The Blue Castle and the first half of Protector of the Small

[sophia_sol]

my goodness it's been like five million years since I've posted a book review. I've read books in the meantime! But somehow not posted about them. Let me start working through the backlog. I'll start with some very brief reviews of a few old favourites.

The Blue Castle, by L.M. Montgomery

As always a total delight to read. However, I had a new thought this time about an aspect that has always vaguely frustrated me but have never been able to articulate before. Namely: why does the ending have to involve Barney turning out super rich and all? There's all the content about how Valancy genuinely likes her life in the Mistawis as it is, and really all of her needs were about being liked/valued/appreciated, not social standing or wealth - and in fact at one point she explicitly says she would not like to be very rich. So why did that aspect get added to the fantasy? It feels like it actually INTERFERES with what Valancy wants out of life, and is just included because it's the kind of thing most people generally want.

First Test, by Tamora Pierce

Yeah okay I've got nothing to say about this one. I LOVE IT the end.

Page, by Tamora Pierce

I've come to realize that structurally this book actually isn't super well put together. It's pretty episodic, covering a lot of time without a lot of important events going on. HOWEVER, the important overarching emotional through-line is the relationship between Kel and Lalasa and I am just completely there for that. SO GOOD. *hearteyes*

Comments

[calvinahobbes]

I agree! I totally want to ignore the part where Barney is rich. I enjoy the humorous aspects of his dad showing up, but I really feel sorry for Valancy that she'll have to be a part of a world she, nor Barney, doesn't have any interest in.

[sophia_sol]

I actually just get terribly embarrassed for Barney's dad in all the bits he's in so unfortunately I can't appreciate the humour. But yeah, exactly, I feel sorry for Valancy!

[hunningham]

I always figured the "turned out rich" ending was so we could all go nyah-nyah at Valency's family. It smushes all their told-you-so into the ground and jumps on them.

[sophia_sol]

That's definitely a thought I had, but idk, maybe I'm just not vindictive enough for this to feel like an important feature to me? I feel like the important point was her severance from her family, her ability to leave them behind and just be herself and be happy. Her sticking it to her family, to me, is her living in a way that they are all totally horrified at and yet being happy anyway.