The Woman Who Loved Reindeer

Rating:
Summary: THE BEST!
Review: A young woman named Caribou who has a special gift to foresee the future. A wild young man named Reindeer who isn't a man at all. When the land of two moons becomes threatened and treacherous, it is up to these two to guide Caribou's people to safety, and a new home. Can Caribou convince the tribes to follow her beyond the burning plain where the golden reindeer go? Can she trust the shape changer she loves to guide her there?

This prehistoric fantasy is a powerful tale of love and courage. Ms. Pierce always writes strong, convincing and ultimately likable heroines. The title hardly scratches the surface of this tale, and if Ms. Pierce lacks anything in her books, it is decent titles. While this story does indeed contain a bittersweet romance, it is secondary to the story of Caribou's growth from a young girl living outcast and alone with only a strange child for company to a capable and confident woman who will lead her people through the burning plain, past the Firekings and trollwomen. Caribou never falls into "the damsel in distress" role in the story, all her dealings are direct and honest. It is, in fact, this honesty that makes her such a likable and interesting character. She's not a crafty heroine; she's a leader and a teacher. She's a visionary. Reindeer fills the roll of trickster and chaos in her life, they are very much opposites. Caribou, a woman of deep emotion and direct honesty and courage. Reindeer a creature of wile and deception without a human heart. Yet each is forever bound up with the other, and the love Caribou has for Reindeer is a powerful thing.

Ms. Pierce uses this setting to make observations on human society in general. The clan chief siblings who gain power, all deal with the looming end of their world in their own, ultimately futile way. One wishes only to prepare for war against an enemy. Another ascribes to the philosophy of "eat and drink and be merry, for tomorrow we may die". A third believes the gods must be appeased with sacrifices and prayer. None of them heed Caribou's warnings and offer to guide them through. While these examples were handled in relatively simplistic manner, they fit within the style of the story. Ms. Pierce's lyrical style and marvelous imagery transforms this story into something that will touch the heart and capture a reader's imagination.

Reader's who have loved Ms. Pierce's Darkangel Trilogy should absolutely give this one a try. If this is your first Meredith Ann Pierce story, please consider trying her Darkangel trilogy that also features a strong and likeable heroine and her quest to destroy the Darkangel who stole away her best friend. This is one not to be missed by YA readers!

--Happy Reading! shanshad ^_^

Rating:
Summary: My favorite novel!
Review: I had read Pierce's Darkangel Trilogy, and enjoyed it very much, but I didn't check this book out of the library the first time I saw it because I wasn't interested in a book titled "The Woman Who Loved Reindeer." I mean, come on - a woman who loved animals? However, I finally decided to give it a try (I was desparate for reading material). Boy, was I glad I read it. I liked it so much I bought not one, but two copies of the book (because I didn't like the condition of the first one).

This novel is by far my absolute favorite book. It appealed to me because of Pierce's writing style. Without you knowing it, she brings you into the story and into the character's minds and hearts (mostly the main character's, Caribou). I loved the romance - described not graphically, but brough out just as powerfully as if it was. Pierce's use of imagery, and her knack for describing feelings and actions incredibly well using few words, really empowers the storyline. A few small words, in this novel, can reveal to the reader the character's soul. There is really no good way to convey my feelings toward the way this book was written. The plot was engaging, but it was really the author's distinct writing style that made me enjoy this book so much. After all, it is my favorite book (and I've read many books of all different genres, by many excellent authors). I especially recommend this book to people who enjoy reading light romances - not as in comical, but as in more based on emotions than physical actions, if you know what I mean. You'll be able to feel and know the sorrow and love Caribou has for her daimon - a guy named Reindeer (the book wasn't exactly about animals after all ;). In any case, if you read the book - AND YOU WILL - everything will become clear. *A suggestion to the publisher: If you want people to buy your books, give them titles that aren't so misleading, please.* I can't imagine not having read this wonderful, romantic, and adventerous story. Goes to show you can't judge a book by its cover (even though people, including me, does it anyway). This book received my highest recommendation!

Rating:
Summary: A Great Book
Review: I just finished reading The Woman Who Loved Reindeer and thought it was a great book. It is about a woman who lives in a world of daimons and firelords. She is forced to nurture a child when she is a young adolescent and ends up falling in love with him. This is a story how he helps her lead her people from their land which is falling apart because of the firelords' doings. I enjoyed this story so much I didn't want to put it down. You should definately read this. My sister is starting on it right now.

Rating:
Summary: Interesting but chilly read
Review: I wanted to like The Woman Who Loved Reindeer, but the emotional tone of the book is as cold as the tundra where it's set. The heroine, Caribou, is a resourceful and realistic young woman, her interactions with her neighbors are believable, her turmoil over her relationship with her supernatural fosterling is clearly depicted -- and yet, I couldn't bring myself to care about her very much. Only at the very end of the book did I find myself involved at all.

