared to live the life of
a brave and honest man.”
February 19, 2019
2/19/2019: Second read through for a reading challenge, prompt "historical retelling." This is the perfect quick read to fulfill the prompt too. I think I enjoyed it more this second go around since I knew what to expect. The trouble women face with societal expectations hit me a little harder this time and I can't stop thinking about it.
***
This was a different kind of read for me. It's kinda a historical verse novel with some perspectives that are explored and imagined. Unfortunately, I don't connect well with verse novels well, but this was pretty good for something I don't normally connect with. It is creative, it is strong, and it does a good job painting what it is like to be a woman in a very man-centric world. Not to mention, some of the perspectives from inanimate objects were really neat and explored how things on or around a person can influence how they are perceived, especially when it comes to people who present a threat. I suggest that you give it a shot and see how you like it--it was a surprise to me, seeing as I anticipated not digging it much.
Happy reading!
***
This was a different kind of read for me. It's kinda a historical verse novel with some perspectives that are explored and imagined. Unfortunately, I don't connect well with verse novels well, but this was pretty good for something I don't normally connect with. It is creative, it is strong, and it does a good job painting what it is like to be a woman in a very man-centric world. Not to mention, some of the perspectives from inanimate objects were really neat and explored how things on or around a person can influence how they are perceived, especially when it comes to people who present a threat. I suggest that you give it a shot and see how you like it--it was a surprise to me, seeing as I anticipated not digging it much.
Happy reading!
July 30, 2020
Apparently I also forgot to review this? It was pretty good, but then again I love almost everything Joan of Arc, and the use of visual poetry was good, and I loved the different perspectives shown.
But if you're looking for a Joan of Arc poetry collection, The Language of Fire is a lot better.
But if you're looking for a Joan of Arc poetry collection, The Language of Fire is a lot better.
December 15, 2020
I don't usually read poetry so I'm not exactly sure how I should feel towards this book. I do find Joan of Arc's story to be fascinating but I can't say this poetry collection did it enough justice. Still, I enjoyed listening to the poems and really loved the beautiful way in which they depicted her life. They actually made me feel something, and that on itself is a lot because I've never considered myself a fan of poetry. Nevertheless, I'm happy this was my first step into the genre.
April 5, 2019
This review and many more can be found on my blog: Feed Your Fiction Addiction
Wow! A historical novel about Joan of Arc in verse? It's either a crazy idea or utterly inspired---turns out it's the latter. First off, I highly recommend that you read this book aloud because a lot of the book is written in rhymed and metered verse. I started out reading in my head, and I liked it, but when I started to read aloud the verse truly came alive. You'll have to have an open mind when you read this---some of the poems are told from the perspectives of actual objects in Joan's life, including swords, her dress, etc. (in concrete poems, so they're shaped like the objects). And Elliott often uses forms of poetry that were popular in medieval times, such as villanelles and sestinas. I loved these unique styles, but I love poetry in most of its forms, so...The book recounts Joan of Arc's last days and the events that led to her trial. Basically, in case you're not familiar with the story, it comes down to the fact that she's a woman who acts and dresses like a man. Horror of horrors! (Oh, and the men she led didn't try to take advantage of her, so she was obviously a witch.) We also get the perspectives of some of the other people who knew Joan. Even though the story is obviously tragic, the emotion isn't particularly palpable (this is often the case for me with verse). Still, I thought this account was engrossing and beautifully told. I easily zipped through the book in one sitting.
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
Wow! A historical novel about Joan of Arc in verse? It's either a crazy idea or utterly inspired---turns out it's the latter. First off, I highly recommend that you read this book aloud because a lot of the book is written in rhymed and metered verse. I started out reading in my head, and I liked it, but when I started to read aloud the verse truly came alive. You'll have to have an open mind when you read this---some of the poems are told from the perspectives of actual objects in Joan's life, including swords, her dress, etc. (in concrete poems, so they're shaped like the objects). And Elliott often uses forms of poetry that were popular in medieval times, such as villanelles and sestinas. I loved these unique styles, but I love poetry in most of its forms, so...The book recounts Joan of Arc's last days and the events that led to her trial. Basically, in case you're not familiar with the story, it comes down to the fact that she's a woman who acts and dresses like a man. Horror of horrors! (Oh, and the men she led didn't try to take advantage of her, so she was obviously a witch.) We also get the perspectives of some of the other people who knew Joan. Even though the story is obviously tragic, the emotion isn't particularly palpable (this is often the case for me with verse). Still, I thought this account was engrossing and beautifully told. I easily zipped through the book in one sitting.
