Member Reviews
My favorite of the Dark is Rising series. Technically marketed as a children's or young adult book, although it's not an easy read... her prose is dense and there's a heavy interweaving of English folklore throughout that makes this relatively slim book an effort to get through. Cooper is an expert at evoking mood and tone, however - reading this book, you absolutely feel the cozy warmth of Christmas morning in a big family, or the ancient stillness of the time outside Time, or the oppression and danger of being isolated in a blizzard... and the initial scene with the rooks chasing Will and his brother carries an incredibly strong feeling of menace and is one of the scarier scenes I've read. Will Stanton is a very interesting character, 11-year-old boy and immortal Old One all rolled up together, and Cooper handles that conflict well. So, not an easy read, but one that is chock-full of really potent images that stick with you long after you've put the book down.
I re-read this because I just listened to the Backlisted podcast episode that was devoted to it and actually ended up bumping my rating *down* half a star.
What Cooper does beautifully is to sketch a scene -- the view from Will's bedroom window the morning of his birthday, the caroling at the manor, the great room where he first meets with the Lady and Merriman -- all were thrillingly evocative. What is fatally lacking is any depth of character and hence lack of anything to drive the plot (what there is of one) forward. Reading this again was like watching cardboard stick figures moving around on a gorgeously rendered stage. I had no memory of any of it from the first time I read it, and frankly I was so bored that it was an effort to finish it; I just didn't care.
The book that I kept comparing it to in my mind was [A Wrinkle in Time], where each character was vividly drawn and the story so compelling that although I haven't read it since I was a child, 40 years later I can remember details.
What Cooper does beautifully is to sketch a scene -- the view from Will's bedroom window the morning of his birthday, the caroling at the manor, the great room where he first meets with the Lady and Merriman -- all were thrillingly evocative. What is fatally lacking is any depth of character and hence lack of anything to drive the plot (what there is of one) forward. Reading this again was like watching cardboard stick figures moving around on a gorgeously rendered stage. I had no memory of any of it from the first time I read it, and frankly I was so bored that it was an effort to finish it; I just didn't care.
The book that I kept comparing it to in my mind was [A Wrinkle in Time], where each character was vividly drawn and the story so compelling that although I haven't read it since I was a child, 40 years later I can remember details.
Much like Lucy walking through the wardrobe's magic doorway into Narnia, or Alice plunging down the rabbit hole – Will Stanton, in The Dark Is Rising, enters his magnificent adventure quite suddenly on a seemingly ordinary day.
But it isn't really an ordinary day – it's Midwinter Day, and Will's eleventh birthday. And it's also the day on which Will learns that he isn't just the youngest child in the large Stanton brood. He's the last of the Old Ones, immortal beings dedicated to keeping the world safe from the forces of evil – the Dark. And, as the book's title tells us, the Dark is rising.
After Will steps out into this strange new world, he's introduced to another Old One, Merriman Lyon, the Merlin-like figure who will be his guide and teacher on the journey of discovery that will introduce Will to his new powers and responsibilities. And they will be allies in the battle against the Black Rider.
Steeped in Celtic mythology and revolving around the legends of King Arthur, The Dark Is Rising, which was a Newbery Honor Book for 1974, is the second work in Susan Cooper's five-book sequence of the same name. It follows 1965's Over Sea, Under Stone, and is very different from that book although there are a few obvious tie-ins. Merriman Lyon appears in both books, although his identity as an Old One was more shadowy in the first. In general, magic and folklore play a much more open and prominent role in The Dark Is Rising than they did in the first book.
Both books involve show more a quest for ancient artifacts that are vital in the struggle to keep the forces of darkness from overwhelming the world. In The Dark Is Rising, Will learns that he is the Sign-Seeker whose quest is "to find and to guard the six great Signs of the Light, made over the centuries by the Old Ones." The Circle of Signs that Will seeks is one of the four Things of Power to be used in the final battle against the Dark, and is a set of six circular ornaments, each made of a different material – wood, bronze, iron, water, fire, and stone. When the signs are brought together, the Dark is powerless against them.
Unlike the Drew children in Over Sea, Under Stone, Will and the other Old Ones are aided by their ability to communicate with each other using the "Old Speech," and by their power to move easily back and forth in time. As Merriman tells him:
"You will see, Will. . . we of the Circle are planted only loosely within Time. The doors are a way through it, in any direction we may choose. For all times co-exist, and the future can sometimes affect the past. . . ."
This series has been an exciting discovery for me. Susan Cooper's ability to draw the reader into a world of myth and magic with a seemingly effortless blending of the real and the fantastic is very appealing. She has a wonderful way of showing us her story unfolding, rather than simply telling us about it. We get to know her characters through their interactions within the narrative, and I think that makes them feel more real. show less
But it isn't really an ordinary day – it's Midwinter Day, and Will's eleventh birthday. And it's also the day on which Will learns that he isn't just the youngest child in the large Stanton brood. He's the last of the Old Ones, immortal beings dedicated to keeping the world safe from the forces of evil – the Dark. And, as the book's title tells us, the Dark is rising.
After Will steps out into this strange new world, he's introduced to another Old One, Merriman Lyon, the Merlin-like figure who will be his guide and teacher on the journey of discovery that will introduce Will to his new powers and responsibilities. And they will be allies in the battle against the Black Rider.
Steeped in Celtic mythology and revolving around the legends of King Arthur, The Dark Is Rising, which was a Newbery Honor Book for 1974, is the second work in Susan Cooper's five-book sequence of the same name. It follows 1965's Over Sea, Under Stone, and is very different from that book although there are a few obvious tie-ins. Merriman Lyon appears in both books, although his identity as an Old One was more shadowy in the first. In general, magic and folklore play a much more open and prominent role in The Dark Is Rising than they did in the first book.
Both books involve show more a quest for ancient artifacts that are vital in the struggle to keep the forces of darkness from overwhelming the world. In The Dark Is Rising, Will learns that he is the Sign-Seeker whose quest is "to find and to guard the six great Signs of the Light, made over the centuries by the Old Ones." The Circle of Signs that Will seeks is one of the four Things of Power to be used in the final battle against the Dark, and is a set of six circular ornaments, each made of a different material – wood, bronze, iron, water, fire, and stone. When the signs are brought together, the Dark is powerless against them.
Unlike the Drew children in Over Sea, Under Stone, Will and the other Old Ones are aided by their ability to communicate with each other using the "Old Speech," and by their power to move easily back and forth in time. As Merriman tells him:
"You will see, Will. . . we of the Circle are planted only loosely within Time. The doors are a way through it, in any direction we may choose. For all times co-exist, and the future can sometimes affect the past. . . ."
This series has been an exciting discovery for me. Susan Cooper's ability to draw the reader into a world of myth and magic with a seemingly effortless blending of the real and the fantastic is very appealing. She has a wonderful way of showing us her story unfolding, rather than simply telling us about it. We get to know her characters through their interactions within the narrative, and I think that makes them feel more real. show less
Opening on Midwinter Eve, this immensely powerful and intensely engaging children's fantasy, the second in Susan Cooper's five-volume Dark Is Rising Sequence, is a book I read again and again as a girl. Will Stanton, who turns eleven on Midwinter Day, coming into his own as one of the Old Ones—servants of the Light, in eternal conflict with the forces of the Dark, which are intent on ruling the world—learns more about his role as the Sign Seeker as he travels through time, visiting England in different centuries. The book follows him on his quest to assemble the six signs, which together form one of the Things of Power that the Light will use to eventually defeat the Dark for all time. It is a journey that is intertwined with his large and loving family's celebration of the holiday season, from Midwinter through Christmas, and on to Twelfth Night, and one that will eventually draw in figures and traditions from local folklore, including Herne the Hunter and the Wild Hunt...
Published in 1973, a number of years after the first book in the series, Over Sea, Under Stone, which came out in 1965, The Dark Is Rising switches focus a bit, changing protagonist and setting. Whereas that earlier title concerned the three Drew siblings, and their quest to find King Arthur's chalice, hidden on the headland of a small Cornish village, this entry focuses on Will, the youngest of a large Buckinghamshire family, and expands the overarching narrative considerably, exploring the larger show more and deeper cosmological struggle only hinted at in the earlier book. The Drew children do not appear here, and are not mentioned, although the chalice they found is referenced, as the first of the Things of Power being assembled in the Light's struggle against the Dark. The bridge between the two is really the character of Merriman, the oldest and one of the wisest of the Old Ones, who guides Will through his education and quest.
Beautifully written and wonderfully conceived, it is not difficult to see why this book won a Newbery Honor in 1974. From the time I first read it, I have loved it, and this latest reread, undertaken as part of a project to read the entire series with friends, has not changed my feelings an iota. I still love the use of folklore and mythology throughout, in both overt and discreet ways (so many of the names have a deeper meaning!), I love the settings, and quest itself. I love the poem, which I memorized and would recite with a friend and fellow admirer of the series, when young. I both love and am haunted by the story of Hawkin, whose fate is one I have always struggled with, from childhood to adulthood, worrying away at the questions of choice, justice, and morality. This is truly a marvelous book, and is one I wholeheartedly recommend to all fantasy readers. I finished this reread with a keen desire to proceed on to the next in the series, Greenwitch. show less
Published in 1973, a number of years after the first book in the series, Over Sea, Under Stone, which came out in 1965, The Dark Is Rising switches focus a bit, changing protagonist and setting. Whereas that earlier title concerned the three Drew siblings, and their quest to find King Arthur's chalice, hidden on the headland of a small Cornish village, this entry focuses on Will, the youngest of a large Buckinghamshire family, and expands the overarching narrative considerably, exploring the larger show more and deeper cosmological struggle only hinted at in the earlier book. The Drew children do not appear here, and are not mentioned, although the chalice they found is referenced, as the first of the Things of Power being assembled in the Light's struggle against the Dark. The bridge between the two is really the character of Merriman, the oldest and one of the wisest of the Old Ones, who guides Will through his education and quest.
Beautifully written and wonderfully conceived, it is not difficult to see why this book won a Newbery Honor in 1974. From the time I first read it, I have loved it, and this latest reread, undertaken as part of a project to read the entire series with friends, has not changed my feelings an iota. I still love the use of folklore and mythology throughout, in both overt and discreet ways (so many of the names have a deeper meaning!), I love the settings, and quest itself. I love the poem, which I memorized and would recite with a friend and fellow admirer of the series, when young. I both love and am haunted by the story of Hawkin, whose fate is one I have always struggled with, from childhood to adulthood, worrying away at the questions of choice, justice, and morality. This is truly a marvelous book, and is one I wholeheartedly recommend to all fantasy readers. I finished this reread with a keen desire to proceed on to the next in the series, Greenwitch. show less
I almost gave this 3 stars or lower. I have some serious issues with this book, but SOMEHOW I loved it anyway????
My issues:
1. Merriman and, I suppose, the Old Ones in general. They were so insanely arrogant the entire time, and Merriman in particular had this constant "the ends justifies the means" attitude, and had no problem at all using other people, whether it was 11-year-old Will or his "almost-son" Hawkin. I guess Merriman fits with the legendary Merlin's personality, but eesh.
2. The issue of freewill wasn't exactly addressed, and I guess it was too much to hope for an 11-year-old to have a conversation about it, but the undertones were ALL about freewill. Somehow it's okay for an 11-year-old to find out he has no choice in anything, even while he is defending the freewill of the entire human race. I would have liked to see this developed or addressed more clearly.
3. The ending. Okay, so Will goes through all this madness to get the Signs, and yet what saves them in the end has almost NOTHING to do with the Signs, but instead Herne, this random guy who pops up with his Wild Hunt and chases the bad guys off? WHAT???? Did I miss something? I guess the Signs will probably be very important in future books, but I still thought it was bizarre that the whole book was Will's quest to find the Signs, and yet they really played no part in the end.
Despite those (admittedly big) problems I have with the book, I loved it. I loved Cooper's writing style (although sometimes she show more almost overdoes it), I LOVED the Stanton family (the sibling interactions were very realistic and all of them felt like real people), I loved the mythological/Arthurian elements (although Loki didn't seem very....Loki-ish. I only knew he was there because I wikipedia-ed the characters), and I loved Hawkin's story.
Hawkin's story was the thing I loved most about this book. I was WAY more invested in his story than Will's, probably because it's a YA book and you know, despite all odds, Will will prevail against the Dark and save the world, SOMEHOW. I was much more worried about whether or not Hawkin was going to be redeemed somehow. show less
My issues:
1. Merriman and, I suppose, the Old Ones in general. They were so insanely arrogant the entire time, and Merriman in particular had this constant "the ends justifies the means" attitude, and had no problem at all using other people, whether it was 11-year-old Will or his "almost-son" Hawkin. I guess Merriman fits with the legendary Merlin's personality, but eesh.
2. The issue of freewill wasn't exactly addressed, and I guess it was too much to hope for an 11-year-old to have a conversation about it, but the undertones were ALL about freewill. Somehow it's okay for an 11-year-old to find out he has no choice in anything, even while he is defending the freewill of the entire human race. I would have liked to see this developed or addressed more clearly.
3. The ending. Okay, so Will goes through all this madness to get the Signs, and yet what saves them in the end has almost NOTHING to do with the Signs, but instead Herne, this random guy who pops up with his Wild Hunt and chases the bad guys off? WHAT???? Did I miss something? I guess the Signs will probably be very important in future books, but I still thought it was bizarre that the whole book was Will's quest to find the Signs, and yet they really played no part in the end.
Despite those (admittedly big) problems I have with the book, I loved it. I loved Cooper's writing style (although sometimes she show more almost overdoes it), I LOVED the Stanton family (the sibling interactions were very realistic and all of them felt like real people), I loved the mythological/Arthurian elements (although Loki didn't seem very....Loki-ish. I only knew he was there because I wikipedia-ed the characters), and I loved Hawkin's story.
Hawkin's story was the thing I loved most about this book. I was WAY more invested in his story than Will's, probably because it's a YA book and you know, despite all odds, Will will prevail against the Dark and save the world, SOMEHOW. I was much more worried about whether or not Hawkin was going to be redeemed somehow. show less
This is a Christmas reread of the second novel in Cooper's classic fantasy series about the the final battle between the Light and the Dark.
The Dark is Rising introduces the last of the Old Ones, Will Stanton who comes into his heritage on his eleventh birthday. Will is a normal kid from a very large English family. He is the youngest of nine children and lives on a small farm in the south of England very near Windsor Great Park. The family is loving, noisy, talented and diverse. In the very early morning hours of his birthday, the Winter Solstice, Will hears a magical melody and follows it through a snow-laden countryside to a set of free-standing ornately carved wooden doors. When he passes through the doors he is "out of time" in a great hall where he meets his mentor Merriman Lyon who reveals Will's destiny and begins his instruction into the powers of the Old Ones and of the conflict between the Light and the Dark.
