The Snow Child question

I really loved that she didn't use dialogue marks to heighten the suggestion that she might have been almost of the imagination. It also helped to intensify the intimacy of the connection to the people she talked with and to the reader. I've seen authors do with with all characters throughout a novel (Cormac McCarthy was the first one I remember reading) but I've not seen it done with one character and I think Ivey did it brilliantly.

That's an interesting point- i didn't even realize that while i was reading the novel. i did think that Faina was a magical being but i loved that the author leaves it to the reader to decide.

I did notice that. I felt like it was doen so that the reader would wonder if Faina was real or not. I thought it was quite clever.

I think it was so well written that there wasn't a need for the talking marks. The conversations flowed in such a way that there was no confusion. I loved the magic of the book.

I'm so glad someone is discussing this. At first, the deliberate absence of parentheses made me wonder if perhaps it was taking place in both Jack and Mabel's heads, adding to the mystical and magical elements surrounding Faina. Perhaps, as Rachel suggests, the author simply wants to leave it to the reader to decide how much was real?

This was our bookclub book this month. I did not notice, but another member did. I think it adds to the intrigue and magic. However, the reader sees Faina is what it is. I choose magic.

I'm also glad this is being discussed. At first, it threw me way off. I thought it was a mistake when they adapted the book for e-readers. The further that I read, I realized it was the authors doing. It totally made me question if Faina was real or a figment of the imagination. Specially when there's no sign of her at the end when she dies.

I thought the absence of quotes confirmed Faina was merely an illusion. I could explain Jack and Mabel both seeing her as part of their collective delusion to invent her into their life. However Garrett creating that relationship and the eventual introduction of Jay into everyone's life led me to believe she was real...of course people believe what they want to believe. So I would like to believe that she was real, but I am still unclear as to her demise or final absence? Is she still in the forest on her own once again, or did she commit suicide like the novel opened with?

I just finished the book, and I had convinced myself that Faina was real and not some kinf of fae, but then she dissapeared leaving everything she wore behind with only snow where she was supposed to be... It looked a lot like she magically turned back to snow, as she was born from snow, if we believe that she was made by Jack and Mabel...
Though the storyline was so nice, the fact that I can't decide whether she's magical or real has kept me furstrated for days... She got married and gave birth but on the other hand she was so magically entwined with snow and the land that I wouldn't be surprised if she wasn't real...

honestly i dont know if she left or died or what again the but, symbolism with snow hits in, she either asks or gets snow given to her. mabel also has a maternal instinct to keep her cold, not wanting to find out what happened if heat came to close. did she leave to save herself and spare her "family" death or did her time as *human* run out. thats what we'll truly never know

but i think by not adding dialogue marks was a way to keep you guessing. i think not many people know that in folklore or fariytales (note the selkie as one) it wasn't uncommon for a magical being to come into "human" existence but it wasn't without rules or limits. i felt faina became real when she met garrett in the swan scene. i think she then chose to reveal herself and love kept her there but she couldn't survive as a human could thus thats what we will never know of her departure

Well,this is a touch old but what with the book doing well in the running for an award...

Agreed...I think the baby makes her pretty real or at least become real. It's very curious the ending as well. She certainly talked during the short marriage. It just seems real life was too real for her,perhaps she was kind of half magic. When exposed to reality,she became ill and faded away.
Of course this is all conjecture and putting words in the authors mouth,but I hope others are still interested in the subject and voting for this book!