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
August 30, 2020
"It seems to me my only real transgression was to invade and triumph in the sacred land of men; a woman in their landscape was a repugnant, mortal sin, unless she was a loving wife or kneeling nun or knowing prostitute. They would have hated me far less if I had been a girl of ill repute instead of what I was and who I am: a girl who dares to live the life of a brave and honest man."
3.5 stars. Telling the story of Joan of Arc through her perspective and that of the objects and people around her, Voices keeps the light of France's most famous martyr burning. History cannot decide what Joan was: mad or holy, hero or hated? This novel does an excellent job of toeing both side of the line. The poetry itself is well crafted, and the author uses a wide range of poetic styles to convey the story. I enjoyed reading most of the poems, though some of them were a little disjointed. Certain poems (mainly those from Joan's perspective) got repetitive after a while, though I loved how each word was arranged on the page. The perspectives of the men in this novel also sounded really similar, while the objects took on completely different tones. Overall, Voices: The Final Hours of Joan of Arc was an enjoyable read, and an essential edition to the shelves of anyone fascinated by the famous martyr.
3.5 stars. Telling the story of Joan of Arc through her perspective and that of the objects and people around her, Voices keeps the light of France's most famous martyr burning. History cannot decide what Joan was: mad or holy, hero or hated? This novel does an excellent job of toeing both side of the line. The poetry itself is well crafted, and the author uses a wide range of poetic styles to convey the story. I enjoyed reading most of the poems, though some of them were a little disjointed. Certain poems (mainly those from Joan's perspective) got repetitive after a while, though I loved how each word was arranged on the page. The perspectives of the men in this novel also sounded really similar, while the objects took on completely different tones. Overall, Voices: The Final Hours of Joan of Arc was an enjoyable read, and an essential edition to the shelves of anyone fascinated by the famous martyr.
September 16, 2019
Nope. I’m done.
Nope nope nope.
I got 35% in before the sexual references creeped me out. LITERALLY THERE IS A POEM FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF HER VIRGINITY. How fucking nasty?!
The page I gave up on? ”...how naturally I lay against her breasts.”
I skimmed to the end to look at quotes from the two trials and glimpsed many more sexual references (don’t ask about the swords) and I’m out. I shouldn’t have trusted a male author to handle such an amazing female figure.
I’ll give the author credit for his poems that he used. He does employ 9 rather bizarre types of poems to tell the story. It just... this really didn’t work for me on any level.
The savage thrust, the burning kiss, the penetrating pain will be my ecstasy
^Fire. He’s talking about fire. Fuck me this is gross.
Nope nope nope.
I got 35% in before the sexual references creeped me out. LITERALLY THERE IS A POEM FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF HER VIRGINITY. How fucking nasty?!
The page I gave up on? ”...how naturally I lay against her breasts.”
I skimmed to the end to look at quotes from the two trials and glimpsed many more sexual references (don’t ask about the swords) and I’m out. I shouldn’t have trusted a male author to handle such an amazing female figure.
I’ll give the author credit for his poems that he used. He does employ 9 rather bizarre types of poems to tell the story. It just... this really didn’t work for me on any level.
The savage thrust, the burning kiss, the penetrating pain will be my ecstasy
^Fire. He’s talking about fire. Fuck me this is gross.
December 21, 2019
From the start, Joan didn't need or want what other girls needed, her mother, for example. It hurts to have a daughter who so clearly knows her own mind. Such qualities are dangerous in a woman
Every time I see something related to Joan of Arc I always feel such an heartbreaking sensation, similar to guilt and pity, but also anger. This book is amazing and an incredible way to teach other people, who have never heard of this incredible woman, her story. I really loved this book, I think it lacks of something and I'm not really sure of what, that's why it's not a full 5 stars book.
Every time I see something related to Joan of Arc I always feel such an heartbreaking sensation, similar to guilt and pity, but also anger. This book is amazing and an incredible way to teach other people, who have never heard of this incredible woman, her story. I really loved this book, I think it lacks of something and I'm not really sure of what, that's why it's not a full 5 stars book.
