"And to this purpose"

"If people like to read their books, it is all very well, but to be at so much trouble in filling great volumes, which, as I used to think, nobody would willingly ever look into, to be labouring only for the torment of little boys and girls, always struck me as a hard fate; and though I know it is all very right and necessary, I have often wondered at the person's courage that could sit down on purpose to do it." (In other words: rambling analyses, opinions, ideas, views, and comments from an English major, Essay/paper-writing enthusiastic, Austen-loving Master Librarian on, well, Jane Austen...and a whole lot of other things, too.)

"Celebrated Passages are Quoted"

Heidi's favorite quotes


"What is it really like to be engaged?" asked Anne curiously. "Well, that all depends on who you're engaged to," answered Diana, with that maddening air of superior wisdom always assumed by those who are engaged over those who are not."— L.M. Montgomery

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Goose, Part 5

Whoa. Sorry about the huge break in there. Life went into a crazy overdrive in so many ways. So I'm spending my evening off (finally!) answering the rest of the questions, before move on to the work I brought home.

7. What was your favorite “scene” in the book?

There were a few that I really liked. Of course! I liked any time Geric and Isi where in the meadow together. But I also really liked the face down scene between Isi and Selia in the castle--because I just knew that somehow Selia was going to be caught.

8. What was your least favorite “scene?”

Hmmm.... I guess near the beginning when Isi's mother was so unfeeling. A whole lot of the beginning was not happy for me. But if I hadn't experienced it, I wouldn't have been as happy with how things ended up. (Oh my--another parallel to life.)

9. What was your favorite part of the book?

It's a toss-up between Isi's coming into her own, and the varying and growing relationship between Isi and Geric.

10. What was you least favorite part?

Either Conrad's whininess or just how awful Isi's mother was.

11. What are your thoughts on Hale’s writing style?

I LOVE it! I love her fantasy/fractured fairy tale works. They are so fun and the worlds she creates are so real. Not the biggest fan of her adult works. Of course, I've only read one and had such a horrible distaste for it that I didn't want to bother with the other.

12. Have you read any of Hale’s other works? What are your impressions in comparison?

I've now read the entire Bayern series, the award-winning Princess Academy, Book of a Thousand Days, both graphic novels, and the aforementioned adult novel. (Can it be only a year ago that I had only read Princess, Thousand, and the adult novel?!) Princess Academy was cute and sweet. But I don't remember being mesmerized as I was with some of the Bayern books, and especially by Book of a Thousand Days. The graphic novels are very entertaining. And the adult novel was disappointing partly because I thought she had much more potential in her writing and didn't put the obvious skills from her children's/YA works into the adult work.

6 comments:

Meredith said...

7. My favorite scene in the book: Probably the one when Isi goes to see Talone after finding out that he's alive! Yay!

8. Least favorite scene: I don't know, probably when Selia and her cronies attack and kill the people who are loyal to Isi. So sad.

9. My favorite part of the book is when all of Isi's friends stand by her and go with her to confront Selia. She so needs loyal friends after the life she's had.

10. Least favorite part: I agree, the whole part about Isi's mom. She's so terrible! The worst part is, I'm sure she really does think she's doing what's best. Ugh.

11. I also love her writing style. These are some of my favorite fantasies ever. I agree that her adult works have a very different style, but I still like it. It's very funny, kind of like she is in her blog.

12. I've read all of Shannon Hale's book, including her two adult novels. I absolutely love Princess Academy and Book of a Thousand Days. It's actually a toss-up between the two which one I like better. I can never decide. I also love the books of Bayern, in this order: Goose Girl, Forest Born, River secrets, Enna Burning. Sorry Enna! Her two graphic novels are great. Those Hales are a great team. I like Rapunzel better, but Calamity Jack is still great.

As for her adult books, I enjoyed Austenland as a quick, fun read. Not something I'll buy and read again, like I did with her fantasies, but a pleasant enough diversion. I'll probably read the sequel (of sorts) when it finally comes out.

The Actor and the Housewife hurt me a little bit. There were parts that I thought were beyond brilliant (some of the spiritual scenes in particular), but I could not get past the plot. Me no likey! I didn't like the premise and I hated how it turned out. But again, I thought the writing was good. Just not my cup of tea.

ldsjaneite said...

That's my order of favorites for Bayern as well! And I, too, thought Rapunzel a little bit better than Jack. I think one reason I don't want to read "The Actor..." is BECAUSE of the plot. I just don't want to read something like that.

Meredith said...

Yeah, I agree about Actor... Since I've read it, I can say that there technically isn't anything bad in it, but parts of it made me very uncomfortable, and other parts made me very annoyed. I'd skip it.

ldsjaneite said...

Thank you! Will do (and without any guilt now!).

Sara Lyn said...

That's funny. I thought "The Actor..." was very tastefully done and I was never uncomfortable. I also thought it was hilarious. Heidi, I still think you should try it.

ldsjaneite said...

Perhaps I'm uncomfortable with the premise because I knew too many married woman who entertained thoughts about men who were not their husbands, and things did not end well.