A Temperate Reaction to a Snowy Tale

Title: The Snow Child
Author: Eowyn Ivey
Host: Liz

The owls hooted overhead, calling our group to order. "New books for you! New books for you!" After a brief analysis of the party food and a crabby story about Costco, we dove in. We give nothing away if we kick off these notes with the summary paragraph on the book jacket because it's where the book begins: "Homesteaders Jack and Mabel have carved out a quiet life of hard work and routine for themselves in the wilderness that is 1920s Alaska, both still deeply longing for the child it's now impossible for them to have. Yet their love for each other is strong, and in a moment of levity during the season's first snowfall, they play together, building a child out of snow. The next morning, the snow child is gone -- but a trail of tiny footsteps remains."

Leftover birthday party food rearranged to look new

Insights and Opinions

+ Shirley opened discussion with an intriguing question. "Many reviewers of this book say that the appearance of the snow child changed Jack and Mabel's lives. But how?" We kicked that back and forth for awhile, and then decided that yes, the reviewers were right. Both Jack and Mabel were transformed by the snow child and her effects on both their state of mind and their circumstances.
+ Ivey is a deft storyteller who knows how to spin a plot, but the prose is sometimes cliched and quotidian. Joanne was particularly irked by prose like "They laughed merrily" and "Esther chuckled." "I hate people who chuckle," Joanne said.
+ Blanche, who'd come off of a hard week found the book delightful, "very sweet," and a perfect means of uplifting a heavy mood.
+ Margy and Liz agreed that the book was entertaining, never boring, not great literature, but worth a look. It's a nice escape.
+ Most everybody was annoyed by the letter from Mabel's sister, which seems to arrive at a convenient time, carrying a lot of convenient information -- it all seemed a contrived solution to some of the author's challenges, a la "suddenly, a foot came through the door." (Please note: this last line appears nowhere in the book).
+ The chapter in which Mabel attempts suicide is beautifully written.
+ Vicky felt this book would have been a wonderful short story. As soon as she said that, we knew she was right.
+ At the core, this book is about creativity. At the beginning of the story, Mabel is lost in depression. She hasn't been able to create life, and -- a talented artist -- she's put away her pencils and charcoal. She and Jack no longer talk, they no longer touch, and they never make love. Then, in a moment of play, they tap into their frozen creativity, and it all begins.
+ All in all, The Snow Child is an entertaining tale, but a bit light, like a made-for-TV movie. We recommend it with reservations, with one dissention due to curmudgeonry.

Oddments and Telling Details

Part of Liz's library

+ Despite his best efforts, Steve had to miss due to being at the airport after a very long flight back from China. Linda was sick in bed. We missed them both.
+ Kudos to Graywolf Press for Tracy K. Smith's Pulitzer win, which was announced the day we met.
+ After much arguing about what our book is for May, we decided to read A Backward Glance, Edith Wharton's autobiography -- partly because Shirley had already bought it and was halfway through it, and partly because we all agreed it was a good idea.
+ Remember, if ever you need to know the date of our next meeting and the name of the book, visit Coming Up.