Comments on things mean a lot: The Thorn and the Blossom by Theodora Goss

I've been waiting for my copy of this book! I ...

2012-01-17T23:47:58.379Z

I've been waiting for my copy of this book! I definitely agree with you when it comes to the trope of destined love. It makes love too easy.

Would it be really shallow of me to say I want to ...

2012-01-15T03:40:55.805Z

Would it be really shallow of me to say I want to read this because it LOOKS cool? I love that Goss didn't just write a two-sided story; she literally made the book two-sided. I really hope my library orders a copy of this!

The quotes that Debi quoted are exactly the ones I...

2012-01-14T22:22:57.675Z

The quotes that Debi quoted are exactly the ones I loved from this review.

Debi: aw, you are too sweet. But I make no promise...

2012-01-13T17:55:34.535Z

Debi: aw, you are too sweet. But I make no promises ;)

Jodie: I also love plenty of stories that use the trope, but usually it's either that it's secondary or that it works more in metaphorical terms - it expresses the intensity of what the characters are feeling rather than being something you have to interpret literally (with the attached implications about the worthlessness of any relationship that isn't "true love" and etc, which I have huge issues with). I feel that this is one of those stories. The choice, thing, though... GAUDY NIGHT HEARTS FOREVER. And I shall say no more ;)

I didn't realise it was an acordion book. Stun...

2012-01-13T17:01:20.884Z

I didn't realise it was an acordion book. Stunning.

And obviously I love everything you say about love stories and the way they work. I do enjoy many stories of destined lovers (Romeo and Juliet forever), I like the love part most and the destined part comes second/must be handled so well I almost don't notice it - although there's still things I like about the destiny aspect of romance too. However, I always feel happy and often like I'm reading something more layered when the love story revolves around people making a choice to stay and work.

There are about 5 billion reasons why I love you. ...

2012-01-12T18:55:24.808Z

There are about 5 billion reasons why I love you. Here are two of them:

"Contrary to popular belief, the reason why I dislike this trope is not because I’m bitter and heartless and cynical and hate love. It’s rather because this kind of story tends to erase or minimise the things that interest me the most about love stories: the choice to be there day after day, even when things get hard; the effort; the purposefulness; the frailty and chance factor inherent to every romantic relationship. To me, these don’t make love matter less – they make it matter more."

and

"This is how I like romance to be approached: love matters tremendously, but most of the time it’s something that happens while we’re busy living in other ways. The stories we usually tell about love frame it as either the one and only thing worth living for (especially in women’s lives) or a complete waste of time. However, acknowledging that it exists alongside other things in our lives doesn’t have to cheapen it in the least."

Yep, you so rock, Ana. Please never stop writing.

Jessica: I was addicted to those pick your own adv...

2012-01-12T11:57:05.780Z

Jessica: I was addicted to those pick your own adventures books when I was little :)

Priscilla: I can understand why you would worry it'd be gimmicky. I hope that the book isn't marketed in a way that overemphasises the format rater than the writing, because it really does have a lot more than a novel concept going for it.

Jeane: It really isn't! As I was telling Kathy, I read most of it on a bus with no trouble at all.

Zibilee: Thank *you* for the lovely comment, as always :)

Kelly: I hope you do!

Steph: I really didn't think it was gimmicky either. The content lives up to the presentation, and that's what matters.

Mumsy: Sorry, sorry :P

Trisha: Ha - I can imagine the very well indeed.

Melody: The cover does help, doesn't it?

Jenny: You should e-mail them! I bet they would.

Aarti: I know! An e-book edition of this actually exists, but picking which file to start with rather than which side isn't anywhere near as much fun.

intoyourlungs: It is! It's small enough that you can hold it easily and flip the pages on which side just like in a "normal" book.

Chachic: I hope you enjoy it if you do :)

heidenkind: I kind of love that reading :P

Susan: I think the actual pub date is the 17th, so you should be able to find it next week!

Alex: Yes, it really is :)

Charlie: It will be out on the 17th everywhere (I think). I look forward to hearing what you think of it if you pick it up!

In many ways this sounds and looks like the book I...

2012-01-11T15:05:36.585Z

In many ways this sounds and looks like the book I never knew I wanted. I love the concept of its physical structure, and medieval history sounds good to me. I can understand your reasoning for disliking the trope though, I'm not totally against the idea of destinies, but I don't think that destiny should equal no choice. Whether that's literally impossible or not I don't know. Am guessing this book is out in Europe?

