Ever, by Gail Carson Levine
Ranked #10,446 in Books, Poetry & Writing, #365,889 overall
A Magical Twist on Ancient Mesopotamia
Have you read the said book by the Newbery Honor author Gail Carson Levine?
It's simply unique and spectacular, not to mention, enchanting. Levine said that she based it in ancient Mesopotamia-- the cradle of civilization. So, basically, the right and proper word, or genre, for the book is Historical Fantasy.
Historical, because, as I've mentioned, it was loosely rooted from ancient Mesopotamia in terms of: The gods, the underworld, the city, et cetera. Fantasy, because of the very presence of the gods. Yes, that's it: gods.
It was written in present tense, in the first-person point of view of the two main protagonists, Olus and Kezi. (Alternate narration per chapter.)
Olus is the Akkan god of the wind while Kezi is a mortal and a dancer. And unfortunately and tragically, Kezi has only a month left to live and spend time with the persons she loves, particularly, her family.
Then, out of her realm of knowledge and expectation, Olus suddenly arrives in her life. Fate has so much unpredictable plans, hasn't it?
I would admit that their first meeting is quite unbelievable, because they instantly fell in love with each other. Well, love at first sight is possible after all, isn't it?
I mean only for Kezi's part, since Olus is always watching Kezi with the use of his power, or magic.
Then with their love, they decided to thwart their fates. There followed a series of tests from the gods. If they fail, Kezi will have to do the sacrifice, and if they succeed, they can live happily ever after.
It's simply unique and spectacular, not to mention, enchanting. Levine said that she based it in ancient Mesopotamia-- the cradle of civilization. So, basically, the right and proper word, or genre, for the book is Historical Fantasy.
Historical, because, as I've mentioned, it was loosely rooted from ancient Mesopotamia in terms of: The gods, the underworld, the city, et cetera. Fantasy, because of the very presence of the gods. Yes, that's it: gods.
It was written in present tense, in the first-person point of view of the two main protagonists, Olus and Kezi. (Alternate narration per chapter.)
Olus is the Akkan god of the wind while Kezi is a mortal and a dancer. And unfortunately and tragically, Kezi has only a month left to live and spend time with the persons she loves, particularly, her family.
Then, out of her realm of knowledge and expectation, Olus suddenly arrives in her life. Fate has so much unpredictable plans, hasn't it?
I would admit that their first meeting is quite unbelievable, because they instantly fell in love with each other. Well, love at first sight is possible after all, isn't it?
I mean only for Kezi's part, since Olus is always watching Kezi with the use of his power, or magic.
Then with their love, they decided to thwart their fates. There followed a series of tests from the gods. If they fail, Kezi will have to do the sacrifice, and if they succeed, they can live happily ever after.
Contents at a Glance
The Author and the Book
A Word From the Author
"Ever can teach you to write numbers in cuneiform, the first known writing system in the world.
Writing began in ancient Mesopotamia, and Ever takes place in a fantasy version of that time and place. Cuneiform appears in the chapter headings, so you can copy the numbers up to sixty-nine, since there is no Chapter 70.
The Mesopotamians were marvelous mathematicians. Our sixty seconds in a minute and sixty minutes in an hour originated with them. They were good plumbers too. Their sewage systems surpassed anything in medieval Europe thousands of years later. But medicine was not so good, which plays into the plot of Ever.
I had fun researching long-ago food, clothing, religion-learning enough to picture how it might have felt to walk down a baked-mud street, enter a house made of baked mud, proceed through the reception room into the cool interior courtyard where household activities may have taken place. Oh, look! Kezi's mother is weaving. And here comes Kezi to weave at her side. What can happen next?"
-Gail Carson Levine, the Author
Source: http://www.gailcarsonlevine.com/ever.html
Book Description
Falling in love is never easy, but falling in love with an immortal god while your days on earth are numbered is almost more than a young girl can bear.
Newbery Honor author Gail Carson Levine has created a stunning new world of flawed gods, unbreakable vows, and ancient omens in this spellbinding story of Kezi, a girl confronted with a terrible destiny. Attempting to thwart her fate, Kezi and her love, Olus -- the god of wind and loneliness -- embark on a series of dangerous and seemingly impossible quests.
Source: http://www.harpercollins.com/books/Ever-Gail-Carson-Levine/?isbn=9780061229626
"Ever can teach you to write numbers in cuneiform, the first known writing system in the world.
Writing began in ancient Mesopotamia, and Ever takes place in a fantasy version of that time and place. Cuneiform appears in the chapter headings, so you can copy the numbers up to sixty-nine, since there is no Chapter 70.
The Mesopotamians were marvelous mathematicians. Our sixty seconds in a minute and sixty minutes in an hour originated with them. They were good plumbers too. Their sewage systems surpassed anything in medieval Europe thousands of years later. But medicine was not so good, which plays into the plot of Ever.
I had fun researching long-ago food, clothing, religion-learning enough to picture how it might have felt to walk down a baked-mud street, enter a house made of baked mud, proceed through the reception room into the cool interior courtyard where household activities may have taken place. Oh, look! Kezi's mother is weaving. And here comes Kezi to weave at her side. What can happen next?"
-Gail Carson Levine, the Author
Source: http://www.gailcarsonlevine.com/ever.html
Book Description
Falling in love is never easy, but falling in love with an immortal god while your days on earth are numbered is almost more than a young girl can bear.
Newbery Honor author Gail Carson Levine has created a stunning new world of flawed gods, unbreakable vows, and ancient omens in this spellbinding story of Kezi, a girl confronted with a terrible destiny. Attempting to thwart her fate, Kezi and her love, Olus -- the god of wind and loneliness -- embark on a series of dangerous and seemingly impossible quests.
Source: http://www.harpercollins.com/books/Ever-Gail-Carson-Levine/?isbn=9780061229626
Stuffs for Ever
by Antonette13
Hello, everyone! You can call me Anne, or any name you prefer, as long as it's not obnoxious.
Writing has always been my passion, and when I found th...
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