Book Review
Jun. 17th, 2010 08:53 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kenjariThe Stolen Child
by Keith Donohue
This enchanting novel was inspired by Yeats' poem of the same name. In 1949, seven year old Henry Day runs away from home into the nearby woods, where he is kidnapped by a band of hobgoblins/fae, one of whom takes his place and lives out a normal human life in his stead. The original Henry Day, renamed Aniday by the hobgoblins, becomes one of them, taking on their magical properties of stealth and immortality.
The novel is narrated by Henry and Aniday, in alternating chapters, each telling the story of his new life. Henry is often haunted by memories of his century or so as a hobgoblin and of his childhood before his own kidnapping in the 19th century. He struggles to fit into his human self and life, often feeling out of place and carefully harboring his secret. Aniday becomes part of the band of hobgoblins, living in the woods and raiding the town for what cannot be foraged. He misses his human life and human family, and struggles to preserve his memories of both his former and present lives.
Donohue's prose is quite lovely, providing clear and haunting pictures of the characters and their worlds. The double story is fascinating, and Donohue artfully refrains from answering every question and mystery. Within the plot and characterization, Donohue does a good job of exploring themes of loneliness, belonging, the world of childhood, and the process of discovering one's identity and place in the world. Towards the end, the narrative drags a little and Donohue's treatment of Henry's life as a composer and music teacher is lacking (he clearly didn't do enough research into the lives of late 20th century composers), but the ending is satisfying yet open ended.
by Keith Donohue
This enchanting novel was inspired by Yeats' poem of the same name. In 1949, seven year old Henry Day runs away from home into the nearby woods, where he is kidnapped by a band of hobgoblins/fae, one of whom takes his place and lives out a normal human life in his stead. The original Henry Day, renamed Aniday by the hobgoblins, becomes one of them, taking on their magical properties of stealth and immortality.
The novel is narrated by Henry and Aniday, in alternating chapters, each telling the story of his new life. Henry is often haunted by memories of his century or so as a hobgoblin and of his childhood before his own kidnapping in the 19th century. He struggles to fit into his human self and life, often feeling out of place and carefully harboring his secret. Aniday becomes part of the band of hobgoblins, living in the woods and raiding the town for what cannot be foraged. He misses his human life and human family, and struggles to preserve his memories of both his former and present lives.
Donohue's prose is quite lovely, providing clear and haunting pictures of the characters and their worlds. The double story is fascinating, and Donohue artfully refrains from answering every question and mystery. Within the plot and characterization, Donohue does a good job of exploring themes of loneliness, belonging, the world of childhood, and the process of discovering one's identity and place in the world. Towards the end, the narrative drags a little and Donohue's treatment of Henry's life as a composer and music teacher is lacking (he clearly didn't do enough research into the lives of late 20th century composers), but the ending is satisfying yet open ended.
