Blueberry Girl

I’m a huge fan of Neil Gaiman and Charles Vess, especially when they work together, but I found this book to be a bit underwhelming. Both Gaiman’s poetic prose and Vess’ artistic compositions are to be praised, but overall the narrative of the book doesn’t really grab my attention the way that their more structured stories do. The one positive that comes out of this book is that it does hint a little bit at the magic of growing up, even if it misses the mark a touch. There’s an inherent magic in girls and women that I often feel links back to the primeval goddess archetype, and Gaiman and Vess attempt to engage with this magic, but do so in such a toned down way that unless you’re looking it can easily be missed. I know both show more of these men are capable of bringing out and celebrating the magic of women in a more overt and wonderful way, but maybe the subtlety of a children’s book isn’t quite the right place to do it. show less

Written as a special gift for a friend who was pregnant with a little girl, Neil Gaiman's Blueberry Girl is a poetic wish for all sorts of blessings for the baby in question, both when she is a child, and as she grows into a woman. It begins with an invocation and prayer - "Ladies of light and ladies of darkness and ladies of never-you-mind, This is a prayer for a blueberry girl" - and goes on to express the hope that the girl will find the strength and wisdom to lead a good life.

This is the third picture-book I have read from the celebrated Neil Gaiman, following upon Instructions and Crazy Hair, and I have to say that it is the weakest of the three. I found the text rather awkward - it doesn't scan very well, and I can't imagine it show more making that appealing of a read-aloud - and thought that it missed the mark a bit. For a book that isn't story-centered, but is meant more as an inspirational meditation, I found myself oddly uninspired by the meditation. The artwork by Charles Vess is lovely - especially the scene with the whales! - but it wasn't enough to save this one. Recommended chiefly to Neil Gaiman fanatics who have to read everything he has written - everyone else can safely give it a miss. show less

You know those songs you wish someone had put on a mix tape for you, those books you wish someone had read, that constantly elusive sensation of being completely loved?

This book is that.

It's the sort of book that if not perfectly executed, would make me grumpy and bitterly derisive. Fortunately, I think it's perfect.

I like this in principle--he wants the girl to be a blazing heart and strong, live live live and be unburdened by losers, etc.--and the art is full of animals and luminous beings, yes, a bit like a kid's Sandman--but I felt it was a bit disjointed for me, and I think Emmett agreed somewhat: there's the girl, whoa, who are those three norns or erinyes, oh phew they're gone, now some animals, the owl is still with her but the others are just hanging, but these whales are awesome I want some more whales, where are the whales, oh her mum looks nice, but where are the whales, hmmm here is a highly abstract representation of the circle of life and a wall that may have powerful symbolism or may be just a wall, I'm not sure I am keeping up show more completely with this astral journey, oh well, at least there were some more whales before the end, I think was kind of his process. But it's pretty and has a good message. show less

Beautiful and charming, with great rhythm and rhyme. A narrator (Gaiman) asks in a poem-prayer for the three women who represent all women (young, middle-aged, and elderly) to grant the blueberry girl blessings to carry her through the ups and downs of life. Girls of all colors (but nor, admittedly, sizes) romp in imaginary worlds full of fantastic and curious critters. Charles Vess's illustrations and lettering are beautiful, as is the coloring. Some lines might need explanation--that "bad husbands at thirty" will not trouble you, for example. That's a bit more for parents than kids.

This is a beautiful prayer written by Neil Gaiman for his friend Tori and her soon to be born daughter Tash. It is about empowering her daughter to be her own person, to let her grow and be adventurous and live life to its fullest. The accompanying illustration by Charles Vess are suited perfectly to the story. It is a very quick read, but one that left me smiling. A must-buy book for anyone that you know who is having a daughter.

"O wonderful, wonderful, and most wonderful wonderful! and yet again wonderful, and after that, out of all whooping!" This is a lovely invocation, a hopeful incantation, a blessing and a beautiful wish. I've just fallen in love with Gaiman all over again. The words are exquisite and the illustrations extraordinary. It's a book I will buy for every girl baby born into my life from here on.