Books changed my life. Honestly, I can't remember a time that I didn't know how to read/wasn't reading a book (except for that dark time from sophomore to junior year of college where I only read school-related books). I got an English major and a History minor for a reason, other than "just making sure I was fully unemployable" (see Liberal Arts movie trailer). Even before I was in middle school I would stay up late with my "night light" and read books way late into the night. I've always been somewhat of a night owl and book junkie. I doubt I could tell you about all of the books I've read, but some of them stick out. One in particular was my favorite for years--and then I read Jane Austen. And yes, this means I'm turning Saturday into Book Day just because I feel like all of my weekend posts should be themed. Actually, now that I'm thinking about this author, I keep remembering books I want to read by her. So instead of just highlighting one book, I'm highlighting a whole body of work.
Robin McKinley is a British author (I think). What I know for sure is that she has an English writer husband and has written some of my favorite childhood books. Although if you look at the Amazon listings it says the reading level is "18 and up," pretty sure I read them on one of Colorado road trips we took (so 4th-5th grade maybe). I'm way super glad that Mom didn't know about the "reading age" thingy. There was not anything inappropriate in the books, but I'm getting sidetracked. Robin McKinley has written The Hero and the Crown, The Blue Sword, Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast, Rose Daughter, Deerskin, and Sunshine. All of which I loved. Warning there are some adult situations in Deerskin, but it's still a great story (and not extremely graphic like things are these days).
The Hero and the Crown and The Blue Sword are set in the same imaginary land centuries apart. These stories are epic tales of young women stepping up and becoming heroines without even realizing what they are doing. Mostly they are just trying to do the right thing. Beauty and Rose Daughter are retellings of Beauty and the Beast. While I'm not 100% certain, I think that Beauty is McKinley's first published novel. I know it is her first attempt at retelling the fairytale and Rose Daughter is a much more elaborate version. While some elements are similar in both books, they are not the same story. However, I kind of wished I had read Rose Daughter first as I fell in love with Beauty and compared everything, but that is also just my personality. Deerskin is a story of magic, survival, justice, loyalty, and love. I don't even know if I could sum it up for you or even begin to do this story justice. Let's just say it's a powerful complicated story. Sunshine is fairly new. If by new you mean early 2000s--The Hero and the Crown was first published in the late '80s. Sunshine is a vampire book that was written obviously before Twilight (but also after Interview with a Vampire). It is not all about vampires though, it takes into account that if the vampire stories are true then so are other stories. Actually Sunshine was one of the first serious vampire books I read and I personally think it can hold its own with the best of them.
I've never been one to follow trends because in my opinion if you're busy keeping up with trends then you don't have much time to create your own ideas, opinions, and taste. So maybe I missed the part when Robin McKinley was a big rock star in the book world or in truth maybe I was barely just born. She has won more than a few awards and recognitions for her work. I love her. I was extremely sad once I had read everything she had ever written. (I hear she's coming out with some new stuff in the upcoming years and I seriously cannot wait!) In fact, I'm probably going to have to reread Sunshine just because I started thinking of her (I very recently reread The Blue Sword for about the fiftieth, which is my absolute favorite of hers).
Title: "Dark Sea" by Husky
Labels: Authors, Books, Music