It's well-written, well-constructed and apparently well-researched, but to my mind, it lacks heart.

Rating:
Summary: Don't Let the Title Fool You
Review: Now, I must admit I was a little hesitant to read this book just from reading the title. However, I'd read quite a few of Pierce's other novels and loved almost all of them, so I thought reading this one couldn't hurt. I was glad I'd done so. It's an amazing story with some wonderfully different ideas in it. A great deviation from the every-day fantasy you read all the time and I would highly recommend this tale to anyone who likes fantasy and/or a good love story.

Rating:
Summary: Don't Let the Title Fool You
Review: Now, I must admit I was a little hesitant to read this book just from reading the title. However, I'd read quite a few of Pierce's other novels and loved almost all of them, so I thought reading this one couldn't hurt. I was glad I'd done so. It's an amazing story with some wonderfully different ideas in it. A great deviation from the every-day fantasy you read all the time and I would highly recommend this tale to anyone who likes fantasy and/or a good love story.

Rating:
Summary: "She Was My Mother, But She Was Afraid of Me..."
Review: Set in a prehistoric fantasy setting of ice and snow, "The Woman Who Loved Reindeer" refers to its two main characters: the young Caribou and the child she names Reindeer. As someone who experiences prophetic dreams, Caribou lives alone until her sister-in-law brings to her a golden-haired child. Claiming that it is not her husband Visjna's child (Caribou's brother), Branja begs her to take in the child - before Visjna returns from the season-long hunt and so that the child's true father cannot come to claim him.

Caribou is initially disdainful of such a request, but the tiny infant soon warms her heart. Due to his love of the reindeer herds, she names him after them, and goes about raising him to the best of his ability. But soon it becomes clear that he is no ordinary child. After a terrifying run-in with a golden reindeer that results in her brother's death, Caribou begins to notice more and more abnormalities about him: he neither cries nor laughs, bleeds golden blood, has inhuman reflections, and cannot understand the concept of love. But Caribou loves him deeply, and when she begins to suspect he is one of the spirit "daimons" she is terrified that she will loose him forever. When the seasons change, he takes reindeer form in order to travel with the herds beyond the dangerous Burning Plains and the Lands of the Broken Snow.

But Caribou's lands are in jeopardy with a range of natural disasters that threaten the people. Having never been particularly close to them, Caribou is prepared to depart with Reindeer to safer lands - but years of service as a wisewoman makes her sympathetic to those that come to her for help. She convinces Reindeer to lead all those who want to on the perilous journey to safety, and with her guiding dreams she leads her people onwards. But throughout the trek is her ongoing pain: on whether or not Reindeer can come to love her, and whether she can trust him to fulfil his promise.

"The Woman Who Loved Reindeer" is another wonderful story from Meredith Ann Pierce, whose beautiful language, meaningful stories and rich themes make for essential reading. Her landscapes are wonderfully invoked, with everything from the languages to the details of clothing and utensils described make the entire setting a rich and realistic setting. Her use of real folklore (most of which is Scandinavian and Nordic) helps to create a sense of resonance and the feeling that this is a `real' part of the world's mythology in her use of daimons, trollwomen, sea-maids and Firekings.

Which is interesting since in terms of plot, it has several Biblical echoes - in particular Noah's Ark and the story of Moses. Caribou's people are driven from their homes by natural disasters (like the flood) and forced on a long journey to safety and freedom, which at one stage involves a land-bridge being risen above the waters (like the parting of the Red Sea). Caribou throughout is a wise and determined leader - disciplining those that deserve it, encouraging the unfaithful, and seeing through her promise no matter what the costs.

Some things don't quite gel together: the move from a mother/son relationship to lovers between Reindeer and Caribou is never quite drawn out or explored properly (surprising considering the changing feelings of love is the main theme - in fact the very title - of the book) and a second love interest is introduced only to be pushed to the side. And we never really learn anything conclusive about Branja's fate. But for any fans of fantasy, storytelling, or Meredith Ann Pierce, this is a must-read.

Rating:
Summary: THE BEST!
Review: This is one of the best books I have ever read (just under Tamora Peirce's books). I read it a while ago, when i was in 5th or 6th grade. Even then i loved it, although it had some parts that i couldn't understand. I read it again recently, and i STILL LOVE IT! you know that a book is awesome if you read it once and then again, a long time later. That means that the book is truly awesome! It is about a girl who falls in love. The one she is in love with, however, is not really human. There is a great story-line, and it all fits together eventually. It is great, and i recommend it to anyone over the age of 11 that is mature. IT RULES!