A College of Magics
20 journalers for this copy...
I adore this book! It's an excellent, really well-written fantasy novel about a young woman who goes off to college. It features witty dialogue, wonderfully drawn characters, political intrigue, and a clever plot. I was drawn in right away and I couldn't put it down until it was finished. Great story.
This book was set in an alternate universe -- some bits are clearly set in real places, like Paris, and other bits are set in imaginary places, like Galazon and Greenlaw. It's set in the late-nineteenth/early-twentieth century, and it feels authentically Edwardian. Stevermer's writing style convincingly mimics the literary style of that time period. In other words, don't jump into this book expecting fast-paced explosions of action. While there is plenty of action and adventure and daring escapades, the novel takes its time getting there. This is a subtle book. A slow book. A book to savor.
Also, don't be misled by the title into expecting Harry Potter-style antics. The magic taught at Greenlaw -- all the magic in this book, really -- is not showy. This magic is the stuff of metaphysics; it deals in intangibles.
All caveats aside, this book is absolutely wonderful. I love it to death, and I will undoubtedly re-read it many times in the future!
(Part of my love for this book is probably based on the fact that Greenlaw College, the fictional school of the title, is clearly based on the real-life school Bryn Mawr College, my alma mater -- Caroline Stevermer's alma mater as well. That added an extra layer of fun to the book, but even if you're totally unfamiliar with Bryn Mawr, you can still enjoy A College of Magics fully.)
Here's the blurb:
Faris Nallaneen is the heir to the small northern dukedom of Galazon; but until she reaches her majority, her despotic uncle rules with an iron hand. He has banished her to college, to keep her out of the country and out of his way. But little does he reckon on the specialty that is taught at the College of Greenlaw. That specialty is magic...and Faris shall prove to be an apt student indeed!
Ranging from the stone halls of academia to the elegent rooms of Parisian salons, A College of Magics is a tale both swashbuckling and intimate, of adventure, love, fortunes won and lost, and the lasting magic of true friendship.
This book was set in an alternate universe -- some bits are clearly set in real places, like Paris, and other bits are set in imaginary places, like Galazon and Greenlaw. It's set in the late-nineteenth/early-twentieth century, and it feels authentically Edwardian. Stevermer's writing style convincingly mimics the literary style of that time period. In other words, don't jump into this book expecting fast-paced explosions of action. While there is plenty of action and adventure and daring escapades, the novel takes its time getting there. This is a subtle book. A slow book. A book to savor.
Also, don't be misled by the title into expecting Harry Potter-style antics. The magic taught at Greenlaw -- all the magic in this book, really -- is not showy. This magic is the stuff of metaphysics; it deals in intangibles.
All caveats aside, this book is absolutely wonderful. I love it to death, and I will undoubtedly re-read it many times in the future!
(Part of my love for this book is probably based on the fact that Greenlaw College, the fictional school of the title, is clearly based on the real-life school Bryn Mawr College, my alma mater -- Caroline Stevermer's alma mater as well. That added an extra layer of fun to the book, but even if you're totally unfamiliar with Bryn Mawr, you can still enjoy A College of Magics fully.)
Here's the blurb:
Faris Nallaneen is the heir to the small northern dukedom of Galazon; but until she reaches her majority, her despotic uncle rules with an iron hand. He has banished her to college, to keep her out of the country and out of his way. But little does he reckon on the specialty that is taught at the College of Greenlaw. That specialty is magic...and Faris shall prove to be an apt student indeed!
Ranging from the stone halls of academia to the elegent rooms of Parisian salons, A College of Magics is a tale both swashbuckling and intimate, of adventure, love, fortunes won and lost, and the lasting magic of true friendship.
Starting a bookray! Yay! What fun!
Standard bookray rules apply:
1. When you receive the book, make a journal entry, so we all know where it is.
2. Read the book within a month of receiving it in the mail.
3. Journal with your thoughts/opinions/etc.
4. PM the next person on the list to get their address.
5. Mail to the next person on the list, and include this information in a journal entry, so we all know where the book is.
