I loved this book. It was enchanting, humorous, yet deeply moving at times.
I think it struck a deep cord in me due to my wife and I expecting our firI loved this book. It was enchanting, humorous, yet deeply moving at times.
I think it struck a deep cord in me due to my wife and I expecting our first child, a little girl. I couldn’t help but imagine my own daughter someday as I read of Anne and all her delightful qualities.
This book (and by extension Anne Shirley with all her imagination, charm, and wit) has made me more excited to raise a little girl.
“Dead old world,” Anne murmured, “you are very lovely, and I am glad to be alive in you.” ...more
This was surprisingly a very enjoyable read. The author, Allen French, presents a Medieval Icelandic tale that captures the beauty of the old Norse SaThis was surprisingly a very enjoyable read. The author, Allen French, presents a Medieval Icelandic tale that captures the beauty of the old Norse Saga. The story is rich with Icelandic culture and history, and even the prose is mixed with poetic verse at climatic moments to further reenact the Norse poet.
The other unique feature of the story is that it is set in the history of Iceland where Christianity had just recently entered the scene (early 11th century). The interactions between Christianity and paganism in their culture are very interesting.
The protagonist, Rolf, is a great character all the way through. Perhaps this is my reason for docking a star. The “heroic” figure in these ancient sagas (much like Beowulf) is designed to be more one dimensional, embodying virtuous ideals and morals without undergoing drastic character development. Rolf is the embodiment of meekness, patience under affliction, and long suffering. My only disliking was that the end of his story was predictable, while the major turn happened to someone else.
The character who actually undergoes character development and moral transformation is the son of Rolf’s enemy, Granni. Without spoiling anything, Granni goes from being spoiled, arrogant, and weak-hearted to being repentant, long-suffering, and meek, due much to Rolf’s influence.
What Allen French did with Granni’s character made the story much richer. ...more
“the great legends, like the best of the fairy tales, must be retold from age to age: there is always something new to be found in them, and each rete“the great legends, like the best of the fairy tales, must be retold from age to age: there is always something new to be found in them, and each retelling brings them freshly and more vividly before a new generation — and therein lies their immorality “
- Roger Lancelyn Green (from author’s preface)...more
This book was a breath of fresh air. It was much sadder than Jayber Crow, and I think a bit more beautiful. I feel almost a gratitude in reading WendeThis book was a breath of fresh air. It was much sadder than Jayber Crow, and I think a bit more beautiful. I feel almost a gratitude in reading Wendell Berry.
“The room of love is another world. You go there wearing no watch, watching no clock. It is the world without end, so small that two people can hold it in their arms, and yet it is bigger than world on world, for it contains the longing of all things to be together, and to be at rest together”...more
“The Gospels contain a fairy story, or a story of a larger kind which embraces all the essence of fairy-stories. They contain many marvels — peculiarl“The Gospels contain a fairy story, or a story of a larger kind which embraces all the essence of fairy-stories. They contain many marvels — peculiarly artistic, beautiful, and moving: ‘mythical’ in their perfect, self contained significance; and among the marvels is the greatest and most complete conceivable eucatastrophe. But this story entered History and primary world; the desire and aspiration of sub-creation has been raised to the fulfillment of Creation. The Birth of Christ is the eucatastrophe of Man’s history. The Resurrection is the eucatastrophe of the story of the Incarnation. This story begins and ends in joy.”...more
2025 Read: thoroughly enjoyed hearing Andy Serkis read this classic tale.
Tolkien is just delightful to read! This story, though not as thrilling as th2025 Read: thoroughly enjoyed hearing Andy Serkis read this classic tale.
Tolkien is just delightful to read! This story, though not as thrilling as the LOTR in my opinion, is still wonderful. Tolkien is perhaps the king of storytelling, especially in how his stories always display virtue, honor, humor, and the pleasantries of a good pipe with friends....more