The Orphan's Tales: In the Night Garden
by Catherynne M. Valente
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Book Summary Information
Author: Catherynne M. ValenteEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2006-10-31
ISBN: 0553384031
Number of pages: 496
Publisher: Spectra
Book Reviews of The Orphan's Tales: In the Night Garden
Book Review: Rich and haunting
Summary: 5 Stars
Wow. I adored reading this book. The stories within stories within stories made me want to giggle with delight. I was astounded at the way Catherynne Valente nested one tale inside another and back around again. I've never read anything quite like this and it was challenging to keep track of each thread, but in a good way. It's a clever, rich, and unique read. A mysterious young girl tells a royal son stories each night secretly in a beautiful garden. Stories that are written on her eyelids in minute script. The book is about the girl and the boy, the tales she tells, the boy's life and his thirst for more. Who is she? Her story is last and she discovers it as she reads her stories out loud in the garden.
I've read some of the other reviews that mentioned the writing style, but I must say that given the "Once upon a time" style, I expected a bit of repetitiveness, ie: The first son went to the mountain, met with failure...so the second son went to the mountain, met with failure...so the third son went to the mountain, etc. You get the picture. I personally didn't find any fault with the writing style at all and was so taken with the story I forgave the occasional repetitive devices.
I read this book many months ago, yet I find that the stories really are haunting my mind. I'll catch a snatch of story in my head, triggered by something that reminds me of it, and it'll take me a few moments to realize I'm remembering a story out of The Orphan's Tales. To find out the tale of the storyteller herself, you must also buy The Orphan's Tales: In The Cities of Coin and Spice, also fabulous. I was heartbroken that the book had to end.
This book, and it's sister, are living on my treasure shelves, reserved for only my favorites. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves beautiful, magical, fantastic Tales, not just stories.
Summary of The Orphan's Tales: In the Night Garden
A Book of Wonders for Grown-Up ReadersEvery once in a great while a book comes along that reminds us of the magic spell that stories can
cast over us-to dazzle, entertain, and enlighten. Welcome to the Arabian Nights for our time-a lush and fantastical epic guaranteed to spirit you away from the very first page..
Secreted away in a garden, a lonely girl spins stories to warm a curious prince: peculiar feats and unspeakable fates that loop through each other and back again to meet in the tapestry of her voice. Inked on her eyelids, each twisting, tattooed tale is a piece in the puzzle of the girl's own hidden history. And what tales she tells! Tales of shape-shifting witches and wild horsewomen, heron kings and beast princesses, snake gods, dog monks, and living stars-each story more strange and fantastic than the one that came before. From ill-tempered "mermaid" to fastidious Beast, nothing is ever quite what it seems in these ever-shifting tales-even, and especially, their teller. Adorned with illustrations by the legendary Michael Kaluta, Valente's enchanting lyrical fantasy offers a breathtaking reinvention of the untold myths and dark fairy tales that shape our dreams. And just when you think you've come to the end, you realize the adventure has only begun..
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