Will's quest in the book will be to find and join the six magical signs into a chain which will become one of the talismans to stop the Dark from rising and consuming the world. Will never questions his destiny and knows immediately that he is truly the last guardian of the Light. The first sign is given to him as a birthday gift by Farmer Dawson, another Old One who until Will was awakened,appeared to be just a kindly neighbor. People Will knew as friends are now allies or enemies. And all the time he is learning his powers he is still an eleven-year-old show more boy with a normal family. Cooper skillfully manages this delicate balance.
What makes the Dark Is Rising series different from other children's and young adults fantasies is Cooper's grounding it firmly in English folklore. She does not create a new world; she reexamines the stories and tales that are part of the folkways and brings them into the 20th century. She explains the differences of Old Magic, High Magic, and Wild Magic. How certain roads are magic-free and safe and how the smithy (Wayland Smith) serves no magical master, but will shod the horses of the Light and the Dark. Here is Herne the Hunter and the boys who "hunt the wren." Folk songs are not just catchy ancient tunes, but rather clues to hidden secrets. Placenames and forgotten customs get new, or maybe rediscovered, meanings.
The Dark is Rising will challenge young readers and that is a good thing.
The five book series is:
Over Sea, Under Stone
The Dark is Rising
The Greenwitch
The Grey King
Silver on the Tree show less
The Dark is Rising introduces the last of the Old Ones, Will Stanton who comes into his heritage on his eleventh birthday. Will is a normal kid from a very large English family. He is the youngest of nine children and lives on a small farm in the south of England very near Windsor Great Park. The family is loving, noisy, talented and diverse. In the very early morning hours of his birthday, the Winter Solstice, Will hears a magical melody and follows it through a snow-laden countryside to a set of free-standing ornately carved wooden doors. When he passes through the doors he is "out of time" in a great hall where he meets his mentor Merriman Lyon who reveals Will's destiny and begins his instruction into the powers of the Old Ones and of the conflict between the Light and the Dark.
Will's quest in the book will be to find and join the six magical signs into a chain which will become one of the talismans to stop the Dark from rising and consuming the world. Will never questions his destiny and knows immediately that he is truly the last guardian of the Light. The first sign is given to him as a birthday gift by Farmer Dawson, another Old One who until Will was awakened,appeared to be just a kindly neighbor. People Will knew as friends are now allies or enemies. And all the time he is learning his powers he is still an eleven-year-old show more boy with a normal family. Cooper skillfully manages this delicate balance.
What makes the Dark Is Rising series different from other children's and young adults fantasies is Cooper's grounding it firmly in English folklore. She does not create a new world; she reexamines the stories and tales that are part of the folkways and brings them into the 20th century. She explains the differences of Old Magic, High Magic, and Wild Magic. How certain roads are magic-free and safe and how the smithy (Wayland Smith) serves no magical master, but will shod the horses of the Light and the Dark. Here is Herne the Hunter and the boys who "hunt the wren." Folk songs are not just catchy ancient tunes, but rather clues to hidden secrets. Placenames and forgotten customs get new, or maybe rediscovered, meanings.
The Dark is Rising will challenge young readers and that is a good thing.
The five book series is:
Over Sea, Under Stone
The Dark is Rising
The Greenwitch
The Grey King
Silver on the Tree show less
I think that if I were more knowledgeable about the mythology that Cooper is drawing upon for the world she has created, I would have enjoyed this more. I'm familiar with the Greeks, but only just barely acquainted with the more well-known characters from other traditions. I didn't find the characters to be particularly well drawn or compelling and the conflicts had little real tension. Will seemed to only passively move from one miniquest to the next, and nobody ever seemed to be in any actual danger. The Dark simply had no teeth. But there is a love of language that leavens the dullness of plot and characterization. The world created is beautifully described; it only needed a good story to go with it.I still plan to read the entire series, though. The frustration I felt at the age of eleven with a book I couldn't understand is still with me. I'm determined to read it again in context and finally put those questions to rest.
On the morning of Will Stanton’s eleventh birthday he wakes up to a snow covered world. Nothing strange about that, his birthday is just a few days before Christmas and it had been snowing hard when he went to bed. But this world looks different:
‘The snow was there as it had been a moment before, but not piled now on roofs or stretching flat over lawns and fields. There were no roofs, there were no fields. There were only trees. Will was looking over a great white forest: a forest of massive trees, sturdy as towers and ancient as rock. They were bare of leaves, clad only in the deep snow that lay untouched along every branch, each smallest twig. They were everywhere. They began so close to the house that he was looking out through the topmost branches of the nearest tree, could have reached out and shaken them if he had dared to open the window. All around him the trees stretched to the flat horizon of the valley. The only break in that white world of branches was away over to the south, where the Thames ran; he could see the bend in the river marked like a single stilled wave in this white ocean of forest, and the shape of it looked as though the river were wider than it should have been.’
And so Will goes out to explore the new world, the world of several hundred years ago. He discovers he is not just Will Stanton, the seventh son of a seventh son, but one of the ‘Old Ones’, mystical beings engaged in a fight between light and dark, the first of the Old Ones to show more have been born in 500 years. And Will is the sign-seeker: his quest is ‘to find and to guard the six great Signs of the Light, made over the centuries by the Old Ones ...’
Surprisingly, although this is aimed at an older age group than Over Sea, Under Stone I didn’t enjoy it quite as much. I think the main reason being is that it is one of those books where nothing is ever explained properly to the person on the quest (in this case Will). There are hints, and old poems, but nothing clear cut. I can’t help thinking that everything would be so much easier if everyone just got all the facts on the table at the beginning of the quest, so that the best course of action can be decided upon. Sort of like the Lord of the Rings “Well, the ring has to be thrown into the volcano, and this is exactly where the volcano can be found, and those other suggestions won’t work because ...”
But a decent read and I’ll be carrying on with the series. show less
‘The snow was there as it had been a moment before, but not piled now on roofs or stretching flat over lawns and fields. There were no roofs, there were no fields. There were only trees. Will was looking over a great white forest: a forest of massive trees, sturdy as towers and ancient as rock. They were bare of leaves, clad only in the deep snow that lay untouched along every branch, each smallest twig. They were everywhere. They began so close to the house that he was looking out through the topmost branches of the nearest tree, could have reached out and shaken them if he had dared to open the window. All around him the trees stretched to the flat horizon of the valley. The only break in that white world of branches was away over to the south, where the Thames ran; he could see the bend in the river marked like a single stilled wave in this white ocean of forest, and the shape of it looked as though the river were wider than it should have been.’
And so Will goes out to explore the new world, the world of several hundred years ago. He discovers he is not just Will Stanton, the seventh son of a seventh son, but one of the ‘Old Ones’, mystical beings engaged in a fight between light and dark, the first of the Old Ones to show more have been born in 500 years. And Will is the sign-seeker: his quest is ‘to find and to guard the six great Signs of the Light, made over the centuries by the Old Ones ...’
Surprisingly, although this is aimed at an older age group than Over Sea, Under Stone I didn’t enjoy it quite as much. I think the main reason being is that it is one of those books where nothing is ever explained properly to the person on the quest (in this case Will). There are hints, and old poems, but nothing clear cut. I can’t help thinking that everything would be so much easier if everyone just got all the facts on the table at the beginning of the quest, so that the best course of action can be decided upon. Sort of like the Lord of the Rings “Well, the ring has to be thrown into the volcano, and this is exactly where the volcano can be found, and those other suggestions won’t work because ...”
But a decent read and I’ll be carrying on with the series. show less
Ages thirteen through fifteen are awful years, both to be and to be around … arrogant and self-centered, yet exuberantly idealistic; excited to explore rationality, yet superstitious to the bone; a compulsion to be social, while also cruel and misanthropic. The one benefit of that miserable time is its ability to read, to inhabit, to own romantic adventure. I wanted to be thirteen again … crazy wish! … as I read Susan Cooper’s fantasy. I longed to rid my brain of adultness, to suspend disbelief in what I have come to accept is reality and revel in melodrama. At several points I almost succeeded … at least enough to enjoy the story.
From page 149, when Will, well-mannered boy, suddenly channels a supernatural identity and talks back to the rector:
“‘There’s not really any before and after, is there?’ [Will] said. ‘Everything that matters is outside Time. And comes from there and can go there.’
“Mr. Beaumont turned to him in surprise. ‘You mean infinity, of course, my boy.’
“‘Not altogether,’ said the Old One that was Will. ‘I mean the part of all of us, and of all the things we think and believe, that has nothing to do with yesterday or today or tomorrow because it belongs at a different kind of level. Yesterday is still there, on that level. Tomorrow is there too. You can visit either of them. And all Gods are there, and all the things they have ever stood for. And,’ he added sadly, ‘the opposite, too.’
“‘Will,’ said the rector, show more staring at him, ‘I am not sure whether you should be exorcised or ordained. You and I must have some long talks, very soon.’” show less
From page 149, when Will, well-mannered boy, suddenly channels a supernatural identity and talks back to the rector:
“‘There’s not really any before and after, is there?’ [Will] said. ‘Everything that matters is outside Time. And comes from there and can go there.’
“Mr. Beaumont turned to him in surprise. ‘You mean infinity, of course, my boy.’
“‘Not altogether,’ said the Old One that was Will. ‘I mean the part of all of us, and of all the things we think and believe, that has nothing to do with yesterday or today or tomorrow because it belongs at a different kind of level. Yesterday is still there, on that level. Tomorrow is there too. You can visit either of them. And all Gods are there, and all the things they have ever stood for. And,’ he added sadly, ‘the opposite, too.’
“‘Will,’ said the rector, show more staring at him, ‘I am not sure whether you should be exorcised or ordained. You and I must have some long talks, very soon.’” show less
As I said in my review of the first book in this series, Over Sea, Under Stone, it's been so long since I've read this book that a lot of my first impressions of it have changed quite drastically since the first time I read it. And yet, perhaps that's mostly because a change of the way I see things? Still, I don't think I'd be fair if I said that all of my first impressions changed. *Smiles* There are still very many things about The Dark is Rising that have stayed the same for me. So, let's begin with that.
I think what most surprised me about The Dark is Rising over it's prequel, Over Sea, Under Stone, is the drastic shift we have in mood between the two books. The first book reads like an adventure! Thrilling because it's everyday people in an everyday life, doing everyday things that are all tied into something so old and timeless that it could almost be called "magical." It's a story of children being wrapped up in the present day quest for knowledge and artifacts from the days of King Arthur, and there's little to no actual "magic" present. It's a normal book, with a normal beginning, and though many gut-wrenching and anxiety provoking things happen throughout the story as you face each new challenge and "the bad guys," it's still a book that can be considered mostly Fiction. Or perhaps even Historical Fiction.
But when we take a turn into The Dark is Rising, the second book in the series, everything is different. From the very first page you get an eerie sense that show more there's a power... threatening, looming, dangerous... that's hovering just above you, right behind you, waiting to catch you up when you least expect it. From the very start: all the things that you've known that were normal... are not normal. Strange things, almost frightening things are changing the actions of animals, of Nature all around you. All. Around. You. New knowledge is coming to light in your own family that was never brought up before now... and the effect it has on you is an intimidation that makes you fear what will happen next. You're scared. Things aren't as they should be.
And you have no control over any of it.
In fact, I believe that's the very theme and continual mood throughout the entirety of The Dark is Rising (the book, not the series). Things are happening--not all around you as you might expect, but to you. And you have no choice but to be involved. You're trapped. You're caught. You cannot go back on this, because you're never once given the choice to. You have to just keep moving forward. And that's almost frightening. Imagine... that one scene early on in the book, when you wake up in your house and you look out your window... and nothing you usually see is there. Just a silent, huge forest... leading on into eternity with no possible end. No people. No one. And when you go through your house to check in on your family, everyone's in a sleep you can't wake them from. No yelling... no shaking... nothing will wake them. So you do the only thing you can do: you go outside, where there is one... single... path. And you walk down it. Knowing, knowing... that once you set foot on that path, if you were to stop and turn around now... you would not find your home there at all.
So many scenes like this happen throughout this book. They all come in a myriad of different ways! Different settings, different challenges interwoven, but nothing of what you know is there. Always, always to do what you need to do, you need to be separated from yourself as you knew you, from your life, your family, your friends, your world... to do what is demanded of you. It's a thrilling, incredible concept.
And it all happens to an 11 year old boy by the name of Will Stanton.
Could you, or I, if we were in his shoes, be so strong? So determined? Able at all to do the things he does? Or would we crumble? Would we fail?
That's the amazing thing about this book. And while for the biggest part of my experience, I found myself almost offended by how different this book was from the first, when I came to the end... I was... at peace somehow. Does it make sense? Maybe not so much as you might think. Maybe it makes only too much sense. Maybe it's just that I've grown past the age of a child now, where I can accept things without questioning them. Or, if I question them, it's with my experience coloring it, dulling it from the purer and keener queries of children. But that's the amazing part... You almost don't find a sense of self in this book, inasmuch as you find... a need--of tasks needing to be done, and you, you being the only one able to do them; having no choice but to do them.
For all that that might throw off a lot of its readers, it's a talent that nearly no one... can work with such flawless expertise. The very fact that Susan Cooper can write two books--as a part of the same series, one following right after the other--that are 100% different, that share almost nothing with each other except for one character and one small mention--not even by name--of the last book, is astounding! Where do you FIND authors that can do that now?! Who can accomplish such a feeling of estrangement and duty all wrapped into one piece?! It's the very epitome of talent! It's incredible, because it is so magnificently done. Anyone that can go from the first book to this one and see the range, see the capabilities of this authoress will know: she's amazing. Because so few today can write like her. And much fewer can accomplish the mood and feelings she evokes in you, as wholly and beautifully as she does.
Is she the best author in the world? I doubt there even is such a thing. But she has profound talent, and she has a way of carrying a story so that it's unusual, it's strange, and it calls to you--it brings you in. That in itself is worth the time of reading.
If you've not heard of this series before, begin it with Over Sea, Under Stone. And for those of you who might be a little off-put by the difference between the first book and this one: never fear, and don't throw the series aside. The first two books were drastically different from one another, but they intermingle in the end to create a more potent and awesome story. That's what first drew me in by this unusual series: the fact that it wasn't your everyday "Good versus Evil" babble. This is different. Give it a chance: all the way to the end. It's great for variety, but it's also great in its own right. At the very least, it deserves a shot, for being unique and unlike any other story I personally had and have read that falls under such a complex theme. Good versus Evil, Light versus Dark... a tale of King Arthur... a story rich with folklore you never hear about.