6. Rinse and repeat!
The last person on the list -- and right now that's you, WileminaZoot -- should wild release it. And that's it!
The final list of participants:
1.Huntersmith (USA)
2.Mamawolfie (USA -- Will ship internat'l.)
3.thegreenlady (Australia -- Will ship internationally.)
4.Lpree (USA -- Will ship internat'l.)
5.Mytilusgirl (UK -- Will ship internat'l, but prefers Europe.)
6.Skyrider (UK. Can ship internat'l, but prefers Europe.)
7.Myntti (Finland -- Will ship internat'l.)
8.MollyGrue (USA)
9.Eucalia (USA -- Can ship internat'l, but prefers USA.)
10.Rrrcaron (USA -- Can ship internat'l.)
11.KF-in-Georgia (USA)
12.Brujula (France. Will ship internat'l, but prefers Europe.)
13.Starry-Starry (UK. Will ship internat'l.)
14.gerenggat (UK -- Can ship internat'l.)SKIPPED
15.Daemonwolf. (UK -- Can ship internat'l.)
16.Jubby(Australia. Can ship internat'l.)
17.gwendy (USA)
18.WileminaZoot (USA -- Can ship internat'l.)
The ring is now closed.
Standard bookray rules apply:
1. When you receive the book, make a journal entry, so we all know where it is.
2. Read the book within a month of receiving it in the mail.
3. Journal with your thoughts/opinions/etc.
4. PM the next person on the list to get their address.
5. Mail to the next person on the list, and include this information in a journal entry, so we all know where the book is.
6. Rinse and repeat!
The last person on the list -- and right now that's you, WileminaZoot -- should wild release it. And that's it!
The final list of participants:
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4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
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10.
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The ring is now closed.
Just recieved. Thank you.
7/5--I finished this yesterday. Delightful book. I hated to finish it and actually reread my favorite parts afterwards.
7/7--Mailed today!
7/5--I finished this yesterday. Delightful book. I hated to finish it and actually reread my favorite parts afterwards.
7/7--Mailed today!
Received this book on 7-10 and am half way through
So far a great book
7-14 Finished book and sent it on it's way to the greenlady in Australia.
I absolutely loved this book. Thanks ever so much for letting me join this ring.
So far a great book
7-14 Finished book and sent it on it's way to the greenlady in Australia.
I absolutely loved this book. Thanks ever so much for letting me join this ring.
Great timing! Just finished another bookring so I'll start this book straight away.
An enjoyable book and very charming characters!
Mailed Economy Air to Lpree. The post office indicated delivery would take approximately 3 weeks.
This arrived in today's mail. I've got some other bookrings ahead of it, but will read this as soon as I can - I'm really looking forward to reading it!
UPDATE 9/15 - I started reading this last night and am already drawn in to the story. I expect to finish this in a couple of days.
UPDATE 9/15 - I started reading this last night and am already drawn in to the story. I expect to finish this in a couple of days.
I finished this book last night. What a great book! I really enjoyed the whole book. I like how the setting is a fictional area but other real countries are included in this world. I will certainly be on the lookout for more by this author. Thanks for sharing it!
I have sent a PM to Mytilusgirl for her address and hope to mail this out early next week.
UPDATE 9/20 - Sent surface mail to Mytilusgirl today.
I have sent a PM to Mytilusgirl for her address and hope to mail this out early next week.
UPDATE 9/20 - Sent surface mail to Mytilusgirl today.
Arrived on Saturday..
I'm almost halfway through and enjoying it immensely. Thank you SheWhoReads and Lpree!
I'm almost halfway through and enjoying it immensely. Thank you SheWhoReads and Lpree!
What a super book. I loved the melding of fictional and real countries, just as I loved the setting and place of magic within the early 20th century. I'll definately be keeping an eye out for more by Stevermer.
Sent to Skyrider today.
Thank you SheWhoReads!
Sent to Skyrider today.
Thank you SheWhoReads!
