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juushikaTitle: Yume no Hon: The Book of Dreams
Author: Catherynne M. Valente
Published: Prime Books, 2005
Rating: 4 of 5
Page Count: 149
Total Page Count: 73,614
Text Number: 215
Read For: fan of the author, checked out from the library
Short Review: In exile on a mountain in medieval Japan, Akayo is an old woman whose psyche has fractured into a number of dreams with range from her mountain land to Egyptian myth and Greek mythology. In the passage of a year, Ayako explores these dreams—and, ultimately, unites them. Lyrical, mythic, and loosely bounded by plot, Yume no Hon is beautiful but a bit overwrought. However, as the plot develops the book gains focus and ends strongly. It's not for all readers, but I recommend it to those who love lyricism and are willing to put time and effort into reading it.
For the first half of Yume no Hon I was somewhat underwhelmed: the book is beautiful prose poetry, but its weak plot leaves it unfocused. I love Valente for the beauty of her books: vivid images, lyrical language, mythic content—her writing reads like music. But Akayo's dreams range a broad spectrum from the Greek sphinx to creation myths to the mountains of Japan, and for the first half of the book the plot is weak, stranding the reader among the shifting dreams with little direction to guide him. The beautiful images and language grow repetitive and it's too easy to lose focus, and pages skim by read but not understood or fully experienced.
As the book goes on, however, the plot comes together and grows stronger. It's still easy to get lost in the lyricism, but the disparate influences seem less random and the dreams gain direction as the book gains purpose. And as it comes together, the book redeems its slow beginning. With less anxiety about the book's direction, it's easier to enjoy the lyricism and mythology. Akayo's journey has a satisfying conclusion which has a pleasing sense of closure but remains expansive and pregnant with potential. The book's end also begs an immediate reread, to better experience the story with the entire plot in mind. All in all, Yume no Hon is not Valente's best—it can be difficult to read, it lacks some of the magic and joy of her other books, and the plot forms too late. I would recommend readers pick up her more recent novels (The Orphan's Tales or Palimpsest), but if you've read those or find Yume no Hon more intriguing, then by all means pick it up. For readers who love lyrical language and mythic content, and who are willing to put some effort into the work of reading, this is a beautiful and meaningful text.
Review posted here on Amazon.com.
Author: Catherynne M. Valente
Published: Prime Books, 2005
Rating: 4 of 5
Page Count: 149
Total Page Count: 73,614
Text Number: 215
Read For: fan of the author, checked out from the library
Short Review: In exile on a mountain in medieval Japan, Akayo is an old woman whose psyche has fractured into a number of dreams with range from her mountain land to Egyptian myth and Greek mythology. In the passage of a year, Ayako explores these dreams—and, ultimately, unites them. Lyrical, mythic, and loosely bounded by plot, Yume no Hon is beautiful but a bit overwrought. However, as the plot develops the book gains focus and ends strongly. It's not for all readers, but I recommend it to those who love lyricism and are willing to put time and effort into reading it.
For the first half of Yume no Hon I was somewhat underwhelmed: the book is beautiful prose poetry, but its weak plot leaves it unfocused. I love Valente for the beauty of her books: vivid images, lyrical language, mythic content—her writing reads like music. But Akayo's dreams range a broad spectrum from the Greek sphinx to creation myths to the mountains of Japan, and for the first half of the book the plot is weak, stranding the reader among the shifting dreams with little direction to guide him. The beautiful images and language grow repetitive and it's too easy to lose focus, and pages skim by read but not understood or fully experienced.
As the book goes on, however, the plot comes together and grows stronger. It's still easy to get lost in the lyricism, but the disparate influences seem less random and the dreams gain direction as the book gains purpose. And as it comes together, the book redeems its slow beginning. With less anxiety about the book's direction, it's easier to enjoy the lyricism and mythology. Akayo's journey has a satisfying conclusion which has a pleasing sense of closure but remains expansive and pregnant with potential. The book's end also begs an immediate reread, to better experience the story with the entire plot in mind. All in all, Yume no Hon is not Valente's best—it can be difficult to read, it lacks some of the magic and joy of her other books, and the plot forms too late. I would recommend readers pick up her more recent novels (The Orphan's Tales or Palimpsest), but if you've read those or find Yume no Hon more intriguing, then by all means pick it up. For readers who love lyrical language and mythic content, and who are willing to put some effort into the work of reading, this is a beautiful and meaningful text.
Review posted here on Amazon.com.
