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21st out of 31 books
—
2 voters
The Book of a Thousand Days
by
Shannon Hale (Goodreads Author)
When Dashti, a maid, and Lady Saren, her mistress, are shut in a tower for seven years for Saren’s refusal to marry a man she despises, the two prepare for a very long and dark imprisonment.
As food runs low and the days go from broiling hot to freezing cold, it is all Dashti can do to keep them fed and comfortable. But the arrival outside the tower of Saren’s two suitors—
...morePaperback, 306 pages
Published
March 2nd 2009
by Bloomsbury
(first published September 18th 2007)
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Do you guys know that feeling when you just have finished an astonishingly excellent book? You feel full of life and understanding. It's why as readers we come back and back again and hope this will be the book that gives us that exhilaration. I guess it's akin to a literary high. This book did that for me and more. It deserves more than the five star rating.
Let's see if I'll be able to give a concise review without confusing people. This story is loosely based on an obscure Grimm fairy tale (...more
Let's see if I'll be able to give a concise review without confusing people. This story is loosely based on an obscure Grimm fairy tale (...more
So, so, so good.
As I got towards the end I was planning on giving it 4 stars, but then at the very end it surprised me and it was like the book was about something completely other than what I'd been thinking it was about the whole time. It surprised me, and I love well-executed surprises. Thus 5 stars. Not that there was a surprise ending (I don't like those), just that there was a reframing that totally delighted me. I'll say more about it down below if you want, but I'll put them beneath spo...more
As I got towards the end I was planning on giving it 4 stars, but then at the very end it surprised me and it was like the book was about something completely other than what I'd been thinking it was about the whole time. It surprised me, and I love well-executed surprises. Thus 5 stars. Not that there was a surprise ending (I don't like those), just that there was a reframing that totally delighted me. I'll say more about it down below if you want, but I'll put them beneath spo...more
39 likes · like · see review
Nov 11, 2012
Jennifer Wardrip
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
trt-posted-reviews
Reviewed by Jessica Cave for TeensReadToo.com
Shannon Hale's BOOK OF A THOUSAND DAYS is a riveting read that allows you to see into the soul of a young girl.
Angry at her for not marrying the ruler of a nearby kingdom, Lady Saren's father locks her and her maid in a tower. He plans to leave them there for seven years. It is Dashti, the maid's, responsibility to keep them fed and in good condition, no matter how hot or how cold it may be.
With evil lords, unresponsive guards, and dreamy suitors kn...more
Shannon Hale's BOOK OF A THOUSAND DAYS is a riveting read that allows you to see into the soul of a young girl.
Angry at her for not marrying the ruler of a nearby kingdom, Lady Saren's father locks her and her maid in a tower. He plans to leave them there for seven years. It is Dashti, the maid's, responsibility to keep them fed and in good condition, no matter how hot or how cold it may be.
With evil lords, unresponsive guards, and dreamy suitors kn...more
4 likes · like · see review
I enjoyed this a lot - so much so that I DIDN'T finish it last night. I wanted to save it so that I would have something to look forward to reading this afternoon. I found myself thinking about the story several times throughout the day and wondering how it might end. I wasn't disappointed. Another great job by Shannon Hale!
Dashti, a mucker maid, is going to be locked up in a tower with her Lady Saren for seven years. Lady Saren refused to marry a man she did not love, so Dashti must prepare for a rigorous and daunting imprisonment. Soon, Dashti finds rats in the flour and mold on the cheese. It becomes a struggle to survive, and Dashti also must deal with Lady Saren’s two completely different suitors. Dashti must make a choice, for herself, and for Saren.
In Book of a Thousand Days, Shannon Hale brings to life the...more
In Book of a Thousand Days, Shannon Hale brings to life the...more
11 likes · like · see review
Hale has proved herself adept at finding obscure fairy tales and reworking them in mouth-watering new ways. Her latest offering is based on the little-known "Maid Maleen" by the Brothers Grimm. A lady and her loyal maid are locked in a tower for seven years as punishment for the lady's refusal to marry the man her father wants her to. The story details their imprisonment in the tower and the adventure that follows. Hale's version is told in diary format from the point of view of the maid--Dashti...more
14 likes · like · see review
This particular story has a fairy tale feel to it... and it was incredibly entertaining.
