copyright date: October 2011
primarily marketed for: young adults (high school)
The books I love the most are the ones I find myself most compelled
to write about. I am woefully behind on posting
about the books I’ve read this school year, yet here I am making time to share
another incredible story. I find it is most difficult to share the books I
love. Something about my connection with
a story like this makes it seem almost as if nobody else could possibly enjoy
it as deeply as I have—surely it was tailor-made to fit my heart and stick to
my ribs—how could anyone else find it as perfect a fit? I don’t know the answer to that, but I sure
hope you try this one on because part of me suspects it might fit you just
right, too.
Since I closed the covers of Maggie Stiefvater’s The Scorpio Races early this morning, I
have been haunted by the rhythm of the story.
The magic of sea still beats in my chest. Puck’s connections—to Sean Kendrick (fellow
racer), to Dove (her beloved horse), to the island of Thisby (her home), to the
sea (both a danger and a comfort), to the capall
uisce (the water horses that took her parents’ lives)—became my connections. Connections to a world I didn’t want to
leave.
I had heard great things about this book since it came out
over a year ago. I had heard from
reviewers, from booksellers, and most importantly from reader friends who I
trust. But nothing about the storyline
interested me. Mythical water
horses? A foreign, fictitious,
Ireland-like setting? An annual deadly
competition?
It wasn’t until I took a chance and was immediately
enchanted with Stiefvater’s Shiver
that I started to consider adding Scorpio
Races to my list of ‘Someday’ books.
Soon after, the thrill of meeting Maggie Stiefvater in person was more
than enough to secure its place on my list.
True to her style, Stiefvater has created a strong female
character who is not without her flaws.
Puck is fiercely independent, yet deeply emotionally attached to the men
in her life. She lives on the island of
Thisby with her two older brothers since her parents were killed by
bloodthirsty water horses while boating.
Upon receiving unbelievably bad news from her oldest brother, Puck feels
cornered into signing up as a participant in the annual water horse race. It is her only hope to turn her family’s
situation around.
Puck’s story alternates with Sean Kendrick’s story at the
beginning. Sean works for the richest
horse owner on the island and has won the races four out of the past six
years. He is the favorite, but is not
without enemies. As Puck and Sean’s
stories unfold, they become increasingly, satisfyingly intertwined.
In addition to crafting characters I couldn’t help but fall
in love with, Stiefvater has created in The
Scorpio Races lyrical descriptions of a world worth lingering in as a
reader. Where I would normally want to
skip or skim through paragraphs of description, Stiefvater’s use of language is
so arresting, so daring and unexpected that I wanted to slow down and savor the
images she created. I am not sure how
she does it, but I am sure I want more. I
believe you will too.
Perfect description of this book. If I hadn't already read it, I would make this my next book. I may have to reread it. When I finished The Scorpio Races I was so sad there wasn't another book coming along. It was the end of this world. I still find myself drawn to it. On the 1st I began thinking of the water horses, knowing they should be making their appearance. I thought of Puck and Sean. It's just such a magical book....
ReplyDeleteI wish Maggie was writing more of this instead of Raven Boys. I too loved it, Christy. When I spoke with her a little bit when she was here in Denver, she said that the book was very special to her, more than the Mercy Falls, but of course she might just say that. I found it compelling, and more than war stuff & gore, compelling and wicked really. Those horses! This is based on some mythical stories in Ireland-whew! Thanks for reminding me again how great it is!
ReplyDeleteThis book is so great. Maggie Stiefvater is a true literary genius. I want to be her when I grow up. Make sure you read The Raven Boys also. So, so good.
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