. There's not many books of the tale available in English, but the tale is well-loved and represented in Russia and other parts of Europe.The Snow Maiden is the heroine of various legends. In one story, a childless couple make a girl of snow who, to their delight, becomes animated. Only she will melt if she falls in love. Indeed, her heart begins to warm her when she meets Lel', the shepherd boy. Some say she melted of love, but one legend contends her parents sent her to the North Pole to help Father Frost deliver presents, and therefore she could at least visit once a year. Our Snow Maiden Fairy Tale doll beautifully illustrates the legendAnd, yes, it is on my brain because Eowyn Ivey's book is newly released here in the US:
by Neil Gaiman is temporarily marked down to $1.99 on Amazon in ebook edition. First published in 2001, American Gods became an instant classic—an intellectual and artistic benchmark from the multiple-award-winning master of innovative fiction, Neil Gaiman. Now discover the mystery and magic of American Gods in this tenth anniversary edition. Newly updated and expanded with the author’s preferred text, this commemorative volume is a true celebration of a modern masterpiece by the one, the only, Neil Gaiman.
A storm is coming . . .
Locked behind bars for three years, Shadow did his time, quietly waiting for the magic day when he could return to Eagle Point, Indiana. A man no longer scared of what tomorrow might bring, all he wanted was to be with Laura, the wife he deeply loved, and start a new life.
But just days before his release, Laura and Shadow’s best friend are killed in an accident. With his life in pieces and nothing to keep him tethered, Shadow accepts a job from a beguiling stranger he meets on the way home, an enigmatic man who calls himself Mr. Wednesday. A trickster and rogue, Wednesday seems to know more about Shadow than Shadow does himself.
Life as Wednesday’s bodyguard, driver, and errand boy is far more interesting and dangerous than Shadow ever imagined—it is a job that takes him on a dark and strange road trip and introduces him to a host of eccentric characters whose fates are mysteriously intertwined with his own. Along the way Shadow will learn that the past never dies; that everyone, including his beloved Laura, harbors secrets; and that dreams, totems, legends, and myths are more real than we know. Ultimately, he will discover that beneath the placid surface of everyday life a storm is brewing—an epic war for the very soul of America—and that he is standing squarely in its path.
Relevant and prescient, American Gods has been lauded for its brilliant synthesis of “mystery, satire, sex, horror, and poetic prose” (Michael Dirda, Washington Post Book World) and as a modern phantasmagoria that “distills the essence of America” (Seattle Post-Intelligencer). It is, quite simply, an outstanding work of literary imagination that will endure for generations.
or The Snow Child (UK)
by Eowyn Ivey is slated for a February 1st release but it is already shipping from Amazon and other booksellers.A bewitching tale of heartbreak and hope set in 1920s Alaska.
Jack and Mabel have staked everything on making a fresh start for themselves in a homestead 'at the world's edge' in the raw Alaskan wilderness. But as the days grow shorter, Jack is losing his battle to clear the land, and Mabel can no longer contain her grief for the baby she lost many years before.
The evening the first snow falls, their mood unaccountably changes. In a moment of tenderness, the pair are surprised to find themselves building a snowman - or rather a snow girl - together. The next morning, all trace of her has disappeared, and Jack can't quite shake the notion that he glimpsed a small figure - a child? - running through the spruce trees in the dawn light. And how to explain the little but very human tracks Mabel finds at the edge of their property?
Written with the clarity and vividness of the Russian fairytale from which it takes its inspiration, The Snow Child is an instant classic - the story of a couple who take a child into their hearts, all the while knowing they can never truly call her their own.
by Charles Perrault and illustrated by Charlotte Gastaut is today's picture book. I love France Month because we get imagery for tales that are less popular with publishers in English. The Fairies is better known to us as Diamonds and Toads in its many varieties. I couldn't find many images for this book, but I am providing close-ups of the spreads I did find.
Il était une fois une veuve qui avait deux filles. L'aînée était le portrait de sa mère pour la méchanceté et la cruauté. Au contraire, la plus jeune des soeurs n'était que douceur, gentillesse et grâce. La mère adorait sa fille aînée et était très dure avec la cadette. Mais une bonne fée, qui passait par là, décida de punir cette injustice...
