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Jul. 9th, 2019 09:33 pmBeen meaning to post about this for a few days, but I haven't had the right headspace to get a coherent entry together. Trying now!
I recently finished Naomi Novik's Spinning Silver, and oh do I have conflicted feelings about it.
Note: I'm putting all the properly spoilery stuff under a cut, but if you don't want to read any comments about the book, the characters, the way it deals with its themes, it's better to skip the rest of the post.
A lot of it was great. Really, really great. Previously all I'd read from Naomi Novik was the first Temeraire book - I liked it well enough, but never got into the rest of the series. This is so many miles ahead of that I can't even express it. It's beautifully, evocatively written, with rich worldbuilding based on European fairy tales, East European myths and history (apparently Lithuanian, where Novik herself has roots, and you can tell she's got connections, from the writing), and Jewish culture and history. I loved the way the book used various fairytales in new ways without being a straightforward rewrite of any one story (it owes the most to Rumpelstiltskin, but is by no means just an adaptation of that). Just like in Katherine Arden's Winternight trilogy (where I still need to read the last book), I loved the strong descriptions of winter, forests and myths related to them. And I loved the characters; all three heroines were complex, strong characters with agency and depth. Many of the supporting characters were lovely, too, especially Wanda's brothers and Miryem's parents.
I liked the strong role that women's work and Jewish culture and history had in the story. And yes, it's in many ways a feminist, woman-centric rewrite of fairy tales, as the girls/women have a lot of agency, and it shows them learning to survive and reach for their own goals in a world that tries hard to deny them that agency.
But. But. And the rest of this has spoilers, so it goes under the cut. ( Contains spoilers and opinions. )
Well, on the upside, I'm now reading Catherynne M. Valente's Space Opera and I enjoy it a lot. It's quirky madness and glittery queerness are the perfect antidote to the queasy feeling left by the problems of Spinning Silver. I know her style isn't for everyone, but I enjoy it. I guess my own brain is weird enough? Besides, it's pretty easy to win me over with the phrase "Eurovision in space". I'm not that into Eurovision, but I am European, so I've been watching it pretty much always, and I love this kind of crazy twist on it that's more like a space tornado than a twist.
ETA: I feel kind of unpleasant now because I don't like writing about things I don't like and have serious problems with. I'd much rather just share my love for things, or the occasional snarky amusement like I do when an old Doctor Who story has stupid writing or bad costume choices. But I was also feeling bad with this inside me without getting it out, so I just kind of had to write about it properly. So if you disagree with me, please don't be too hard on me. Maybe I'll have some chocolate now. And read more Space Opera. Or watch more Good Omens. Or both.
I recently finished Naomi Novik's Spinning Silver, and oh do I have conflicted feelings about it.
Note: I'm putting all the properly spoilery stuff under a cut, but if you don't want to read any comments about the book, the characters, the way it deals with its themes, it's better to skip the rest of the post.
A lot of it was great. Really, really great. Previously all I'd read from Naomi Novik was the first Temeraire book - I liked it well enough, but never got into the rest of the series. This is so many miles ahead of that I can't even express it. It's beautifully, evocatively written, with rich worldbuilding based on European fairy tales, East European myths and history (apparently Lithuanian, where Novik herself has roots, and you can tell she's got connections, from the writing), and Jewish culture and history. I loved the way the book used various fairytales in new ways without being a straightforward rewrite of any one story (it owes the most to Rumpelstiltskin, but is by no means just an adaptation of that). Just like in Katherine Arden's Winternight trilogy (where I still need to read the last book), I loved the strong descriptions of winter, forests and myths related to them. And I loved the characters; all three heroines were complex, strong characters with agency and depth. Many of the supporting characters were lovely, too, especially Wanda's brothers and Miryem's parents.
I liked the strong role that women's work and Jewish culture and history had in the story. And yes, it's in many ways a feminist, woman-centric rewrite of fairy tales, as the girls/women have a lot of agency, and it shows them learning to survive and reach for their own goals in a world that tries hard to deny them that agency.
But. But. And the rest of this has spoilers, so it goes under the cut. ( Contains spoilers and opinions. )
Well, on the upside, I'm now reading Catherynne M. Valente's Space Opera and I enjoy it a lot. It's quirky madness and glittery queerness are the perfect antidote to the queasy feeling left by the problems of Spinning Silver. I know her style isn't for everyone, but I enjoy it. I guess my own brain is weird enough? Besides, it's pretty easy to win me over with the phrase "Eurovision in space". I'm not that into Eurovision, but I am European, so I've been watching it pretty much always, and I love this kind of crazy twist on it that's more like a space tornado than a twist.
ETA: I feel kind of unpleasant now because I don't like writing about things I don't like and have serious problems with. I'd much rather just share my love for things, or the occasional snarky amusement like I do when an old Doctor Who story has stupid writing or bad costume choices. But I was also feeling bad with this inside me without getting it out, so I just kind of had to write about it properly. So if you disagree with me, please don't be too hard on me. Maybe I'll have some chocolate now. And read more Space Opera. Or watch more Good Omens. Or both.
