Deerskin

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Summary: Do read this book.
Review: Yes, this book is not for children. Yes, it is darker then her other books. It is also stronger then her other books. I read this book without being "warned" and came out none the worse. One of Robin McKinley's great gifts as a writer is her ability to take the reader deep into the psyche of her charecters. We have seen this in all her previous books. Lissar is much deeper and more complex then Aarin or Harri ever was, and that is reflected in her story. I too wondered what could have happened to Robin to have this work come out of her, and I applaud her for being able to tell this difficult story so clearly and simply.

Rating:
Summary: Don't listen to the negative reviews!
Review: I've only read three of Robin McKinley's books, and even though I loved The Hero and the Crown, Deerskin is definitely my favorite. A great deal of the book's beauty is not the story itself, but the way in which the story is told. The subject matter is definitely heavier than the other two books of hers that I've read--but this isn't some run-of-the-mill unhappy-princess-who-doesn't-wait-for-a-knight-in-shining-armor story, either. Lissar's experiences in childhood and as she grows up, her relationship with her dog, and her metamorphosis as she deals with her abuse are told in Ms. McKinley's classic poignant style; so full of feeling that there's no room for fluff. A fairy tale to be taken as seriously as Ursula K. LeGuin's A Wizard of Earthsea.

Rating:
Summary: good, yet horrible
Review: This book is a beautiful and entertaining rewrite of an old fairy tale. After you get passed the dad's obsession with his daughter. Beautiful imagre and ingenious story line, but I wouldn't recomend to anyone under the age of 15 or more. To dark.

Rating:
Summary: Dense, dark, and beautiful.
Review: This is, in my opinion, Robin McKinley's best book -- and I've read every one from "Beauty" to "Rose Daughter". Deerskin reminded me of a dream, one that starts out quiet and detached, grows into a nightmare, and then changes into a somewhat-happy ending. It isn't just a "fairy tale" or an adventure story like The Hero and the Crown. It's a story about going through a horrifying experience and living, not just to tell about it, but to make yourself whole again. McKinley's writing style is wonderful -- she writes some of the most beautiful English I've ever read. Lissar's world drew me in, and I finished the book completely exhausted. "Deerskin" was one of the very few books I've read -- along with Madeline L'Engle's "A Ring of Endless Light" and Patricia McKillip's "The Changeling Sea" -- that totally changed me. I will admit, however, that the subject matter is disturbing. I would not recommend this book to anyone under the age of fifteen. Even some older readers expecting a "nice" book like "Beauty" may be upset by "Deerskin". I read it as a fairly mature seventeen-year-old and was still disturbed in places. An enormously powerful book.

Rating:
Summary: Not like her usual fare
Review: A warning to fans of Robin McKinley's earlier books, this book is vastly different from anything she had written before. There is a much darker undertone to the story, much more 'adult' than The Outlaws of Sherwood or Beauty. Yet, I loved the story. It was masterfully crafted and though it took awhile for the plot to move along, the wait was worth it. On my first reading of this book, I must admit that I hated it. However, I reread it several years later after I had grown up some and recognized the subtley in the plot and the beautiful imagery that McKinley uses.

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Summary: WHAT HAPPENED TO THE MCKINLEY I USED TO READ?
Review: I read this book when it was first released because I am a fan of McKinley - especially her re-telling of Beauty and the Beast as well as her Blue Sword books. As an adult, I was saddened to see her ability to bring fairy tales to life has been tainted by only God knows what going on in her life. I enjoy fantasy novels for their uplift and joy. This novel was dark and painful. It left a bad taste in my brain. By the time I was finished, I couldn't even feel happy for the ending; I was too emotionally drawn. I threw my copy away. If I want to be horrified and depressed, I'll buy horror novels or classical literature filled with angst. Or I'll watch the evening news...

Rating:
Summary: Initially frustrating; improves on second reading
Review: Lissar is annoyingly insipid in the early going; this improves later. McKinley's characterization of Ash rings far more true than the depiction of Lissar (I still can't connect with the early Lissar!) and the book becomes more and more engrossing. On the second read, the flaws are more easily forgiven

Rating:
Summary: This book is an experiance in itself!
Review: _Deerskin_ is an experiance in itself! I'm reading it for the third time - every time I found something new in it. It is a fairy tale, it is real, it is one of the most intense books you will ever read. Reading _Deerskin_ is like experiancing pain, rebirth, and magic for yourself - it is more than a book - it is an interactive experiance.

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Summary: TEENAGERS! DO NOT BE TURNED OFF!
Review: I read Deerskin for the first time at the age of 14. Yes, it was disturbing and my heart beat quickened at those certain parts, but I still found it the best of McKinely. Sure, it deals with topics that people would call Rated R, but just because you are not an adult I do not see any reason that it is not fit to read. It is reality. We must learn that the world is not a sugary sweet faery tale! It is my most favorite book, all of my friends who read it also found it theirs. It was a compelling, stunning book and I would recommend it to any teenager looking for a book that they will place in their special library. It is dark but has beautiful messages that are exciting to find. NO, it is not for your 9 year old daughter. But anyone over 13 who is mature enough to deal with these topics, read and enjoy! You will not be sorry!

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Summary: Can't put it down
Review: Every time I read Deerskin I have to read it straight through, cover to cover, in one sitting. It is a darkly compelling book, dealing with issues that most of us would rather sweep under carpet. It is most definitely not a children's book, however, and I have had to set some McKinley fans straight on that count. This is a novel for adults - it pulls no punches on the subjects of rape and incest. However, it also addressed loyalty and recovery in a realistic and positive manner. When Lissar realizes that one act of violence toward her, no matter who committed it, does not have the power to destroy her, she is able to become herself again and move on. The disguise placed upon her by the Moonwoman represents the disguise we place upon ourselves to hide from that which is too painful for us to deal with. We all hide from parts of our lives, and in that we can all find something in common with Deerskin. CarolAnn Jarnagin