So, what are you waiting for? I'll meet you all in Greenwitch, book three. show less
I think what most surprised me about The Dark is Rising over it's prequel, Over Sea, Under Stone, is the drastic shift we have in mood between the two books. The first book reads like an adventure! Thrilling because it's everyday people in an everyday life, doing everyday things that are all tied into something so old and timeless that it could almost be called "magical." It's a story of children being wrapped up in the present day quest for knowledge and artifacts from the days of King Arthur, and there's little to no actual "magic" present. It's a normal book, with a normal beginning, and though many gut-wrenching and anxiety provoking things happen throughout the story as you face each new challenge and "the bad guys," it's still a book that can be considered mostly Fiction. Or perhaps even Historical Fiction.
But when we take a turn into The Dark is Rising, the second book in the series, everything is different. From the very first page you get an eerie sense that show more there's a power... threatening, looming, dangerous... that's hovering just above you, right behind you, waiting to catch you up when you least expect it. From the very start: all the things that you've known that were normal... are not normal. Strange things, almost frightening things are changing the actions of animals, of Nature all around you. All. Around. You. New knowledge is coming to light in your own family that was never brought up before now... and the effect it has on you is an intimidation that makes you fear what will happen next. You're scared. Things aren't as they should be.
And you have no control over any of it.
In fact, I believe that's the very theme and continual mood throughout the entirety of The Dark is Rising (the book, not the series). Things are happening--not all around you as you might expect, but to you. And you have no choice but to be involved. You're trapped. You're caught. You cannot go back on this, because you're never once given the choice to. You have to just keep moving forward. And that's almost frightening. Imagine... that one scene early on in the book, when you wake up in your house and you look out your window... and nothing you usually see is there. Just a silent, huge forest... leading on into eternity with no possible end. No people. No one. And when you go through your house to check in on your family, everyone's in a sleep you can't wake them from. No yelling... no shaking... nothing will wake them. So you do the only thing you can do: you go outside, where there is one... single... path. And you walk down it. Knowing, knowing... that once you set foot on that path, if you were to stop and turn around now... you would not find your home there at all.
So many scenes like this happen throughout this book. They all come in a myriad of different ways! Different settings, different challenges interwoven, but nothing of what you know is there. Always, always to do what you need to do, you need to be separated from yourself as you knew you, from your life, your family, your friends, your world... to do what is demanded of you. It's a thrilling, incredible concept.
And it all happens to an 11 year old boy by the name of Will Stanton.
Could you, or I, if we were in his shoes, be so strong? So determined? Able at all to do the things he does? Or would we crumble? Would we fail?
That's the amazing thing about this book. And while for the biggest part of my experience, I found myself almost offended by how different this book was from the first, when I came to the end... I was... at peace somehow. Does it make sense? Maybe not so much as you might think. Maybe it makes only too much sense. Maybe it's just that I've grown past the age of a child now, where I can accept things without questioning them. Or, if I question them, it's with my experience coloring it, dulling it from the purer and keener queries of children. But that's the amazing part... You almost don't find a sense of self in this book, inasmuch as you find... a need--of tasks needing to be done, and you, you being the only one able to do them; having no choice but to do them.
For all that that might throw off a lot of its readers, it's a talent that nearly no one... can work with such flawless expertise. The very fact that Susan Cooper can write two books--as a part of the same series, one following right after the other--that are 100% different, that share almost nothing with each other except for one character and one small mention--not even by name--of the last book, is astounding! Where do you FIND authors that can do that now?! Who can accomplish such a feeling of estrangement and duty all wrapped into one piece?! It's the very epitome of talent! It's incredible, because it is so magnificently done. Anyone that can go from the first book to this one and see the range, see the capabilities of this authoress will know: she's amazing. Because so few today can write like her. And much fewer can accomplish the mood and feelings she evokes in you, as wholly and beautifully as she does.
Is she the best author in the world? I doubt there even is such a thing. But she has profound talent, and she has a way of carrying a story so that it's unusual, it's strange, and it calls to you--it brings you in. That in itself is worth the time of reading.
If you've not heard of this series before, begin it with Over Sea, Under Stone. And for those of you who might be a little off-put by the difference between the first book and this one: never fear, and don't throw the series aside. The first two books were drastically different from one another, but they intermingle in the end to create a more potent and awesome story. That's what first drew me in by this unusual series: the fact that it wasn't your everyday "Good versus Evil" babble. This is different. Give it a chance: all the way to the end. It's great for variety, but it's also great in its own right. At the very least, it deserves a shot, for being unique and unlike any other story I personally had and have read that falls under such a complex theme. Good versus Evil, Light versus Dark... a tale of King Arthur... a story rich with folklore you never hear about.
So, what are you waiting for? I'll meet you all in Greenwitch, book three. show less
On Will Stanton's eleventh birthday, he receives one hell of a present. While most boys his age are getting toys and the occasional book, Will receives the ancient magic of the Old Ones. Now, he must fight against the Dark, for it is rising and Will is the Light's last hope.
I really enjoyed this book. It was fast-paced and exciting and the scenes with the Rider were just downright creepy. Cooper also did a fantastic job with the interactions between the siblings. Many of the scenes featuring the Stanton children had me cracking up and laughing out loud.
The only thing I didn't like about this book was the lack of character development. On of my favorite parts of fantasy novels is the growth of the main character from a floundering nobody to a fierce warrior and in this book, that was missing. Just by being the seventh son of a seventh son and reading a magic book, he learns and understands all there is to know about his powers. Since the Old Ones work outside of Time, this literally took less than a second to accomplish. There was no struggle or journey of any kind. It just kind of happened.
To be fair, though, I still really liked the book and didn't find it too hard to overlook this flaw, which is a credit to Cooper's skill as a writer. If you're a fan of fantasy, I'd definitely recommend reading this book.
I really enjoyed this book. It was fast-paced and exciting and the scenes with the Rider were just downright creepy. Cooper also did a fantastic job with the interactions between the siblings. Many of the scenes featuring the Stanton children had me cracking up and laughing out loud.
The only thing I didn't like about this book was the lack of character development. On of my favorite parts of fantasy novels is the growth of the main character from a floundering nobody to a fierce warrior and in this book, that was missing. Just by being the seventh son of a seventh son and reading a magic book, he learns and understands all there is to know about his powers. Since the Old Ones work outside of Time, this literally took less than a second to accomplish. There was no struggle or journey of any kind. It just kind of happened.
To be fair, though, I still really liked the book and didn't find it too hard to overlook this flaw, which is a credit to Cooper's skill as a writer. If you're a fan of fantasy, I'd definitely recommend reading this book.
There might not be any snow on the ground yet here in Kamloops, but I knew that this was hte perfect time to re-read the Dark is Rising. It almost makes me want an insane amount of snow to match the story, but my wiser self prevails. With the Winter Darkness comes the Dark, and there's no Will Stanton around to keep humanity safe! But besides that, this book makes me nostalgic for my book-riddled childhood, where even the books on all the school lists were new and engaging and whole worlds of discovery were left to explore. Obviously I still find new and exciting books to read, but there's something about those early books that stays with me in ways that new books often just miss. It's almost too bad that the popularity of children's and young adult fantasy came to the point of making so many terrible movies in the early 2000s, because most of the excellent books (like this one) should stay simply as books!
The day before his eleventh birthday, Will Stanton is accosted by a man who in turn is attacked by rooks. This is just the start of an adventure-packed fantasy featuring rhyming prophecies, latent magical abilities, and the battle between Light and Dark. Such devices may shout "cliche," but in fact this story is inventive, descriptive, and drives the reader on to discover with Will what it means that he is an Old One, who the Walker is, and why the Black Rider is after Will. The faceless foe of the Dark, its chase spearheaded by the Black Rider, adds to the tension. I sometimes wished that Will's discovery was slower at times -- frequently he would simply "know" something -- but it was a small quibble in my overall enjoyment of the book. Technically the second in The Dark is Rising Sequence, The Dark is Rising can be read first without losing continuity. I look forward to reading further in the series.
I almost gave this 3 stars or lower. I have some serious issues with this book, but SOMEHOW I loved it anyway????
My issues:
1. Merriman and, I suppose, the Old Ones in general. They were so insanely arrogant the entire time, and Merriman in particular had this constant "the ends justifies the means" attitude, and had no problem at all using other people, whether it was 11-year-old Will or his "almost-son" Hawkin. I guess Merriman fits with the legendary Merlin's personality, but eesh.
2. The issue of freewill wasn't exactly addressed, and I guess it was too much to hope for an 11-year-old to have a conversation about it, but the undertones were ALL about freewill. Somehow it's okay for an 11-year-old to find out he has no choice in anything, even while he is defending the freewill of the entire human race. I would have liked to see this developed or addressed more clearly.
3. The ending. Okay, so Will goes through all this madness to get the Signs, and yet what saves them in the end has almost NOTHING to do with the Signs, but instead Herne, this random guy who pops up with his Wild Hunt and chases the bad guys off? WHAT???? Did I miss something? I guess the Signs will probably be very important in future books, but I still thought it was bizarre that the whole book was Will's quest to find the Signs, and yet they really played no part in the end.
Despite those (admittedly big) problems I have with the book, I loved it. I loved Cooper's writing style (although sometimes she show more almost overdoes it), I LOVED the Stanton family (the sibling interactions were very realistic and all of them felt like real people), I loved the mythological/Arthurian elements (although Loki didn't seem very....Loki-ish. I only knew he was there because I wikipedia-ed the characters), and I loved Hawkin's story.
Hawkin's story was the thing I loved most about this book. I was WAY more invested in his story than Will's, probably because it's a YA book and you know, despite all odds, Will will prevail against the Dark and save the world, SOMEHOW. I was much more worried about whether or not Hawkin was going to be redeemed somehow. show less
My issues:
1. Merriman and, I suppose, the Old Ones in general. They were so insanely arrogant the entire time, and Merriman in particular had this constant "the ends justifies the means" attitude, and had no problem at all using other people, whether it was 11-year-old Will or his "almost-son" Hawkin. I guess Merriman fits with the legendary Merlin's personality, but eesh.
2. The issue of freewill wasn't exactly addressed, and I guess it was too much to hope for an 11-year-old to have a conversation about it, but the undertones were ALL about freewill. Somehow it's okay for an 11-year-old to find out he has no choice in anything, even while he is defending the freewill of the entire human race. I would have liked to see this developed or addressed more clearly.
3. The ending. Okay, so Will goes through all this madness to get the Signs, and yet what saves them in the end has almost NOTHING to do with the Signs, but instead Herne, this random guy who pops up with his Wild Hunt and chases the bad guys off? WHAT???? Did I miss something? I guess the Signs will probably be very important in future books, but I still thought it was bizarre that the whole book was Will's quest to find the Signs, and yet they really played no part in the end.
Despite those (admittedly big) problems I have with the book, I loved it. I loved Cooper's writing style (although sometimes she show more almost overdoes it), I LOVED the Stanton family (the sibling interactions were very realistic and all of them felt like real people), I loved the mythological/Arthurian elements (although Loki didn't seem very....Loki-ish. I only knew he was there because I wikipedia-ed the characters), and I loved Hawkin's story.
Hawkin's story was the thing I loved most about this book. I was WAY more invested in his story than Will's, probably because it's a YA book and you know, despite all odds, Will will prevail against the Dark and save the world, SOMEHOW. I was much more worried about whether or not Hawkin was going to be redeemed somehow. show less
I loved this all over again on rereading, but realized that what stuck with me so hard from childhood wasn't the action (which was actually minimal in a lot of the book) or the characters or the plot, but the visuals. They're really strong, and the book itself is full of these very cinematic sequences, brain-searing sequences. I heard there was a film version made and it was awful, which is a shame—the right filmmaker could have done super things with it. Maybe as an animated film, or something with really good CGI.
Anyway, it was still visually resonant, still a good comfort read. More, elsewhere, soon.
Anyway, it was still visually resonant, still a good comfort read. More, elsewhere, soon.
[This is a review I wrote in 2008]
**The second (and best) in the Dark is Rising sequence!**
A brilliant fantasy. Although this is the second of Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising sequence (and there are 5 books in total), it could easily be read as a stand alone book too.
On Midwinter's Eve, young Will Stanton, the youngest of a large family in the Thames Valley and seventh son of a seventh son, is about to turn eleven. But something strange is in the air. The atmosphere feels odd, the rabbits shrink away from him when he goes to give them their feed, the radio shrieks with interference when Will walks past it and it feels like snow is on its way...
Events only get more strange during the course of the night and in the morning Will awakes early on his birthday to find a very different world looking back at him through the window; a forested world - no roofs, no fields, just trees, covered in a thick blanket of deep snow. Will was 'crystal-clear awake, in a Midwinter Day that had been waiting for him to wake into it since the day he had been born, and, he somewhow knew, for centuries before that. Tomorrow will be beyond imagining...'.
Will soon discovers that he has been given the power of the Old Ones; a power of Light and goodness, and that with some help from the mysterious Merriman, the shining white horse and other Old powers, he must embark upon a mission against the frightening and evil magic of the Dark. Will is no ordinary eleven-year-old boy, but a boy who has been show more imbued with centuries-old knowledge and power and he alone, as the Sign-Seeker, must find a join together the Six great signs of the Light to defeat the Dark in its grasp for power.
A wonderful, fast-paced and captivating book. If you are interested in the series then start with Book One, 'Over Sea Under Stone', although it doesn't really link in with this one until you get to Book Three, 'Greenwitch'. A classic series for all ages. show less
**The second (and best) in the Dark is Rising sequence!**
A brilliant fantasy. Although this is the second of Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising sequence (and there are 5 books in total), it could easily be read as a stand alone book too.
On Midwinter's Eve, young Will Stanton, the youngest of a large family in the Thames Valley and seventh son of a seventh son, is about to turn eleven. But something strange is in the air. The atmosphere feels odd, the rabbits shrink away from him when he goes to give them their feed, the radio shrieks with interference when Will walks past it and it feels like snow is on its way...
Events only get more strange during the course of the night and in the morning Will awakes early on his birthday to find a very different world looking back at him through the window; a forested world - no roofs, no fields, just trees, covered in a thick blanket of deep snow. Will was 'crystal-clear awake, in a Midwinter Day that had been waiting for him to wake into it since the day he had been born, and, he somewhow knew, for centuries before that. Tomorrow will be beyond imagining...'.