Journal Entry 12 by Skyrider from Cambridge, Cambridgeshire United Kingdom on Friday, October 29, 2004
Just a quick post to let all this book's friends know that it's arrived safely. I won't get the chance to start it till Monday, but seeing all the positive comments on here I'm really looking forward to it.
Thanks SheWhoReads for sharing this book and thanks also to Mytilusgirl for sending it on. You're both stars!
Thanks SheWhoReads for sharing this book and thanks also to Mytilusgirl for sending it on. You're both stars!
Journal Entry 13 by Skyrider from Cambridge, Cambridgeshire United Kingdom on Monday, December 6, 2004
I'll start this with an apology....I've overshot my allotted month by a few days. Sorry about that. The book's on its way to myntti now though.
I feel a little guilty saying this given the positive comments so far in this journal, but I wasn't as impressed by A College of Magics as others seem to have been. I thought it was a charming tale of fantasy which was marred by not being well told — to me, the prose felt like a thin pastiche of Victoriana and the characters seemed somewhat caricatured, broadly distingushed from each other in their actions but all speaking in much the same fashion. But everyone else seems to have enjoyed it, so I've clearly missed something.
The photo shows A College of Magics amid the colleges of Cambridge, just to prove it made it here.
I feel a little guilty saying this given the positive comments so far in this journal, but I wasn't as impressed by A College of Magics as others seem to have been. I thought it was a charming tale of fantasy which was marred by not being well told — to me, the prose felt like a thin pastiche of Victoriana and the characters seemed somewhat caricatured, broadly distingushed from each other in their actions but all speaking in much the same fashion. But everyone else seems to have enjoyed it, so I've clearly missed something.
The photo shows A College of Magics amid the colleges of Cambridge, just to prove it made it here.
The book arrived in today's mail. Thank you, Skyrider. I have another bookring book to finish first, but I'll start reading this soon.
Journal Entry 15 by myntti from Tampere, Pirkanmaa / Birkaland Finland on Wednesday, January 12, 2005
A College of Magics was an entertaining book, but... I couldn't help feeling that the book could have been better. It didn't quite live up to its potential. With the exception of Faris, the characters were two-dimensional - even Jane and Tyrian were a bit "cardboardy". I would've liked to read more about the actual studies at Greenlaw - and learning more about the whole Warden thing would've been interesting. "...it was a charming tale of fantasy which was marred by not being well told" as Skyrider put it, and I have to agree with that. My rating: 6-7/10.
Thank you for starting this ring, SheWhoReads. The book is now on its way to MollyGrue.
Thank you for starting this ring, SheWhoReads. The book is now on its way to MollyGrue.
I have a couple rings ahead of this one, but I will get to it as soon as I can. I started looking through it and now desperately want to bump it up in my hierarchy. :) Thanks!
Good book! Had a small bout of insomnia last night and managed to finish this. I'm looking forward to finding the sequal somewhere and reading it as well. Greenlaw sounds like such a fascinating place....
Journal Entry 18 by MollyGrue at In The Mail in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Sunday, February 27, 2005
Released 19 yrs ago (2/28/2005 UTC) at In The Mail in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
Sent to Eucalia.
DC# 03022940000169565264
Sent to Eucalia.
DC# 03022940000169565264
I picked this up from the post office two days ago. Thanks for sending it to me! I will start reading it shortly!
Journal Entry 20 by Eucalia at sent to bookcrosser in Mail, Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Saturday, April 9, 2005
Released 18 yrs ago (4/8/2005 UTC) at sent to bookcrosser in Mail, Bookring -- Controlled Releases
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
I realized the other day that I've had this book for over a month already (how time flies!) and I hadn't had a chance to read it yet. I didn't want to hold up the ring any longer so I contacted the next person on the list for her address and mailed it out to her yesterday morning. I wish I had had enough free time to read it!
I realized the other day that I've had this book for over a month already (how time flies!) and I hadn't had a chance to read it yet. I didn't want to hold up the ring any longer so I contacted the next person on the list for her address and mailed it out to her yesterday morning. I wish I had had enough free time to read it!
