Jean-Claude Mourlevat

Winter's End is a beautifully written book. The words flow beautifully, and the story is well told. And yet, despite the fact that I liked the characters and thought the world-building was so sound and interesting, I cannot rave about the book. The ending let me down. It was somehow not gripping enough. What should have left me stunned and remorseful, instead left me going 'hmmm'.

Worth a read for the words alone.

Yann, a 10-year-old mute dwarf, is a highly intelligent young boy who unfortunately finds himself being raised by two stupid, abusive parents incapable of fostering their child's potential. It disappoints me how often this is the case in life and I don't know if I'll understand how so few parents are willing to put forth what minimal effort is required to encourage their children with positivity.

Yann lives in poverty with his 6 siblings, composed of 3 sets of twins, and when he overhears show more his parents talking about 'killing the 7 of them' he decides to escape and lead them all on a quest to reach the ocean.

The story is told from every perspective except Yann's, be it one of his brothers, his parents, the truck driver who gives them all a ride, or the baker that gives them food. It has an interesting effect on the narrative, feeling more personal than a nameless narrator yet now clouding the story with a single person's opinions.

The book apparently parallels a famous English folk tale, Tom Thumb, which I am unfamiliar with unfortunately. It didn't hinder my enjoyment of it, although I suspect some of the intricacies were lost on me. It was a pleasant experience nonetheless. show less

This was described to me as a retelling of the tale of Tom Thumb, which is a story I'm not familiar with. A tiny boy and his six older brothers (three sets of twins) run away from home in a story told from the point of view of witnesses. It all has a very dreamlike quality, where nothing really happens and nothing feels particularly real. Very well crafted but not really my cup of tea.

Ян - младший ребенок в семье Дутрело. В отличие от своих шести братьев он от природы одарен необыкновенным интеллектом и способностями к учебе. Как ни странно, это отнюдь не радует его недалеких родителей - скорее наоборот. Несмотря на свою немоту, Ян разговаривает show more глазами - таким образом он может передать любую мысль. Однажды ночью Ян с братьями устраивают побег- им непременно надо добраться до океана. Зачем? Об этом известно одному Яну, сказочному мальчику-с-пальчику, которому братья помогают воплотить в жизнь загадочную мечту.Для среднего и старшего школьного возраста. show less