Sunday 5 May 2013

Artful Readers Club - April

My book for April was 'The Wood Wife' by Terri Windling.

I really loved this book.  I couldn't even put it down to make a cheese sauce I was so entranced :)

'The Wood Wife' was inspired by the artwork of Brian Froud who's work I really enjoy. I did not know this when I chose this book back in January!

The plot centres around journalist and poet, Maggie Black. Maggie has been corresponding with poet, Davis Cooper for several years and inherits his property in a remote area outside of Tucson, Arizona, after he dies in mysterious circumstances.  We follow Maggie as she gets to know the mountains and its mysteries.

There are several layers to the book and I will probably read it again at some point.  The things that stuck out for me were 'relationship to land'  (the author has lived in both Tucson, Arizona and Devon which is reflected in the novel), land and environment influencing art, and the arts influencing more art.  This made it a great choice for the Artful Readers Club although again, I didn't know that when I chose it!

It was a quick and enjoyable read and I would definitely recommend it, particularly to those who enjoy magical fiction.

For my artwork, I chose to draw one of the animal characters, whom Maggie names as 'Thumper'.  I added a border of Mesquite leaves to reflect the trees in Maggie's environment and Oak leaves to reflect the influence of Dartmoor, Devon and my own environment, Somerset. 

 
 

13 comments:

  1. Oh this is such a divine image!!! Sounds a great book Sophie, thank you for sharing it with us, I may have to look this up and add it to my list :D XXX

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  2. I love your country scene, which gives an environmental feel. The details stand out so well against the clear background, and I like the way the leaves form a frame.
    Sounds an interesting book and I'll be adding it to that ever-growing list of books to read.

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  3. Wonderful animal and the leaves are a perfect frame. Will take a look at this book. Thanks for the review.
    Jen x

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  4. I adore your bunny thumper (very Disney :) beautiful image. the book does sound interesting you didn't give much away but I am intrigued will be looking this up Happy ARC Dxx

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  5. Sounds a very interesting book and your artwork is delightful! Love your hare drawing, (ears suggest a hare), in old folklore they were thought to be the creatures witches often shapeshifted into.

    Janet xx

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  6. Oh, those ears! I would love to pet those for a while! ♥
    The book sounds like the perfect escape from everyday life, I'm going to find out if I can get it here! :)

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  7. wow i love your Thumper , really gorgeous! I actually laughed at your cheese sauce comment lol i am a huge fan of Froud, so i shall have to investigate this book more.

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  8. This is an incredible drawing. I can't draw, so Thumper was a genuine beauty.

    I thought it was fortuitous that you chose this book, and how it touched you in both the novel and the art. That makes this such a worthwhile project we have undertaken. And your endorsement of it from the very beginning was obvious when you couldn't put it down.

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  9. What a lovely review and I like your image too. I have just started blogging and this is my first ARC. I really enjoyed all the posts I've read. Thank you for sharing your book and your lovely art work. xxx

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  10. What better reccomendation for a book can you have ... No time even to make a cheese sauce. LOL.
    Great review and beautiful art, Thumper looks very happy in his environment, I lived on the edge of Bodmin Moor a long time ago and your art could have been created from the wonderful vista's there too.

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  11. Awwww I want a cuddle with Thumper :) Great artwork! And I am glad you enjoyed your book. You are only one county across from me, as I am in Wiltshire. *waves*

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  12. bloghopped here and had to stop awhile! I read the woodwife a month or so ago, and i also could not put it down!! absolutely loved it, and its a book i will keep and not pass on!! Loved your painting, its wonderful!

    Leanne x

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  13. Great artwork - love Thumper! Sounds like a good book. x

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