Once upon a Winters Night
Registered by mbmeadow of Sacramento, California USA on 5/28/2003
This Book is Currently in the Wild!
This Book is Currently in the Wild!
1 journaler for this copy...
Bookcrosser Tmoke passed this along to me.
This novel is an expanded fairy tale. The author took a story he liked, lengthened and spiced it up a bit. I enjoyed it very much.
The story begins as many tales do. A poor but beautiful girl catches the attention of a prince from faery. She lives in a tiny cottage with her siblings and parents. Her sisters especially resent the fact that a prince wishes to marry her, and not them. In return, the prince of Summerwood will give them enough money to be rich and wanting for nothing for the rest of their lives. This in turn will bring the rest of the girls suitors, it is hoped. Camille is forced by her family to go, to save them from poverty. Grudgingly, she agrees, and is taken away, across the border into faery on the back of a magical bear. She doesn't know the nature of this bear, except that he changes color.
They journey together, occasionally meeting peril. She finally arrives at the home of her prince, Alain. His seat in Summerwood is a beautiful, rambling mansion. She doesn't get to meet the prince right away, and wonders why. Meanwhile, she continues to learn about the mansion and its staff and continues her friendship with the Bear.
When she meets her prince, she is puzzled by the mask on his face. He cannot tell her why he wears it, but only that he can never take it off so that she can see his face.
Of course, as she falls in love, tragedy does eventually occur, and everything she has grown to love is taken away. She must embark on a quest to find her lost love, and must also do it in time.
The story, probably simple enough and easy to predict in its original form, is excecuted with beauty and style in McKiernan's embelishment. I felt myself being angry at Camille for being stupid enough to do what all characters in fairy tales must do. But as a reader, we often know better than the characters, and just hope that the tale will have a happy ending.
The story begins as many tales do. A poor but beautiful girl catches the attention of a prince from faery. She lives in a tiny cottage with her siblings and parents. Her sisters especially resent the fact that a prince wishes to marry her, and not them. In return, the prince of Summerwood will give them enough money to be rich and wanting for nothing for the rest of their lives. This in turn will bring the rest of the girls suitors, it is hoped. Camille is forced by her family to go, to save them from poverty. Grudgingly, she agrees, and is taken away, across the border into faery on the back of a magical bear. She doesn't know the nature of this bear, except that he changes color.
They journey together, occasionally meeting peril. She finally arrives at the home of her prince, Alain. His seat in Summerwood is a beautiful, rambling mansion. She doesn't get to meet the prince right away, and wonders why. Meanwhile, she continues to learn about the mansion and its staff and continues her friendship with the Bear.
When she meets her prince, she is puzzled by the mask on his face. He cannot tell her why he wears it, but only that he can never take it off so that she can see his face.
Of course, as she falls in love, tragedy does eventually occur, and everything she has grown to love is taken away. She must embark on a quest to find her lost love, and must also do it in time.
The story, probably simple enough and easy to predict in its original form, is excecuted with beauty and style in McKiernan's embelishment. I felt myself being angry at Camille for being stupid enough to do what all characters in fairy tales must do. But as a reader, we often know better than the characters, and just hope that the tale will have a happy ending.
Journal Entry 3 by mbmeadow at Union Station (Details In Notes) in Chicago, Illinois USA on Friday, June 20, 2003
Released on Thursday, June 19, 2003 at Union Station in Chicago, Illinois USA.
Main Amtrak waiting lounge on a table attached to some seats. As I waited for my train, which was about an hour late leaving the station. Gotta love rail travel. No wonder the rail system is going down the tubes.
Actually thought I left a different book, but left this one instead.
Main Amtrak waiting lounge on a table attached to some seats. As I waited for my train, which was about an hour late leaving the station. Gotta love rail travel. No wonder the rail system is going down the tubes.
Actually thought I left a different book, but left this one instead.
