Woah

[revena]

I just finished reading Sunshine, by Robin McKinley. I've enjoyed reading and re-reading several of McKinley's young adult novels in the past. They always felt a little removed to me as I read, the way a fairy tale is - not immediate, but not in an irritating sort of way. Reading stories like that is very restful for me.

I picked Sunshine up with a little trepidation, because I'd heard a few people say that they didn't like it nearly as much as McKinley's other stuff. And I can see why, because it's quite a departure from her more familiar style. An awesome departure. At least, I thought so. Man. I don't even know what to say about it right now. I'm gonna let it stew and then write up something for Hathor, probably. But I just wanted to register my "woah" right away.

Woah.

Comments

[shiv5468.livejournal.com]

I've jsut read that and thought it lacked... structure. It's all inconclusive and just hanging.

[polymexina.livejournal.com]

mm. it's the beginning of a series, i think. i really enjoyed it.

[revena.livejournal.com]

I think there's definitely room for a sequel, for sure. I don't know that there's one planned though.

[polymexina.livejournal.com]

:now officially grumpy:

[tekanji.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, McKinley has stated that in all likelyhood there will be no sequel (http://robinmckinleysblog.com/2008/12/02/there-is-no-sequel-to-sunshine/). After I finished Sunshine I was like, "OMG when's the sequel coming out???!!!!111" So I googled her webpage, looked at the FAQ, and found out the same info that's now written in that blog post.

It still hurts to see her say that there won't be a sequel... That book needs a sequel :(

[polymexina.livejournal.com]

I JUST SAID I WILL CRY. why you wanna break my HEART?

[tekanji.livejournal.com]

Well, theoretically you said you would cry after I posted this.

But, really, any opportunity to make nice people cry fits into my EVIL PLAN OF DOOOOOOOM, so I'm not complaining. :)

[polymexina.livejournal.com]

if you complain, you let the terrorists win.

[shiv5468.livejournal.com]

Um, I believe not. If it is, it's one that's not been written.

[polymexina.livejournal.com]

;) it better be, or i will cry forever and ever and ever.

[shiv5468.livejournal.com]

Better stock up on tissues then. The author is very clear on the point.

[revena.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I can see where you're coming from on that. I think part of why I liked it as a work of McKinley's particularly is because her other novels are so structured.

[shiv5468.livejournal.com]

At the end of the book I've no idea who that vampire is. And all that baking is... too cute, too domestic, too womanly.

Nothing happens in the end, and nothing much happens the rest of the time. I've no idea why the Bad Vampire does what he does, or why the good vampire does what he does, or what any of the other characters are doing and why. It's just annoying. It's not a novel that's left open through choice, it's a bit of world building and some scratched around notes that she didn't work up properly.

Sorry to harsh your squee. :D

[brownbetty]

Yeah, I loved it, I think it's one of the best vampire novels out there, and the only one I own. I pinch-hat it last year for yuletide.

[revena.livejournal.com]

Reeeeally? Link pls?

And, yeah. I'm not big on vampires generally, but I'm glad I took a chance on Sunshine.

[brownbetty]

http://brown-betty.livejournal.com/343011.html and also http://www.yuletidetreasure.org/archive/49/demerara.html (The first is My Thoughts On Sunshine, which I found while looking for the link.)

[revena.livejournal.com]

Hah! How funny that you talk about Sunshine in the very same post that Karen and I plagiarized from that one time (oh, us wacky kids), and I totally missed the rockin' book rec the first time around.

[brownbetty]

No one reads my book reviews, I've come to terms with this.

[revena.livejournal.com]

Pft. I read that post! I just failed to remember anything but the Heinlein stuff after the fact, apparently.

Anyhow, I have just read yer stories, and I <3 you more than ever.

[oliemoon.livejournal.com]

I read your book reviews! Some of them on GoodReads anyway. I quite enjoyed the truthiness of your Eragon review, some time ago as it were.

Just so you know!

[brownbetty]

It is very cute; about every six months someone comes to that review and says “Maybe you didn't like it but I loved it it was my first fantasy book, you meany!”

I always say “Well, I'm glad you liked it.” But there's something adorable about it, I think.

[tekanji.livejournal.com]

Yes, yes, yes.

I'm a fan of McKinley's work in general (I've read Deerskin more times than I can count), but Sunshine really hit the OMG WHOA button for me. It was actually the inspiration for a major re-write of a novel I'm (kinda sorta) working (started in the 7th grade).

[revena.livejournal.com]

Deerskin is my least favorite, I think, but I've read it more than once myself. I'm a big fan of The Hero and the Crown.

[tekanji.livejournal.com]

I don't know why it resonates so much with me, but it does. o.o

I like The Hero and the Crown too, but for some reason the ending feels kind of abrupt to me... the couple times I've read it I've wanted it to go on another chapter or two. No idea why. o.O

[tacithydra.livejournal.com]

Yes! I love this book! And I am not usually a fan of vampire novels!

[revena.livejournal.com]

I read the occasional vampire-based romance (because I am a little addicted to romance novels) and such, but this is the only vampire-heavy novel that I've read yet that's going on my keeper shelf.

[seeksadventure.livejournal.com]

I look forward to reading more of your thoughts. I liked it a lot, and keep intending to reread it, but I think I got myself too excited for it. I knew about it for ages, because it came out while I was still working at the bookstore and heard about all sorts of books very early, so I spent a long time waiting impatiently for it. One of my favorite authors. One of my favorite types of books. She was going to rock it like no one else had ever rocked it, I just knew it, etc.

And it was really good. Just not as good as it was in my expectations, unfortunately.

I think with this time and distance, I can reread it again and enjoy it the way I intended to the first time around.

[seeksadventure.livejournal.com]

Also, I am still incredibly bitter that I missed her at one of the St. Louis Barnes & Nobles, because they failed to tell our store, and we were their sister store. I didn't find out about it until the day after and went through the roof.