December 4, 2019
”It seems to me my only real
transgression was to invade and
triumph in the sacred land of
men; a woman in their landscape
was a repugnant, mortal sin,
unless she was a loving wife
or kneeling nun or knowing
prostitute. They would have hated
me far less if I had been a
girl of ill repute instead of
what I was and who I am: a
girl who dared to live the life of
a brave and honest man.”
This book deserves all the applause and so much more.
David Elliott hit it out of the park with his free verse retelling of Theseus and the Minotaur. In his latest work, he takes on the incomparable Joan of Arc and retells her life not only from her POV, but from the POVS of the people and things that made up her life. In his fiery and captivating narrative, he lets Joan tell her story and crafts a searing, soaring, and rage-filled narrative of one of the greatest military heroines the world has known.
With Voices, there is no humor, no laughter, no sarcastic wit or hilarious insight. Instead, this book is all fire, rage, and anguish.
I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for Joan. Ever since I was in the 7th grade and I found out about her extraordinary life story, I became fascinated and beguiled by this illiterate peasant girl who somehow managed to command some of the greatest military victories the modern world has seen. How she was able to so quickly round up support and yet have those same people turn against her, call her the most vile things possible, and burn her alive at the stake?
The POVS of the various other human and non-human characters add a nice quality to the book and really round the story out. From the sword that Joan uses in battle to the red dress she is forced to wear before her life as a solider to the fire that consumes her in the end—they all make up an integral part of Joan’s story, and it is a testament to the author’s imagination and craft with words. Interspersed also are actual snippets of the trail transcripts from Joan’s two trials (one before her death and one after). All these factors made for a truly satisfying read, and I never felt that one POV didn’t belong or bogged down the story line.
With this second book, David Elliot is cemented in my book as my favorite verse novelist. That’s saying something too because I am not normally a fan of books in verse. They never have appealed to me simply because I didn’t think that style of narration was necessary. I will follow David Elliot anywhere with his novels in verse. I love how he explains his narration choices and the style of poetry he uses.
I think Joan would be proud of this novel and her portrayal in it. In David Elliott’s triumphant work, Joan is a determined, pious, and fierce heroine whose convictions never waver and her steadfast persistence to be seen (and live) as her true self stand true, even when these same qualities get her killed. In this powerful read, we get a glimpse into the minds of one of the greatest female heroines we have ever seen.
And even though she has been made a pious saint, in the end, she was simply just a girl named Joan.
transgression was to invade and
triumph in the sacred land of
men; a woman in their landscape
was a repugnant, mortal sin,
unless she was a loving wife
or kneeling nun or knowing
prostitute. They would have hated
me far less if I had been a
girl of ill repute instead of
what I was and who I am: a
girl who dared to live the life of
a brave and honest man.”
This book deserves all the applause and so much more.
David Elliott hit it out of the park with his free verse retelling of Theseus and the Minotaur. In his latest work, he takes on the incomparable Joan of Arc and retells her life not only from her POV, but from the POVS of the people and things that made up her life. In his fiery and captivating narrative, he lets Joan tell her story and crafts a searing, soaring, and rage-filled narrative of one of the greatest military heroines the world has known.
”My name is Joan, but I am called the Maid. MyThere is a stark difference between this book and his previous novel in verse. In Bull, the narrative was filled with hilarious, sarcastic wit, with Poseidon taking the role of the main narrator with his freewheeling, tell it like it is attitude. There were moments of hilarity mixed with moments of brutality and madness.
hands are bound behind me. The fire
beneath me laid.”
With Voices, there is no humor, no laughter, no sarcastic wit or hilarious insight. Instead, this book is all fire, rage, and anguish.
”While my brothersElliott’s Joan has a fire burning inside her that threatens to consume her. She chafes against the gender roles that were commonplace at the time and wishes she could do more. That time comes when the saints speak to her, telling her what she must do. And with a simple, direct, blunt manner she does what they ask. She is not boastful in her victories or narcissistic in her beliefs; she is simply doing what she feels God and the saints she hears want her to do.
went to war, I sewed and burned with
rage. My dress was a red silence,
a hemmed and homespun cage.”
I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for Joan. Ever since I was in the 7th grade and I found out about her extraordinary life story, I became fascinated and beguiled by this illiterate peasant girl who somehow managed to command some of the greatest military victories the modern world has seen. How she was able to so quickly round up support and yet have those same people turn against her, call her the most vile things possible, and burn her alive at the stake?