Seven years they were to stay, Lady Saren and her handmaid Dashti. You’d think the first a strong princess, a brave one… another one of those in your face, I’ll do as I please versions of princesses. She’s not. You’d think Dashti, meek and obedient. She is. Despite said fact, it’s still Dashti who shines in this one because the princess was often times too delicate, too soft, too shy… and just not quite all...more
Seven years they were to stay, Lady Saren and her handmaid Dashti. You’d think the first a strong princess, a brave one… another one of those in your face, I’ll do as I please versions of princesses. She’s not. You’d think Dashti, meek and obedient. She is. Despite said fact, it’s still Dashti who shines in this one because the princess was often times too delicate, too soft, too shy… and just not quite all...more
4 likes · like · see review
This is my book group pick for this month. It's been 3 years since I read it and I don't remember it so I'm rereading.... Bumping it up to a 5 star book. Loved it second time around.
This is the first book by Shannon Hale I have read. I loved the character Dashti that she created. I love to read fairy tales and I enjoyed this less well know story of two girl locked in a tower.
This is the first book by Shannon Hale I have read. I loved the character Dashti that she created. I love to read fairy tales and I enjoyed this less well know story of two girl locked in a tower.
3 likes · like · see review
Ummm... So I started this book at 2:00 am. (Note to self: don't start books at 2:00 am! Are you crazy???) Yeah, I couldn't put it down! I finished at about 7:00. Then my husband woke me up at noon! How rude! Doesn't he realize that reading makes me nocturnal? ;)
Anyway, I started the book, and was like, "Why is this written from the lady's maid's point of view and not from the lady's point of view. Yeah, that becomes very clear within just a few pages. I really loved Dashti—she was such a fascina...more
Anyway, I started the book, and was like, "Why is this written from the lady's maid's point of view and not from the lady's point of view. Yeah, that becomes very clear within just a few pages. I really loved Dashti—she was such a fascina...more
Jun 15, 2009
Heather
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
girls age 13 and up
I loved this Young Adult book! Hooray for Shannon Hale! I probably wouldn't recommend this book to girls under 12, but I think Hale has produced a wonderful heroine for the older teen set. I liked this book better than Princess Academy. I felt the themes were more accessible--everyone can relate to having a crush on someone totally out of your league. And who can’t envision the horror of being betrothed to a grotesque villain or locked up with rats? I loved how the two girls-- Saren, a princess...more
If I had not started blogging and reading other blogs I don't think I would have ever read a Shannon Hale book. I'd never even heard of her until I read reviews of her books on the Internet. But about 20 or so pages into my first Shannon Hale book I thought, uh-oh, I don't think I am going to like this book. I've heard so much about Shannon Hale and her books but I'm not gonna like them. The problem is that I have never been a fan of fantasy, but before I knew it I was half way through the book...more
3 likes · like · see review
After reading and thoroughly enjoying Goose Girl and Princess Academy, I was excited to see this new young adult novel (another retelling of an obscure fairytale) from Shannon Hale. I was even more excited when I saw that it had been given great reviews so far. Could I possibly enjoy a book from this genre more than Princess Academy? I was anxious to find out.
Well, maybe it was my anticipation that left this book feeling flat. It was readable enough, for sure; the storytelling style (a diary) le...more
Well, maybe it was my anticipation that left this book feeling flat. It was readable enough, for sure; the storytelling style (a diary) le...more
5 likes · like · see review
Jan 22, 2008
Bonnie Gayle
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
fans of Grimm's fairy tale reduxes and diary format stories
Shannon Hale is climbing the ranks in becoming one of my favorite authors, and this book helped a great deal, by being an automatic add to my favorites shelf. I read it in 2 days, and absolutely loved it! She has perfected the craft of Grimm's fairy tale reduxes.
Dashti is a mucker, which means that she has grown up in the steppes of Mongolia, in a gher, and also has the power of healing through song.
When she is no longer able to live in the steppes, she goes to town, and quickly is hired and tr...more
Dashti is a mucker, which means that she has grown up in the steppes of Mongolia, in a gher, and also has the power of healing through song.
When she is no longer able to live in the steppes, she goes to town, and quickly is hired and tr...more
A true heroine rises from the Grimm Brother ashes.
Hale has created a female character worthy to be loved and adored for a long time to come. She is filled with guts, heart, and soul.