Will soon discovers that he has been given the power of the Old Ones; a power of Light and goodness, and that with some help from the mysterious Merriman, the shining white horse and other Old powers, he must embark upon a mission against the frightening and evil magic of the Dark. Will is no ordinary eleven-year-old boy, but a boy who has been show more imbued with centuries-old knowledge and power and he alone, as the Sign-Seeker, must find a join together the Six great signs of the Light to defeat the Dark in its grasp for power.
A wonderful, fast-paced and captivating book. If you are interested in the series then start with Book One, 'Over Sea Under Stone', although it doesn't really link in with this one until you get to Book Three, 'Greenwitch'. A classic series for all ages. show less
This was amazing! I love how Will's character is developed throughout the book, and I enjoyed the folklore elements of the story. It might be a little too challenging for tweens, but I think it's perfect for any who enjoy older (it was published in the 70s but reads more like Narnia) YA/middle grades fantasy.
The Dark is Rising is the perfect children's book. It is one of those books you want to start reading over again as soon as you put it down. It well deserved to win the Newbery medal. Susan Cooper intertwines just enough hints of real history and myths and legends to invent a whole new mythology in a classic fight of good against evil.
Will Stanton contemplates his 11th birthday, just an ordinary boy in an ordinary family - other than that there are a lot of children in it. But with his birthday comes the knowledge that he is not ordinary at all. In fact he is one of the race of "Old Ones" - not quite human at all. The last of the Old Ones, he has a special task to undertake and standing against him are the forces of the dark who will do anything to frustrate his plans and to destroy him.
This is an excellent book that takes Susan Cooper's earlier "Over Sea and Under Stone" and turns it into part of a fascinating and imaginative series that should be on any good reading list.
The movie, on the other hand, will be a great disappointment to anyone who loves these books. It loses absolutely everything that makes this series a classic.
Will Stanton contemplates his 11th birthday, just an ordinary boy in an ordinary family - other than that there are a lot of children in it. But with his birthday comes the knowledge that he is not ordinary at all. In fact he is one of the race of "Old Ones" - not quite human at all. The last of the Old Ones, he has a special task to undertake and standing against him are the forces of the dark who will do anything to frustrate his plans and to destroy him.
This is an excellent book that takes Susan Cooper's earlier "Over Sea and Under Stone" and turns it into part of a fascinating and imaginative series that should be on any good reading list.
The movie, on the other hand, will be a great disappointment to anyone who loves these books. It loses absolutely everything that makes this series a classic.
Reread. I saw the trailer for the upcoming movie—and more importantly, I saw my friend Darcy's furious reaction to the trailer for the upcoming movie, and I realized that I didn't remember these books well enough to be properly furious myself. I read the first two in the series, in the wrong order, when I was much younger, but didn't recall being particularly engaged by them, which was why I never continued. I figured that, rereading them as an adult, I'd see the error of my ways.
Sadly, I didn't. I still don't find these books very engaging. "Over Sea, Under Stone" is, as even Darcy admits, only so-so: the setting is great (the rambling old Cornish house, the standing stones perched on their cliffs, the sea-cave), and at least one of the siblings (Barney) is spunky and entertaining, yet the treasure hunt-plot is oddly slow, and the conclusion completely unsatisfying in my mind. (They give the grail to a museum and get 100 quid? Barney has his "Dude! Merlin!" revelation? Yawn.) I thought "The Dark Is Rising" would be better, but it didn't do much for me, either. There's a lot of portentous stuff, but I felt that every scrape Will gets into he gets out of either through the intervention of an adult or thanks to a deus ex machina. Meanwhile, the Dark Rider and the Dark in general seemed oddly unthreatening to me, while being an agent of the Light did not seem particularly exciting or pleasurable. I never wished I was *there*: with, say, the Narnia books, I wanted SO BADLY show more to go through a wardrobe or a painting of my own, even if it was dangerous; but being an Old One mostly seems dull and chanty to me, to the point that if the position were offered on craigslist, I think I might pass. What is wrong with me?
Because I really do feel, having this reaction, that there must be something wrong with me and not the books: so many people—and people whose opinions I trust—love them. Oh well. I suppose I didn't like "The Lord of the Rings," either. show less
Sadly, I didn't. I still don't find these books very engaging. "Over Sea, Under Stone" is, as even Darcy admits, only so-so: the setting is great (the rambling old Cornish house, the standing stones perched on their cliffs, the sea-cave), and at least one of the siblings (Barney) is spunky and entertaining, yet the treasure hunt-plot is oddly slow, and the conclusion completely unsatisfying in my mind. (They give the grail to a museum and get 100 quid? Barney has his "Dude! Merlin!" revelation? Yawn.) I thought "The Dark Is Rising" would be better, but it didn't do much for me, either. There's a lot of portentous stuff, but I felt that every scrape Will gets into he gets out of either through the intervention of an adult or thanks to a deus ex machina. Meanwhile, the Dark Rider and the Dark in general seemed oddly unthreatening to me, while being an agent of the Light did not seem particularly exciting or pleasurable. I never wished I was *there*: with, say, the Narnia books, I wanted SO BADLY show more to go through a wardrobe or a painting of my own, even if it was dangerous; but being an Old One mostly seems dull and chanty to me, to the point that if the position were offered on craigslist, I think I might pass. What is wrong with me?
Because I really do feel, having this reaction, that there must be something wrong with me and not the books: so many people—and people whose opinions I trust—love them. Oh well. I suppose I didn't like "The Lord of the Rings," either. show less
I first read The Dark Is Rising in either fourth or fifth grade -- I don't remember exactly because I had the same wonderful English teacher both years, and got so many amazing fiction recommendations. I forget why it was given and not lent to me, but I had the paperback for years afterwards. This book is an amazing blend of myth and drama, but it also had a quick scene that stuck with me for years. Will, our hero, comes in when his older sister is chopping onions for a family meal and singing a song, and when I was ten or eleven, the idea of being able to cook AND being confident enough to sing in public seemed like the highest level of adult maturity that one could possibly reach.
Moving on.
That scene is an almost impossibly tiny moment in an epic story. Unlike some other middle-grades fiction, I thought this held up very well. There are really two storylines in The Dark Is Rising, one about a boisterous Welsh family over Christmas holidays, and the other about time travel and British myth. On the night before Will's eleventh birthday, odd things begin to happen and odd people appear in their small Welsh village. He discovers that he's an Old One, and begins to take on the responsibilities and learn the abilities, as the Dark rises and the extremely heavy snow keeps falling. The two stories blend well and create a world where magic is constantly just around the corner.
Moving on.
That scene is an almost impossibly tiny moment in an epic story. Unlike some other middle-grades fiction, I thought this held up very well. There are really two storylines in The Dark Is Rising, one about a boisterous Welsh family over Christmas holidays, and the other about time travel and British myth. On the night before Will's eleventh birthday, odd things begin to happen and odd people appear in their small Welsh village. He discovers that he's an Old One, and begins to take on the responsibilities and learn the abilities, as the Dark rises and the extremely heavy snow keeps falling. The two stories blend well and create a world where magic is constantly just around the corner.
This is the second book in the series and won the Newberry Award. Most of my strongest memories of the series are buried in this book, in particular an out of time Twelfth Night sequence that represents a Christmas season I've always wished I had.
The Drew children aren't in this book. Instead, we are introduced to Will Stanton, an Old One who has come into his own on his 11th birthday. Will is wonderfully well-written, somehow managing to combine that funny intelligence of all 11 year olds with the wisdom of someone who is ageless. There is snow (lots of snow), a dark rider, a mysterious tramp, and seven signs to be found in a limited amount of time.
I love this book and especially love the beautiful pictures it put into my head. There is a wonderful and very real family here and a diverse and believable community. There is the Light and there is the Dark. There is adventure and choices and merrymaking and sorrow. This is what good books are all about.
The Drew children aren't in this book. Instead, we are introduced to Will Stanton, an Old One who has come into his own on his 11th birthday. Will is wonderfully well-written, somehow managing to combine that funny intelligence of all 11 year olds with the wisdom of someone who is ageless. There is snow (lots of snow), a dark rider, a mysterious tramp, and seven signs to be found in a limited amount of time.
I love this book and especially love the beautiful pictures it put into my head. There is a wonderful and very real family here and a diverse and believable community. There is the Light and there is the Dark. There is adventure and choices and merrymaking and sorrow. This is what good books are all about.
http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/1605358.html
turned out to be pretty appropriate to be reading a novel set around Christmas time with unprecedentedly heavy snowfall. Eleven-year-old Will, the seventh son of a seventh son, discovers that he bears ancient powers, and is one of the Old Ones who are trying to prevent the Dark from, er, Rising. I think it's a great exposition of the desire that most children (and many adults) have of being the secret hero, tying in the magical otherworld with Will's family life (which is itself disrupted by events). I liked it a lot and will now look out for the other volumes. (And will see if my own eleven-year-old can be persuaded to take an interest.)
turned out to be pretty appropriate to be reading a novel set around Christmas time with unprecedentedly heavy snowfall. Eleven-year-old Will, the seventh son of a seventh son, discovers that he bears ancient powers, and is one of the Old Ones who are trying to prevent the Dark from, er, Rising. I think it's a great exposition of the desire that most children (and many adults) have of being the secret hero, tying in the magical otherworld with Will's family life (which is itself disrupted by events). I liked it a lot and will now look out for the other volumes. (And will see if my own eleven-year-old can be persuaded to take an interest.)
Twitter was rereading this for Christmas, and it had been decades since I last did, so I headed to the library catalogue and, since every copy across town was on loan, borrowed the audiobook instead. I'm not very good with audiobooks usually, but kept myself busy enough with quiet-enough craft-things that I could hear all the way through, only zoned out the once, and didn't get *too* annoyed at how the narrator kept doing Voices for the female characters, especially silly-sounding Mary and breathy-Old Lady.
The story was just as I remembered it, from the snow through to the Thaw; the creepiness of the rooks, and of the Dark Rider plucking the hair from Mary's coat.
Just as when I was a child I still feel Hawkins got the wrong end of the deal. Now I particularly feel that any power that uses someone without *ensuring* full and informed consent has no business calling itself the "Light". Merriman at least does recognise he made a mistake but makes no attempt at apology let alone reparation for the fact. Instead he goes on blaming and punishing Hawkins for not choosing to return to them, and only gives him rest when he finally does. I will not be reconciled to any of this!
I think I can finally visualise though how the Signs worked as extra belt buckles. This always bothered me, as a child....
The story was just as I remembered it, from the snow through to the Thaw; the creepiness of the rooks, and of the Dark Rider plucking the hair from Mary's coat.
Just as when I was a child I still feel Hawkins got the wrong end of the deal. Now I particularly feel that any power that uses someone without *ensuring* full and informed consent has no business calling itself the "Light". Merriman at least does recognise he made a mistake but makes no attempt at apology let alone reparation for the fact. Instead he goes on blaming and punishing Hawkins for not choosing to return to them, and only gives him rest when he finally does. I will not be reconciled to any of this!
I think I can finally visualise though how the Signs worked as extra belt buckles. This always bothered me, as a child....
How could I have forgotten how wonderful this one is? I don't know why I never re-read it, but it's been on my shelf forever, and I always looked at it warmly, and in fact often said aloud, "Oh, I LOVE that book" but passed it by. Maybe I remembered how very scary it is- and oh, it is. The writing is brilliant, absolutely top-notch. There's not an extra word, and the words that are there are wrestled into new, glittering shapes both malevolent and benignant. The characters are similarly familiar, beloved and revered. And Herne. Of course.
A perfectly splendid book, one that embraces Myth Incarnate and makes one understand and remember that all the stories we tell ourselves are somehow true.
A perfectly splendid book, one that embraces Myth Incarnate and makes one understand and remember that all the stories we tell ourselves are somehow true.
The alternate or parallel start to Cooper's Dark is Rising pentology, this book establishes the series internal mythos. Technically the second book in the series, we finally get an explanation for what the Light and the Dark are.
Two fundamental and opposed forces of the universe, under the High Magic, the Light and Dark are engaged in a primeval struggle for control of humanity throughout history. While Lords of the Dark are made, not born, the primary servants of the Light are the Old Ones: Born throughout times and throughout peoples, Old Ones are immortal with various inborn powers and strengths. Loosely coupled in time, the Old Ones can travel back and forth; engaged in battle with the forces of the Dark until the blossoming of the silver on the tree. And the Old Ones have been losing, aside from the brief, shining moment when a great leader rose among men allied to the Old Ones, a man called Pendragon.
This book follows the coming-of-age of young Will Stanton, seventh son of a seventh son, in Buckinghamshire in the then-current 1960s. Will Stanton is an eleven year old boy- and the youngest of the immortal Old Ones; with his birth is the circle complete that goes all the way back to the beginning and the first Old One. His destiny is to find and assemble the six Signs, one of the Things of Power created throughout time for the Old Ones to use in their battles with the Dark. As Will himself completes the Circle, he must collect and earn the Circle of Signs, emblem and show more talisman of the Old Ones.
Will gains his power and the wisdom of the Old Ones in a smooth blending of traditional YA storytelling with heavy reference to British folklore- catching the references adds even more depth to the story. He is opposed at all points by the Black Rider, oldest and perhaps most powerful Lord of the Dark, who wants to break the Circle before it is complete.
A delightful story in the best British tradition of young adult/mature children's lit, with many references to British mythology scattered throughout. show less
Two fundamental and opposed forces of the universe, under the High Magic, the Light and Dark are engaged in a primeval struggle for control of humanity throughout history. While Lords of the Dark are made, not born, the primary servants of the Light are the Old Ones: Born throughout times and throughout peoples, Old Ones are immortal with various inborn powers and strengths. Loosely coupled in time, the Old Ones can travel back and forth; engaged in battle with the forces of the Dark until the blossoming of the silver on the tree. And the Old Ones have been losing, aside from the brief, shining moment when a great leader rose among men allied to the Old Ones, a man called Pendragon.
This book follows the coming-of-age of young Will Stanton, seventh son of a seventh son, in Buckinghamshire in the then-current 1960s. Will Stanton is an eleven year old boy- and the youngest of the immortal Old Ones; with his birth is the circle complete that goes all the way back to the beginning and the first Old One. His destiny is to find and assemble the six Signs, one of the Things of Power created throughout time for the Old Ones to use in their battles with the Dark. As Will himself completes the Circle, he must collect and earn the Circle of Signs, emblem and show more talisman of the Old Ones.
