Swan Lake

I still remember the first time I read Swan Lake; I was in tears. I was not sad, exactly, but deeply moved. This book is timeless, and the prose is beautifully balanced. The story itself is strong and very well-written, with some very neat characters. This book could be read to slightly older children, and there are clear-cut 'villains' and 'heroes', but the heroes are human, they can fall and make mistakes, and this story is not for those who love unambiguous happy endings. Helprin is too aware of the world for that. I would also not recommend it for people who greatly dislike reading fantasy. It has a vague feel of a fairy tale, though it is too real and vivid for that. The pictures, by Chris Van Allsburg (known for The Polar Express), are extremely beautiful and fit the writing style. I would highly recommend this book, as well as the other two in this series, A Veil of Snows and A City in Winter. Swan Lake can stand alone, but the other two complement it very well. I don't even know how many times I have read these books, but I found them rewarding every time.

Swan Lake is a beautiful book. The story of the old man, the little girl, the true prince and the beautiful Odette is told with simple elegance through the eyes of the wise old grandfather. I read this book out loud with my friend, and we could have stayed up all night, caught up in the beautiful, heartbreaking tale of love and life and learning. We laughed and cried, and sat stiff with suspense. We were filled by turns with sorrow and joy, despair and hope and sometimes a mixture of them all. Everyone should read Swan Lake, for this book is truly a treasure, a gem that will shine brightly for years to come.

IF YOU READ THIS BOOK YOU WILL CRY AND LAUGH AND SIT IN SUSPENSE AND BE CAPTIVATED BY PAGES AND PAGES OF HEART-TEARING DESCRIPTION AND BREATHTAKING PICTURES. IF YOU THINK A MEDIEVAL FICTION IS ABOUT KNIGHTS KILLING DRAGONS, IT'S NOT. THIS IS THE BEST BOOK I HAVE EVER READ, AND IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT, THAT'S YOUR PROBLEM. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT ONE AUTHOR AND ONE ILLUSTRATOR COULD CREATE SUCH INCREDIBLY FANTASTIC MAGIC IN WORDS AND PICTURES. IT'S NOT A STUPID FANTASY, IT'S AN AMAZING ADVENTURE THAT YOU WILL THINK ABOUT FOR YEARS AND REMEMBER FOR YOUR WHOLE LIFE!!!!!!!!

This book is tremendous both aesthetically and from a literature standpoint. It is appropriate for all ages, but is probably best served as a gift to someone particularly close or special. If possible, make an effort to find the hardcover version - it's worth the effort!

Swan Lake is as rich and satisfying as hot apple cider or the scent of a single cherry blossom. While this book may not be well suited for very young children, it is still a small and perfect tale, the flavor of which will remain with the reader for years. This is one of the ten books that should be in everyone's library; inexplicably, it's a difficult book to find, but when you do come across it, buy it as a favor to yourself.