A writer called Eowyn Ivey - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Mithalwen · 02-24-2012, 07:55 PM

Galadriel, That story is woven in to Eowyn Ivey's - the device being that the wife of EI's old couple, Mabel is the daughter of a literature professor and has known it since childhood. They do build a snow girl but how literally she comes alive is the ambiguity of the story and too much of a spoiler to discuss here. But if you note my current signature which is a quotation from the book you may get a clue as to why I found it ultimately uplifting and positive book - though I think I might have found it bleaker had I read it when in the first flush of youth. But getting increasingly middle aged and emerging from a sad time in my life and facing a new start I found it rather encouraging, Make of that what you will!

Mithalwen · 04-03-2012, 11:19 AM

BBC radio 4 has the Snow Child as the current book at bedtime (narrated by Miranda Richardson) if anyone is interested. The first episode was last night but is available http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode...ild_Episode_1/

Galadriel55 · 04-03-2012, 06:39 PM

Oooo, I found the second!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode...ild_Episode_2/

I'm going to keep an eye on this. I wanna hear it, if I can't read it.

ETA: the third: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode...ild_Episode_3/

Galadriel55 · 04-24-2012, 08:35 PM

Aww, I realised I've missed all the other episodes!

I guess I'm going to have to actually find this book somewhere...

Galadriel55 · 05-07-2012, 06:51 PM

I have just (literally about 5 minutes ago) finished this book, and I must say that it outdoes even its best recommendations. The story is so strong you can feel it, smell it, taste it, etc. No, I'm not doing it justice either. You just have to read it.

I am not going to spoil it for anyone going into the things I particularly liked, but I must say that the folk story was indeed weaved in very intricately, keeping the story true but at the same time fresh enough to be a completely different tale. I also thought Eowyn Ivey did a fantastic job in the way she did certain dialogues (the grammar part of it reflects so much of the story it's just a stroke of genious).

The story is simply so deep and so rich... I couldn't put the book down. Mithalwen, I owe so much to you!

Mithalwen · 05-08-2012, 03:29 PM

I am just glad you enjoyed it and I think it is a testament to the book that it has inspired such a positive response in someone a generation younger than the writer as well as the likes of me who might be a more obvious demographic.

02-24-2012, 07:55 PM	#1
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,460	Galadriel, That story is woven in to Eowyn Ivey's - the device being that the wife of EI's old couple, Mabel is the daughter of a literature professor and has known it since childhood. They do build a snow girl but how literally she comes alive is the ambiguity of the story and too much of a spoiler to discuss here. But if you note my current signature which is a quotation from the book you may get a clue as to why I found it ultimately uplifting and positive book - though I think I might have found it bleaker had I read it when in the first flush of youth. But getting increasingly middle aged and emerging from a sad time in my life and facing a new start I found it rather encouraging, Make of that what you will! __________________ “But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.” Christopher Tolkien, Requiescat in pace Last edited by Mithalwen; 02-24-2012 at 07:59 PM.

04-03-2012, 11:19 AM	#2
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,460	A book at bedtime BBC radio 4 has the Snow Child as the current book at bedtime (narrated by Miranda Richardson) if anyone is interested. The first episode was last night but is available http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode...ild_Episode_1/ __________________ “But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.” Christopher Tolkien, Requiescat in pace

04-03-2012, 06:39 PM	#3
Galadriel55 Blossom of Dwimordene Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: The realm of forgotten words Posts: 10,493	Oooo, I found the second! http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode...ild_Episode_2/ I'm going to keep an eye on this. I wanna hear it, if I can't read it. ETA: the third: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode...ild_Episode_3/ __________________ You passed from under darkened dome, you enter now the secret land. - Take me to Finrod's fabled home!... ~ Finrod: The Rock Opera Last edited by Galadriel55; 04-05-2012 at 02:29 PM.

04-24-2012, 08:35 PM	#4
Galadriel55 Blossom of Dwimordene Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: The realm of forgotten words Posts: 10,493	Aww, I realised I've missed all the other episodes! I guess I'm going to have to actually find this book somewhere... __________________ You passed from under darkened dome, you enter now the secret land. - Take me to Finrod's fabled home!... ~ Finrod: The Rock Opera

05-07-2012, 06:51 PM	#5
Galadriel55 Blossom of Dwimordene Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: The realm of forgotten words Posts: 10,493	I have just (literally about 5 minutes ago) finished this book, and I must say that it outdoes even its best recommendations. The story is so strong you can feel it, smell it, taste it, etc. No, I'm not doing it justice either. You just have to read it. I am not going to spoil it for anyone going into the things I particularly liked, but I must say that the folk story was indeed weaved in very intricately, keeping the story true but at the same time fresh enough to be a completely different tale. I also thought Eowyn Ivey did a fantastic job in the way she did certain dialogues (the grammar part of it reflects so much of the story it's just a stroke of genious). The story is simply so deep and so rich... I couldn't put the book down. Mithalwen, I owe so much to you! __________________ You passed from under darkened dome, you enter now the secret land. - Take me to Finrod's fabled home!... ~ Finrod: The Rock Opera

05-08-2012, 03:29 PM	#6
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,460	I am just glad you enjoyed it and I think it is a testament to the book that it has inspired such a positive response in someone a generation younger than the writer as well as the likes of me who might be a more obvious demographic. __________________ “But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.” Christopher Tolkien, Requiescat in pace