"The Bear and the Nightingale" First Impressions *No Spoilers*

[Sarah]

Here is our spoiler free thread for The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden.

I'm about halfway through this so far. I like it but I'm not particularly engrossed. Actually, I completely forgot I was reading it...

[Edwin]

I finished the other day. I found the beginning to be atmospheric and mysterious, with evocative textures of Russian folklore and the cold. Unfortunately...........well, I will reserve further comments for later.

[Darryl]

My copy arrives tomorrow (hopefully). I'm looking forward to something a bit different, and to participating in my first group discussion with you guys. :)

[Chris]

I started it recently and am 25% in. The author has definitely captured the writing style of traditional fairy tales.

[Marko]

I'm read about 40% of the book. So far I've liked how the book oozes atmosphere. Very much has that fairy tale feel to it. Let's hope that the rest of the book is as good as the first half.

[Kim]

Not another retelling of Russian mythology book :( (I'm looking at you Deathless)

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Kim wrote: "Not another retelling of Russian mythology book :( (I'm looking at you Deathless)"

*YES! Another retelling of Russian mythology! Now there are an entire two books like that!

(Fixed that for you ;-) )

[Chris]

Uprooted was loosely based on Russian/Slavic fairy tales, and it's on our bookshelf.

FYI, the pace of The Bear and the Nightingale does pick up after a slow start.

[Sarah]

Deathless was much better :D

[Aidan]

About at the halfway point. I'm liking it so far. Definitely a very fairy tale vibe to it. Also, finding myself looking up medieval Russian history on Wikipedia as I go along.

Question regarding the writing style: There are some sudden POV changes throughout. Has this negatively effected anyone's reading experience or pulled them out of the story? I actually haven't had a hard time keeping track of who's head we're in or been jarred by the sudden changes, but I know for some people it can be a headache.

[Kim]

Sarah Anne wrote: "Deathless was much better :D"

I was not a fan, I also have found I dislike Catherynne M. Valente's writing style.

[Sarah]

You know, I think you've mentioned that before.

[Kim]

Sarah Anne wrote: "You know, I think you've mentioned that before."

It has scarred me for life when it comes to Russian based fantasy.

[Eric]

not quite familiar with Russian based fantasy. For the first few chapters, it feels like GoT without all the descriptions of clothing, weapons, and banners.

[Sarah]

And rape. You forgot the lack of rape :)

[Ilona]

It is nicely written with an evocative atmosphere but its beginning is so slow that I couldn't manage to be really interested and I read other books and unfortunately among them, Marina by Zafon, it used a similar narrative way but more powerful and direct.

The synopsis gives too much and is quite misleading.

[Max]

I'm getting the book this weekend. :-) Excited to get started!

[Tom]

I'm on the ninth chapter and so far I am really enjoying it. I'm a sucker for regional folklore and mythology so I like that it has that air to it. I keep thinking it's like one story, then five minutes later I change my mind and think it is more like another and so on which I guess means it pulls its material from many different sources.

[Krazykiwi]

I discovered I had this already, I think I picked it up in a sale a few months ago and forgot to read it. I knocked it out during a couple of days of commutes

I also discovered, I liked it a whole lot! And I am a fan of Valente, although she can be a little inscrutable at times, relatively this reads a lot more straightforward.

And for a third Russian fairy tale retelling people who liked this book might like: The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey

[Jennifer]

I just finished this up last night and loved it.

[Alyssia]

I’m only about 10% in currently but I really enjoyed the beginning. It was definitely slow but it is really atmospheric and it caught my attention.

Somehow I am finding the writing style really soothing as well which may due to the faerie tale style of it.

So far this is another book I would never have normally picked up but I’m really enjoying it.

[Haley]

Whoa, though it looks like the comments are pretty mixed, I really enjoyed this one. When it comes to stories of folklore it can be really easy to fall into writing a bunch of clichés. And while there were a few of them, like having an evil stepmother etc., the girl’s reactions to them were far less so. I also appreciated a take on Russian folklore - I haven’t had much exposure to it. A+

[Tom]

Haley wrote: "When it comes to stories of folklore it can be really easy to fall into writing a bunch of clichés. And while there were a few of them, like having an evil stepmother etc.,."

That's one thing I like about this. There is a stepmother and they definitely don't get along but Anna doesn't fit the classic mold of the 'evil stepmother'. In a way, she is very much like Vasya but differences in their upbringings has made for very different outlooks on the world.

[Tom]

Haley wrote: "When it comes to stories of folklore it can be really easy to fall into writing a bunch of clichés. And while there were a few of them, like having an evil stepmother etc.,."

That's one thing I like about this. There is a stepmother and they definitely don't get along but Anna doesn't fit the classic mold of the 'evil stepmother'. In a way, she is very much like Vasya but differences in their upbringings has made for very different outlooks on the world.

[Hank, Hankenstein's Modster]

Much better than Deathless! I have been comparing it in my head to The Complete Grimm's Fairy Tales and Uprooted rather than Deathless.

I doubt I will continue if there are other books to follow but this one is good enough so far.

[~ Giulia ~]

I loved the fairy tale atmosphere, and it was interesting reading about a time period and a culture I know very little about (I can't believe I had never heard of Russian ovens, so big that people slept on them).