Will gains his power and the wisdom of the Old Ones in a smooth blending of traditional YA storytelling with heavy reference to British folklore- catching the references adds even more depth to the story. He is opposed at all points by the Black Rider, oldest and perhaps most powerful Lord of the Dark, who wants to break the Circle before it is complete.
A delightful story in the best British tradition of young adult/mature children's lit, with many references to British mythology scattered throughout. show less
I decided to revisit this book, the perfect book for Christmas. There are few that can match it for sheer atmosphere, whether it's the warmth of Will's big, boisterous family, or the strange, timeless, slightly formal ceremonies and rites of the Old Ones, resonant with history and folklore and the odd sadness that comes with Will gaining ancient knowledge and power but in some sense losing his childhood. Then there's the awesome chill of the Dark, the heavy falls of snow, the sinister Rider and the tragic Walker and the sly witch-girl, the siege in the manor house as the cold closes in, and, of course, the final ride and chase and wild hunt through the forests of Windsor and the skies of Twelfth Night as the rain dissolves the heaped banks of snow and the floods course over the frozen ground.
Perhaps Will is led through the plot to find the various Signs a bit too much by the hand or the nose. Perhaps he's a bit too passive and accepting, but there's something to be said for that, for a younger reader. Sometimes you want to be guided, shown the right way to pierce the mysteries and find the objects and become something more. It's a kind of comfort, and not one to be sneezed at at Christmas.
Perhaps Will is led through the plot to find the various Signs a bit too much by the hand or the nose. Perhaps he's a bit too passive and accepting, but there's something to be said for that, for a younger reader. Sometimes you want to be guided, shown the right way to pierce the mysteries and find the objects and become something more. It's a kind of comfort, and not one to be sneezed at at Christmas.
Pretty decent boy-wizard story but i preferred the previous book [b:Over Sea, Under Stone|11312|Over Sea, Under Stone (The Dark Is Rising, #1)|Susan Cooper|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1443993959s/11312.jpg|742] which had less magic but more adventure.
This suffers from the usual Chosen One problem, too much predestination which undermines the tension of the story. Also its a bit video-gamey. The plot involves collecting magical items and at one point something happens which i can only describe as Leveling Up, it took all my self restraint not to shout 'Level 2' Achievement Unlocked: Uncompelling!
The other problem i had was that its really dark in tone in the first half, it felt like a kids version of The Omen or something. This dissipates significantly once the character Levels.
I know i sound like i'm trashing it but the writing is generally very good. The protagonist has a big and functional family which was interesting and not something you tend to see much of anymore.
I actually thought i might have to give it 4 stars, as the third quarter was really compelling and uncertain, but things felt more predestined again towards the end.
So not bad at all, really nice writing but not great plot.
This suffers from the usual Chosen One problem, too much predestination which undermines the tension of the story. Also its a bit video-gamey. The plot involves collecting magical items and at one point something happens which i can only describe as Leveling Up, it took all my self restraint not to shout 'Level 2' Achievement Unlocked: Uncompelling!
The other problem i had was that its really dark in tone in the first half, it felt like a kids version of The Omen or something. This dissipates significantly once the character Levels.
I know i sound like i'm trashing it but the writing is generally very good. The protagonist has a big and functional family which was interesting and not something you tend to see much of anymore.
I actually thought i might have to give it 4 stars, as the third quarter was really compelling and uncertain, but things felt more predestined again towards the end.
So not bad at all, really nice writing but not great plot.
Better than the first novel, but hardly comparable to CS Lewis or Tolkien. A young man, Will Stanton, turns 11 to discover that he is one of the Old Ones and must play a part in stemming the rise of the Dark by uniting six Signs. At times, the wiritnig is compelling -- at other times it's downright dull.
There's something beautifully mysterious about the book. Perhaps intentionally, readers without an extensive knowledge of Arthurian and Welsh legend are sometimes left in the dark (pun not intended, but noted!), though this puts us in the same initial position as our young hero Will--largely clueless, but nonetheless spellbound. The Dark is Rising is beautifully written; the prose is sophisticated and rich, very descriptive. Some people on here complained that Will is a passive sort of hero, not entirely in control of his own destiny, but I think that's probably part of the point. As an unwitting hero, and a fairly realistic eleven-year-old, he has a lot to learn, but the cast of Old Ones reassures the reader that there's a safety net of adults there to catch them in even the scariest of situations.
This book scared the living daylights out of me. You should know that I first read it in my early twenties. Cooper has a capacity to write apprehension into her scenes better than many fantasy writers. She makes you feel her scenes around you and literally draws you into her characters' fears of the dark. Her writing style is astutely simple and never cliched. Though perhaps the story itself is a bit disappointing, in that events seem to happen to the character without his having to do much or figure out much on his own, it is still a great read and a classic in its own right.
A novel of predestination. Everything is laid out on an excruciatingly contrived path that can only go one particular way, and our hero obligingly trots right through it. Furthermore, the good guys can be distinguished from the bad guys pretty much only in that the main character instinctively feels their respective goodness and badness, rather than by anything they actually do in this book. Why this is considered a classic is utterly beyond me.
The Dark Is Rising
A wondeful book - I've fallen in love with it. What I loved most of all about it was the imagery - it was the most beautiful book I have read, from her evocative descriptions of family Christmas to the incredible other world times of the Old Ones, the snow covered landscape to the rain and floods. I want a Christmas like that. I also lopved the pagan story, intermixed with our modern Christianity yet never conflicting. That in itself was unusual. And so much folklore of England and Britain, inextricably linked with the ancient pagan heritage of these islands. Herne! She also wrote very well the character of Will, a young boy yet so much more than that. That is a very difficult character to write, keeping a balance between the child that he is and the wise and ancient being he becomes at the same time. It worked so very well. Regarding the overall story, I sometimes found it quite hard to follow exactly what she meant and what was implied and/or happening. It was a complex descriptive storyline, but perhaps all the more mysterious for it? I like her style of writing too - this book, being quite old, owes a lot to the style of earlier English writers such as Enid Bylton in is tone and grammer, which I loved. The only criticism I have is that her descriptions of location were not clear. Throughout the book I found it difficult to orient where things were in relation to each other and where characters were going, and in which direction. But I still loved the show more book despite this. I think I shall re-read it near Christmas time :). show less
A wondeful book - I've fallen in love with it. What I loved most of all about it was the imagery - it was the most beautiful book I have read, from her evocative descriptions of family Christmas to the incredible other world times of the Old Ones, the snow covered landscape to the rain and floods. I want a Christmas like that. I also lopved the pagan story, intermixed with our modern Christianity yet never conflicting. That in itself was unusual. And so much folklore of England and Britain, inextricably linked with the ancient pagan heritage of these islands. Herne! She also wrote very well the character of Will, a young boy yet so much more than that. That is a very difficult character to write, keeping a balance between the child that he is and the wise and ancient being he becomes at the same time. It worked so very well. Regarding the overall story, I sometimes found it quite hard to follow exactly what she meant and what was implied and/or happening. It was a complex descriptive storyline, but perhaps all the more mysterious for it? I like her style of writing too - this book, being quite old, owes a lot to the style of earlier English writers such as Enid Bylton in is tone and grammer, which I loved. The only criticism I have is that her descriptions of location were not clear. Throughout the book I found it difficult to orient where things were in relation to each other and where characters were going, and in which direction. But I still loved the show more book despite this. I think I shall re-read it near Christmas time :). show less
This is a solid, suspenseful follow-up to the first in the series/sequence. It doesn't relate directly to Over Sea, Under Stone, but there are echoes that lead one to think that the stories will meet up in later books (well, the echoes and the reviews I've read). My kids are loving this series, which is a little surprising given how scary it is. But they like quests and children taking on responsibility beyond their years, and maybe the scary bits enhance those themes.
This one seems darker than the first book. The atmosphere of this one is similar to Lloyd Alexander's Chronicles of Prydain, although I wonder if that might be because I listened to both on audio and the narrators' voices and accents are somewhat similar.
On to Book #3!
This one seems darker than the first book. The atmosphere of this one is similar to Lloyd Alexander's Chronicles of Prydain, although I wonder if that might be because I listened to both on audio and the narrators' voices and accents are somewhat similar.
On to Book #3!
I read this book way later than I should have. I first read Over Sea, Under Stone back when I was about 12 and I remember being super excited to start the sequel--only to get mad at it when I realized the characters had changed. I think I dropped this book after chapter 1 or 2 and have always regretted not finishing this classic fantasy series.
Still, while I do love many things about this book, I can't rate it as highly as Over Sea, Under Stone. I prefer the sibling dynamics in that book as the three children struggle to work together and bring their own strengths to their quest as opposed to Will's sudden ascension to Old One status.For me, too many of his triumphs come on the heels of Merry's help...why do they even need Will to do all of this if Merry could have guided himself through it long ago (I know the answer of "Will had to make all those specific choices, etc, for things to work out," but its a bit too convenient for me). There's also more, "because magic" answers in this book than in book #1 (all those ways to time travel though). Don't get me wrong, this book is wonderful and its a classic for a reason with beautiful language and Christmastime feels- its just not my favorite of the series.
Still, while I do love many things about this book, I can't rate it as highly as Over Sea, Under Stone. I prefer the sibling dynamics in that book as the three children struggle to work together and bring their own strengths to their quest as opposed to Will's sudden ascension to Old One status.For me, too many of his triumphs come on the heels of Merry's help...why do they even need Will to do all of this if Merry could have guided himself through it long ago (I know the answer of "Will had to make all those specific choices, etc, for things to work out," but its a bit too convenient for me). There's also more, "because magic" answers in this book than in book #1 (all those ways to time travel though). Don't get me wrong, this book is wonderful and its a classic for a reason with beautiful language and Christmastime feels- its just not my favorite of the series.
This felt like a low-detail story about an old, sacred mythology, which is great, except it also needs characters with agency, and maybe a plot. Will has no agency--things happen to him and the world around him, and occasionally he knows what to do because Old Ones have Knowledge, but there's no decision making in order to address obstacles. Similarly, the plot feels preordained. It has no agency in its shaping. This is just How Things Go in the old story.
I recall liking it as a kid, but never being super into it. That's sort of how I feel now, but I like it less.
I recall liking it as a kid, but never being super into it. That's sort of how I feel now, but I like it less.
A re-read of book 2 of the series, the eponymous volume which gives the series as a whole its title. In contrast to the first, we are plunged into out and out fantasy from pretty much the start of the book. The setting is a few days before Christmas, and it is nearly Will Stanton's eleventh birthday. Will would like nothing better than a white Christmas, but it is a case of 'be careful, you might get what you wish for' because a whiteout occurs which paralyses most of England, and is actually a weapon in the arsenal of that powerful adversary, the Dark. For Will is the last-born of the Old Ones, and it is his destiny to carry out a quest to find six signs which, when joined, will form a powerful weapon in the defensive war of the Light against the Dark.
Will is also a normal boy, unprepared for the revelation about his true nature, and this duality in his character results in blunders and in his heartbreaking realisation that a wedge has been driven between himself and the members of his large family (he is the youngest of nine children). As well as this psychological thread throughout, we also have the subplot concerning the Walker, a man condemned to carry one of the signs as a punishment for earlier sins - but also the victim of his own fallible human nature. For as Will's mentor, Merriman - an ancient and powerful Old One who appeared in book 1 as the children's honorary great uncle - discovers, human beings cannot be burdened with the full knowledge of the conflict show more between Light and Dark without 'breaking', as they cannot view it with the detachment required.
One of the strengths of the books is its imagery and its evocation of place and of the weather. The snow and storm are almost a character in their own right. The magic also is well evoked and described, interwoven with elements of British mythology. Some of the minor characters are well realised such as the Walker and one of the local people who turns out to be working for the Dark.
Where the story has weaknesses, they are due to the sometimes passive behaviour of Will. In some cases he discovers the signs, or is given them, very easily. The climax is also a bit anticlimatic in the sense that the Dark is in the end driven back for the time by an ancient power, not directly by the actions of Will and Merriman and the other Old Ones. I still loved the story, but because of this can only give it a 4.5, or in Goodreads terms a 4-star rating. show less
Will is also a normal boy, unprepared for the revelation about his true nature, and this duality in his character results in blunders and in his heartbreaking realisation that a wedge has been driven between himself and the members of his large family (he is the youngest of nine children). As well as this psychological thread throughout, we also have the subplot concerning the Walker, a man condemned to carry one of the signs as a punishment for earlier sins - but also the victim of his own fallible human nature. For as Will's mentor, Merriman - an ancient and powerful Old One who appeared in book 1 as the children's honorary great uncle - discovers, human beings cannot be burdened with the full knowledge of the conflict show more between Light and Dark without 'breaking', as they cannot view it with the detachment required.
One of the strengths of the books is its imagery and its evocation of place and of the weather. The snow and storm are almost a character in their own right. The magic also is well evoked and described, interwoven with elements of British mythology. Some of the minor characters are well realised such as the Walker and one of the local people who turns out to be working for the Dark.
Where the story has weaknesses, they are due to the sometimes passive behaviour of Will. In some cases he discovers the signs, or is given them, very easily. The climax is also a bit anticlimatic in the sense that the Dark is in the end driven back for the time by an ancient power, not directly by the actions of Will and Merriman and the other Old Ones. I still loved the story, but because of this can only give it a 4.5, or in Goodreads terms a 4-star rating. show less
The Dark is Rising is a tale about a boy who on his eleventh birthday is awakened to a new calling that few are given. He is the last of the Old Ones, immortals who devote themselves to protecting the Light against the Dark. New to his calling, Will is guided by the other members of the Old Ones, such as his mentor Merriman, who show him what his new abilities allow him to do. Will has a quest to find the six Signs that will help the Light defeat the Dark. It won’t be easy, especially with the Dark trying to keep him from accomplishing his task. Will, with the help of the Light, pursues the challenge given to him.
With this book, I could develop teaching strategies that echo symbolism such as what the author insinuates with each Sign Will is on quest to find. Since as a teacher, it is important to also help the children develop morally as well as specifically in my concentration, I would use the context of the Dark and Light to allow the student to discover what is their own “Dark” and “Light,” and give them the opportunity to think about what they believe in when it comes to the world around them. This novel can ask them serious questions that entice them to learn what they will take a stand for in the world. If the students become inspired with their idea of the “Light,” then they will have something to fight for in their lives.
