Friday 25 September 2020

The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey (2012)

 


Magical realism is not a genre I’m that familiar with and when I picked up a copy of The Snow Child at the library I wasn’t aware that it was in this category until I started reading it and was a few chapters in. I was expecting a fairytale retelling and in some ways it was, but it took on a life of its own and added a heavy dose of gritty reality. Gritty, but wondrous, and beautifully written. 

Generally I’m unimpressed with much modern writing that tries to pass as literature. It often feels forced or clumsy but Ivey’s writing was poetic, and like that of a naturalist. I could picture the Alaskan landscape of the 1920’s that she described and sense the wild danger of the place. 

The story is loosely based on a Russian fairy tale that Mabel, one of the main protagonists, remembered from her childhood and its theme is repeated throughout the story, so in one sense I felt that I was reading a fairytale, but the realistic setting tripped me up. As I said, magical realism isn’t something I’ve had much experience with so I spent most of the book trying to work out what on earth was going on. The ending was sort of expected but it also left me up in the air. 

BUT...I still loved the story and it lingers in my thoughts. A little unsolved mystery.

‘...the land was vast before her...No fields or fences, homes or roads; not a single living soul as far as she could see in any direction. Only wilderness.'

'It was beautiful, Mabel knew, but it was a beauty that ripped you open and scoured you clean so that you were left helpless and exposed, if you lived at all.'

Ivey very sensitively portrayed a marriage that was worn out by the burden of loss and hardship; a couple that had waited years to communicate their pain about the past to each other, only to find that their own personal view of the situation had been so skewed. It's a strange thing, this blocking of the heart and how we build up our own narrative without understanding the intent of another.

The friendship between two women of very diverse natures and backgrounds played a major part in the narrative as well and was one of my favourite themes in the book.

The idea of fading, often using the colour gray, recurred a few times in the story and described not only a physical aspect but also that of the soul - a general wearing out and despondency of spirit.

‘...she spotted a few strands of silver in his reddish-brown beard. When had they appeared? So he, too, was graying. Each of them fading away without the other’s notice.’

‘Everything was sparkled and sharp as if the world were new, hatched that very morning from an icy egg.’

The Snow Child is a poignant story of friendship, marriage, childlessness, love, loss, grief, beauty and nature. Due to the nature of some of the themes, this book is best for an adult reader. The magical realism of the story wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea but I think it's a very worthwhile read.






16 comments:

Brian Joseph said...

Based on your description this sounds very interesting. The themes and the way they are presented sound intriguing. I have read a limited amount of magical realism but I have liked what I have read. I thought that DescriptionGabriel García Márquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude as well as Love in the Time of Cholera were both excellent.

Carol said...

Hi Brian, now that I've been inducted into the genre of magical realism I might try reading one of those. :)

Laura Jeanne said...

This book sounds intriguing. I might have to check it out from the library. Thanks for the review!

Sharon Wilfong said...

I'm like you. I generally don't care for modern fantasy, but I do love folklore, especially old European folklore and fairy tales. I might find this story interesting.

mudpuddle said...

magical realism (i'm not sure what that is) with gritty undertones seems a bit... some sort of contradiction, anyway...

Carol said...

You're welcome, Laura Jeanne.

Carol said...

Hi Sharon, I've read a couple of modern stories based on fairy tales - Regina Doman is one of the authors I've liked.

Carol said...

Hi Mudpuddle, its a story set in a normal world (i.e. not like The Hobbit etc) but it contains elements of magic. The only other story I've read like that was 'The Metamorphosis' by Frank Kafka. Brian knows more about it than I do - he's reviewed a few books that would be classed as magical realism.

Brona said...

I can recommend her last book too - to the bright edge of the world. A glorious blend of fact, fiction & myth.

Carol said...

Good! I saw that one at the library when I got this one. :)

Brona said...

PS I meant to say I love the new look of your blog. When did you make the change? I hope it wasn't months ago to prove how unobservant I can be!!

Carol said...

Brona, it was quite a while ago, ha ha!

gretchenjoanna said...

I read that book what seems like a long time ago. It seemed like a poem to me, that I loved, but that I didn't have the focus to think about much at the time. Now with your response to help me, I would love to read it again; I also have -- sometimes! -- more ability/time to muse. And most good books are even more satisfying on successive readings. Thank you!

Carol said...

Hi Gretchen, I used to think I'd never be interested in re-reading a book but now that I do it, I see things I overlooked before.

Elena Alice said...

I absolutely loved this book. It was my first magical realism novel and I had the same experience as you (not knowing that it would be this genre until I was thinking, Wait-- what is really going on?!) It was one of the most atmospheric books I have ever read... I would pull a throw blanket over me as I read it, almost as if I could feel the blistering cold of Alaska through the pages! I also enjoyed Ivey's To The Bright Edge of the World. Also a bit of magical realism with a sweet marriage love story, and a lot of exploring the unchartered Alaskan territories.

Carol said...

I borrowed To the Bright Edge from the library recently but decided to put off reading it until I had some time to enjoy it. That's the problem with library books for me - I feel I have to rush through them to get them back in time as I usually have a few books I'm reading concurrently.