The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald

I read it as an: audiobook

Narrator: Frederick Davidson

Source: library

Length: 05:00:00

Publisher: Blackstone Audio

Year: 1872 (originally pubbed, obviously not the audiobook version)

Irene is a princess, and a very sheltered one at that. She lives in a castle in a mountain, unaware much of the world outside, or of what the night sky looks like, or that there are goblins living underneath the castle. She isn’t allowed outside after dark because the goblins come out then, and the castle staff are under orders by her father to keep her safe by keeping her ignorant of the existence of the goblins. When she is trapped inside one day because of rain, she discovers a door in her room which leads up to a garret room. In the room is an old woman who doesn’t always look old. She is Irene’s many-times-great grandmother, who may or may not be some kind of faerie. The grandmother teaches Irene about her name and how to believe without seeing (which made me twitch but whatever) and that not everyone in the castle would see her if Irene showed them the garret room. Eventually, Irene meets a miner’s son, Curdie, when she and her nurse get caught outside at night and become lost. Curdie saves them from the goblins and he and Irene become friends. When the goblins later capture Curdie, Irene goes to her grandmother for help and goes on a quest to rescue him.

This children’s novel actually has quite a lot going on in it. It’s been described by Tolkien himself as a source book for The Hobbit. The argument can be made that it is in part a discussion of post colonialism, since Irene and her people moved in on the goblins’ territory and made them have to leave their homes because of it. It is also very much a hero’s quest, since Irene goes on her quest to save Curdie, growing as an individual in the process. She becomes a young woman rather than a child by the end of the book because of her experiences. I wrote a paper for a class about the quest, actually, which I posted here.

I listened to the audiobook version of this, which I got from the library. If I hadn’t, I am not sure I could have made it all the way through the book. The story itself was fun enough and I obviously found enough worth talking about to write a short paper about it. But OMG I absolutely HATED the narrator. The narrator was sooooooooooo intrusive and condescending and obnoxious. I initially tried to eyeball read this and found myself rolling my eyes too much to pay attention because the narrator was so annoying. So I tried the audio version, because I HAD to read it somehow, and that was a little more tolerable, more like an old, out of touch person who just doesn’t know any better talking and so I could ignore it easier. It was impossible to ignore while reading because I couldn’t not see it.

Overall, I could see how this might be a source book for Tolkien, though I am glad he didn’t take the narration style too much to heart. I never could have got through LOTR if he was as annoying as MacDonald’s narrator. I think my daughter will enjoy this story, for Irene is a strong female character, despite the strong traditional gender roles.

The random.org gods have spoken and the winner of the Tor Books/Jacqueline Carey Starless swag bag giveaway is…

TIFFANY B!

Please email me so I can get your info to the Tor Books publicist so she can send your loot to you!

Exit West  by Mohsin Hamid

I read it as an: audiobook

Narrator: Mohsin Hamid

Source: library

Length: 4 hrs 42 min

Publisher: Penguin Audio

Year: 2017

Exit West takes place initially in an unnamed country that begins peaceful and then erupts into violence and warfare. Though it is explicitly not named, I read it to be a place like Syria, though really it is so politically relevant that pretty much anywhere in the world could be the setting. The narrative follows Saeed, a fairly traditional and sweet young man, and Nadia, a feisty and independent young woman. They meet in a class they are taking together and begin a relationship. When their city breaks out into violence, Nadia and Saeed are torn as to whether they should stay, or if they will try to escape. Then they learn about mysterious doors that are opening around the city which will whisk people away to faraway places of safety. However, the doors are usually found quickly and are heavily guarded, either by the military and thus forbidden, or by the rebels and thus exorbitantly expensive to get through. Nadia and Saeed eventually decide to try their luck with the doors and flee the city, joining the flood of refugees worldwide, not knowing where the door will take them or if what they find on the other side will be worse than what they left behind. Continue reading “Exit West” →

A Roman Death by Joan O’Hagan

I read it as an: ARC

Source: Discovering Diamonds / Helen Hollick

Length: 256 pp

Publisher: Black Quill Press

Year: 2017 (2nd edition; originally pubbed in 1988)

In Joan O’Hagan’s novel A Roman Death, set just prior to Julius Caesar’s assassination, two families become embroiled in a feud that has the potential to bring both to ruin. The young daughter of the wealthy plebian Quintus Fufidius is betrothed to Lucius Scaurus, the son of the all-but-bankrupt patrician Marcus Scaurus. At first, it would seem a good match, for the young Fufidia is besotted with Lucius, and her dowry would bring his family out of debt and back into good standing among the Roman nobility. However, evidence soon reaches Cinna, Fufidia’s uncle, brother of her mother Helvia, that Lucius is a coward in battle and sexually submissive to men, both of which are viewed as horrific acts at the time. Cinna, who is both an officer and an accomplished poet, writes a poem and contrives to have Lucius read it aloud at a public poetry reading held by Eucharis, a freed slave and long time mistress of Fufidius. Lucius takes his revenge for the humiliation against Fufidius’ son, who vows to himself to tell no one but to seek his own revenge. After a pre-wedding feast for Lucius and Fufidia, Lucius drops dead of aconite poisoning. Helvia, who had never hidden her hatred for Lucius, is charged with his murder and brought to trial. She is defended by her kinsman Cicero, who naturally gets her off the hook with his logic and rhetoric. More plot twists and revelations occur after the trial concludes, though, wringing out the drama – and the reader – a little bit further.

This novel was, I confess, really hard to get through. I don’t normally mind slow pacing and I usually love complex political intrigue. However, this one was plodding and fairly pedantic. The actual mystery wasn’t terribly mysterious, though a couple of the revelations at the end were mildly surprising. The characters were all excellent, though, if mostly unsympathetic. The historical detail was also impressive and delightful. The latter part of the plot did flow more swiftly, with the trial and various machinations of the families being the most interesting, if you can make it that far. Based on the plot, I would give it 2 stars, but on the historical details it would get 4. I suppose that balances out to 3 stars in my world.

Eventually you will be able to read this review on Discovering Diamonds.