OK, so I don’t do many reviews these days but this is one that I couldn’t resist. It’s a beautiful book and there’s been a huge amount of hype surrounding it which, as it turns out, is all for good reason – I’d heard whispers about it for months and when it was named one of the Waterstones 11 for 2012 (their pick of the best debut fiction of the year) I knew it was something I had to get my hands on, and I’m pleased to say that I did.
The Snow Child can best be described as a fairytale for adults. In fact, it takes its inspiration from the traditional Russian fairytale The Snow Maiden, and that magical and slightly otherworldly feel continues throughout the book.
A middle-aged couple, living on an Alaskan homestead, long for a child but after a devastating stillbirth 10 years previously are unable to fulfil their wishes. They’re lonely, isolated and are growing further and further apart, yet one evening they impulsively decide to build a snow girl when the first flakes begin to fall. The next morning their creation has disappeared, but footsteps are leading away from the pile of snow…
What follows is a truly enchanting story, full of hope and wonder, and the descriptions of the Alaskan wilderness only add to the magical feel of the book. The prose is beautiful and you can really feel the isolation and savage beauty of the situation the characters are in, and I found myself quite emotional by the end of it. When Jack and Mabel are joined by their snow child there are some really beautiful moments, and the small cast of characters that join them are all wonderful (particularly straight-talking but lovable Esther) and they really help bring the story to life.
It’s a short and sweet review, but trust me when I say that the book itself is even sweeter. I absolutely adored this book. It’s Eowyn Ivey’s first novel and I really hope it does as well as it’s tipped to, and if you’re intrigued by modern takes on traditional fairytales then you can’t go wrong. I really didn’t want it to end and am sure it’ll be on my shelves for a long time to come, and it’s even better for this time of year—it’s the perfect book to curl up with whilst you’re watching the snow fall outside, and I truly can’t recommend it enough.
(Thanks to Waterstones for my read and review copy)
