Book of a Thousand Days
by Shannon Hale
I asked for this book to be sent to me thinking that it was the third in the series starting with The Goose Girl. Oops. As it turns out that book is River Secrets, which I have now ordered.
That mistake in no way detracts from this very excellent book. It was a bold choice on Hale's part to set a story that originally was European in a Mongolian-type setting. But she did it very well. The personal narration of Dashti made her character come instantly alive, and the little illustrations accompanying the text are beautiful. I'd say this book is in some ways darker than The Goose Girl, which is not to say that it is bad in any way.
Of Hale's books that I've read, I'd say that she does her best work when she is re-telling a fairy tale. This book is a lovely read; I gulped it down in one long sitting this afternoon. While I enjoy the Bayern stories, I am also happy to see that Hale can move to a different location and sketch it as believably and interestingly. A prime example of a good Young Adult book. Highly recommended for slightly more mature readers.
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4 comments:
I'm a huge Hale fan. She has such a wonderful descriptive talent. Beautiful prose. This particular book is languishing on my shelf. I really need to read it soon. Thanks for your review.
River Secrets is in my (large) to read pile. I hope to get around to it soon.
I just read my very first Hale book today! Austenland. I have A Book of a Thousand Days checked out from the library right now, but haven't started it yet. Princess Academy is on hold as well. I look forward to reading her. I shall now have to get The Goose Girl as well.
All of the Hale books I've read have been her YA books. I may get around to Austenland at some point, but there are just so many books out there!
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