Eowyn Ivey’s debut novel is one that I find very hard to describe. Upon finishing it, I had to sit and simply think about it for a while, which wound up being a rather fruitless attempt to put my emotions into something resembling cohesion. Even now, I am incredibly conflicted, and this review is going to be a short one as a consequence. The Snow Child is simply one of those books that really cannot be adequately captured in words that come from someone other than the author, I think, and any attempt to do so too extensively will kill the magic that is imbued within it.
I will, however, do my best to give you some idea of what this book is like.
Ivey’s fairy tale is a hushed and unassuming one, quietly working its charms until you realize, all at once, that you’ve come to care about the characters and their simple lives. And this is what truly makes the novel special: the characters. They simply feel wholly, truly real, faults and all. Their day-to-day activities are neither particularly unique nor exciting (not including Faina, of course), and yet their smallest triumphs suddenly become the most important of victories, and you find yourself smiling when Jack and Mable find any sort of happiness in the bleak and chilly landscape that they have isolated themselves in. Their relationship is one of the most convincing and touching ones that I have read, and being able to witness their gradual reconciliation is so, so rewarding.
That isn’t to say, of course, that the rest of the cast doesn’t work well. They do. For the most part, however, they are there to function as a catalyst for the primary pair’s evolution and to set the stage for the second half of the story. Faina, as the titular child, is especially important to the rekindling of Jack and Mable’s love, and flits around the edges of the tale in its initial stages to give it just a hint of the supernatural. What is she, precisely? Where does she come from? These questions are never really answered, though Ivey leaves plenty at the reader’s disposal to allow them to draw their own conclusions. This lack of definitive information works in the character’s favor, as it lends her an air of mystery and the wild unknown, which meshes perfectly with the rustic setting and absolutely lovely imagery that is painted with the author’s words.
Oh, and what words they are! Ivey is undoubtedly a gifted writer, her talent shown clearly in the poetry that fills her descriptions as she creates a world of quiet snow and frozen beauty. Her scenes are vivid and powerful, easy to slip into and lose oneself in. While the constant talk of ice and trees gets a bit tiresome at times, and can at points be too unnecessarily dramatic to be entirely effective, Ivey nonetheless shows an appreciable degree of restraint in her verse, tiptoeing the line between “not enough” and “too much” with relative ease. Considering that this is her debut, this lack of any real weaknesses speaks volumes about her abilities as an author.
I’ve put off talking about the story until last, and for an important reason. As mentioned, the characters are what truly shine in The Snow Child, and this fact ultimately makes the plot’s shortcomings easy to overlook. They are, however, still there, and so worth mentioning at least briefly. Despite being a relatively minor issue, the fact that the pace drags slightly at times is important to consider, though Ivey blessedly keeps these moments of lethargy brief and infrequent. Most important is the rather discomfiting time shift that occurs about halfway through the novel, which essentially brings to a close the events up until that point while simultaneously introducing a new narrative thread, one that is the primary focus for the rest of the tale. To be honest, I preferred the first half, if only because the romance that is introduced in the second is one that feels a tad too rushed, and generally hard to accept as an authentic and genuine one.
All is forgiven, however, thanks to the end, which is bittersweet and powerful, if not somewhat predictable. A perfect balance of tragedy and hope, it wraps everything up in a perfectly satisfying way, and is so emotional that it will likely be several days before you can come to grips with it.
To Conclude…
The Snow Child does not tell the most exciting of stories, and many will probably find it to be too slow for their tastes. Those who do not mind such books, however, will want to pick this up immediately. It’s beautiful, tragic, passionate, and very, very moving. The trip is worth every shiver and tear, I promise you.
elwoodcock
I read The Snow Child a few months ago. I agree, beautiful prose, and very haunting. And you’re right, it is a very hard book to review (I don’t think I ever actually got round to it). It is gentle and touching and heartbreaking…
I was interested in what you say about the ending. Somehow the end didn’t quite do it for me – but I was never sure if it was any shortcoming of the book, or my own silly fault for the manner in which I read it. After staying up late two nights in a row devouring the majority of the book, somehow I couldn’t manage the last 30 pages or so. Then I had no time, and it was a week before I managed to finish it. By then the magic spell the story had woven around me had all frittered away… 🙁
I *hate* it when I inadvertantly sabotage a book!
cynicalsapphire
I’ve not heard of this book, but the cover is adorable.
