Ideas on Sorceress by Celia Rees
Inside cover reads:
"Agnes Herne, known back at home as Karonhisake, or Searching Sky, is living in Boston and beginning college when she reads a book that changes her life. Although Agnes cannot be sure, she suspects a connection between the girl described in the story--Mary Newbury, a seventeenth-century self-pfofessed witch--and one of her own anceestors, a medicine woman whom Agnes's aunt still honors in storytelling and whose personal artifacts are treasured by the family.
Agnes begins to contact the web address listed at the back of the book, but before she can do that, someon contacts her. Agnes undergoes a powerful and frightening experience. It is as if she is living events from the long-ago past, but is it a vision or a dream? As impossible as it seems... could it be a message from Mary?"
Thoughts and ideas:
I liked this one much better than Witch Child. Rees' description in this story provided an accurate and amazing picture in my mind. She went about continuing mary's story in a very unique way. I guess, as of late, my responses haven't been too wordy. I guess that's because I'm reading great stories. My mind isn't really being challenged to hunt down symbolism or anything else. Perhaps I should find some adult novels and start doing that. Either way, this is a GREAT way to learn about early settlers and native americans. This one wins the word nerd seal of approval as well. I would recommend it to girls ages 12-16. Anyone younger might not understand all of the aspects of the story.
Quotes:
"The big city streets had her shrinking within, as if her true self was lost inside another person's skin" (10). -I felt like that when I was in New York, and I hated it.
"She could taste the anger, bitter on her tounge like a mouthful of copper" (60).
"Words are powerful. Hers had been hidden all that time. Suddenly they're alive again and out in the world" (81).
"The water was suipposed to have healing qualitites, and the spring never froze over, no matter how cold the winter, nor did the water get stale or brackish" (88).
-Brackish is also a great song by the band, Kittie. I never knew it's meaning until now:
1: somewhat salty
2 a: not appealing to the tasteb: repulsive
"A woman's work is never done, here as anywhere, but with one difference. We worked all women together with no hsuband, father, or overseer to chivvy, chide, or criticize. we helped one another, and there was often much laughter and highgood humor. No man told us what to do. No man would dare" (132). -When we had a Native American speaker visit our liberal arts seminar class, I was surprised to learn that women really rule over everything in their society.
"Black fox was my first-born and darling of my heart, but a mother's love was not enough. He wanted his father's respectful attention" (136). -I thought immediately of my brother when I read this... as well as myself. It's tough not having a dad.... and I think that Rees confronts it exactly... kids need to be loved by their mothers and respected by their fathers. If they aren't something is wrong.
"How careless we are with happiness when we think it will last forever!" (162).
"He is Christian. I would not convert to this new religion. To me, the Great Spirit is the Great Spirit--why should I call him God? To me he will always be Manitou" (190). *smirk*
"His breath smelled of brandy laced with the grave" (239). -LOVE THIS.
"Her gaze came back to me. It was my turn to walk between the lines of people. Women do not have to run the gauntlet. The people lowered their weapons and stepped aside to let me through" (289). -This immediately reminded me of back in the day when I would play V:tM. The gauntlet was a Brujah tradition, and many a night were spent doing it. I could picture the gauntlet scene in this story perfectly.
Enjoy.
Inside cover reads:
"Agnes Herne, known back at home as Karonhisake, or Searching Sky, is living in Boston and beginning college when she reads a book that changes her life. Although Agnes cannot be sure, she suspects a connection between the girl described in the story--Mary Newbury, a seventeenth-century self-pfofessed witch--and one of her own anceestors, a medicine woman whom Agnes's aunt still honors in storytelling and whose personal artifacts are treasured by the family.
Agnes begins to contact the web address listed at the back of the book, but before she can do that, someon contacts her. Agnes undergoes a powerful and frightening experience. It is as if she is living events from the long-ago past, but is it a vision or a dream? As impossible as it seems... could it be a message from Mary?"
Thoughts and ideas:
I liked this one much better than Witch Child. Rees' description in this story provided an accurate and amazing picture in my mind. She went about continuing mary's story in a very unique way. I guess, as of late, my responses haven't been too wordy. I guess that's because I'm reading great stories. My mind isn't really being challenged to hunt down symbolism or anything else. Perhaps I should find some adult novels and start doing that. Either way, this is a GREAT way to learn about early settlers and native americans. This one wins the word nerd seal of approval as well. I would recommend it to girls ages 12-16. Anyone younger might not understand all of the aspects of the story.
Quotes:
"The big city streets had her shrinking within, as if her true self was lost inside another person's skin" (10). -I felt like that when I was in New York, and I hated it.
"She could taste the anger, bitter on her tounge like a mouthful of copper" (60).
"Words are powerful. Hers had been hidden all that time. Suddenly they're alive again and out in the world" (81).
"The water was suipposed to have healing qualitites, and the spring never froze over, no matter how cold the winter, nor did the water get stale or brackish" (88).
-Brackish is also a great song by the band, Kittie. I never knew it's meaning until now:
1: somewhat salty
2 a: not appealing to the taste
"A woman's work is never done, here as anywhere, but with one difference. We worked all women together with no hsuband, father, or overseer to chivvy, chide, or criticize. we helped one another, and there was often much laughter and highgood humor. No man told us what to do. No man would dare" (132). -When we had a Native American speaker visit our liberal arts seminar class, I was surprised to learn that women really rule over everything in their society.
"Black fox was my first-born and darling of my heart, but a mother's love was not enough. He wanted his father's respectful attention" (136). -I thought immediately of my brother when I read this... as well as myself. It's tough not having a dad.... and I think that Rees confronts it exactly... kids need to be loved by their mothers and respected by their fathers. If they aren't something is wrong.
"How careless we are with happiness when we think it will last forever!" (162).
"He is Christian. I would not convert to this new religion. To me, the Great Spirit is the Great Spirit--why should I call him God? To me he will always be Manitou" (190). *smirk*
"His breath smelled of brandy laced with the grave" (239). -LOVE THIS.
"Her gaze came back to me. It was my turn to walk between the lines of people. Women do not have to run the gauntlet. The people lowered their weapons and stepped aside to let me through" (289). -This immediately reminded me of back in the day when I would play V:tM. The gauntlet was a Brujah tradition, and many a night were spent doing it. I could picture the gauntlet scene in this story perfectly.
Enjoy.
No comments:
Post a Comment