I'm very glad to know that that, despite the g...

2012-01-11T10:12:47.559Z

I'm very glad to know that that, despite the gimmicky of the format (in a good way, I'm really curious), the story is worth it on its own.

I've been wanting this for a little while too....

2012-01-11T04:22:49.286Z

I've been wanting this for a little while too. I know it's just come out, and I'm not sure it's here yet in Canada. so I'm tucking your review away in my mind, while I look for the book. As always, a delightful and insightful review, Nymeth. I have her colllection of short stories, so I guess I could start reading those while I wait to find The Thorn and the Blossom.....

The more I think about this book, the more convinc...

2012-01-11T03:38:43.939Z

The more I think about this book, the more convinced I am that Evelyn is the giantess witch and Isabelle was Brendan's true love. :P

This one is already on my wishlist once I heard ab...

2012-01-11T03:32:24.068Z

This one is already on my wishlist once I heard about the unusual format. Good to know that you enjoyed reading it! I might grab a copy if I ever see it in local bookstores here in Manila.

I first saw this when one of the blogs I follow re...

2012-01-11T02:15:58.784Z

I first saw this when one of the blogs I follow received a review copy of it. She was showed it in a video and I was immediately pulled in by its unique format. Is it comfortable to read though? The accordion style looks like it'd be easy enough to hold and get through but I still find it kind of strange.

Either way, it sounds like a really interesting read! Can't wait to check it out for myself.

I shall just say "Ditto" to Jenny's ...

2012-01-11T02:04:17.691Z

I shall just say "Ditto" to Jenny's comment above. What a great way to leverage the physical form of a book!

Hmmmmmm. I wonder if the publishers would be sweet...

2012-01-11T01:30:30.298Z

Hmmmmmm. I wonder if the publishers would be sweet dears and let me have a copy of this too. It looks so wonderful! I have probably said this a dozen times before, but I am a massive fan of the book as artifact. I wish more books played around with the thingness of books the way Anne Carson's Nox (for instance) did.

When I first read the blurb of the book, I find it...

2012-01-10T23:20:19.365Z

When I first read the blurb of the book, I find it so interesting! Plus, it has a lovely cover so it definitely goes onto my wishlist! ;)

People really do think those like us hate love... ...

2012-01-10T18:44:11.778Z

People really do think those like us hate love... :) You should see people's faces when I start talking about how much I dislike Romeo and Juliet.

shakes fist Curse you, Nymeth! You've done...

2012-01-10T18:40:22.868Z

*shakes fist* Curse you, Nymeth! You've done it again, making a book sound unmissable, and I KNOW this is going to be an expensive one! You are a positive menace to my financial condition.

Wonderful review, but that goes without saying!

I'm not familiar with this author, but I love ...

2012-01-10T18:13:05.038Z

I'm not familiar with this author, but I love the idea of this book! It's such a unique take on a love story, but it doesn't feel gimmicky. It seems like a really special book!

I bought this book because I thought the style of ...

2012-01-10T16:21:49.454Z

I bought this book because I thought the style of it was very cool and it was not something I wanted to read from the library. I am hoping to enjoy it when my copy arrives...

This was a beautiful review of a very interesting ...

2012-01-10T15:39:08.111Z

This was a beautiful review of a very interesting and artfully arranged book. I like the points you make about destiny and love, and had never considered that before. I need to read this when I can. I think there will be a lot in it to interest me. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us!

I've read a very few books that had one story ...

2012-01-10T14:49:52.218Z

I've read a very few books that had one story in the front, and another on the other side if you flipped it around- but never one bound in such a format. It looks very curious. Is it difficult to hold without sliding around?

I've been attracted by this cover over and ove...

2012-01-10T14:32:36.513Z

I've been attracted by this cover over and over, but when I read the blurb it sounded gimmicky and not like something I'd enjoy...but you have changed all that with your review (as usual!), and now I'm interested. This is exactly why I read your blog. I am also completely with you on the problems with love stories, especially ones that are supposedly fate-driven.

What an interesting concept for a book to have a d...

2012-01-10T13:34:06.482Z

What an interesting concept for a book to have a different way to start it. Reminds me of when I was a child and my library had these murder mystery books where you had to make choices as you went along which effected what parts of the book you read :-)

Kathy: Yes, it actually was! The fact that it'...

2012-01-10T13:32:51.628Z

Kathy: Yes, it actually was! The fact that it's small and easy to hold makes it more manageable, I think. I actually read most of it during a bus journey and had no trouble at all.