I might actually get to sleep again.
Anyway, this is the last vlogged review of FTF, and there's only one more general vlog to go before the end, for my youtube peeps. This was a "Stack of Five" winner, chosen by the viewers, and if they hadn't picked it for me to read, I may have actually set it aside...
Here are my thoughts on Heather Dixon's Entwined.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Entwined by Heather DixonGet It | Add It
Fairy Tale Retelling ("The 12 Dancing Princesses"), 472 pages
Published March 29th 2011 by Greenwillow Books
Azalea is trapped. Just when she should feel that everything is before her . . . beautiful gowns, dashing suitors, balls filled with dancing . . . it's taken away. All of it.
The Keeper understands. He's trapped, too, held for centuries within the walls of the palace. And so he extends an invitation.
Every night, Azalea and her eleven sisters may step through the enchanted passage in their room to dance in his silver forest.
But there is a cost.
The Keeper likes to keep things.
Azalea may not realize how tangled she is in his web until it is too late.
The Keeper understands. He's trapped, too, held for centuries within the walls of the palace. And so he extends an invitation.
Every night, Azalea and her eleven sisters may step through the enchanted passage in their room to dance in his silver forest.
But there is a cost.
The Keeper likes to keep things.
Azalea may not realize how tangled she is in his web until it is too late.
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I haven't read your two favorite retellings yet of The Twelve Dancing Princesses but I am very partial to Entwined. I felt like the girls danced not because the weren't mourning their mother, but in defiance of their father because of his actions. They needed to feel a connection to her love. Except for the one time, it was at least 3 months before they ever danced.
ReplyDeleteI can understand their need to dance. They are young, not allowed outside, and the description of the castle makes it sound like it's in disrepair. The girls all share one room, the roof leaks, Azalea mentions cleaning out the attic, they can't even go into the garden. I know I couldn't do it, especially at that age. No music either. I don't agree that they were being selfish. I think Azalea was trying to honor her promise to her mother, despite the mourning. Just my opinion.
Heather
I do agree that there was an element of defiance in it, Heather, and as I said, I get that it was their way of celebrating their mother.
ReplyDeleteBut I also thing those elements weren't strong enough to carry it off - much of the time, they just seemed petulant and self-centered to me. Rather than being wistful and mournful, most of the time they seemed exuberant and self-centered with the whole thing - they liked to dance, so they WERE GOING TO DANCE. You know?
Just a little bit more thoughtfulness here and there, and a little less carelessness, would have gone a long way toward making me buy it and like them more.
(And it's not that I *didn't* like them. I just didn't like that aspect of them.)
I see what you mean, but nobody acted very regal to me. Everyone was self centered. Except that the sisters looked after each other (maybe butted into each other's business!!). The king wasn't exactly a role model. I guess I just felt sorry for them more than seeing their lack of feeling. And I thought A had a thing for T so that's what brought her down there. You know, flattery, and all. She was on the cusp of womanhood. But I do see your point. Of course, then, it wouldn't have been much of a story if they hadn't danced:)
ReplyDeleteAnd, I have now purchased The Princess Curse and already have Wildwood Dancing thanks to the recommend of Small Review. I will read them and let you know how I think they compare.
Heather
Nope, changed my mind some more. Needing to connect to their mom's love and memory was the reason they danced in the beginning, you're right. But that was soon forgotten. You are right. It's just that it didn't bother me like it did you. Probably because I've only read a very sparse version of this story. To have it filled in so much, it just felt so rich to me. Don't get me wrong, I still love it, but you're so right, they danced only because they loved dancing, like they were at balls every night or something. They didn't think about their mother at all until T. played his hand. They were just dancing for themselves. I retract previous statements to the contrary!!
ReplyDeleteHeather
Having loved this book myself, I've been looking forward to seeing what you thought of it.
ReplyDeleteAs always, excellent review, Misty.
Haha, YES, Heather, exactly! They danced for themselves, and it only just so HAPPENED that their mom was pulled into it again so they couldn't back out. There were a few times they danced in her memory (like at the cemetery), but usually, it was purely for the exhilaration of it. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing - they're young girls locked up in a castle with the windows covered. I get that they need an outlet. But it does make it harder to sympathize with them.
ReplyDeleteBut she did do a very nice job of building the world and fleshing it out, and I did like the story - but I wanted to like it more than I did in the end.
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