I received this book in the mail yesterday. I hope to get to it soon!
Ruth
Ruth
Sending this book to Georgia today. Sorry I held it so long, and I hope you all enjoy the read!
Ruth
Ruth
This book showed up just when I needed it and was exactly what I needed: a well-written, enjoyable tale, easy to take...nothing earth-shaking, not a “significant” book—just very, very pleasant.
(Pleasant enough that I’ve put the sequel on hold at the local library.)
This will go out in the mail as soon I get the next address.
(Pleasant enough that I’ve put the sequel on hold at the local library.)
This will go out in the mail as soon I get the next address.
This is on its way to Brujula in France. It shipped today Global Priority Mail. The post office optimistically predicts delivery in 4-6 business days. ;o)
A side note: I've gotten the sequel from my local library and have just gotten started on it. In this one--A Scholar of Magics--Jane has gone to visit her brother, Robin, provost of Glasscastle University in England. Also at Glasscastle is Samuel Lambert, "sharpshooter, adventurer, late of the Wyoming plains and Kiowa Bob's Wild West Show." The book jacket says:
This sparkling sequel to A College of Magics is a whirlwind of secret weapons, motor cars, mysterious assaults and abductions, thugs in bowler hats, and a mild-mannered don who is heir to a magical power greater than all of Glasscastle's. The resulting tale is as funny as a Gilbert and Sullivan Victorian romp, with the wit and suspense of a Dorothy Sayers mystery, and a dash of John Wayne thrown in for good measure.
A side note: I've gotten the sequel from my local library and have just gotten started on it. In this one--A Scholar of Magics--Jane has gone to visit her brother, Robin, provost of Glasscastle University in England. Also at Glasscastle is Samuel Lambert, "sharpshooter, adventurer, late of the Wyoming plains and Kiowa Bob's Wild West Show." The book jacket says:
This sparkling sequel to A College of Magics is a whirlwind of secret weapons, motor cars, mysterious assaults and abductions, thugs in bowler hats, and a mild-mannered don who is heir to a magical power greater than all of Glasscastle's. The resulting tale is as funny as a Gilbert and Sullivan Victorian romp, with the wit and suspense of a Dorothy Sayers mystery, and a dash of John Wayne thrown in for good measure.
The book arrived safely in Belfort today!
Thank you KF-in-Georgia!
Thank you KF-in-Georgia!
Journal Entry 27 by Brujula from Valenciennes, Nord-Pas-de-Calais France on Thursday, September 29, 2005
A nice moral tale, where generosity and honesty wins over the lust for power.
I'll mail it to the next on the list as soon as I can get near a post-office!
Thank you very much for sharing this book. And sorry I kept it a little over a month.
I'll mail it to the next on the list as soon as I can get near a post-office!
Thank you very much for sharing this book. And sorry I kept it a little over a month.
Journal Entry 28 by Starry-Starry from Llandrindod Wells, Wales United Kingdom on Monday, October 10, 2005
Received this morning, thanks very much Brujula. My current book isn't grabbing me, so I'll start this later today.
Journal Entry 29 by Starry-Starry from Llandrindod Wells, Wales United Kingdom on Wednesday, October 12, 2005
I enjoyed this book, it was an entertaining read. I liked the characters, particularly Faris herself, and the plot was interesting. I agree with Myntti that the detail could have been improved upon, I wanted more information about Greenlaw and the Wardens. Everyone in the story already knew and accepted that there should be wardens, so why shouldn't we be let in on the secrets too? Ah well, perhaps that is what the sequels are for.
Thanks for including me in the ring SheWhoReads and I'll pass it onto the next reader as soon as I can.
Thanks for including me in the ring SheWhoReads and I'll pass it onto the next reader as soon as I can.
Journal Entry 30 by Starry-Starry from Llandrindod Wells, Wales United Kingdom on Saturday, November 5, 2005
Sorry it's taken me so long to pass on this book! I Pmed gerengatt, but she asked to be skipped, so this will be on its way to Daemonwolf today.
