Book Review — The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey

This article was previously published on www.myingmag.com. ing Magazine is Michigan State University’s student-run publication covering life, arts, entertainment and more.

Winter is often referred to as a time of quiet reflection; for some, the season can evoke melancholy, and for others, hope. The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey perfectly captures this haunting ambiance of winter in which characters grapple with both love and loss.

“She knew the snow and it carried her gently… She knew the land by heart.”

Inspired by a Russian folktale, The Snow Child transports readers to the haunting Alaskan wilderness in 1920, where characters Jack and Mabel hope to heal and start anew. Despite loving each other unconditionally, they are burdened with memories of their stillborn baby, which causes them to drift apart. After the first snowfall, they decide to build a child out of snow together.

“Sculpted in the white snow were perfect, lovely eyes, a nose, and small, white lips. She even thought she could see cheekbones and a little chin…How could she speak her surprise?”

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10 Book Quotes That Teach Valuable Life Lessons

It’s been a long day. You’re finally ready to relax and let all your worries slowly melt away. You pour yourself a hot cup of tea, slip into some sweatpants, and open a brand new novel. You’re not even halfway through the first chapter when it happens; as a bookworm, it’s one of the greatest feelings: finding a quote that just ignites something in you. Perhaps it’s something you’ve been trying to say, but could never find the right words. Maybe it’s the kind of quote that makes you want to find the nearest highlighter, or even take a photo and frame it on your wall. There’s a distinctive beauty in words and how they can evoke certain emotions.

Books are simply magical. Think of it this way: Reading a book is like traveling. When you travel, you acquire new and inspiring perspectives. Just as if you’re visiting a different country, you’re delving into a new world when you read. You’re guaranteed to learn and carry those lessons with you for the rest of your life.

So, I’ve decided to share some quotes that have really encouraged me. I hope they inspire you, as well.

Book Recommendation

Today’s book recommendation is “The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender” by Leslye Walton. I read this a while ago and still find myself thinking about it every now and then.

Tao Te Ching Passage 63

During my freshman year of college, I took a religious studies course. Growing up in a Christian and Jewish household, I was looking forward to learning about many other religions and cultures. One thing I really loved was studying Taoism and reading “Tao Te Ching” by Lao Tzu. The entire book was incredibly uplifting and the photos added to the exquisiteness and simplicity of it. You can check out the version I read here. I tended to agree with a lot of the philosophies in Taoism. This doesn’t mean I didn’t disagree with some, but a great deal of them really opened my mind and inspired new ways of thinking. Many of the passages are still undoubtedly relevant today. I’ve decided to share one with you.

Why I Read (Thought Catalog)

A couple weeks ago, I submitted an article to Thought Catalog and it recently got published! You can check it out here!