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smalltimereadsRedemption in Indigo has been on my 'to read' list for so long I don't remember how I originally heard about it. I could never find it in libraries or book stores, though, until this year, when I remembered I could go directly to the source. I bought my copy of Redemption in Indigo from Small Beer Press' 'Remainders' section, and finally sit down to read it.
It was good! I love fairytale/folktale retellings, especially of stories I'm not familiar with, and this was a very solid retelling. It had a rhythm to it that was reminiscent of an oral retelling without worrying too much about capturing that element. The last chapter (before the epilogue) was especially good at the capturing the story element.
Paama is very practical, which I love in a protagonist. I know 'practical wife' is a stock character in a lot of tales, but that doesn't make them any less enjoyable. Her ordinariness combined with her practicality and stubbornness were very enjoyable to read. Chance, too, was a good character, and his frustration with humans was understandable (especially in this day, although I expect it is always understandable) even when it wasn't good. Trickster was also a fun character, especially in his spider form.
I love retellings, I love stories about choices, and I love Karen Lord's writing (although this is very different from her sci-fi). I'm really glad I finally got to read this.
It was good! I love fairytale/folktale retellings, especially of stories I'm not familiar with, and this was a very solid retelling. It had a rhythm to it that was reminiscent of an oral retelling without worrying too much about capturing that element. The last chapter (before the epilogue) was especially good at the capturing the story element.
Paama is very practical, which I love in a protagonist. I know 'practical wife' is a stock character in a lot of tales, but that doesn't make them any less enjoyable. Her ordinariness combined with her practicality and stubbornness were very enjoyable to read. Chance, too, was a good character, and his frustration with humans was understandable (especially in this day, although I expect it is always understandable) even when it wasn't good. Trickster was also a fun character, especially in his spider form.
I love retellings, I love stories about choices, and I love Karen Lord's writing (although this is very different from her sci-fi). I'm really glad I finally got to read this.
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Date: 2021-02-21 08:54 pm (UTC)while i don't know which specific folktale this is retelling, trickster/anansi the spider showing up is very much the same across the caribbean lol
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Date: 2021-02-22 09:23 pm (UTC)i thought it was a specific folktale- the back of the book says it's "inspired in part by a Senegalese folk tale"- but now i'm looking at an essay by nisi shawl that says it has multiple folk tales! one of them is "Ansige Karamba, the Glutton." i love anansi/trickster stories