The Owl Service by Alan Garner, is–interesting. And if you live in Minnesota or you know someone who does, you will probably understand that when we say “well now that was interesting” with a certain inflection it is a nice way to say “I’m not quite sure what to make of it. I sort of like it. I sort of don’t. I’m leaning towards don’t but I’m willing to consider what others think of it and possibly as a result end up liking it but it has to be a convincing argument.” Of course sometimes it also means, “This guy is a real nutcase and I’m just going to humor him and hope he goes away soon.” See, Minnesotans pride ourselves on being nice–Minnesota Nice–and have found all kinds of ways to make it seem like we are nice and polite when on the inside we are thinking, “wtf?
“But I am getting off topic. Owl Service was interesting in the “I’m not sure what to think of it” way.Briefly, the book is about three kids, two English step-siblings Alison and Roger, and a Welsh boy, Gwyn. The English kids are on holiday with the family at their Welsh country house which was left to Alison, by her father who is deceased. The kids–teenagers–find a full dinner service in the attic. The dishes have what look like an odd flower pattern on them. Alison figures out that with some tracing paper and some clever paper turnings here and there, the design turns into an owl. After all the flower/owls have been traced off the plate, the pattern on the plate disappears. The Welsh myth of Blodeuwedd is awakened and the three kids are caught up in it and someone could end up dead.
I voted for the selection of this book because I was interested in the Welsh mythology aspect of it. I don’t know much about Wales and its myths so I thought it would be a fun introduction. Unfortunately the parts of the book I liked least were all related to the myth. Whenever the myth was at the forefront of the plot, things got confusing.
Take out the myth and I thought the story was pretty good. I liked the historical cultural dynamic between the Welsh and English, and the Welsh themselves, trying to change their image from rural farmers to sophisticated cosmopolitans. There was also the servant dynamic tossed in to make relationships even more muddled. Gwyn, the Welsh boy is also a servant, or rather, the son of the servants. The kids get along until classism and English/Welsh prejudices rear their ugly heads and get in the way.
And I enjoyed the depiction of the relationship between the kids as they try to figure out the identities they want to claim for themselves. They struggle with choosing the ones that are being imposed by their parents or the culture at large or one they invent for themselves.
But then Blodeuwedd gets in the way and instead of the myth adding to and enriching all that the kids are going through, it detracts from it. The myth portions of the book seemed contrived, imposed, artificial. There should have been two books, one about three kids coming of age and one a retelling of the Bloeduwedd myth. Instead we’ve got one book that is–interesting.
I read this book with the Slaves of Golconda. Go to the site and you can see what the other Slaves thought. And then hop over to MetaxuCafe to follow along with or join in on the discussion.
Please consider joining my Japanese Literature Challenge. The details came be found at:
http://dolcebellezza.blogspot.com/2007/11/youre-invited.html
I’d love to talk more books with you!
What fun to have everyone reading my favorite Alan Garner book, and how interesting to see how others are not quite as enamored of it as I was. I loved the myth parts best, although I was also very intrigued by the nature of the different relationships among the characters.
OK, I admit I liked the myth parts the least. Which was kind of a shocker for me as I sort of expected to enjoy that a lot. I was just so confused. I actually had to start the book over after a few chapters and still I didn’t think that helped me much.
Oh yeah, I know the second type of “well now, that was interesting” very well.
Thanks for the invite Bellezza! I am trying to come up with a list!
Emily, the book got a lot of liked it but just okay feelings from the group. Did you know the myth before you read the book?
Iliana, I was surprised I liked the myth parts the least too. I thought I would like them best as well.
Heh, Bikkuri, even in Japan?
Stef, nope, I didn’t know the myth before I read the book, and I, like others, ended up turning to other sources once I’d read it to get the whole thing.
I thought the story of the relationship between the teend in terms of class and the whole Welsh/British aspect was also really interesting. He could easily have written a book on that alone!
Emily, I find that interesting because the confusion about the myth was one of the things that I didn’t like about it.
Danielle, couldn’t he though? I think I would have liked the book better if that’s what he had done.
I had a good laugh at the para about Minnesotans. So true. In fact, we were told in our very first orientation class (Those classes in which they tell you about “You betcha!” and “Bob Dylan”) that Minnesotans are among the most polite people in the US.
This has turned out to be very true in my experience. I hope though, that no one was thinking “wtf?” when I was talking to them
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Polaris, what was the occasion for the orientation class? I’m sure no one thought “wtf” when you were talking to them. The natives are too polite to even think such a thing. It’s only transplants like myself that would think “wtf”? But I’m sure in another 10-15 years I will be close enough to native I won’t be able to think that anymore
It was a program for training teaching assistants. The U of M is one of the very few schools which have a dedicated teaching program in summer for all the new teaching assistants who will join in Fall. Most schools have a one-day orientation, but at the U of M, I had a month-long course. I loved it because it was a gentle introduction to the US for me, rather than being thrust into the grad school grind from day one.
That sounds like a great program. I wonder why so few school have one like it? I hope your entire MN experience was a good one!