This is a tale of imprisonment, courage, love, romance, fantasy, and one spectacular protagonist.
This is a tale of the silenced being given a voice, of the oppressed fighting their way out of darkness, so they can feel the burn of the sun of life on their skin once again.
It is a tale about the power and magic of wor...more
Hale has created a female character worthy to be loved and adored for a long time to come. She is filled with guts, heart, and soul.
This is a tale of imprisonment, courage, love, romance, fantasy, and one spectacular protagonist.
This is a tale of the silenced being given a voice, of the oppressed fighting their way out of darkness, so they can feel the burn of the sun of life on their skin once again.
It is a tale about the power and magic of wor...more
4 likes · like · see review
Shannon Hale completely captured me from the very first page. From the moment I opened Dashti's diary, I felt as though I too was sitting in a dark tower watching the bricks seal me in. Dashti's desperation and courage bounces off the pages.
Review © Tales of Whimsy.com
To read my review in full please visit: http://www.talesofwhimsy.com/2010/04/...
Review © Tales of Whimsy.com
To read my review in full please visit: http://www.talesofwhimsy.com/2010/04/...
4 likes · like · see review
I have been eagerly awaiting Shannon Hale’s latest novel, Book of a Thousand Days (Bloomsbury, 2007), and it definitely does not disappoint. The language sings! It is an imaginative retelling of a little-known fairy tale, Maid Maleen by the Brothers Grimm.
Set in a fictionalized, medieval Mongolia, 16-year-old Lady Saren is locked away in a tower for seven years by her father for refusing to marry the man her father has chosen, Lord Khasar. The story is told, however, by Lady Saren’s mucker maid...more
Set in a fictionalized, medieval Mongolia, 16-year-old Lady Saren is locked away in a tower for seven years by her father for refusing to marry the man her father has chosen, Lord Khasar. The story is told, however, by Lady Saren’s mucker maid...more
Shannon Hale does it again! This book is all about girl power and good over evil. Another stellar book that I will definitely has my girls read when they get older.
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
What makes this book wonderful...
1. Dashti. What a perfect heroine! Her voice is sweet and even soothing. I love her. I love her more than the story she tells. She is sweet, she is selfless (and she doesn’t know she’s selfless--no truly self-sacrificing individual is aware that they’re self-sacrificing).
I adore her cheerfulness and her loyalty. I like how real her emotions were. I can’t recall any time where Dashti was melodramatic or annoying.
All of the characters are very well-drawn, but Da...more
1. Dashti. What a perfect heroine! Her voice is sweet and even soothing. I love her. I love her more than the story she tells. She is sweet, she is selfless (and she doesn’t know she’s selfless--no truly self-sacrificing individual is aware that they’re self-sacrificing).
I adore her cheerfulness and her loyalty. I like how real her emotions were. I can’t recall any time where Dashti was melodramatic or annoying.
All of the characters are very well-drawn, but Da...more
1 like · like · see review
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I loved this book, it is has many layers of emotion. The story has you pondering about how you perceive your social status in the world and why you tend to cling to a particular status and tend not to move above it. “Book of a Thousand Days” is written by Dashti a mucker maid and it is written in a diary format taking the reader from day to day.
Shannon Hale based "Book of a Thousand Days" on the fairy tale "Maid Maleen" as recorded by the Grimm bothers. She changed the story from the original to...more
Shannon Hale based "Book of a Thousand Days" on the fairy tale "Maid Maleen" as recorded by the Grimm bothers. She changed the story from the original to...more
Mar 29, 2009
Jacqueline
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
anyone who loves a satisfying, well-written fantasy
Recommended to Jacqueline by:
my dear LRRH/Shannon Hale friends (love ya guys! :D )
Ever since I was able to read (when I was about four years old, I believe), I always found something admirable about authors. Perhaps it was just so magical the way they picked out words, stuck them here and there, sewed them together, and, voilà! had their stories collected in nicely-bound books. It was as if they were a sort of literary witches and wizards. But now, they also strike me as chefs; some give you a tasty but calorie-packed hamburger with deep-fried French fries that fill you up bu...more
3 likes · like · see review
In “Book of a Thousand Days,” author Shannon Hale has crafted another fascinating interpretation of a Grimm's Fairy tale, the lesser-known story of “Maid Maleen.” The story is told from the point-of-view of a lady's maid, Dashti, a plucky peasant girl. In her diary, Dashti recounts the misfortune of her situation; both Dashti and her lady, Saren, have been imprisoned in a tower by her father for Lady Saren's refusal to marry his preferred suitor, the evil Lord Khasar. Lady Saren loves another, t...more
Hale keeps getting better with each book I read. Dashti is a charming and engaging character, Tegus is wonderful, and I love the way Hale takes real beliefs and traditions and adds just a little edge of fantasy to them.