”I reminded myselfI think Elliott has done a good job bringing Joan’s legacy and memory to justice. He describes in the book how he wanted to write her story using a specific writing style, but the character of Joan in his head wouldn’t let him.
that I, the daughter of a lowly
farmer, had brought this holy day about.
I still can hear the people shout…
Or is that the throng of people in front of
me calling me a slut and witch,
their faces warped in anger, their
din a frenzied pitch?”
The POVS of the various other human and non-human characters add a nice quality to the book and really round the story out. From the sword that Joan uses in battle to the red dress she is forced to wear before her life as a solider to the fire that consumes her in the end—they all make up an integral part of Joan’s story, and it is a testament to the author’s imagination and craft with words. Interspersed also are actual snippets of the trail transcripts from Joan’s two trials (one before her death and one after). All these factors made for a truly satisfying read, and I never felt that one POV didn’t belong or bogged down the story line.
With this second book, David Elliot is cemented in my book as my favorite verse novelist. That’s saying something too because I am not normally a fan of books in verse. They never have appealed to me simply because I didn’t think that style of narration was necessary. I will follow David Elliot anywhere with his novels in verse. I love how he explains his narration choices and the style of poetry he uses.
I think Joan would be proud of this novel and her portrayal in it. In David Elliott’s triumphant work, Joan is a determined, pious, and fierce heroine whose convictions never waver and her steadfast persistence to be seen (and live) as her true self stand true, even when these same qualities get her killed. In this powerful read, we get a glimpse into the minds of one of the greatest female heroines we have ever seen.
And even though she has been made a pious saint, in the end, she was simply just a girl named Joan.
”They laughed and called me a whore. I was just
a girl. No more than sixteen with
no experience of war and
no military training. They
must have thought me very entertaining.
That was their mistake.”
dnf
April 18, 2025you know it’s bad when you DNF in line at the DMV.
December 3, 2018
This book is exquisite. ‘Voices: The Final Hours Of Joan Of Arc’ has brought life once again to one of the most unforgettable and extraordinary female warrior icons. Everyone knows her name, but do they know her story?
Told in verse, in different medieval forms of poems, ’Voices’ is so unique (some stanzas are shaped like the subject that is ‘speaking,’ ie the sword or the crossbow). David Elliott has written such a compelling account of Joan’s short life from her beginnings in Domrémy, to her visions of the Saints, the battles she led against the English, and her eventual capture and execution. The encroaching ‘Fire’ poem that repeats throughout the novel is particularly clever and impactful.
Back then in 1430 France (when she was captured and put on trial), Joan was viewed with suspicion and as an affront to the Crown because she dressed in armor and wanted to ’look like a man’. She didn't believe she should have to stay at home ’to sew and mate’ when a war was being fought, simply because she didn't want to, never mind her sexuality. Her story has always been known as one of the earliest examples of a woman standing up against misogyny, against a patriarchal system that didn't make sense to her, and because her beliefs simply wouldn't allow her to sit down and accept what was happening around her. Joan’s voice and perspective come through clearly in the novel as brave and courageous, with the right bit of stubborn. She questions the system and pursues her objectives, which give the novel an obvious ambiance of inspiration throughout.
I only really wanted more from the novel when it came to the trial and perhaps the very end of her life. Joan became a Saint after her death and was declared a martyr for everything she gave for ’God and country’. I did appreciate the epilogue and author's note at the end of the book; it seems this work was a labor of love and I enjoyed reading about its inception.
Joan of Arc is a historical figure who is infamous because of the brave, short life she lived, with such a tragic death, and I think Elliott has written something brilliant here that can draw many people in to learn more about her.
Told in verse, in different medieval forms of poems, ’Voices’ is so unique (some stanzas are shaped like the subject that is ‘speaking,’ ie the sword or the crossbow). David Elliott has written such a compelling account of Joan’s short life from her beginnings in Domrémy, to her visions of the Saints, the battles she led against the English, and her eventual capture and execution. The encroaching ‘Fire’ poem that repeats throughout the novel is particularly clever and impactful.
