"A Pocketful of Crows" by Joanne Harris is a modern fairytale that weaves together elements of nature, love, loss, and revenge in a poetic and lyrical writing style. The story follows a nameless wild girl who falls in love with a young man from a village, leading to a tragic tale of obsession, betrayal, and dark magic. Divided into chapters that correspond to the months of the year, the book is filled with beautiful descriptions of nature and animals, creating a lush and immersive reading experience. The narrative explores themes of love, loss, and the power of words, drawing readers into a world that is both enchanting and darkly realistic.

Characters:

The characters include a wild girl who sacrifices her freedom for love and a flawed lover, embodying the tension between nature and societal constraints.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is lyrical and poetic, enriched with vivid nature descriptions and structured in a calendar format, enhancing the story's fantastical elements.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot revolves around a wild girl encountering love, a transformative journey filled with dark magic and sacrifice, ultimately highlighting connections to nature.

Setting:

The setting is an evocative and lush natural landscape that enhances the magical and folkloric elements of the story.

Pacing:

The pacing is fast yet allows for reflective moments that encourage an appreciation of the lyrical prose and structure.

Wild creatures feel hunger differently. My own is deep as wintertime; frugal as old age. The vixen’s is joyous; exuberant; sniffing for frogs under the turf; snapping at moths in the shining air. We r...

Notes:

The story blends romance, tragedy, and dark magic.

It features a nameless wild girl who transforms and lives among animals.

The girl falls in love with a handsome young man from the village.

The girl's love story takes a dark turn, leading to themes of revenge.

The book is structured by months of the year, evoking a calendar format.

It includes illustrations that enhance its fairy tale nature.

The narrative is inspired by traditional ballads, specifically Child Ballad 295.

Joanne Harris's writing is described as lyrical and poetic.

The story emphasizes the power of words and explores themes of betrayal and scorned women.

It offers a darker and more realistic interpretation compared to Disney fairy tales.

Readers felt immersed in nature due to rich descriptions of the setting.

The book can be read in one or two days, making it accessible.

It has been well-received by fans of fairy tales and fantasy literature.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include themes of betrayal, cruelty, and darker aspects associated with revenge.

Has Romance?

The presence of romance is significant, but it is intertwined with themes of sacrifice and loss.

From The Publisher:

I am as brown as brown can be,

And my eyes as black as sloe;

I am as brisk as brisk can be,

And wild as forest doe.

(The Child Ballads, 295)

So begins a beautiful tale of love, loss and revenge. Following the seasons, A Pocketful of Crows balances youth and age, wisdom and passion and draws on nature and folklore to weave a stunning modern mythology around a nameless wild girl.

Only love could draw her into the world of named, tamed things. And it seems only revenge will be powerful enough to let her escape.

Beautifully illustrated by Bonnie Helen Hawkins, this is a stunning and original modern fairytale.

Ratings (3)

Incredible (1)
Loved It (1)
It Was OK (1)

Reader Stats (7):

Read It (3)
Want To Read (3)
Not Interested (1)

2 comment(s)

Pallavi

It Was OK

5 months

**** 3.5 ****

RTC

beknut733

Incredible

1 year

Female rage. Witchy. Dark fairytale. Revenge. Atmospheric.

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A Pocketful of Crows

Bonnie Helen Hawkins, Joanne M. Harris