I actually enjoyed this novel. I found it interesting and easy to read. It’s not often that I can sit down and read a book such show more as The Dark is Rising, but I enjoyed being swept away into Susan Cooper’s fantasy world. I enjoy mystical stories and this one kept me interested with the different environments Will would go into. I enjoy the character of Will and the big family he is from, and I would consider teaching this novel in my classroom. I think middle school students would also enjoy The Dark is Rising. show less
With this book, I could develop teaching strategies that echo symbolism such as what the author insinuates with each Sign Will is on quest to find. Since as a teacher, it is important to also help the children develop morally as well as specifically in my concentration, I would use the context of the Dark and Light to allow the student to discover what is their own “Dark” and “Light,” and give them the opportunity to think about what they believe in when it comes to the world around them. This novel can ask them serious questions that entice them to learn what they will take a stand for in the world. If the students become inspired with their idea of the “Light,” then they will have something to fight for in their lives.
I actually enjoyed this novel. I found it interesting and easy to read. It’s not often that I can sit down and read a book such show more as The Dark is Rising, but I enjoyed being swept away into Susan Cooper’s fantasy world. I enjoy mystical stories and this one kept me interested with the different environments Will would go into. I enjoy the character of Will and the big family he is from, and I would consider teaching this novel in my classroom. I think middle school students would also enjoy The Dark is Rising. show less
(Alistair) Well, now.
Maybe it's just that I know too many people who have presented these books to me as awesomely awesome, but I'm finding myself somewhat disappointed by the The Dark is Rising series. Sure, I enjoyed reading this book, much as I did Over Sea, Under Stone (see here), and for much the same reasons, but in this one the characters seemed a little flatter, the plot more nailed to rails, and deus ex machina more in play - not to such an extent as to ruin the book for me, I hasten to add, as I did after all enjoy it - the plot itself and the worldbuilding notions are certainly satisfying, and I have no complaints with the writing style per se - but enough to leave me feeling that it definitely Could Have Been Done Better.
We'll see how it goes on.
( http://weblog.siliconcerebrate.com/cerebrate/2008/06/the-dark-is-rising-susan-co... )
Maybe it's just that I know too many people who have presented these books to me as awesomely awesome, but I'm finding myself somewhat disappointed by the The Dark is Rising series. Sure, I enjoyed reading this book, much as I did Over Sea, Under Stone (see here), and for much the same reasons, but in this one the characters seemed a little flatter, the plot more nailed to rails, and deus ex machina more in play - not to such an extent as to ruin the book for me, I hasten to add, as I did after all enjoy it - the plot itself and the worldbuilding notions are certainly satisfying, and I have no complaints with the writing style per se - but enough to leave me feeling that it definitely Could Have Been Done Better.
We'll see how it goes on.
( http://weblog.siliconcerebrate.com/cerebrate/2008/06/the-dark-is-rising-susan-co... )
This book passed me by in childhood, although the classics cover of it looks very familiar. Anyway I read it with Milly and we both really enjoyed it. It feels like a local and manageable adventure for young Will to become engaged in, but with big themes of light and dark and saving the world. It happens over Christmas and we feel the cold and the snow as well the air of menace coming from the Black Rider.
"Right after I finished Over Sea, Under Stone, I jumped into this second installment. I liked this one much more than the previous one, even though Cooper kept her writing style and ideas untouched: the incredibly well built suspense scenes, the darker tone spread all over the story. The introduction of Will Stanton and his family made the story a lot more attractive to me. Somehow, it was easier for me to picture the Stantons as a real family than the Drews. Maybe it was because the author took more time to describe the former, maybe I just connected more with them for they reminded me more of my own family when I was a kid: a gigantic human ball of mess.
This book, in my opinion, is the real beginning to the story Cooper wants to tell. The story is told under the point of view of a new character: Will Stanton, a ten year old boy, seventh son of a seventh son, part of a big messy family, brought up on a small town. The place where the story is acclimated is a huge contributor to the general cozy feeling it threw me into; besides it happening, mostly, near Christmas (snow!), Will lives in a very small town where everybody knows everybody. The author does an excellent job of describing every single small-town task Will and his brothers do the help their parents, their relationships with the neighbors, the architecture of the place and their strong religious beliefs. There are several scenes in churches; lots of songs are used all the time, with lightens the plot a little, show more being that it's mostly a very dense and dark story-line.
Regarding religion, this book is full of it; christian and even pagan rites of passage are popping up everywhere, even under the most innocent circumstances. When Will's birthday approaches, his family starts planning the celebration: ""'Double-ones tomorrow, Will,' said Mr Stanton from the head of the table. 'We should have some special kind of ceremony. A tribal rite.'"". His father didn't know how right he was. From the moment Will turns eleven, everything changes.
Strange dark events start happening to Will on a daily basis and he doesn't have a clue of who is causing them and why, until he is initiated into an ancient order: the Old Ones. Apparently, these are magical servants of the forces of Light who are locked in an eternal battle against the Dark and Will was predestined to be part of it. Usually, I don't like the ""chosen one"" factor, but for this series I made an exception. You know, I read it during the winter, covered in blankets, drinking tea. I was just not ready to give up on a story full of snow and old churches; I really have a soft spot for cold weather and old things. Besides, there was just too many questions hanging at the back of my mind for me to just throw the book away. Cooper is a genius when it comes to building up suspense, and when I say suspense, I mean real, logical suspense, not that nonsensical suspense that you see on cheap horror movies. As if it wasn't enough, she throws into the story other elements that kept me glued, like time travel and treasure hunt. Just too much to give up on, as I said.
All things considered, I loved the whole thing. The story, at times, felt like a silly magical fantasy; at other times, though, it got serious and I got to read about, albeit fictional, very realistic and well depicted ceremonial rites of passage, which transported the whole story to a level completely different from fantasy books aimed for children that I had read to that point. I'm only taking out a star from this book for, here, Cooper showed, again, a lack of skill for writing battle scenes. Seriously, it gets to my nerves how an author can be that good at writing a coherent story with suspense scenes prone to giving you a heart attack and then turn important physical confrontations into such dull affairs.
Interesting quotes that I didn't include in the review:
The Last Passage
This book, in my opinion, is the real beginning to the story Cooper wants to tell. The story is told under the point of view of a new character: Will Stanton, a ten year old boy, seventh son of a seventh son, part of a big messy family, brought up on a small town. The place where the story is acclimated is a huge contributor to the general cozy feeling it threw me into; besides it happening, mostly, near Christmas (snow!), Will lives in a very small town where everybody knows everybody. The author does an excellent job of describing every single small-town task Will and his brothers do the help their parents, their relationships with the neighbors, the architecture of the place and their strong religious beliefs. There are several scenes in churches; lots of songs are used all the time, with lightens the plot a little, show more being that it's mostly a very dense and dark story-line.
Regarding religion, this book is full of it; christian and even pagan rites of passage are popping up everywhere, even under the most innocent circumstances. When Will's birthday approaches, his family starts planning the celebration: ""'Double-ones tomorrow, Will,' said Mr Stanton from the head of the table. 'We should have some special kind of ceremony. A tribal rite.'"". His father didn't know how right he was. From the moment Will turns eleven, everything changes.
Strange dark events start happening to Will on a daily basis and he doesn't have a clue of who is causing them and why, until he is initiated into an ancient order: the Old Ones. Apparently, these are magical servants of the forces of Light who are locked in an eternal battle against the Dark and Will was predestined to be part of it. Usually, I don't like the ""chosen one"" factor, but for this series I made an exception. You know, I read it during the winter, covered in blankets, drinking tea. I was just not ready to give up on a story full of snow and old churches; I really have a soft spot for cold weather and old things. Besides, there was just too many questions hanging at the back of my mind for me to just throw the book away. Cooper is a genius when it comes to building up suspense, and when I say suspense, I mean real, logical suspense, not that nonsensical suspense that you see on cheap horror movies. As if it wasn't enough, she throws into the story other elements that kept me glued, like time travel and treasure hunt. Just too much to give up on, as I said.
All things considered, I loved the whole thing. The story, at times, felt like a silly magical fantasy; at other times, though, it got serious and I got to read about, albeit fictional, very realistic and well depicted ceremonial rites of passage, which transported the whole story to a level completely different from fantasy books aimed for children that I had read to that point. I'm only taking out a star from this book for, here, Cooper showed, again, a lack of skill for writing battle scenes. Seriously, it gets to my nerves how an author can be that good at writing a coherent story with suspense scenes prone to giving you a heart attack and then turn important physical confrontations into such dull affairs.
Interesting quotes that I didn't include in the review:
All the broad sky was grey, full of more snow that refused to fall. There was no colour anywhere.
It is a burden... make no mistake about that. Any great gift or power or talent is a burden and this more than any, and you will long to be free of it.
The Last Passage
As he looked down the road still, with the music singing in his ears, Will saw that out beyond Merriman the trees and the mist and the stretch of the road were shaking, shivering, in a way that he knew well. And then gradually, out there, he saw the great Doors take shape. There they stood, as he had seen them on the open hillside and in the Manor: the tall carved doors that led out of Time, standing alone and upright in the Old Way that was known now as Huntercombe Lane. Very slowly, they began to open. Somewhere behind Will the music of “Greensleeves” broke off, with a laugh and some muffled words from Paul; but there was no break in the music that was in Will’s head, for now it had changed into that haunting, bell-like phrase that came always with the opening of the Doors or any great change that might alter the lives of the Old Ones. Will clenched his fists as he listened, yearning towards the sweet beckoning sound that was the space between waking and dreaming, yesterday and tomorrow, memory and imagining. It floated lovingly in his mind, then gradually grew distant, fading, as out on the Old Way Merriman’s tall figure, swirled round again now by a blue cloak, passed through the open Doors. Behind him, the towering slabs of heavy carved oak swung slowly together, together, until silently they shut. Then as the last echo of the enchanted music died, they disappeared.
And in a great blaze of yellow-white light, the sun rose over Hunter’s Combe and the valley of the Thames.
I re-read this book before Christmas. Well, I listened to it, since I own both the paperback I picked up many years ago in a London bookshop and a marvelous audio book version narrated by Alex Jennings (who is simply a superlative reader). I had neither read nor listened to the book in about seven years, and you know what? I'd forgotten just how good it is. Lately, I've been exposed to less-than-magnificent writing. Not awful, just not wonderful. So, there I was, listening to The Dark is Rising while preparing tart shells for Christmas mincemeat, and chopping vegetables and breaking up ground pork for the tourtière, and I kept thinking: Damn. This is good. I'd forgotten. They made a movie version recently and there are a few reasonably good reviews of the film --- but none of them come from people who have actually read this book. Or re-read it. I recommend you do one or the other soon. No need to wait for next Christmas. (Oh yes, and the rest of the series is good too. Except for Over Sea Under Stone, the first in the series. Of course, I haven't re-read that one...)
I read a children’s book every so often, and I read this one not long after the first in the series, namely “Over Sea, Under Stone”.
According to numerous reviews I’ve read, most people rate “The Dark is Rising” much higher than “OSUS”. I differ, as I prefer the first book. I think this is down to me liking the characters more in this novel to the second book, plus “TDIR” is heavier on fantasy elements, whereas “OSUS” is routed deeper in reality, which suits my tastes.
I liked the three child characters in Book One more than the main character – Will – in this book. Although Will has lots of siblings, he’s essentially a loner. The conversations between the three siblings in “OSUS” provided that novel with much of its charm. Because Will has to think a lot of things yhrough for himself, we have much more third-person narration, rather than the more active three-way conversations.
That said, Will is likable, while he and the other characters are vivid. The author also does a good job of creating a sense of place. I could “see” the snowy landscape, and could “feel” the cold.
The one aspect where I rate this novel superior to it predecessor is that this one isn’t riddled with adverbs from start to finish. Adverbs still crop up too much for my liking, but not to the distracting extent that they do in “OSUS”. “
Adverbs don’t “show”, they “tell”, and whilst I accept these novels are aimed at children, and therefore require show more simpler language than books for grown-ups, children are nonetheless intelligent enough to appreciate more imaginative prose.
I first read "TDIR" circa 1987, when I was a pre-teen, but apart from it being set in snowy conditions, I couldn't remember anything about the story. show less
According to numerous reviews I’ve read, most people rate “The Dark is Rising” much higher than “OSUS”. I differ, as I prefer the first book. I think this is down to me liking the characters more in this novel to the second book, plus “TDIR” is heavier on fantasy elements, whereas “OSUS” is routed deeper in reality, which suits my tastes.
I liked the three child characters in Book One more than the main character – Will – in this book. Although Will has lots of siblings, he’s essentially a loner. The conversations between the three siblings in “OSUS” provided that novel with much of its charm. Because Will has to think a lot of things yhrough for himself, we have much more third-person narration, rather than the more active three-way conversations.
That said, Will is likable, while he and the other characters are vivid. The author also does a good job of creating a sense of place. I could “see” the snowy landscape, and could “feel” the cold.
The one aspect where I rate this novel superior to it predecessor is that this one isn’t riddled with adverbs from start to finish. Adverbs still crop up too much for my liking, but not to the distracting extent that they do in “OSUS”. “
Adverbs don’t “show”, they “tell”, and whilst I accept these novels are aimed at children, and therefore require show more simpler language than books for grown-ups, children are nonetheless intelligent enough to appreciate more imaginative prose.
I first read "TDIR" circa 1987, when I was a pre-teen, but apart from it being set in snowy conditions, I couldn't remember anything about the story. show less
Though this is not the first book chronologically (Over Sea, Under Stone is), this is the first one to read. This beautifully written story is one of the best young adult fantasy series there is. The tale is wrapped around the Arthurian legend, yet it is not another clone of The Once and Future King, rather a completely fresh and original Welsh legend of its own.
This is a long way from being the first time of reading. I have a lovely edition of all four books bought for me as a child (Thanks mum) and they have been regularly re-read with joy. This one I often read as a standalone, rather than as part of the sequence - though it works both ways. Anyway I was inspired to read it over Christmas by #thedarkisreading over on Twitter. No regrets. One friend has commented that on re-reading it didn't live up to their childhood memories but for me it still does for the most part - particularly the first half. It has such menace and such wonder.
Young Will Stanton finds out on his 11th birthday that he is one of the "Old Ones." He and the others must find the six signs that will give them the power to keep the "dark" evil forces from gaining control of the world.
To be honest, I'm a bit surprised that this is the second book in the series. It seems like the obvious choice for the first book. Over Sea, Under Stone explains much less of the mythology of the series and perhaps that's why it's the first books in the series, but it still seems like an odd choice to me. The three Drew children we meet in the first book don't appear in this one at all. Uncle Merry returns in this book though and I was happy to get more of his character.