I’m definitely adding this to my list of books to read. When the characters and writing are lovely, I don’t care if the pace is slow. I’ll read a book with no plot at all and love it if the characters are engaging enough.
Stephanie Parent
cynicalsapphire Christina, I know we don’t have identical reading tastes, but this is truly one of the most amazing books I’ve ever read and I recommend it to EVERYONE! Definitely my favorite adult book, and on my top-five list of overall favorites.
Stephanie Parent
Great review! I love love love this book and I also thought the way Ivey balanced the line between “not enough” and “too much” was remarkable.
Cecelia
I’ve had this one ‘in mind’ to read soon for a while, and as I’m trying to read more adult fantasy in 2013, I’ll make an effort to get to it soon. I’ve heard great things about it, and I don’t mind a slow build/character heavy stories, so it’s probably just right for me. Thanks for sharing!
bookmarkedpages
I’ve been considering reading this book for a while, but I think I’ll have to read it now. Great review:)
Amanda
I really enjoy reading your thoughtful reviews, and this one is no different. I’ve had The Snow Child on my radar for a while now and actually was just given it as a gift. I am glad to hear that you think it was a moving debut, despite its slowness. Sometimes reading about the little things in life can just be satisfying and poignant, although readers probably do need to be in the right mood to really enjoy it, so I’ll have to keep that in mind before I start it. I have not read the fairy tale that this is based off of, and I’m debating going into this book knowing that story first or waiting to read it after (I’ve heard the original tale is at the end of the story).
Amanda
I really enjoy reading your thoughtful reviews, and this one is no different. I’ve had The Snow Child on my radar for a while now and actually was just given it as a gift. I am glad to hear that you think it was a moving debut, despite its slowness. Sometimes reading about the little things in life can just be satisfying and poignant, although readers probably do need to be in the right mood to really enjoy it, so I’ll have to keep that in mind before I start it. I have not read the fairy tale that this is based off of, and I’m debating going into this book knowing that story first or waiting to read it after (I’ve heard the original tale is at the end of the story).
pymette
I loved this book, and I had a realllly hard time reviewing it on GoodReads. Often when a book is so lovely and mysterious, there’s not much you can say that won’t ruin the experience for someone about to read it. I also found the “time-shift” a bit difficult, as well as the strange turn the story took. But overall, I loved reading about Faina and how she affected everyone’s lives.
Realm of Fiction
I think you did a brilliant job with this review, Paul. I can already see myself buying this one now. Some of my favourite books in the past have been slow-paced and quiet. and I look forward to experiencing this author’s writing for myself. Usually when I am fully invested in a book and it characters, I can happily overlook any plot flaws. I’m glad you were impressed with this!
2013: #16 – The Snow Child (Eowyn Ivey)
[…] “The Snow Child does not tell the most exciting of stories, and many will probably find it to be too slow for their tastes. Those who do not mind such books, however, will want to pick this up immediately.” — Cuddlebuggery Book Blog […]
» Second Tuesday Book Club Meets July 9 for ‘The Snow Child’ PlanoReads
[…] http://cuddlebuggery.com/blog/2013/02/21/book-review-the-snow-child-by-eowyn-ivey/ Cuddlebuggery Book Blog, February 21, 2013 […]
Soul Muser
I so agree with you – this has to be one of my favorite books of all-time! And I agree with you that the second half romance seems too rushed. There wasn’t much on how Faina developed during those years – but really, this is such a beautiful book. And a beautiful review!
Michal Ann McArthur
I was moved by your review of The Snow Child. I could tell that you connected with the book emotionally, something I suppose I didn’t expect from a male who is into World of Warcraft. I stand corrected. Nice job.
See what the people of Bend, Oregon, did to celebrate the book at http://oregonwomensreport.com/2013/05/bend-women-creates-storybook-quilts/
2014: Year of the Buggery | Cuddlebuggery Book Blog
[…] The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey A quiet little tale of woodland magic and love, Ivey’s novel isn’t particularly exciting, but it is beautiful. Its premise and buildup lead to a thoroughly unexpected second half, and culminates in a startlingly bittersweet finale that ensures the book is memorable, sweet and powerful. […]
Tina
The Snow Child is my favourite read this year.
Did anybody notice that when The Snow Child is in the narrative all ‘speech commas’ disappear !