Back then in 1430 France (when she was captured and put on trial), Joan was viewed with suspicion and as an affront to the Crown because she dressed in armor and wanted to ’look like a man’. She didn't believe she should have to stay at home ’to sew and mate’ when a war was being fought, simply because she didn't want to, never mind her sexuality. Her story has always been known as one of the earliest examples of a woman standing up against misogyny, against a patriarchal system that didn't make sense to her, and because her beliefs simply wouldn't allow her to sit down and accept what was happening around her. Joan’s voice and perspective come through clearly in the novel as brave and courageous, with the right bit of stubborn. She questions the system and pursues her objectives, which give the novel an obvious ambiance of inspiration throughout.
I only really wanted more from the novel when it came to the trial and perhaps the very end of her life. Joan became a Saint after her death and was declared a martyr for everything she gave for ’God and country’. I did appreciate the epilogue and author's note at the end of the book; it seems this work was a labor of love and I enjoyed reading about its inception.
Joan of Arc is a historical figure who is infamous because of the brave, short life she lived, with such a tragic death, and I think Elliott has written something brilliant here that can draw many people in to learn more about her.
Read
March 29, 2019I don’t know how to rate this
I don’t know the actual story of Joan of Arc
I don’t know if this was accurate at all
I don’t know if I’m supposed to like her or not
What a strange story
What a scary story
Other than that — and the general wariness that all brings — the poetic structure was really cool. Much cooler if you read it out loud and get a feel for the rhythms. A little boring and repetitive if you read it in your head. I liked the perspectives of inanimate objects, and the placement of words on the pages. They made designs. I greatly appreciated the actual quotes from the Trials, so that there was some element of truth to be held on to. Now I just have to go read the whole actual trials to gather the real story. Context shouldn’t be malleable, yet we try.
Between three and two stars? Sad. But it was worth it. The intrigue of how this used art to tell a story, and the inspirational feeling that is, definitely worth it. The confusion and cautious analysis of every idea hinted at, a reminder to be wary of the world and its lies, honestly, also worth it. Plus now I want to go read an actual history book or something, yay learning.
I don’t know the actual story of Joan of Arc
I don’t know if this was accurate at all
I don’t know if I’m supposed to like her or not
What a strange story
What a scary story
Other than that — and the general wariness that all brings — the poetic structure was really cool. Much cooler if you read it out loud and get a feel for the rhythms. A little boring and repetitive if you read it in your head. I liked the perspectives of inanimate objects, and the placement of words on the pages. They made designs. I greatly appreciated the actual quotes from the Trials, so that there was some element of truth to be held on to. Now I just have to go read the whole actual trials to gather the real story. Context shouldn’t be malleable, yet we try.
Between three and two stars? Sad. But it was worth it. The intrigue of how this used art to tell a story, and the inspirational feeling that is, definitely worth it. The confusion and cautious analysis of every idea hinted at, a reminder to be wary of the world and its lies, honestly, also worth it. Plus now I want to go read an actual history book or something, yay learning.
April 4, 2025
enjoyed most of these poems, but the choice to downplay/pooh pooh the religious aspects and have St Michael the Archangel be like “am I real? am I not? who cares!” and St Catherine say she’s only human and she can’t (or can’t be bothered to) help Joan was strange, considering Joan was a devout Catholic, saw visions, and was eventually canonised. if you’re uncomfortable going all in on the religious aspects maybe St Joan of Arc isn’t the gal for you to be writing poetry about?
SAYING THAT, it did pop off and I really loved some of the weirder pov poems (her sword! fire!).
SAYING THAT, it did pop off and I really loved some of the weirder pov poems (her sword! fire!).
December 27, 2018
ARC provided by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
“They would have hated me far less if I had been a girl of ill repute instead of what I was and who I am: a girl who dared to live the life of a brave and honest man.”
I really, really wanted to like this book. History, especially women’s history, is my thing. It’s what I study, and historical fiction as a genre helped cultivate my passion for history. But this book doesn’t really fit any of these genres, which might be the reason I didn’t enjoy this. It’s a mishmash of poetry, historical fiction, history, and maybe some other things. The concept was so interesting, and Joan of Arc is such an interesting character historically, both for the gender nonconforming aspect of her person and for what she achieved as a woman in such a patriarchal society.
“And in the air, the banner Charles had made for me - white, depicting angels and golden fleur-de-lis.”
