Brittany's comments (member since Aug 10, 2008)

Brittany's comments from the Endicott Mythic Fiction group.

Emilie, I also agree with two of your points.

I liked what you said about the smoothing over of the feelings between the two sisters, that also bothered me. It was more than a little simplistic to have Rois be reasonably okay with Laurel falling inexplicably for the guy she first loved.

I also agree with your like of the descriptions of flowers and herb lore. For some reason, I really liked having Rois so grounded in that.

I finished 'Winter Rose' a little while ago but haven't had a chance until now to sit down and write out my thoughts. The book was my choice so I wanted to be sure to say something at least!

This was, as hoped for, a beautifully written story - the dreamlike language was absolutely enchanting right from page one. I was instantly in a very specific place where wild magic tangled with the mundane world in unexpected and subtle ways. I loved the phrase "where the wild roses grew among the tame" (P.12) - I thought it illustrated this idea perfectly and the line haunted me throughout the story. The book is full of this simple but gorgeous wording and imagery. Poetic language and a certain ambiguity of reality are two things I really love in fiction and I thought both were superbly done here.

I loved the use of the myth of 'Tam Lin' (as Ellen said) but enjoyed the additional mixing in of the fairy tale of 'Snow White and Rose Red' even more. The way that they were woven together was excellently done. I love it when mythic authors choose to take more then one inspiration and McKillip brought to light new things in each of these stories by using both.

I only had one problem with this book but it was a big one. The evil fairy and cause of all the problems of the story was very one dimensional to me. I kept wishing for her to have some sort of purpose behind her actions or at least layers to her personality. She seemed very cookie-cutter "bad guy" and I feel like, while that works in myths and fairy tales and is even perhaps essential there, if you're going to expand those stories you need to make the "bad guys" more than just evil for evil's sake.

I hope those of you that read 'Winter Rose' enjoyed my pick! Though I don't speak up too often, I love being a part of this group :).

I think it's fascinating how many people experienced this book in the same way I did... little by little until suddenly the little bites weren't nearly enough and you found yourself devouring the book without pause!

I wonder what that says about the book, or perhaps the method of storytelling it uses... I read 'OT' a while ago and I don't remember the exact moment when it became 'the-book-I-must-read-in-every-spare-second!' I'm sure it probably happens around the time when you first realize that all of the stories are interconnected. It's really incredible... I was so amazed by this book in so many ways!

I'm with Sidhe, I *adore* those books and can't wait to discuss them!

I am going to try to jump in finally, I love this group :).