Arrived in the post this morning. :)
I have tried to read this a couple of times, see here for my book journal entry but can't settle down to read this at all. What I have read of the book is good but I just can't settle down to fiction when I am craving non-fiction and have it all around me! I will post this onwards as soon as I have an address.
Oh, I am bad.
I still have this book, and I have not finished reading. I am so easily distracted, that I have been off doing/see/reading other things.
I have PMed Gwendy, and I will get this book into the post next week - I promise!
I am enjoying so far though.
It was not what I was expecting...
I still have this book, and I have not finished reading. I am so easily distracted, that I have been off doing/see/reading other things.
I have PMed Gwendy, and I will get this book into the post next week - I promise!
I am enjoying so far though.
It was not what I was expecting...
I havce finally finished reading this one. Yay!
On the back of the book, above the barcode, it says for ages 10+. And, on the front cover we have Jane Yolen (a well-known childrens writer) telling us '[this is] a large step up from Harry Potter'. I am currently a childrens' librarian, and I thought that this would be interesting for work.
I have got to tell you now, it is rather unlikely I will buy this book for work. I don't think our children will get all the literary references ('The Prince', 'Leviathan' and the works of William Shakespeare). I was also amused to note that hip flasks and cognac would appear when ever any character had a fright.
Hmm! And the simmering passions between Faris and Tyrian may be lost on the younger read too.
But, having said that, I really enjoyed this book.
As an adult I greatly enjoyed the strong female lead character, her wit and charm, and the historical references. I particularly liked the mention of St. Margaret and St. Michael up there covering each others backs (yes, I too had a Catholic education).
Sadly, I think that the author missed her market with this book. Yes, it is 'better' than Harry Potter, but then it is not a serialised childrens book. This is really for young adults upwards.
But, it would not take much for the writer to have fleshed the story out, and made it into a trilogy as Philip Pullman did with his 'Dark materials trilogy'. The comparrisions with J.K.Rowlings don't do Stevermer any justice. Lovie, you should get a new publisher!
If anything, her work is more in the same vein as Pullman.
A new format (smaller print, better quality paper and nice binding) and pitching at an open market would have done this author and book much better - sadly.
Thank you for sharing this great read with me. I really enjoyed it.
I have already posted it onto gwendy.
I hope she enjoys it as much as I did.
On the back of the book, above the barcode, it says for ages 10+. And, on the front cover we have Jane Yolen (a well-known childrens writer) telling us '[this is] a large step up from Harry Potter'. I am currently a childrens' librarian, and I thought that this would be interesting for work.
I have got to tell you now, it is rather unlikely I will buy this book for work. I don't think our children will get all the literary references ('The Prince', 'Leviathan' and the works of William Shakespeare). I was also amused to note that hip flasks and cognac would appear when ever any character had a fright.
Hmm! And the simmering passions between Faris and Tyrian may be lost on the younger read too.
But, having said that, I really enjoyed this book.
As an adult I greatly enjoyed the strong female lead character, her wit and charm, and the historical references. I particularly liked the mention of St. Margaret and St. Michael up there covering each others backs (yes, I too had a Catholic education).
Sadly, I think that the author missed her market with this book. Yes, it is 'better' than Harry Potter, but then it is not a serialised childrens book. This is really for young adults upwards.
But, it would not take much for the writer to have fleshed the story out, and made it into a trilogy as Philip Pullman did with his 'Dark materials trilogy'. The comparrisions with J.K.Rowlings don't do Stevermer any justice. Lovie, you should get a new publisher!
If anything, her work is more in the same vein as Pullman.
A new format (smaller print, better quality paper and nice binding) and pitching at an open market would have done this author and book much better - sadly.
Thank you for sharing this great read with me. I really enjoyed it.
I have already posted it onto gwendy.
I hope she enjoys it as much as I did.