Basically, I think this book was supposed to be (and the author explains at the beginning and at the end) a reanimation of the last year or so of Joan’s life. The author draws on testimonies from her two trials, the first her trial of condemnation and the second her trial of nullification (post-mortem). He then takes great liberties to try to frame her words and make her into a real person using poetry from a multitude of perspectives, including her own but also those of inanimate objects and relevant individuals. This, however, is where the innovation ended. The book is non-narrative, which I knew going in, but I expected something a little more well-thought-out.
“I soar I soar I soar my darling
I soar I soar I soar
I will I will I will my darling
I will I will I will
I thrill I thrill I thrill my darling
I thrill I thrill I thrill
I yearn I year I yearn my darling
I yearn I yearn I yearn.”
The poetry itself seemed repetitive and uninspired, and very, very forced. I understand what the author was trying to do here, but it did not work for me. The poetry was very literal, which is something I do not enjoy at all. Much of what I read seemed to me better suited for lyrical prose than verse, despite the fact that there was little narrative element to it. Other than that, I found the shaped poetry formats rather difficult to read. I felt that those perspectives didn’t add much at all.
“But all stars fall when their time to shine is done.”
Yeah, so overall, I didn’t like this. Great concept, poor execution. That being said, just because I didn’t like it doesn’t mean you won’t.
Dec 25
ugh, I’m really sorry. I just really didn’t like this book. The verse was an interesting concept, so I’m giving the book two stars, but the poems themselves were uninspired and repetitive, unfortunately. RTC
“They would have hated me far less if I had been a girl of ill repute instead of what I was and who I am: a girl who dared to live the life of a brave and honest man.”
I really, really wanted to like this book. History, especially women’s history, is my thing. It’s what I study, and historical fiction as a genre helped cultivate my passion for history. But this book doesn’t really fit any of these genres, which might be the reason I didn’t enjoy this. It’s a mishmash of poetry, historical fiction, history, and maybe some other things. The concept was so interesting, and Joan of Arc is such an interesting character historically, both for the gender nonconforming aspect of her person and for what she achieved as a woman in such a patriarchal society.
“And in the air, the banner Charles had made for me - white, depicting angels and golden fleur-de-lis.”
Basically, I think this book was supposed to be (and the author explains at the beginning and at the end) a reanimation of the last year or so of Joan’s life. The author draws on testimonies from her two trials, the first her trial of condemnation and the second her trial of nullification (post-mortem). He then takes great liberties to try to frame her words and make her into a real person using poetry from a multitude of perspectives, including her own but also those of inanimate objects and relevant individuals. This, however, is where the innovation ended. The book is non-narrative, which I knew going in, but I expected something a little more well-thought-out.
“I soar I soar I soar my darling
I soar I soar I soar
I will I will I will my darling
I will I will I will
I thrill I thrill I thrill my darling
I thrill I thrill I thrill
I yearn I year I yearn my darling
I yearn I yearn I yearn.”
The poetry itself seemed repetitive and uninspired, and very, very forced. I understand what the author was trying to do here, but it did not work for me. The poetry was very literal, which is something I do not enjoy at all. Much of what I read seemed to me better suited for lyrical prose than verse, despite the fact that there was little narrative element to it. Other than that, I found the shaped poetry formats rather difficult to read. I felt that those perspectives didn’t add much at all.
“But all stars fall when their time to shine is done.”
Yeah, so overall, I didn’t like this. Great concept, poor execution. That being said, just because I didn’t like it doesn’t mean you won’t.
Dec 25
ugh, I’m really sorry. I just really didn’t like this book. The verse was an interesting concept, so I’m giving the book two stars, but the poems themselves were uninspired and repetitive, unfortunately. RTC
July 23, 2021
A few years ago Bull by David Elliott came out. I had put it on my most anticipated reads list. When I finally bought it my eldest son was interested in Greek Mythology. Since I read a lot of books out loud to my children I decided to read Bull out loud to them. I LOVED it. I've heard about the Minotaur story, but never actually read it. The fact that Bull was written as a poem was even more intriguing. As someone who enjoys poetry of old and not the modern day poetry, I was skeptical. It's modern language made it more engaging. It's traditional stanzas made me want to keep reading. Poseidon reads like a rap-battle. I read it in one sitting and it was awesome. But this isn't a review about Bull. This is a review about Voices. 5 stars!
