Scan barcode
A review by mynameismarines
The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente
5.0
For full feelings on The Fairyland Series, check out my video review.
This book is my favorite book in my favorite series. I'll front load this review with reasons it might not be for you: Valente is known for her dense, flowery writing. It is very descriptive and a lot of the charm is in just-because magic, backwards places and wild creatures that rely heavily on tropes created by other fairytales. It is also earnest and dispenses little nuggets of wisdom for people who appreciate a good quotable line. It might be cheesy to others who prefer a little more aloofness or vagueness in their messaging. It is also plot light and detail heavy. If you need more purpose in your plot, and struggle with things that amble, this will be tricky for you.
If you are like me, however, and how well something is written plays heavily into your enjoyment of the book, this will be an absolute treat. This book is steeped in imagination and overflowing with imagery. It is sharp and witty-- a love letter to language, turns of phrase, stories, little girls who save worlds, and magic.
I am also a big fan of coming of age stories and stories that explore grief; this does both wonderfully. It is a little sad, in the way that fairytales can sometimes be and in the way that growing up can often be. When you think about it, fairy lands can be savage, and the idea of popping in and out of a place is brutal, and this story doesn't shy away from that. That said, this story is also hopeful. The plot is simple, I think, and padded out with lots of places and creatures and sometimes silly details, but it's a journey book, so that was okay with me. It's just so thoughtful in all of its pieces and what they say for September's growing-up, from the scrubbing of her courage, to the break from a home that's bleak and gray with the absence of her father, to the growing of her heart, to the losing it again. It takes fairytale tropes and looks them in the eye and then uses those pieces to seemingly explore a place when it is really exploring a person.
Relatedly, these characters are now some of my favorite ever. They've earned place in my heart through rereading and because of the incredible growth they experience through their journey in the series. This story led by the brave and wonderful September, flanked by some of the best secondary characters in A-Through-L and Saturday and a freaking 112 year old lantern, who may or may not make me cry every single time. (May.) Even the narrator becomes a character as she interjects into September's story, forewarning us and leading us through this story with care.
I love this story. Have I mentioned that? Just making sure.
Below are some quick thoughts from my rereads:
[December 1, 2020] Twice in one year? Sure, if that year is 2020. Back in March, it was my intention to do a complete read through of the series, but things went from bad to worse and I stopped reading all together. I wanted to finish up this read through, but I wouldn't be who I was if I didn't start from the beginning. So, I read this one again. The more and more I reread this, the more I'm sure Lye and the scene of scrubbing up your courage and washing off your dreams is my favorite. Dear, sweet heartless September, a brave knight in her own story, thank you for keeping me company when I need it the most.
[March 29, 2020] I read this right at the start of the pandemic. It was during a time my brain wasn't able to really read, where stress and anxiety mean a reading slump. But I turned to this short and lovely thing and as always, loved every moment of it.
[April 30, 2019] Marking for reread. I wanted something easy and familiar to read in the middle of a month long readathon and this fit the bill. Forever favorite. I was especially taken by Lye's heartbreaking story this time, perhaps especially because I deeply long for a way to wash off my courage and reset my dreams these days.
[May 2, 2018] Marking for reread. I lost my original review of this, as I mention below, but this is probably the 4th time I read this book and I still love it as much as ever. It was just what I needed to read, too-- something homey and comfortable during a really stressful time.
[March 3, 2016] Something happened and I lost my previous reviews of this book. Just know that I loved this every bit as much on third read. It's wordy and whimsical and flowery and a bit silly and a lot heartbreaking and I love it.
This book is my favorite book in my favorite series. I'll front load this review with reasons it might not be for you: Valente is known for her dense, flowery writing. It is very descriptive and a lot of the charm is in just-because magic, backwards places and wild creatures that rely heavily on tropes created by other fairytales. It is also earnest and dispenses little nuggets of wisdom for people who appreciate a good quotable line. It might be cheesy to others who prefer a little more aloofness or vagueness in their messaging. It is also plot light and detail heavy. If you need more purpose in your plot, and struggle with things that amble, this will be tricky for you.
If you are like me, however, and how well something is written plays heavily into your enjoyment of the book, this will be an absolute treat. This book is steeped in imagination and overflowing with imagery. It is sharp and witty-- a love letter to language, turns of phrase, stories, little girls who save worlds, and magic.
I am also a big fan of coming of age stories and stories that explore grief; this does both wonderfully. It is a little sad, in the way that fairytales can sometimes be and in the way that growing up can often be. When you think about it, fairy lands can be savage, and the idea of popping in and out of a place is brutal, and this story doesn't shy away from that. That said, this story is also hopeful. The plot is simple, I think, and padded out with lots of places and creatures and sometimes silly details, but it's a journey book, so that was okay with me. It's just so thoughtful in all of its pieces and what they say for September's growing-up, from the scrubbing of her courage, to the break from a home that's bleak and gray with the absence of her father, to the growing of her heart, to the losing it again. It takes fairytale tropes and looks them in the eye and then uses those pieces to seemingly explore a place when it is really exploring a person.
Relatedly, these characters are now some of my favorite ever. They've earned place in my heart through rereading and because of the incredible growth they experience through their journey in the series. This story led by the brave and wonderful September, flanked by some of the best secondary characters in A-Through-L and Saturday and a freaking 112 year old lantern, who may or may not make me cry every single time. (May.) Even the narrator becomes a character as she interjects into September's story, forewarning us and leading us through this story with care.
I love this story. Have I mentioned that? Just making sure.
Below are some quick thoughts from my rereads:
[December 1, 2020] Twice in one year? Sure, if that year is 2020. Back in March, it was my intention to do a complete read through of the series, but things went from bad to worse and I stopped reading all together. I wanted to finish up this read through, but I wouldn't be who I was if I didn't start from the beginning. So, I read this one again. The more and more I reread this, the more I'm sure Lye and the scene of scrubbing up your courage and washing off your dreams is my favorite. Dear, sweet heartless September, a brave knight in her own story, thank you for keeping me company when I need it the most.
[March 29, 2020] I read this right at the start of the pandemic. It was during a time my brain wasn't able to really read, where stress and anxiety mean a reading slump. But I turned to this short and lovely thing and as always, loved every moment of it.
[April 30, 2019] Marking for reread. I wanted something easy and familiar to read in the middle of a month long readathon and this fit the bill. Forever favorite. I was especially taken by Lye's heartbreaking story this time, perhaps especially because I deeply long for a way to wash off my courage and reset my dreams these days.
[May 2, 2018] Marking for reread. I lost my original review of this, as I mention below, but this is probably the 4th time I read this book and I still love it as much as ever. It was just what I needed to read, too-- something homey and comfortable during a really stressful time.
[March 3, 2016] Something happened and I lost my previous reviews of this book. Just know that I loved this every bit as much on third read. It's wordy and whimsical and flowery and a bit silly and a lot heartbreaking and I love it.