I agree about the non-clichéd take on the "evil stepmother" character, one of my favourite aspects of this tale.

[Sarah, The Unsettled]

Reading through some of the comments here. This feels like it's going to be a slog and it looks like I am not alone thinking the beginning feels slow.

I will try to stick it out. I was really looking forward to this one. I have so little time to read right now that I'm not sure how much effort I want to invest in a book that starts slow.

This is not how I thought the group reads would turn out this month. I was really looking forward to this one and unsure about The Last Policeman. Really enjoyed The Last Policeman and this one already feels tiresome.

That's why I love the Group Reads anyway. You all help me discover stuff I might not have tried otherwise. (Thanks!)

[Max]

Still waiting for the book to be delivered to my bookstore! :-)

[David]

The sustained voice is pretty amazing.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

I'm enjoying it so far. It's cozy, progressing in a manner I can anticipate while the details are surprising. I think the characters and poetry of it aren't as strong as Deathless, but it has breadth that Valente's story did not have.

[Darryl]

This book has been a refreshing change for me. My experience with Russian literature is limited to a few classic works by authors like Dostoyevsky and Solzhenitsyn. So I'm fairly new to Russian fairy tales. I will likely read more.

I'm also learning from your comments, and appreciate the thoughts about the slower pace of the story, particularly in the first half. Although I usually enjoy action-adventure fantasy, I'm savouring this story.

In fact, I find the slower pace very much in step with the reality of the characters and setting. For example, growing up sometimes feels slow and tedious to a child who wishes to be older, embark on new adventures, and become their own person. And winter—especially in the north—is long and dreary. So why should it be different for me as a reader? Whether intentional or not, I'm grateful to Ms. Arden for slowing me down so I can step into Vasilisa's childhood winter boots...before the fun begins.

I'm almost done and I'm already looking forward to the next book in the trilogy. Thanks everyone!

[Jen]

I'm enjoying this one when I pick it up, but like others here, not completely engrossed. Agree that this is a cozy read, its been chilly here the last few days and I've been reading this tucked into blankets with a hot tea, which is appropriate for the setting of the story.

[Hank, Hankenstein's Modster]

Jen wrote: "I'm enjoying this one when I pick it up, but like others here, not completely engrossed. Agree that this is a cozy read, its been chilly here the last few days and I've been reading this tucked int..."

It has been quite warm where I live but I still want to go tuck in and grab a hot beverage when reading this. Russian stories always seem so cold!

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Hank wrote: "Jen wrote: "I'm enjoying this one when I pick it up, but like others here, not completely engrossed. Agree that this is a cozy read, its been chilly here the last few days and I've been reading thi..."

I wonder if Russian readers find stories set in the Western US to be "warm" stories?

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

I'm almost 60% in and this book is a bit strange to me, in that I enjoy it (I think mostly for the atmosphere) but I don't find it particularly well crafted--there's a lot of redundancy. But I guess I've noticed that a lot in both fairy tales in general and the (very little) Russian lit I've read before, so maybe it's intentional. I keep seeing the foreshadowing, and expecting the next scene to really slip into the plot that's been set up since 10% in, but it keeps not happening.

It's a very pretty book to read, I am hoping it kicks into gear soon.

[Tom]

I recently read Phantoms... by Ivan Turgenev that has several elements that were in this book, mainly the oak tree in the forest that was the center of paranormal activity. It also had vampires.

[Darryl]

Allison wrote: "I'm almost 60% in and this book is a bit strange to me, in that I enjoy it (I think mostly for the atmosphere) but I don't find it particularly well crafted--there's a lot of redundancy. But I gues..."

I echo your sense of expectancy, Allison. Could it be we're being introduced to the backstory, characters, lore, family, etc. for the next 2 books? Having recently finished the book, I do feel immersed in Vasya's world. And I wonder if knowing her childhood will help setup the rest of the story. Granted, that knowledge comes slowly.

[Valerie]

I just finished Part 1. I am liking the Russian fairy tale vibe. I enjoyed it in Uprooted, as well. So far, it is a light and interesting read/listen (I am Whispersyncing it).

Now, I feel like I need to prioritize Deathless.

[Sarah]

Yes, Valerie, you do!

[Meredith]

I'm just starting this. It's a perfect read for the summer, which is hot and humid and gross here. I like it so far, the feeling that magic is very close to the real world and the depictions of life in this era and place.

[Patricia]

I want to reread this because I listened to the audio a few years ago & I feel like I missed too much. I can't remember now if I was just too distracted or the narrator just wasn't right for me. Anyway, I have a physical copy now & hope to get started soon.

[Bonnie]

Edwin wrote: "I finished the other day. I found the beginning to be atmospheric and mysterious, with evocative textures of Russian folklore and the cold.."

Here, probably like Patricia, for the official re-read.

I am through Chapter 2 and like it so far; feels like a fairy tale. Ditto what Edwin wrote when he read it. Before starting I looked over what my GR Friends & Following wrote about it: most enjoyed it after a slow start. So I am prepared.

I will add links to
Marina - Carlos Ruiz Zafón
(mentioned above)
and
Spinning Silver - Naomi Novik
(which the group has read in the meantime)

[Cheryl]

I'm finally going to try this. I don't have high expectations, but with, effectively, a total of four discussions, I might read enough insight from fans to help me appreciate it....