Voices is the journey of Joan of Arc. It is written as a traditional poem, but with new flair. Some of the poems are written in the form of a pictures. These pictures reflect the object that is speaking: Candle, Needle, Crown, Fire, Alms, Sword, Dress, Tunic, Arrow, Pitchfork, Crossbow, Cloak, Tower and Stake. They talk about how Joan is using them to her gain or detriment. We hear Joan speak about why she did what she did before she was burned at the stake during her Trail of Condemnation. We can see through witness testaments that they did not believe Joan to be a follower of the devil. We see that the people who are directing this trial have it out for her to confess. We also get to see the Trail of Nullification when Joan was accepted as a messenger/hand of god and how she became a saint.
The way the story is laid out is beautiful even though the story itself is sad. I loved every poem. My favorite line or quote is "My dress was a red silence, a hemmed and homespun cage." I quoted this metaphor on my Instagram and David Elliott responded. I was so excited that he too thought that quote was his favorite.
If you have wanted to learn more or read about Joan of Arc, I highly recommend this version. Not only do you get the history, but the beauty. I loved this book so much that I immediately bought the next book in this "not a series".
I'm so interested in this man's writing because of a 'Bull' that I am going through all of his works. David Elliott mostly writes children's fiction and picture books. To be this talented. I am in awe of how he can switch from good moral stories and fun adventures for kids to re-tellings of tales of old through poetry that is digestible in the 21st century.
Highly, highly recommend.
Voices is the journey of Joan of Arc. It is written as a traditional poem, but with new flair. Some of the poems are written in the form of a pictures. These pictures reflect the object that is speaking: Candle, Needle, Crown, Fire, Alms, Sword, Dress, Tunic, Arrow, Pitchfork, Crossbow, Cloak, Tower and Stake. They talk about how Joan is using them to her gain or detriment. We hear Joan speak about why she did what she did before she was burned at the stake during her Trail of Condemnation. We can see through witness testaments that they did not believe Joan to be a follower of the devil. We see that the people who are directing this trial have it out for her to confess. We also get to see the Trail of Nullification when Joan was accepted as a messenger/hand of god and how she became a saint.
The way the story is laid out is beautiful even though the story itself is sad. I loved every poem. My favorite line or quote is "My dress was a red silence, a hemmed and homespun cage." I quoted this metaphor on my Instagram and David Elliott responded. I was so excited that he too thought that quote was his favorite.
If you have wanted to learn more or read about Joan of Arc, I highly recommend this version. Not only do you get the history, but the beauty. I loved this book so much that I immediately bought the next book in this "not a series".
I'm so interested in this man's writing because of a 'Bull' that I am going through all of his works. David Elliott mostly writes children's fiction and picture books. To be this talented. I am in awe of how he can switch from good moral stories and fun adventures for kids to re-tellings of tales of old through poetry that is digestible in the 21st century.
Highly, highly recommend.
September 14, 2020
{ 2 stars }
I'm struggling so much with this book, it has been one of most anticipated books and I have been so let down. From the beginning I could tell it wasn't going to be the five star book I had hoped for but I held out hope that it would at least manage 4 stars. It didn't.
This book has been compared to me repeatedly to Blood Water Paint and I totally see the similarities. However, where Joy McCullough offered beautiful, poetic and powerful prose Eilliot's work seemed juvenile and almost sloppy. I could not connect with his writing at all. I enjoyed the ways he worked with different poems but when it came to the "free verse" approach of Joan's narrative it was just a mess. Those parts should've been the most powerful and yet they seemed the most rushed and incomplete. A lot of the poems also, were just descriptions of facts and actions, there was no feeling, it was sterile.
My only initial hesitancy with this book was that it was written by a man. And unfortunately it really showed. I love that a man is promoting a strong historical woman but it's execution just fell absolutely flat. There were moments that were so blatantly written by a man I had to literally cross them out in my book. The focus of her dressing as a man was too prevalent, almost as if the author was trying to pull her into almost being a man instead of defining her woman hood. In addition, the overuse of the term "voices" makes Joan sounds like a crazy person. That is how she referred to them in her life but its literally the title of the book and so heavily emphasized. It was so incredibly stressed that it seemed to give credit to the voices instead of Joan for many of her accomplishments.