I've read three of Hale's books, and she seems to have a very different (and consistent) way of treating nobility vs. commoners. The three protagonists so far have been solid, intelligent commoners - and the vast majority of her commoners have been in the same vein. Meanwhile, mal...more
I've read three of Hale's books, and she seems to have a very different (and consistent) way of treating nobility vs. commoners. The three protagonists so far have been solid, intelligent commoners - and the vast majority of her commoners have been in the same vein. Meanwhile, mal...more
3 likes · like · see review
One of these best parts about this book was the ending. Without giving too much away, I was awed by how well the author wrapped up the plot. It was unpredictable, yet finished up exactly the way it should have. For most of the book I wondered how it could end; so much seemed against poor Dashti if (and when) she was found out. Happily, Hale worked out a believable fairytale ending.
This isn’t your normal fairytale. Personally, I’d never heard of the original Maid Maleen. Though after reading it,...more
This isn’t your normal fairytale. Personally, I’d never heard of the original Maid Maleen. Though after reading it,...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
1 like · like · see review
In a land where the Ancestors watch over the people and songs can heal physical and emotional ills, the commoner Dashti has just lost her mother and has nowhere to go. She is taken in by a gentry family and trained to be a lady's maid for Lady Saren, a meek and selfish girl who is locked in a tower for seven years for refusing to marry the man her father chose for her. At first, Dashti is happy to have three meals a day and to eat spiced food (a delicacy only the rich can afford), but when they...more
1 like · like · see review
"Book of a Thousand Days" is about the Lady Saren's maid, Dashti. Lady Saren is trapped in a tower for seven years after refusing to marry Lord Khasar. Meanwhile, she loves Khan Tegus. However, when Khan Tegus visits her in the tower, she tells Dashti to act as her, and so begins the great mix-up of the story.
Hale uses great metaphors and does an excellent job of getting into Dashti's head. The characters are very realistic, and she turns a little-known fairy tale into a realistic novel that mig...more
Hale uses great metaphors and does an excellent job of getting into Dashti's head. The characters are very realistic, and she turns a little-known fairy tale into a realistic novel that mig...more
I like Shannon Hale! This is the third novel of hers that I've read, and I see some very strong stuff in her writing that I like. She's largely reaching the adolescent audience, and she has wonderfully unconventional love stories that are REAL, not based on looks, etc. She also really tips the stereotypes of people born into privilege and born into the common class on its ear. There are wonderful nobility and weak, spoiled, even brutal nobility. There are coarse, low commoners, and high, fine, e...more
1 like · like · see review
I'm about halfway through, and I'm still undecided about this book. I really want to like it as much as The Goose Girl, but this one hasn't drawn me in as much as the other. We'll see what I think by the end.
[25 Sept] It got a little better, but it's still not my favorite. The heroine is virtuous and self-sacrificing and noble and wise, and the ending was predictable. I like my characters a little more flawed, a little more human.
And I didn't like that the was based on medieval Mongolia but wa...more
[25 Sept] It got a little better, but it's still not my favorite. The heroine is virtuous and self-sacrificing and noble and wise, and the ending was predictable. I like my characters a little more flawed, a little more human.
And I didn't like that the was based on medieval Mongolia but wa...more
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Shannon Hale is the New York Times best-selling author of six young adult novels: the Newbery Honor book Princess Academy, multiple award winner Book of a Thousand Days, and the highly acclaimed Books of Bayern series. She has written three books for adults, including the upcoming Midnight in Austenland (Jan. 2012), companion book to Austenland. She co-wrote the hit graphic novel Rapunzel's Reveng...more
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“Mama used to say, you have to know someone a thousand days before you can glimpse her soul.”
—
424 people liked it
“You're better than seven years of food. You're better than windows. You're even better than the sky.”
—
130 people liked it
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Jun 09, 2011 06:51pm
Jun 09, 2011 11:51pm