Cooper's writing is ripe with suspense and it's a much darker tale than the first book. It reminds me a bit of the Chronicles of Narnia (which is a good thing) in which good and evil are clearly defined forces and children must help conquer evil. I was swept away by the story and I particularly liked seeing the contradictory life that Will is forced to live. At only 11-years-old he understands his destiny and has huge responsibility, yet his family doesn't know so he must still act like a carefree child around them.
I have three more books in the series and will definitely be finishing it.
"There was something about Christmas Eve that demanded company; one needed somebody to whisper to, during the warm beautiful dream-taut moments between hanging the empty stocking at the end of the bed, show more and dropping into the cosy oblivion that would flower into the marvel of Christmas morning."
p.s. This is a famous British series (much more well-known over there) and this book won the Newbery award in 1974. I wonder if Will, who we meet at age 11, might have inspired bits of Harry Potter. show less
To be honest, I'm a bit surprised that this is the second book in the series. It seems like the obvious choice for the first book. Over Sea, Under Stone explains much less of the mythology of the series and perhaps that's why it's the first books in the series, but it still seems like an odd choice to me. The three Drew children we meet in the first book don't appear in this one at all. Uncle Merry returns in this book though and I was happy to get more of his character.
Cooper's writing is ripe with suspense and it's a much darker tale than the first book. It reminds me a bit of the Chronicles of Narnia (which is a good thing) in which good and evil are clearly defined forces and children must help conquer evil. I was swept away by the story and I particularly liked seeing the contradictory life that Will is forced to live. At only 11-years-old he understands his destiny and has huge responsibility, yet his family doesn't know so he must still act like a carefree child around them.
I have three more books in the series and will definitely be finishing it.
"There was something about Christmas Eve that demanded company; one needed somebody to whisper to, during the warm beautiful dream-taut moments between hanging the empty stocking at the end of the bed, show more and dropping into the cosy oblivion that would flower into the marvel of Christmas morning."
p.s. This is a famous British series (much more well-known over there) and this book won the Newbery award in 1974. I wonder if Will, who we meet at age 11, might have inspired bits of Harry Potter. show less
Will is a great character - young and old at once, childlike and wise - but he has little intent. The plot does not move forward because of him, but around him, and he finds himself in situations where he must act. However, he never knows what's coming next, and neither does the reader - the momentum suffers a bit because Will's mission is so vague, and he depends on other characters, such as the Lady and Merriman, to guide him.
I enjoyed this but was not as completely absorbed as I might have wished to be; perhaps it's only a function of reading it several years later than I should have. I may look into the rest of the sequence, but was not immediately compelled to; however, this is less a reflection on the book's quality than the fact that it had neither a cliffhanger ending nor a confusing beginning - that is, I felt as though the story was complete in itself, not simply a part of another whole.
"...but then it was gone, into the misty gap between memory and imagining...and the light and the day and the world changed so that he forgot utterly what they had been." (p. 33)
On the English: "Splendid in adversity, tedious when safe. Never content, in fact." (p. 174)
I enjoyed this but was not as completely absorbed as I might have wished to be; perhaps it's only a function of reading it several years later than I should have. I may look into the rest of the sequence, but was not immediately compelled to; however, this is less a reflection on the book's quality than the fact that it had neither a cliffhanger ending nor a confusing beginning - that is, I felt as though the story was complete in itself, not simply a part of another whole.
"...but then it was gone, into the misty gap between memory and imagining...and the light and the day and the world changed so that he forgot utterly what they had been." (p. 33)
On the English: "Splendid in adversity, tedious when safe. Never content, in fact." (p. 174)
The Dark Is Rising by Susan Cooper is a brilliant story about a young boy learning his destiny. Will Stanton was just a normal boy about to turn eleven. Odd happenings start occurring: animals fearing Will, technology not working properly when he passes, and a freak snow storm like no other. It is unexplainable of the things going on. On the day of his birthday, Will soon finds out he is not a normal boy, especially when he meets Merriman and other Old Ones. Will is claimed to be a sign seeker for the Light and is against the Dark. During his journeys through time, enemies try to end his victories for the Light. Throughout his entire journey, “the Dark is rising.”
The biggest and most obvious theme from The Dark is Rising is the theme of good versus evil. The story is close connection to the Harry Potter books because both deal with witchcraft and mystical beings. This book is a great addition to the reading lists of adolescent students. One concern with this book is that the book itself seems a bit confusing if a person has not read the book before this one; reading the full sequence of stories is greatly encouraged. This book is quite the page turner, and children will never put it down.
I really enjoyed reading this book. I was a bit confused being that I had not read the one before it. The writing in it was a bit jumbled but still well written. Although I have never read the Harry Potter books, I never wanted to put this story down. I even think that this book show more could somewhat be compared to the bible. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good story about magic and mystery. The Dark Is Rising was a great book that captured my attention until the last word. show less
The biggest and most obvious theme from The Dark is Rising is the theme of good versus evil. The story is close connection to the Harry Potter books because both deal with witchcraft and mystical beings. This book is a great addition to the reading lists of adolescent students. One concern with this book is that the book itself seems a bit confusing if a person has not read the book before this one; reading the full sequence of stories is greatly encouraged. This book is quite the page turner, and children will never put it down.
I really enjoyed reading this book. I was a bit confused being that I had not read the one before it. The writing in it was a bit jumbled but still well written. Although I have never read the Harry Potter books, I never wanted to put this story down. I even think that this book show more could somewhat be compared to the bible. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good story about magic and mystery. The Dark Is Rising was a great book that captured my attention until the last word. show less
Well-written, enthralling read, has a very plausible storyline. Best suited for the older teenager and it's a fun read for adults. The plot is quite intricate and refers heavily to Arthurian legend. Liked Will Stanton and his family. I found Merriman at bit high-handed and wondered why Cooper developed him that way.
I tend to think of this book as the first fantasy I ever read, although I don't believe that's true. I got it when I was 8 years old for Christmas and let it sit for years without reading it (even then I couldn't get rid of a book...) Then I started reading fantasy and rediscovered this book on my shelf. Since then, I have read it every year at Christmas. For an adult, it's not a long read, and it is a well-crafted, imaginative, fascinating story. As a 12-year-old, I identified with Will. I'll admit that he was one of the first fictional characters I had a crush on. As an adult, I appreciate even more the emotions each character is dealing with. Unfortunately, or perhaps this says something about my 12-year-old self, now I find that Will is a bit of a cardboard cutout, and the most fascinating character is Merriman. The plot is precise, entertaining, and interesting. Highly recommended and the best of the series, IMHO. Only Greenwitch compares (which is not to say the other books aren't worth reading; just not every year for over ten years).
a good, exciting, fast-moving read, with all the ingredients for an original story. But I always get that nagging feeling that everything happens just too easily. I never have my heart in my mouth because I know that it will come out alright in the end. But I still have to order the other three in the series, the new camera lens will just have to wait.
The Dark is Rising is the second book in the series and was by far my favorite one of the 5. Here we meet Will Stanton, who happens to be the 7th son of a 7th son though he doesn't realize the importance of this there are forces of good an evil who do and are watching his every move.
This is a neat set of books for young adults/Middle school kids. I read them when I was in Middle school and found them a little spooky, having reread them as an adult I found them an easy read and definitely written for younger readers. Great books to get younger readers interested in reading.
This is a neat set of books for young adults/Middle school kids. I read them when I was in Middle school and found them a little spooky, having reread them as an adult I found them an easy read and definitely written for younger readers. Great books to get younger readers interested in reading.
I read these as a kid and loved them. I find that I still love them, I read them to my kids who also enjoyed them enough when they were older they bought sets. And now I read it to my grandson. It is a fun read and I found myself liking the characters and storyline.
Second in the 'Dark is Rising' sequence, this book, set in the 'big freeze' of winter 1962, introduces 11-year-old Will, the youngest child of a large family. When Will turns 11, he discovers some astounding things about himself and his role in the battle of good vs evil...
Good characterisation, fast-paced writing, an exciting and tense story. It's not necessary to have read the first in the sequence first as this stands alone. Ideal for confident readers of about nine or ten and upwards, or as a read-aloud.
Definitely recommended if you like 'low' fantasy, set in the real world with time-travel element, and a very strong 'dark' vs 'light' theme.
Longer review here: https://suesbookreviews.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-dark-is-rising-by-susan-cooper....
Good characterisation, fast-paced writing, an exciting and tense story. It's not necessary to have read the first in the sequence first as this stands alone. Ideal for confident readers of about nine or ten and upwards, or as a read-aloud.
Definitely recommended if you like 'low' fantasy, set in the real world with time-travel element, and a very strong 'dark' vs 'light' theme.
Longer review here: https://suesbookreviews.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-dark-is-rising-by-susan-cooper....
We have probably all heard that The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper is being released as a movie in October. This prompted me to dig out this series of books from the basement and re-read the first book. I last read this book when I was somewhere around 11 years of age. After that reading I thought the world of this book.
The book is well-written and very descriptive. It's every child's dream to get swept into an adventure like Will is and to find out you are part of an ancient race that lives to defeat all that is evil. This book is a classic. I think every young adult should read it!
All that being said. I wasn't as impressed with this book on my second read through. I think I have just read too many books. And, while the book was enjoyable, the haphazard way in which Will progresses through his quest kind of bothered me. I also thought that the gathering of all of the signs in one book was a bit much. It just made the retrieval of each sign seem more trivial than it should have been and condensed the adventure down, almost making it too simplistic. Still the book is well-written, the character's are likable, and the struggle details the epic struggle between good and evil.
I can't wait to see how well the movie follows the book.
The book is well-written and very descriptive. It's every child's dream to get swept into an adventure like Will is and to find out you are part of an ancient race that lives to defeat all that is evil. This book is a classic. I think every young adult should read it!
All that being said. I wasn't as impressed with this book on my second read through. I think I have just read too many books. And, while the book was enjoyable, the haphazard way in which Will progresses through his quest kind of bothered me. I also thought that the gathering of all of the signs in one book was a bit much. It just made the retrieval of each sign seem more trivial than it should have been and condensed the adventure down, almost making it too simplistic. Still the book is well-written, the character's are likable, and the struggle details the epic struggle between good and evil.
I can't wait to see how well the movie follows the book.
Meet Will. He's eleven. And, he just found out he's the last of a race of immortal warriors destined to rid the world of the Dark forces. Now he must team up with three children (and their Great Uncle Merry) to find six magical signs that will aid him in his destiny.
The Dark is Rising series is a powerful tale based on Arthurian myths and legends. Susan Cooper is a fabulous writer and weaves her tale of mystery and suspense with masterful beauty. When it comes to epic battles between good and evil, she ranks right up there with C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. She happens to have quite a large following of devoted readers. I myself am one them. Perhaps you've never heard of her before this, but let me be the first to recommend her. You won't find a more uniquely imaginative author.
The Dark is Rising series is a powerful tale based on Arthurian myths and legends. Susan Cooper is a fabulous writer and weaves her tale of mystery and suspense with masterful beauty. When it comes to epic battles between good and evil, she ranks right up there with C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. She happens to have quite a large following of devoted readers. I myself am one them. Perhaps you've never heard of her before this, but let me be the first to recommend her. You won't find a more uniquely imaginative author.
Reading for Newbery club in Children's Books group, Nov. 2021. I don't have high hopes after being so frustrated with the first of the series.
Better than the first, but still not of any interest to me. Destiny, Chosen One, Good & Evil having no nuance. The 11 yo boy is a bit smarter, but still makes mistakes that advance the plot. At least, if you're interested, no need to bother with the first, as the references to it here are insignificant.
I did like some bits. For example members of Will's family all view the same item, and while some feel a sort of reverence, others fear it. I would have liked to know the individuals in his family better, but at least Cooper acknowledged that they had identities.
I also liked the way Will was both a chosen one, and a child, and how Cooper expressed that:the Anglican choirboy vs. the last Old One .
It's very English. The author was born and spent early years in England. It doesn't break the letter of the terms, but imo it does the spirit:
"TERMS
1. The Medal shall be awarded annually to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children published in English in the United States during the preceding year....
2. The Award is restricted to authors who are citizens or residents of the United States....
Better than the first, but still not of any interest to me. Destiny, Chosen One, Good & Evil having no nuance. The 11 yo boy is a bit smarter, but still makes mistakes that advance the plot. At least, if you're interested, no need to bother with the first, as the references to it here are insignificant.
I did like some bits. For example members of Will's family all view the same item, and while some feel a sort of reverence, others fear it. I would have liked to know the individuals in his family better, but at least Cooper acknowledged that they had identities.
I also liked the way Will was both a chosen one, and a child, and how Cooper expressed that:
It's very English. The author was born and spent early years in England. It doesn't break the letter of the terms, but imo it does the spirit:
"TERMS
1. The Medal shall be awarded annually to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children published in English in the United States during the preceding year....
2. The Award is restricted to authors who are citizens or residents of the United States....
I really wanted to like this book more than I did - it has a pretty archetypal fantasy plot and I enjoyed the references to Arthurian mythology but the book was just so heavy-handed and overwritten. I really slogged through it...
I read this whole series when I was a pre-teen, and absolutely LOVED it. The atmosphere of the books was so beautifully described--there was such a sense of menace that felt so TRUE for someone the same age as the main character. I periodically pull them out and re-read them as an adult--they still hold up without seeming trivial, as many books that are aimed at pre-teens can.
On his 11th birthday, Will Stanton finds out he is one of the Old Ones, a guardian of The Light, and is charged with collecting the Circle of Signs to ward off the forces of The Dark. This is much more in line with what I had expected from this series (the first book didn't quite measure up) and I very much enjoyed all the spins on mythology and history. It is a young adult novel, but the baddies are scary enough for grown-ups and all characters are well-rounded and easy to get invested in. The reader of the audio version is also very good and I will be listening to the rest of the series to see what happens with both characters and plot.
Classic YA/children's novel of kids getting involved in the eternal struggle between good and evil, order and chaos. Some really memorable imagery -- the encroaching cold, the birds -- and appealingly non-didactic prose make this one something I'll recommend to the next generation.
I think that if I were more knowledgeable about the mythology that Cooper is drawing upon for the world she has created, I would have enjoyed this more. I'm familiar with the Greeks, but only just barely acquainted with the more well-known characters from other traditions. I didn't find the characters to be particularly well drawn or compelling and the conflicts had little real tension. Will seemed to only passively move from one miniquest to the next, and nobody ever seemed to be in any actual danger. The Dark simply had no teeth. But there is a love of language that leavens the dullness of plot and characterization. The world created is beautifully described; it only needed a good story to go with it.I still plan to read the entire series, though. The frustration I felt at the age of eleven with a book I couldn't understand is still with me. I'm determined to read it again in context and finally put those questions to rest.