I was even more disappointed by the ending. It fell completely flat and defined her as a man. I am so utterly heartbroken by how this wonderful idea was carried out and I hope in the future someone will take a concept similar to this and do it justice the way Joy McCullough did.
I'm struggling so much with this book, it has been one of most anticipated books and I have been so let down. From the beginning I could tell it wasn't going to be the five star book I had hoped for but I held out hope that it would at least manage 4 stars. It didn't.
This book has been compared to me repeatedly to Blood Water Paint and I totally see the similarities. However, where Joy McCullough offered beautiful, poetic and powerful prose Eilliot's work seemed juvenile and almost sloppy. I could not connect with his writing at all. I enjoyed the ways he worked with different poems but when it came to the "free verse" approach of Joan's narrative it was just a mess. Those parts should've been the most powerful and yet they seemed the most rushed and incomplete. A lot of the poems also, were just descriptions of facts and actions, there was no feeling, it was sterile.
My only initial hesitancy with this book was that it was written by a man. And unfortunately it really showed. I love that a man is promoting a strong historical woman but it's execution just fell absolutely flat. There were moments that were so blatantly written by a man I had to literally cross them out in my book. The focus of her dressing as a man was too prevalent, almost as if the author was trying to pull her into almost being a man instead of defining her woman hood. In addition, the overuse of the term "voices" makes Joan sounds like a crazy person. That is how she referred to them in her life but its literally the title of the book and so heavily emphasized. It was so incredibly stressed that it seemed to give credit to the voices instead of Joan for many of her accomplishments.
I was even more disappointed by the ending. It fell completely flat and defined her as a man. I am so utterly heartbroken by how this wonderful idea was carried out and I hope in the future someone will take a concept similar to this and do it justice the way Joy McCullough did.
May 19, 2020
The book uses medieval poetic forms to retell the story of Joan of Arc through the people and objects in her life. Considering Joan remained celibate until her death, there were way too many sexual references, particularly from the objects. I believe the sword may have been metaphorical in this book due to the sexual language used in its poem. The word "phallus" was used in the poem, and there was a repetition of the line: She held my / manly parts.
Additionally, virginity and lust were two objects used to tell about Joan's life, which bothered me. Virginity and lust are not objects. Virginity is a social construct. The poem about virginity utilized prison metaphors several times, as if to insinuate that Joan was trapped in her virginity. The last poem described how Joan was trapped while being burned at the stake. It read like a rape scene. Fire had many POV poems where it talked about how it could not wait until Joan burned. Apparently, fire is another sexual metaphor.
I wished there would have been more discussion about Joan's religion because the voices she heard came from God and the saints. Instead, there is a poem from the POV of Saint Michael, which called into doubt the voices Joan heard and even whether or not he (Saint Michael) was actually real.
Additionally, virginity and lust were two objects used to tell about Joan's life, which bothered me. Virginity and lust are not objects. Virginity is a social construct. The poem about virginity utilized prison metaphors several times, as if to insinuate that Joan was trapped in her virginity. The last poem described how Joan was trapped while being burned at the stake. It read like a rape scene. Fire had many POV poems where it talked about how it could not wait until Joan burned. Apparently, fire is another sexual metaphor.
I wished there would have been more discussion about Joan's religion because the voices she heard came from God and the saints. Instead, there is a poem from the POV of Saint Michael, which called into doubt the voices Joan heard and even whether or not he (Saint Michael) was actually real.
What did the girl hear? What did she see? / The product of a septic mind and its deceitful / chatter? / Or did I actually appear? Is there actually a me?Joan's faith was the primary motivation. She died a martyr and later became a saint. It baffles me how a book retelling her life could barely mention her religion. Overall, I am giving this book 1 star.
September 2, 2019
A quick read told in well-thought-out poetic verse.
I don't know much about Joan of Arc, but I enjoyed what this book had to offer of her (though I cannot know how much is actually fact).
Took maybe 45 minutes to an hour to read. The story was okay, but the 4* is really for the author's craft into this work. An excellent book to have on my classroom shelf for teen readers (or middle grade too).
I don't know much about Joan of Arc, but I enjoyed what this book had to offer of her (though I cannot know how much is actually fact).
Took maybe 45 minutes to an hour to read. The story was okay, but the 4* is really for the author's craft into this work. An excellent book to have on my classroom shelf for teen readers (or middle grade too).
April 19, 2019
I just read this in one hour and....holy shit
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