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Soonchild (2012)

by Russell Hoban(Favorite Author)

3.81 of 5 Votes: 1

ISBN

1406329916 (ISBN13: 9781406329919)

languge

English

genre

Fantasy

publisher

Walker Books

review 1: I loved the premise and in many ways I loved the book so it was disappointing each time something spoilt it along the way. The language would be lyrical, drawing you deep into the mythical tale, only to be spoilt but sudden and jarring American style speaking which knocked you out of the mood and ruined the flow. I could see that Hoban was trying to show the influence of modern culture on this traditional world and in those instances it was kind of appropriate if a little awkward. There were other times however where it seemed just clumsy and uncomfortable. Direct speech is the downfall of this book sadly and for me knocked it down from 4 stars.
review 2: It's hard to imagine a more outstanding combination of writer and illustrator. Alexis Deacon, whose work I ... morehave admired in the past, far exceeded my expectations with his mouthwatering illustrations. Previous work I've seen has been for a younger audience, and this book, with its complex, more mature and mystical themes has given him full opportunity to deliver powerful and imaginative work. Russell Hoban, whose work I have also enjoyed in the past, but whose writing style I have previously associated with a bygone era - delightful but dated - has written the most weirdly mesmerising book I have read in a long time. It has been written in a very accessible and casual language, with its own colloquialisms: completely imagined or based on an unfamiliar reality, I could not say. But the combination of the casual tone and the completely off-the-wall subject matter engaged me completely. It's like a spontaneous creation that went its own way and Hoban was content to let it do so... the significance of this being that the story is about having the courage to do just that. It's about the 'spontaneous leap into the void' that we sometimes all need to make in order to move forward with our lives, or just do what needs to be done. And even though the recurring theme is fear, the book's tone is one of courage and optimism and it left me feeling uplifted. less

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