Journal Entry 35 by jubby at BookRing in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Saturday, March 18, 2006
Released 18 yrs ago (3/18/2006 UTC) at BookRing in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
Posted off to gwendy.
Posted off to gwendy.
I really enjoyed the characters and plot of this book. At times the politics were a little much for me, but I stuck with it because I loved the rest. I really enjoyed the interesting "twist" at the end.. quite clever and different. Not sure how I am going to pass this on, was told by the ring-master I could do as I see fit! Thanks for sharing!
sending along to Erishkigal enjoy!
sending along to Erishkigal enjoy!
yay--arrived in today's mail--but so did a couple of rings, and I've beenpm'd that a couple more are on their way....so it may take me awhile to get to it. And it looks so gooooood.....
Oh, How I wish there'd been charcters like Faris Nallaneen to read about when I was young! "College" was other than I expected, and it took my brain a little time to make the adjustment, get into the rythm of the language, but once there, I was entranced by this alternate universe, and couldn't put it down. Fiesty Faris quickly won my heart.
I do agree with other readers that the author would have been much better-served to market this book for an older audience.
Thanks, gwendy-sorry I took sooo long to get to it, but know it was read by family in the meantime, wasn't just sitting on the pile.
I do agree with other readers that the author would have been much better-served to market this book for an older audience.
Thanks, gwendy-sorry I took sooo long to get to it, but know it was read by family in the meantime, wasn't just sitting on the pile.
This well-lovved book has sat on my shelf for far to long, waiting for the next someone to want it....it's had so many journals I just couldn't bear to leave it in the wild where it would most likely never be heard from again...
But now I've joined pkboo's Fantasy Bookbox ring, which should provide a perfect next-reader. Journey well, fiesty Faris!
But now I've joined pkboo's Fantasy Bookbox ring, which should provide a perfect next-reader. Journey well, fiesty Faris!
TAKING FROM PKBOO'S SF/F BOOKBOX...
This was a nice book, very enjoyable, but not as enjoyable as Harry Potter, as the bookcover critics claim.
Journal Entry 42 by Greyflank at Snack Car in AmTrak to Montreal, -- Trains, Tube, Metro, Buses -- Canada on Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Released 14 yrs ago (4/27/2009 UTC) at Snack Car in AmTrak to Montreal, -- Trains, Tube, Metro, Buses -- Canada
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In the snack car...
In the snack car...
Yesterday, I saw this book on an outdoor table run by a local street vendor and noticed the little bookcrossing sticker on the outside right away. It was the first Bookcrossing book for sale I've ever seen. The subject matter didn't look too terrible so I decided to buy it. (Hey, it was only $1 so no big loss if I don't like it.) However, the summary by SheWhoReads is sufficiently enticing that I'm glad I made the purchase.
What a journey this book has been on for nearly five years! From the United States to Australia to Europe and back again, it's done quite a bit of traveling and held up remarkably well, all things considered. I'm curious to know how it wound up from a train going to Canada to a table in Brooklyn. Perhaps there were people who picked it up who didn't understand about the instructions on the bookcrossing label inside it and didn't leave journal entries.
I have two books scheduled to be read ahead of this one and one play that I'm hoping to finish before Friday. Therefore, it might be a while before I get to it. But I'll try to do so before the month is out.
What a journey this book has been on for nearly five years! From the United States to Australia to Europe and back again, it's done quite a bit of traveling and held up remarkably well, all things considered. I'm curious to know how it wound up from a train going to Canada to a table in Brooklyn. Perhaps there were people who picked it up who didn't understand about the instructions on the bookcrossing label inside it and didn't leave journal entries.
I have two books scheduled to be read ahead of this one and one play that I'm hoping to finish before Friday. Therefore, it might be a while before I get to it. But I'll try to do so before the month is out.
While I found this book entertaining, the constant bombardment in latter chapters of information about geography, astronomy, architecture, border disputes, politics, etc., made it a little too convoluted for light reading. It certainly doesn't make it something for younger readers nor is it entirely to my tastes. I am willing to let it go onwards in its journey if someone else wants it.