A Song for Summer? Is it really?

Feb. 10th, 2009 at 6:59 PM

Words truly are nothing if they are simply just words. It's when they're paired with a bunch of other words that form a sentences that they have such an effect on people. New book: A Song For Summer by Eva Ibbotson.

Intro? ....well I'd read alot of books (actually all of them) by Ibbotson when I was a little kid, and this one was the first young adult one that I've read by her. I've always been aware of how she can take an ordinary story whether realistic fiction or historically alluded (if that's a word), and turn it into something fantasy-like. In this particular book it was the storks and kohlroserl that brought the essence of fairy tale.

One more thing....I've decided that I am going to include spoilers in my reviews from now on because I can't do them properly without doing so, and if you haven't already read the book, then read it before reading this. It's that simple. Besides, what's the point of writing these if I can't voice my opinions on the ending, which is the foundatoin of my overall viewpoint of the book.

A SONG FOR SUMMER

I did my best trying to make the colors match the colors of the cover of my copy of the book. I thought the beginning was very slow and it felt like it was dragging, but things got more exciting later on, so I won't complain too much. I hated how Ibbotson would often switch viewpoints over and over again. I don't mind seeing the other characters' perspectives, but she always switched points of views right when something exciting was happening to one character. It's like watching a really good movie with stupid commercials interferring every time there's a good part. But heck, I'll give her kudos because it definitely conceals shocking details that would later be revealed to an astonished reader. It's just really annoying though.
Another thing about switching....not only does she switch viewpoints, the story line keeps changing. It went from Ellen going to Hallendorf to helping Isaac Meierwitz to conflicts with Marek to losing Marek to finding him again. In most books all these random events come together in some ingenious way, kudos to the author. In this book however, I didn't feel as though Ibbotson was very successful with doing that, although I don't know what her motives were. She had some success though - it all made sense in the end. The end was pretty good according to my standards, although cliche, but there is a reason why cliches are cliche XD. I'll have you know that I am a full Marek-supporter. I have no sentiments for Kendrick Frobisher or Meierwitz. The plot annoyed me because it went from everything going well with Marek, then conflicts, then they get back together, then she leaves him and marries someone else, then they get back together. The entire time my brain kept exclaming, DOES SHE GET THE GUY OR NOT?!?! I would be content in one chapter, then distressed in another. That probably isn't too good for me haha. But all ends well she gets Marek in the end hehe! I hate stories where the author leads you to think one thing then totally changes it, saying the protagonist is happy leaving you angry with their decisions.
A question about the title: Why is it called "a song for summer" when the story revolves around Ellen and Marek, and Marek wrote the Songs of Summer for Brigitta Seefeld and not Ellen. In my opnion it could have been called "Aniella's song" or something related to that. But I guess "song for summer" sounds prettier and has a nice ring to it and would most likely draw more readers than a weird-sounding name like Aniella.
Ending: I have to admit I was really happy when she found out about Kendrick and Tamara, since I had hoped for success between Ellen and Marek. I like stories that have happy satisfying endings. I sometimes get annoyed when authors write good stories and then incorporate a horrible ending. Goodness knows we need many more of those in life >.<

So I think I'm done now....