28th October, 2008
I, Coriander by Sally Gardner
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Wouldn’t you like to own a pair of shoes that fit like it was made for you? Ah, how nice that would be! Coriander Hobie is one lucky kid. She receives a pair of silver shoes and they fit her perfectly. But then, there is another story altogether behind those pretty shoes.
In this book, Coriander tells her tale in seven parts. She also lights seven candles to represent each part and blows them off one by one as she finishes one part after another. Now this candle-blowing thing is really intriguing but I don’t understand what it means.
First, Coriander introduces herself (she was born in 1643) and her parents. Where they lived, how her parents met, how her mother could ‘cure’ the neighbours by recommending them to take some of her homemade remedies. Some people secretly called her mother a witch or a cunning woman but they still flock to her home to be treated.
Now one day, a package arrives for Coriander and what does she find in there? Why, it’s the pair of silver shoes that fit her so darn well. Unfortunately, her mother doesn’t allow her to wear them. Six-year-old Coriander who has fallen in love with the shoes just couldn’t understand why she wasn’t allowed to wear them. She knew that the shoes were made especially for her.
Unable to resist not being able to have those shoes, Coriander sneaks into her father’s room and discreetly wears them. She panics when she couldn’t take them off, as if they wouldn’t come off. Well, it was only temporary. The shoes acted normally after that and Coriander’s parents let her wear them freely.
After a while, something odd happened to Coriander’s mother. She died not much later and the family’s broken-hearted. To make matters worse, Coriander’s father is advised to take on a Puritan wife so that he can keep his properties. Mr. Hobie was supportive of the Royalist cause and the Royalists had lost the English Civil War.
Mr. Hobie’s new wife, Maud, is like the wife/step-mother from hell. She finds fault with almost everything and is set on making the house more Godly by removing and changing many things which she considers to be linked to witchcraft. She also brings a preacher, Arise Fell home and insists that he stay with them.
Arise Fell is definitely one person whom I would never like to meet! He’s an extremist, heartless, cunning, and just a really hated character in this book. I felt angry and sympathetic towards Coriander and the others who had to suffer from Arise Fell’s ‘hand of wrath’. He even forces Coriander to change her name to ‘Ann’ because Coriander is not a suitable name for a God-fearing person. Ridiculous!
You’ll enjoy reading I, Coriander as it’s magical and beautifully-written. The parts with Arise Fell were quite disturbing because he just seemed so cruel! He’s quite remarkable because he can influence people with what he preaches but things go too far when he takes matters into his own hands. For example, the part where he and Maud deliberately kill an old, defenseless woman while other people just stood by watching.
I should like to see this book turned into a movie. It would be quite fascinating to watch Coriander, Arise Fell, Tycho (Coriander’s love), and other characters on screen.
Other Reviews: Jenne, Jen Robinson, Casey
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Posted in Authors G, Children's Books, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Titles I at 9:55 pm |
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On October 28, 2008 at 11:12 pm Beth F said:
Wow! Sounds like a good one with a complex plot. Maybe I’ll be able to get to it in 2009.
On October 28, 2008 at 11:49 pm KittyCat said:
Interesting! Somehow, this book reminds me of “The Snow Queen” by Hans Christian Andersen. I can’t wait to read it…
On October 29, 2008 at 1:15 am Jenne said:
Thanks for visiting the Book Drop! I hope you will continue to enjoy our staff reviews and creative ideas. Your review is great. Feel free to add links to any others we have in common!
On October 29, 2008 at 1:43 am Jen Robinson said:
Thanks for reminding me about this book, which I read a couple of years ago. Arise Fell is indeed creepy, just thinking back on him makes me shudder a little bit.
Sally Gardner has another book out now, The Red Necklace, but I haven’t had a chance to read it yet.
On October 29, 2008 at 9:30 am Casey said:
Arise Fell was evil and I hate when people are evil then try to mask it with religion.
And, as I said in my post, I luuurrrvveeeddd the Red Necklace. If you liked I, Coriander then I think you would really enjoy Red Necklace. The sequel, Silver Blade, is coming out in Nov. I believe.
Sally Gardner is definitely a great author.
On October 31, 2008 at 6:38 pm Josette said:
Beth F: Maybe my review made it sound complex! Haha! Yeah, do get it and read it too.
KittyCat: The Snow Queen…yeah I think I see how you connect these two. You’ll find this book as good as The Snow Queen’s story.
Jenne: Thanks for visiting my blog too. I’ll definitely return to Book Drop to read up on your reviews there!
Jen Robinson: While reading Arise Fell’s parts, my heart felt kinda tight and tensed up! Like I couldn’t believe such evilness existed. Still he’s one of the more interesting characters in the book.
I’ve heard of The Red Necklace too but I haven’t seen it in local bookstores yet.
Casey: That’s true. Religion can’t be evil but it’s only people who twist things around. Wow, Gardner certainly has lots of great books. I can’t wait to get my hands on The Red Necklace and Silver Blade!
On November 1, 2008 at 5:53 am Carrie said:
Your review was excellent. Thanks for sharing the link with me! It’s been so long since I’ve read it, but you brought the story back to me.
Thanks for sharing YOUR thoughts!
On November 3, 2008 at 12:17 am Josette said:
Hi Carrie, thank you. I’m glad of helping you remember this book! It’s a very good one, don’t you think? Couldn’t put it down!
On November 13, 2008 at 12:40 am Gargron said:
Perhaps you could write something about Terry Prattchet?
On November 13, 2008 at 1:22 pm Josette said:
Gargron: Hello! Yes, I’d like to read some books by Terry Pratchett too. I don’t own any of his works now actually but am interested in reading some.
Are you a fan of his books? Can you suggest which book I should start first?
On November 13, 2008 at 1:32 pm Gargron said:
Josette: Yes, I’m a big fan! I have 20 of his books at home. I suggest you read them chronically, starting with “The Colour of Magic”.
On November 13, 2008 at 6:58 pm Josette said:
Gargron: Okay, I’ll look for The Colour of Magic in bookstores! I also just saw A Hat Full of Sky and Going Postal being sold second-hand on a forum. Thought of getting them too.
I’ll read them after November 19 when my final exams are over! By the way, why do you like reading Pratchett’s books?
On November 15, 2008 at 11:24 am Saturday Review of Books: November 1, 2008 at Semicolon said:
[...] Rachel (A Bell for Adano)133. Amber (Sarah’s Key)134. Amber (Any Given Doomsday)135. Josette (I, Coriander)136. Books & Other Thoughts (The Naming)137. Books & Other Thoughts (M is for Magic)138. [...]
On November 20, 2008 at 3:19 am Gargron said:
Josette: Oh, he destroys the clichées (did i wrote the word right?!) and he writes very funny. Yeah, it’s all. “Genialty is simple” - it’s about him.
On November 23, 2008 at 11:45 pm Josette said:
Gargron: Cool! Yes, I’ve read that his books are really funny and I can’t wait to read them. Thanks for sharing!