Ellen's comments

Ellen's comments from the Endicott Mythic Fiction group.

Note: Ellen is no longer a member of this group.

I'm new to the group so I probably shouldn't be starting this off but I wanted to write some comments while the book was still fresh in my mind.

I just finished Winter Rose last night. I wandered through its pages for a week even though I could have read it faster. Much of the writing was so beautiful I wanted to take my time and enjoy the simple telling of the tale.

It took me a few chapters to realize that McKillip was weaving parts of the Tam Lin tale into her story. She doesn't hit you over the head with it, she just takes pieces and puts her own spin on them. I liked the fact that it was not a strict retelling of the tale.

The book also reminded me of how isolated and lonely life was for people who lived on farms before the invention of cars to get from place to place. Once winter fell in, they were really on their own. I haven't seen this described so well since reading Edith Wharton's Ethan Frome (one of my favorites).

The relationship between Rois and Laurel is also quite interesting. It was good to see two very different sisters who appreciated and respected their differences instead of being split by them.

I rated this one a 5; a really good choice!