The films were 'Mamma Mia! Here we go again' and 'Mary Shelley'. 'Mamma Mia' is a safe bet for anyone who likes ABBA (which I do), but even so I was surprised at how much I liked this one. Mary Shelley was awful, there's nothing about it that I could recommend.
I really enjoyed Naomi Novik's 'Uprooted' when I read it last year, so much so that I've been really looking forward to 'Spinning Silver' which is a sort of pendant novel. 'Uprooted' (I think I have this right) borrows quite heavily from Polish folklore, 'Spinning Silver' nods to Rumplestiltskin but is based in a Russian Jewish tradition - which I'm sure I read is her husbands family background. Both books play with magic and fairy tales, both are set in a non specific once upon a time kind of a world, and both are what I think of as young adult fiction.
The sort of Russian background, and very Russian folklore figures and demons reminded me of Katherine Arden's 'The Bear and the Nightingale' - Russian/Slavic folklore is definitely getting a moment. The comparison definitely highlights Novik's experience as a writer - she has a much lighter touch, but beyond that I don't really want to make comparisons.
'Spinning Silver' is all told in the first person (which I have no strong feelings about, but I know annoys some) mostly by Miryem, the moneylenders daughter, Wanda a peasant girl who goes to work for her to help pay her fathers debt, and Irina, a dukes daughter. Their paths cross and re-cross as they try their best to make something out of their lives.
Miryem's father doesn't like to ask for the money he has lent back, so in desperation Miryem takes over the business and thrives at it - which dismays her parents, but pleases her grandfather. Wanda's father is an abusive alcoholic, working off his debt is a chance for her to widen her horizons and maybe escape - but it's all jeopardised by a deal Miryem is forced into by an ice king. Irina is the plain daughter of a powerful man, transformed by the silver Miryem has to change into gold. She has to make the best of the marriage that enchantment brings her.
What I really liked about this book was the way that Novik explores the transactional nature of human relationships - because everything is based on give and take, decisions do come with a cost attached, and so does power. The considerations which motivate the different characters are compelling, not least because they're sometimes as simple as the fear of starvation and violence.
Novik's handling of anti-semitism is masterly as well. She doesn't over do it, but there's a thread of isolation and prejudice that runs through the book, sometimes erupting into something uglier, but mostly a background sense of hostility towards Miryem and her parents.
There's a lot to like about 'Spinning Silver' (though for me 'Uprooted' has some extra spark about it that this one lacks) and whilst I'm not much interested in Novik's Dragon books, I'm really interested to see what she does next.
When I read Mark Kermode's review of MM2 - he said he blubbed and came out smiling (that's where I learned about the post credits clip too), I knew it wouldn't disappoint! Did you see the trailer for the Mary QofS film? Looked good in the trailer (I can't comment on the historical accuracy - everything I know about Mary QofS is from Jean Plaidy - but I'm sure she did her research).
ReplyDeleteMeant to add - I still have a copy of Uprooted somewhere. I should dig it out.
ReplyDeleteWish I'd read that review before I saw the film. Would have stayed. Uprooted was one of those books that totally carried me away, despite a few faults, and which is perfect lazy day reading when swept along is what you want. I didn't see the Mary QofS trailer but it sounds like it's far from historically accurate - which is a shame because it's a good story without needing to be tweaked.
DeleteI've really been looking forward to this one so am delighted to hear that it didn't disappoint.
ReplyDeleteI think it's probably a technically better book than Uprooted - interesting relationships, better pacing, a better internal logic to the magic bits - and I really enjoyed it, but Uprooted had some extra something that this one doesn't. It certainly didn't disappoint though, and I'm really looking forward to seeing what she writes next,
DeleteI am very curious about Spinning Silver because I've read a short story she wrote - and it was outstanding - and apparently the novel grew from that story.
ReplyDeleteI loved Uprooted until near the end, all the fighting wore me down a bit. But I loved it enough to look out for this.
There's much less fighting in this, less romance too, and more points of view. I think the logic of how the magical elements work makes more sense, or at least are a bit more restrained, and it felt like she had more to say about people generally. I'll look out for that short story, because I think what she's doing is interesting as well as being fun to read.
Delete