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deckardcanineMy first taste of Catherynne M. Valente was a lot of fun but hardly family-friendly. I got curious to see how she'd do at a designated children's book. Well, the publisher recommends ages 10 to 14, but the third-person omniscient narrator sometimes indicates an assumption that she's talking to adults who need a reminder of what kids are like. Hey, I'll take that over Lemony Snicket's patronizing vocabulary lessons.
It begins in '40s Omaha but wastes no time whisking away the 12-year-old protagonist, September (born in May), whose bored wish for a fantasy adventure soon comes true. Unfortunately, her initial escorts are not allowed to follow her into Fairyland, so she has to wing it from there. It turns out that the land is under a terribly strict set of rules from the self-styled Marquess, and September is less tolerant of them than most residents. While she was not chosen as a champion and does not fancy herself relevantly skilled for such a position, she will do what it takes to make life more livable for her newfound friends.
I won't go into many details about whom September meets, but I might as well describe the one on the cover of my edition: A-Through-L, a wyvern who believes his mother's claim that his father is a library. September likes to call him "Ell," but "the Wyverary" also suits his taste. Thanks to his reading, he can tell all sorts of things about subjects whose English names start with his namesake letters. What he can't do is fly, because the Marquess has padlocked his wings. He still gives September rides, which are also forbidden.
The Marquess, for her part, might mean well overall. I know from a prior reading that traditional fairies are usually bad news to humans, so I can believe her claim that her reign has made Fairyland far more hospitable to visitors. Nevertheless, her methods are unfair if not monstrous. She may put on an amiable air for September, but only until she loses what little patience she has for resistance.
Blurbs compare this version of Fairyland to Oz and Wonderland. Valente confirmed my perception of a Narnia influence as well, and I suspect a touch of The Phantom Tollbooth, what with the odd local logic and perspectives. But for all the whimsy and silliness, this is ultimately more severe and a tad deconstructive. September may like Fairyland overall, but she hadn't counted on what an adventure entails: She keeps getting exhausted, famished, bloodied, and/or tearful. Many sacrifices are made, some permanent. I appreciate that she's not exactly a victim of circumstance (her suffering largely stems from her own choices), but I still feel sorrier for her than for Dorothy or Alice.
The recommended age range fits with my perception. The violence isn't too detailed, after all. You just need to remember enough details not to get lost later. That said, I wouldn't hold out hope for a screen adaptation, if only because of the reason the cover image doesn't depict the titular event: September is naked on her voyage. It's not as negotiable a detail as the nudity of Huck Finn and Jim; she uses her clothes to sail. Just as well that that leg of the journey doesn't take many pages. And Fairyland reportedly lacks a taboo about this.
Speaking of titular events, the chapter titles are similarly long-winded. For example, the first page after the (incomplete) dramatis personae begins with "Chapter I -- Exeunt on a Leopard: In Which a Girl Named September Is Spirited Off by Means of a Leopard, Learns the Rules of Fairyland, and Solves a Puzzle." Spoilers? Maybe slightly at times, but I tended to flip back to the start of each chapter to see how apt the summary was. And like Harry Potter chapters, they include the only illustrations, which likewise threaten to spoil.
It's not as hilarious as Space Opera, but the first Fairyland novel could well become a classic in its own right. I'm holding onto my copy and planning to check out the sequels.
Since I hadn't taken on a tome in a while, my next book is The Black Prism by Brent Weeks. Possibly my last purchase from the Friends of the Silver Spring Library before it moved to a less convenient location.
It begins in '40s Omaha but wastes no time whisking away the 12-year-old protagonist, September (born in May), whose bored wish for a fantasy adventure soon comes true. Unfortunately, her initial escorts are not allowed to follow her into Fairyland, so she has to wing it from there. It turns out that the land is under a terribly strict set of rules from the self-styled Marquess, and September is less tolerant of them than most residents. While she was not chosen as a champion and does not fancy herself relevantly skilled for such a position, she will do what it takes to make life more livable for her newfound friends.
I won't go into many details about whom September meets, but I might as well describe the one on the cover of my edition: A-Through-L, a wyvern who believes his mother's claim that his father is a library. September likes to call him "Ell," but "the Wyverary" also suits his taste. Thanks to his reading, he can tell all sorts of things about subjects whose English names start with his namesake letters. What he can't do is fly, because the Marquess has padlocked his wings. He still gives September rides, which are also forbidden.
The Marquess, for her part, might mean well overall. I know from a prior reading that traditional fairies are usually bad news to humans, so I can believe her claim that her reign has made Fairyland far more hospitable to visitors. Nevertheless, her methods are unfair if not monstrous. She may put on an amiable air for September, but only until she loses what little patience she has for resistance.
Blurbs compare this version of Fairyland to Oz and Wonderland. Valente confirmed my perception of a Narnia influence as well, and I suspect a touch of The Phantom Tollbooth, what with the odd local logic and perspectives. But for all the whimsy and silliness, this is ultimately more severe and a tad deconstructive. September may like Fairyland overall, but she hadn't counted on what an adventure entails: She keeps getting exhausted, famished, bloodied, and/or tearful. Many sacrifices are made, some permanent. I appreciate that she's not exactly a victim of circumstance (her suffering largely stems from her own choices), but I still feel sorrier for her than for Dorothy or Alice.
The recommended age range fits with my perception. The violence isn't too detailed, after all. You just need to remember enough details not to get lost later. That said, I wouldn't hold out hope for a screen adaptation, if only because of the reason the cover image doesn't depict the titular event: September is naked on her voyage. It's not as negotiable a detail as the nudity of Huck Finn and Jim; she uses her clothes to sail. Just as well that that leg of the journey doesn't take many pages. And Fairyland reportedly lacks a taboo about this.
Speaking of titular events, the chapter titles are similarly long-winded. For example, the first page after the (incomplete) dramatis personae begins with "Chapter I -- Exeunt on a Leopard: In Which a Girl Named September Is Spirited Off by Means of a Leopard, Learns the Rules of Fairyland, and Solves a Puzzle." Spoilers? Maybe slightly at times, but I tended to flip back to the start of each chapter to see how apt the summary was. And like Harry Potter chapters, they include the only illustrations, which likewise threaten to spoil.
It's not as hilarious as Space Opera, but the first Fairyland novel could well become a classic in its own right. I'm holding onto my copy and planning to check out the sequels.
Since I hadn't taken on a tome in a while, my next book is The Black Prism by Brent Weeks. Possibly my last purchase from the Friends of the Silver Spring Library before it moved to a less convenient location.