Judging from the lack of response to my rave reviews of Wind in the Willows, I know I’m in a small minority of those who love books in which
animals act like people. My latest favorite was offered as a free
download on Kindle, but now at $2.99, it’s still a bargain.
The Linnet's Tale is the story of a community of mice who
live in Tottensea Burrows. It is told from the point of view of a linnet
(house finch) whose conspiratorial confidences are pure pleasure. Not only are there villains and heroes, there
are families and friends who stick together.
My favorite family was the Fieldpeas who own the bookstore. The three Fieldpea daughters love books and
there are several chapters about them that will delight bibliophiles and word
lovers.
I, who love tight, clean prose, was enamored with every flowery,
meandering sentence in Willard’s short novel.
How could you not love a phrase like, “He was wallowing helplessly in a
small tussock of fescue.”? Or not love words like, “pipit,” “recumbent,” “orts,”
and “kerfuffle”? The subtitle of the book is “A Mouse Tale for Grownups,” but I
think a child who has been brought up on books (who is not daunted by big words) would rejoice in the adventures
of the Tottensea mice.
I have to agree with Waterford Hopstep (the linnet) when he
described them as quite a splendid little
company of field mice – all of them honorable, generous, warm-hearted and as
distinct from one another as snowflakes.
You’d like them, I think. (p. 19)
In the tradition of Brambly Hedge, Redwall, and Wind in the
Willows, this darling story is full of humor and heroism – and a touch of
romance. Definitely one of my favorite
books of 2013.
3 comments:
Now I want to check this out. I was unfamiliar with this title or author.
I've never heard of this book before, but it sounds really cute! In fact, I want to read it just for all the amazing words you picked out. It sounds like a good book for a rainy day.
I am a Wind in the Willows fan (though I totally butchered it when I read it to my children long ago, but they've since enjoyed the audiobook). I think I'd love this one! Thanks for the review!
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