The Wolving Time

Rating:
Summary: Thought-provoking and beautifully written....
Review: I don't want to give away too many details of a fantastic story about a boy whose parents are "shape-shifters," otherwise known as werewolves. The book takes place in 16th century France, and is based on historical fact, but so much of the prejudice and persecution that went on has an eerie relevance to our contemporary world. The characters are terrific and the way the adventure unfolds kept me on the edge of my seat. This is one of those great books that stays with you long after you've finished it -- destined to be a classic.

Rating:
Summary: Teen werewolf
Review: Lazlo Emberek appears to be nothing more than a simple shepherd on the verge of puberty who spins and guards his family's small flock; it turns out he comes from a family of shapeshifters who can turn into werewolves, and he can't wait until he acquires the same skill. When he becomes friends with a young girl entrapped as a servant and scapegoat by the corrupt village priest, his family's secrets come under suspicion of witchery. Drama mounts as the fear of the villagers, incited by the priest, increases. Ultimately, this conflict plays into Lazlo's decision to take advantage of his canine heritage or turn from it.
Jennings's story is replete with earthy details of life in sixteenth century France, including how they got their food, what they wore, an account of going to market day, and a fair amount of nakedness and violence. The writing is very good, with all five senses attended to - a comparison of the sense of smell of a human boy and a wolf is remarkable. Jennings's use of historical setting and likening werewolves to witch hunts is both clever and plausible. However, the werewolf as a metaphor for teen adolescent has been done before; the character of Lazlo doesn't contain the soul searching or angst of Annette Curtis Klause's Vivian from Blood and Chocolate (Bantam, 1997) and is not as engaging. Still, the theme of persecution of those different from us and what it means to act monstrously could augment classroom or book group discussion nicely.

Rating:
Summary: Supernatural Thriller, Coming of Age Story
Review: Preteen Laszlo and his parents are outsiders living on the fringes of a French village in the Middle Ages.They also exist on the borders between the animal world and the human world -- they are a family of werewolves.
In "The Wolving Time," Laszlo discovers first love, fights a corrupt system, and discovers the powers that lie inside himself. This touching story highlights the bonds that keep a family surviving in hard times, with elements of the supernatural and a plot full of suspense.

This book is ideal for fans of historical fiction, fantasy, and vampire/werewolf stories.

Rating:
Summary: The Wolving Time
Review: This book is about Laszlo Emberek, a boy who is in two worlds: one in the world as a human, another one is as a wolf; yes, a wolf. His parents, Kalman and Rita, both husband and wife, are already wolves; so far his parents say that he isn't ready to become a wolf yet. Unfortunately, one day a girl named Muno sees his parents change forms while she plans to run away from the priest, Pre Raoul, for she was his servant after he killed her parents and everythings she had. One day she is kept in jail, forced to say that Laszlo were werewolves, thanks to the priest; but luckily she doesn't. However, the priest and the villagers still find them and traps them. As they escape, Kalman and Rita tell him that he is ready - ready to become a wolf. He accepts, and in the end they were able to free Muno and move to a different, friendlier, place.

I liked this book because it was so intense. One minute you are all safe and happy, the next minute you are under pressure. The author is very descriptive, when he describes Laszlo when he becomes a wolf. As it says it the book, " He ducked his head between his forelegs and saw a furry brisket and silvery hind legs and, swishing back and forth behind them, a bushy tail!" In my opinion, it feels as if you are a wolf yourself, and usually things like that, that you can truly feel, are rare.

The book also talks about some very sad yet wise things. When Muno tells Laszlo that she is kept alive while everyone else she had was dead, it was because the priest knew that he couldn't take anything more from her. The only way was to keep her in torture, but alive. For what she wanted was to escape him, and the priest knew that. It is very descriptive, as I had said before.

Another quote from the book was when the village boys first discovered that he was a werewolf, " His ferocity surprised them - and him - and he worried again that he might change." It shows that he is afraid, which is another why I like this book. Despite all things, even if you became something else or someone else is the fact that you will always have fear follow you. In a way I also disliked the book because the plot was too slow. They didn't tell the part of the boy changing till practically the end of the book. Till then, the person seemed to add things to keep the audience waiting.

My least favorite part of the book was when Muno came to become trapped in the dungeon. It irritates me, not knowing what is going on. All of the excitement seems to be holding in you, yet it won't let go. Plus, the author kept her in the dungeon too long. Till she was freed all they ever talked about was where she was, and suspicious eyes lurking around.

Rating:
Summary: I wanted this to be a 5-star book, but ...
Review: why is it always the church that puts the "evil" in "medieval"? Why must the villain always be a corrupt priest?

To Mr. Jennings' credit, Laszlo and his parents are nominally Christian, and the next parish over has a sympathetic priest. In general, though, one gets the impression that all would be right in France if only the church and the nobles were out of the way.

They tried that a few centuries after _The Wolving Time_. It was called the Reign of Terror.

The best parts of this book are the portrayals of Laszlo and his parents Kalman and Rita, as individual characters and as a family. These scenes are filled with love, gentle laughter, and compassion. I only wish Mr. Jennings had made Pere Raoul (the evil priest) as human as the Emberek family. As it is, he is a caricature, easily dismissed as a "them" by enlightened people like us.

"If only it were all so simple! If only there were evil people somewhere committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being. And who is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart?" -- Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

Rating:
Summary: I wanted this to be a 5-star book, but ...
Review: why is it always the church that puts the "evil" in "medieval"? Why must the villain always be a corrupt priest?

To Mr. Jennings' credit, Laszlo and his parents are nominally Christian, and the next parish over has a sympathetic priest. In general, though, one gets the impression that all would be right in France if only the church and the nobles were out of the way.

They tried that a few centuries after _The Wolving Time_. It was called the Reign of Terror.

The best parts of this book are the portrayals of Laszlo and his parents Kalman and Rita, as individual characters and as a family. These scenes are filled with love, gentle laughter, and compassion. I only wish Mr. Jennings had made Pere Raoul (the evil priest) as human as the Emberek family. As it is, he is a caricature, easily dismissed as a "them" by enlightened people like us.

"If only it were all so simple! If only there were evil people somewhere committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being. And who is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart?" -- Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn