Enchantment (Fantastic Audio)

Rating:
Summary: Guys! Don't be put-off by the cover!
Review: At a book signing, Mr. Card mentioned that men did not buy the book because of the cover. Since I began reading this book on-line, I didn't have that hurdle. Guys, buy this book and ignore the cover, or at least SAY it is for you wife/girlfriend/daughter/neice!]

This is a modern retelling of Sleeping Beauty set in the milieus of ancient and modern Russia. And if that doesn't wet your appetite, nothing will! It tells the story of an track-star/literature student from the Soviet Union who learns that he is really Jewish. After the Velvet Revolution, Ivan returns to Russia to visit his uncle, and there he sees her: Sleeping Beauty!

This book is, as only Orson Scott Card can do, is a whirlwind of adventure, time travel, several "First Contact" scenarios, and, yes, romance! I read this book simultaneously with "Timeline" by Crichton, and Mr. Card blew him out of the water! "Timeline" was rather thin and runny, like bland oatmeal. A friend of mine pointed out that the book was more of screenplay than novel, and he also showed me some of the plot holes!

Mr. Card, however, told a thick, well done New York steak of a tale. The characters were well developed, and did develop in the course of the story. The secondary characters actually had a pulse, and were not cardboard cutouts. And beneath this all was an affirmation of mutual respect across culture and time barriers; the sanctity of marriage in society; and the ultimate triumph of good.

Mr. Card does a superb job of crafting characters that work within family organizations. As he pointed out in his introduction to "Speaker for the Dead," most characters in books are free-roaming adolescents that run around solving other peoples problems. (Can you imagine Superman being a bishop? With all those interviews?) Card has a very tight family organization, which reflects how people really operate in the real world. Sherlock Holmes is single, and Watson's wife is a pale shadow of a person.

One interesting plot point that Mr. Card does not develop is the importance of childbearing. It is interesting that part of the plot would be predicated on pregnancy. More Mormon family values!

This is one of Mr. Card's well-crafted books. I know that many non-Latter-day Saints read these books and I hope that he can influence everyone for the good.

Rating:
Summary: love it!
Review: I have never heard of the author, but regardless I don't really take note of any authors of all the books I read. But this book, the cover and the title stands out. Yes, i judge a book before i read it. I truly didnt think i would enjoy reading it, but i did. Since the first time i borrow from the public library to read it, i went out to purchase the book and read it three more times. The story, with a mixed of fairy tale and mystery was enough to lead me to finish the book in one sitting (well actually one day). its really a wonderful book if one likes to read a modern day version of fairy tales. A little romance, a little magic, a little mystery that keep you guessing until the end.

Rating:
Summary: Card sets out to create beauty... and succeeds
Review: In my love-hate relationship with Orson Scott Card's work, this is a definite high point. Here, Card abdicates his frequent role as second-rate moralist, content to be a first-rate storyteller. The result shines.

The simplest description of this book is a retelling of Sleeping Beauty with a modern-day grad student magically transported back in time to play protagonist. This is factually correct, but does the book no justice. The Sleeping Beauty tale only instigates the action, and while Card keeps brilliantly true to the feel of the fairy tale, the story is really about what happens during "happily ever after."

The book's appeal lies in Card doing what Card does best. He draws appealing, compelling characters -- the opening character sketch of the protagonist Ivan's childhood in the Soviet Union would justify finishing a far lesser novel. He shows clashes between cultures, Christian vs. pagan, medieval vs. modern, without taking sides. Through it all, he saves himself from the trap of being unforgivably sentimental by filling the book with potent, witty humor. A series of scenes where Baga Yaga, magically transported to the present day, tries to cope with modern life, is particularly classic.

There isn't a lot of deep meaning to be had in this book, but it doesn't aspire to have much. It is simply a enjoyable, compelling story, not in any frivolous sense, but in a very beautiful one.

Rating:
Summary: Book Gives You Something to Think About
Review: When I first began reading this book, I was skeptical about how much I would enjoy it. The beginning is slow and seems to bog the reader down with "unnecessary" details, but as the novel progresses, it becomes an intriguing story that draws you into its complex plotline. Having read other Orson Scott Card books, I was not expecting such an intricate and romantic novel from this prolific science-fiction writer.

The tale focuses on the main character, Ivan, a modern-day student, and Katerina, a ninth-century princess. Card often alludes to classic Russian folktales to give the fiction book a more realistic tone. While he obviously does not have exact information about the more far-fetched elements of the book, he does make educated guesses about how the events would have played out if there were such a thing as witchcraft and bear gods of winter. Also, he uses Ivan's constant compulsion to do the moral thing when faced with important decisions as a symbol for humanity's timeless quest for righteousness. Lastly, Card often writes in the many languages that the characters speak. This provides the reader with a clear picture of the barriers that would have been faced by these people had they been real.

Overall, I felt that this book provides the reader with something to think about. The moral dilemmas that are faced by the characters parallel the problems that we often have in every day life. I think that Card's main purpose for writing this book was to show that the righteous human spirit will always prevail over evil. Using very believable characters and historical background information, Card has created a timeless literary masterpiece.