SPOILERS: Deerskin by Robin McKinley

[kate_nepveu]

Over on my book log, I've just posted a comment on Deerskin, by Robin McKinley, in which I talk around some problems I had with the book. For the curious, I put spoilers behind the cut tag. This will probably not make any sense at all if you haven't read the book.

Comments

[pixelfish]

I think my "except" for Robin McKinley would be her second Beauty story. I just couldn't get into it. I have....very little memory of it either, which is odd for me.

I wasn't so hot on Sunshine, but it survived for me, just because of the narrative voice.

I think the point you make about Lissar is a good one--in terms of time and healing. A misstep, but not one that ruins the story for me.

Doesn't Ossin's kingdom show up again in Spindle's End, as background against the other kingdoms? The references to a particular queen seem very similar to Ossin's family. Something about small households and making preserves and hunting dogs....

[kate_nepveu]

I haven't read _Sunshine_ yet, though it's moderately high on the list. There is something about a small kingdom similar to Ossin's in _Spindle's End_, yes, but no more than a background reference.

[sienamystic]

Deerskin doesn't present the same kind of problems for me, but I have found that sometimes McKinley works better if I let her imagery wash over me without trying to work it out too much. Her endings can sometimes be too...what's the word I want...sensory? for me, where I want something a little more concrete that I can get a handle on. I do see the point you make about Lissar's healing being an interesting one, but it's not one that I would have ever noticed as a minor flaw in the underlying structure of the story

[kate_nepveu]

I've never been able to get more than 15 pages into _Outlaws_; as I've said above, _Sunshine_ is still on the to-be-read pile. I love _Spindle's End_, but for the people, setting, and prose; the ending is pretty abstract, though _Deerskin_ is up there too.

My favorite of hers is probably _The Blue Sword_, but that's for comfort reading purposes rather than strict quality.

[pixelfish]

I like Outlaws actually.

"Sensory" is exactly the way I think of certain endings, particularly Spindle's End and Sunshine. (As I said, I don't remember anything about the second Beauty book so I don't think I can really comment on it.)

My favourite is also the Blue Sword--which keeps manifesting itself subtly whenever I write. (My YA novel in progress could best be described as The Far Pavillions meets The Blue Sword meets Captains Courageous.)

[schulman]

The Far Pavillions meets The Blue Sword meets Captains Courageous

I would pay to read that, and I've never even heard of the Far Pavillions. (Just ordered it, though; if it stands in that company, I'll like it.)

[kate_nepveu]

Mmmm. I'm not sure I follow you--you think physical strength is relevant to the ability to withstand the return of her memories?

[juliansinger]

Yeah. I've struggled with that ending.

(I mean, I'm on the path toward working with trauma victims, m'self...)

I always took it to mean that she gave her enough distance not to be overwhelmed by the memories /all the time/, but close enough to them to be able to deal with them. (If I recall the book correctly, she was pretty much in a permanent state of overwhelmed-ness, before the break.)

And, yes, as Papersky says, that she was physically stronger. Physically more able to deal with the consequences of what happened.

[juliansinger]

Oh, and I like Outlaws a lot, I just don't think it's very, uh, mature? It doesn't really /challenge/ itself.

Sunshine is fabulous, and I love and adore _The Blue Sword_.

Spindle, uh, yes. Wonderful characterization. Ending's just a tad weak.