Book Review: April

Oh my gosh, I love this book! This was one of my favorite books from childhood. I read this so many times and Cimorene is just the type of heroine I want to read. I found this copy of the book in a used bookstore. I just had to get it because it is a hardcover and the cover design is different from my other copy. Patricia C. Wrede is a genius and this book has everything: wizards, dragons, princesses, a witch and lots of cats.

The first chapter sets it off right. First off, I love all of the chapter titles. They are so entertaining. They make you want to read further just to see why they were named that way. Who could resist: "In Which Cimorene Refuses to be Proper and has a Conversation with a Frog." All of the chapters begin with "In Which" there is an almost storybook/fairytale way that the chapter information is related and yet a frank-no-nonsense way that it is stated. 

When books break away from traditional themes, it makes them more entertaining and unpredictable. Cimorene is a princess but, unlike all her other sisters, she does not want to be a princess. Not when being a princess means she isn't allowed to fence, do magic, or even cook.

Now this book was initially published in 1990 before the 2000 age of spunky princesses who defy the norm. So, Cimorene was ahead of her time. She wanted to be different in a world of convention that wanted to silence her.

And what makes her different?

As mentioned, she wanted to fence and do magic and cook, but her parents forbid those activities. She learned some latin, how to make cherries jubilee, the basics of enchantments along with curtsies, stitches, and the appropriate volume to scream when carried away by a troll. A mix mash of skills that she used in varying degrees once she goes off on her journey.

It's a rather short journey. She is told by a talking frog to go to a certain place where she might find beings that would help her.

The characters are the star of the show and soon we meet Kazul, a dragon not bothered by breaking convention and taking a volunteer. Kazul decides to give Cimorene a chance, beginning a relationship that evolves through the series from friendship to family.

It's an absolute delight to follow Cimorene as she figures out just what those wizards are up to. (The wizards are the antagonists of the novel - as will become very clear early on).

Anyway, I hope that you take the chance to enjoy this book and if you've already read it, what do you think? Do you agree with me?