Such a cracking adventure. Cooper never gives you much pause from the action and I love Will and Merriman as much now as I ever did.
I like the Stantons but this is one of those books when I swing back to being annoyed at Cooper's presentation of female characters. Will's brothers get to occasionally do stuff with him, go out of the house at least. His sisters not so much.
I like the Stantons but this is one of those books when I swing back to being annoyed at Cooper's presentation of female characters. Will's brothers get to occasionally do stuff with him, go out of the house at least. His sisters not so much.
Just recently this book came across my radar by being recommended by a friend as his favorite yearly christmas read, and then through a lot of discussion groups in several fantasy reading forums. I delve into Young Adult on occasion, especially those old favorites I discovered when I was one.
Now as a jaded adult I notice things differently. How convenient our hero in this case has his problems and solutions laid out for him. He is never more than a few minutes walk from his home as all the puzzles to his quest are found. He easily overcomes each puzzle and should danger abound, adults are on hand to save him from not only himself but the evil that he is constantly told threatens him.
That was the first reason that caused this book to lose me as a potential fan. Next was the presentation. Show, don't tell is a writing mantra, yet with so much exposition everywhere for so long at a time, I felt entirely disconnected. Cooper spent page after page without a break telling me exactly what I had to know. Will, the hero, never had a moment to catch his breath.
By far the engaging part of the book was when he wasn't fumbling around with any of the magic but was happily ensconced with his family, of which there are many, enjoying christmas. The author was then forced to use dialogue and description in equitable portions and the feel for a small town english christmas was captured. Perhaps this book, without any of the fantasy and magic, another issue that I found did not work at all, show more would have been better if just left as a work of regular fiction, as a simpler boys coming of age story. show less
Now as a jaded adult I notice things differently. How convenient our hero in this case has his problems and solutions laid out for him. He is never more than a few minutes walk from his home as all the puzzles to his quest are found. He easily overcomes each puzzle and should danger abound, adults are on hand to save him from not only himself but the evil that he is constantly told threatens him.
That was the first reason that caused this book to lose me as a potential fan. Next was the presentation. Show, don't tell is a writing mantra, yet with so much exposition everywhere for so long at a time, I felt entirely disconnected. Cooper spent page after page without a break telling me exactly what I had to know. Will, the hero, never had a moment to catch his breath.
By far the engaging part of the book was when he wasn't fumbling around with any of the magic but was happily ensconced with his family, of which there are many, enjoying christmas. The author was then forced to use dialogue and description in equitable portions and the feel for a small town english christmas was captured. Perhaps this book, without any of the fantasy and magic, another issue that I found did not work at all, show more would have been better if just left as a work of regular fiction, as a simpler boys coming of age story. show less
I love the whole of the Dark is Rising series. The coming of age/hero's journey story is wonderful. It is very exciting, a treasure hunt for the tools to save the world. My only "beef" with the book is that the description of the Old Ones leaves me lacking in either comprehension or fulfillment, I'm not sure which.
Plot Summary: Will Stanton wakes up on the morning before his 11th birthday having very strange experiences. Over the next week, he learns he is an Old One, and as such he has powers beyond his wildest dreams. Will has a job to do: he must find the six Signs which will give the Light the power to defeat the Dark. The Reader watches as Will comes to grips with his newfound power and knowledge, all woven into a tale of Herculean feats, betrayal, and the battle between good and evil.
Teaching Connections: A book like The Dark Is Rising would work very well for students interested in fantasy and mythos in grades 5-8. I think the book would do best in literary circles, because it will definitely not be everyone's cup of tea. It would work well in a Unit about myth and the theme of good vs. evil. It could be connected easily to epics like King Arthur, Beowulf, and religious texts, and can also be connected to pop culture like superhero plots, Star Wars, and Harry Potter.
Personal Response: I read this book in elementary school and liked it enough to read the rest of the books in the series that our library had, so I know it can connect to young readers. However, this time through reading it, it seemed very distant. None of the characters seemed fleshed out, the language was dense and unapproachable, and even Will getting his powers didn't seem as exciting as it usually is in stories like this. Add to this the lack of cultural diversity and the fact that those of low SES (the show more Walker, especially) became villified, and it was difficult for me to see the value in the book this time around. It seemed to me if I was going to use an unapproachable book in my classroom, I might as well use a classic endorsed by Common Core. Even so, this book has 452 five star reviews on this site, and if some of my students were interested in it I would definitely not stop them from reading it and I would do whatever I could to scaffold and supplement their experience. show less
Teaching Connections: A book like The Dark Is Rising would work very well for students interested in fantasy and mythos in grades 5-8. I think the book would do best in literary circles, because it will definitely not be everyone's cup of tea. It would work well in a Unit about myth and the theme of good vs. evil. It could be connected easily to epics like King Arthur, Beowulf, and religious texts, and can also be connected to pop culture like superhero plots, Star Wars, and Harry Potter.
Personal Response: I read this book in elementary school and liked it enough to read the rest of the books in the series that our library had, so I know it can connect to young readers. However, this time through reading it, it seemed very distant. None of the characters seemed fleshed out, the language was dense and unapproachable, and even Will getting his powers didn't seem as exciting as it usually is in stories like this. Add to this the lack of cultural diversity and the fact that those of low SES (the show more Walker, especially) became villified, and it was difficult for me to see the value in the book this time around. It seemed to me if I was going to use an unapproachable book in my classroom, I might as well use a classic endorsed by Common Core. Even so, this book has 452 five star reviews on this site, and if some of my students were interested in it I would definitely not stop them from reading it and I would do whatever I could to scaffold and supplement their experience. show less
It's been decades since I read my print copy of The Dark is Rising, sequel to Over Sea, Under Stone, and the second book in The Dark is Rising Sequence. I'd forgotten how powerful and beautiful the words were. Alex Jennings is a very good narrator for this book. I'm so glad to become reacquainted with such an excellent book.
Will Stanton turns eleven on midwinter’s eve…and up until now, he’s led a normal, if somewhat hectic life as the seventh (and youngest) child in his normal family. It is on this, his eleventh birthday, that he finds out he is anything but normal and also the beginning of a series of events that will help him define the man he will become. While I did thoroughly enjoy The Dark is Rising…I think the greatest draw for this book (and the series as a whole) is for children (or young adults if you prefer), ages 9-14 (or so). The “light” and “dark” are fairly cut and dry, no shades of grey here…the characters are ALL good or ALL bad, no subtle shading or real depth to them and while I do feel this is appropriate for the age range (because that’s rather how kids of this age are still seeing the world, things are “good” or “bad”); it’s a shame the author doesn’t challenge us and help introduce a more nuanced character set to the readers (perhaps in later books in the series), because this is also the age range where pushing that comfortable envelope should begin to be introduced. Having said that, I want to be clear that while I do see the characters as lacking depth to a certain degree, I did enjoy the book and would definitely recommend it, and it’s just not as richly drawn as it might otherwise be if it were geared toward an older audience or if the author had written richer characters. Additionally for such surprisingly flat, one dimensional show more characters the text itself is highly detailed and extremely well written, though in places a bit confusing (for example where she refers to Will’s friend…he’s actually one of his brothers, but this is unclear early on and is distracting).
Cooper successfully weaves both British and Celtic folklore/mythology into the threads of the story and successfully creates an entire world in which Will must navigate to successfully achieve his quest (with time travel, even). We meet a variety of characters through Will, both Light and Dark and travel along with him as he struggles to come to terms with his new found knowledge, responsibilities and powers…it’s not an easy quest for an 11 year old, nor does he suddenly “become” an Old One, it’s a struggle for him the whole of the journey (as it should be for an eleven year old). One of the best features of the story is that Will’s home life is happy and healthy…he is part of a tight-nit family unit. His family is normal: a two parent home where no one is sick, crazy, or otherwise absent or in need of rescue (at least as the story begins) and best of all, the entire family is well adjusted and actually get along (i.e. there is no bully or abusive siblings, no schoolyard conflicts, he’s not a misfit, and there is no wicked step parent). While they do not really know about or help with Will’s struggle or challenges, they are ever present and he must work in this quest and still fulfill his family obligations and remains a part of the family throughout.
Overall, The Dark is Rising is an interesting and entertaining tale that readers of all ages can dig into and love. It’s got strong mythological bones, interesting plot points, and relatively well defined and likeable characters which help to allow readers to forgive it’s few flaws (somewhat flat characterization…especially of the “Dark” characters, some confusing plot points, and the real lack of anything difficult being required of the “hero” when it’s all said and done). I give it 4 stars and hope that later books in the series provide a bit more challenge for this (and other) characters as the series develops. show less
Cooper successfully weaves both British and Celtic folklore/mythology into the threads of the story and successfully creates an entire world in which Will must navigate to successfully achieve his quest (with time travel, even). We meet a variety of characters through Will, both Light and Dark and travel along with him as he struggles to come to terms with his new found knowledge, responsibilities and powers…it’s not an easy quest for an 11 year old, nor does he suddenly “become” an Old One, it’s a struggle for him the whole of the journey (as it should be for an eleven year old). One of the best features of the story is that Will’s home life is happy and healthy…he is part of a tight-nit family unit. His family is normal: a two parent home where no one is sick, crazy, or otherwise absent or in need of rescue (at least as the story begins) and best of all, the entire family is well adjusted and actually get along (i.e. there is no bully or abusive siblings, no schoolyard conflicts, he’s not a misfit, and there is no wicked step parent). While they do not really know about or help with Will’s struggle or challenges, they are ever present and he must work in this quest and still fulfill his family obligations and remains a part of the family throughout.
Overall, The Dark is Rising is an interesting and entertaining tale that readers of all ages can dig into and love. It’s got strong mythological bones, interesting plot points, and relatively well defined and likeable characters which help to allow readers to forgive it’s few flaws (somewhat flat characterization…especially of the “Dark” characters, some confusing plot points, and the real lack of anything difficult being required of the “hero” when it’s all said and done). I give it 4 stars and hope that later books in the series provide a bit more challenge for this (and other) characters as the series develops. show less
My second favorite book in what is probably my favorite fantasy series of all time. I have owned three different editions of this book. This is the perfect example of deeply, deeply resonant fantasy, flush with meaning and epic themes that rival most "serious" literature, all while racing through one of the most enjoyable plots of in young fiction. Buy this book, if possible an edition with some of the extremely creepy and stylistic illustrations that have graced the cover.
Quite a change from the first book, introducing a new character – Will Stanton – who becomes central to Cooper’s sequence of books. The mood of the book is dark and eerie (in a good way!). I did find it a bit simplistic that Will is able to find all the signs he seeks in his immediate neighborhood (although he does have to travel great distances in time). It almost seemed to easy and the threats of the Dark did not always seem as dangerous as the tone of the book implied. Still it was a fun adventure, mainly marred by the fact that a previous library patron underlined EVERY SINGLE REFERENCE to dark, light, black and white in the book (there are a lot of them!).
“’Funny,’ Will said, as they picked their way through. ‘Things are absolutely awful, and yet people look much happier than usual. Look at them all. Bubbling.
‘They are English,’ Merriman said.
‘Quite right,’ said Will’s father. ‘Splendid in adversity, tedious when safe. Never content in fact. We’re an odd lot.’” (p. 153)
“’Funny,’ Will said, as they picked their way through. ‘Things are absolutely awful, and yet people look much happier than usual. Look at them all. Bubbling.
‘They are English,’ Merriman said.
‘Quite right,’ said Will’s father. ‘Splendid in adversity, tedious when safe. Never content in fact. We’re an odd lot.’” (p. 153)
I remember this book being epic. I got so excited while listening to the audio book that i borrowed the print version from my brother. Except, it's an exciting book when being performed by an older british man, less exciting when read in print. I also kept feeling like i was missing something, like, if i had majored in mythology i would understand why the Great Hunt had to save the day. I think the first half, focused as it is on Will's family was interesting, but when he just goes through the motions of his destiny, i was bored.
The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper is centered around the coming-of-age of 11-year-old Will. Unbeknownst to him, Will is the last of the Old Ones, a group of purely good members of the universe who try to protect it from the powers of the dark, especially the Rider. Throughout the book, Will is faced with various situations and opportunities because of his newfound powers, and must quickly grow into a responsible Old One, defender of the good. One thing that immediately draws me into a book is a connection between something happening to or about the main characters, or an immediate action. Neither of these were present in this novel, so personally, I found this book lacking detail that it needed, overly descriptive when it wasn't needed, and rather confusing. Because I had trouble connecting to this book and occasionally following the story, I would only recommend this book to those that had either read The Dark is Rising's first book in the sequence, or someone who was in a creative writing class and attempting to find original and creative literature. After all, Cooper won a Newbery Honor for this book based on originality. I think it might be very useful in a critical writing class when asking questions like what makes this book original? (Keeping in mind that it was written in 1973.) I think that there is a place for this in the classroom, but I think it is more the creativity, fluency, and originality that the Newbery committee saw (and that would be useful in a show more classroom) that would be useful, rather than reading the book for content or enjoyment. I can appreciate this book because of its creativity, but it will definitely not find a place on my bookshelf. show less
I know someong who reads each day of this book in synchrony with Christmas. I can understand that.
Lovely balance of atmospheres - from gentle, loving family to powerful, dark and brooding.
I rather recommend this to anyone over the age of 12 - younger is there's a parent to hold their hand.
Bits of it had me scared - and I read it at 30
Lovely balance of atmospheres - from gentle, loving family to powerful, dark and brooding.
I rather recommend this to anyone over the age of 12 - younger is there's a parent to hold their hand.
Bits of it had me scared - and I read it at 30
Memories awaken, of places he’s never been, and people he doesn’t know.
The night before his birthday, Will Stanton looks up at the sky and wishes for snow. Before the night is through a thick blanket covers the valley. In the morning he wakes to a song, a haunting melody that beckons him onward. He steps into a world of magic, and finds it familiar. For Will Stanton is a creature of legend, an Old One, newly woken to face the Dark.
A light hearted opening eases audiences into a busy home, as Will and his brother step out to tend to the animals. But things soon turn strange, and vague warnings set the stage for a magical adventure. The story alternates between the larger plot of the Light and the Dark, and these very personal moments between a young boy and his family. Through it all the focus is kept on Will, and his struggle to reconcile his familiar identity as an 11 year old boy, and his newfound distance as an Old One. Strong language paints vivid images, sometimes flashing them so fast it feels like a montage. As a whole the story is very young, though it engages some interesting ideas. The plot is very predictable, but the scenes remain well written, and the beauty of the prose may distract audiences from an obvious ending. A young book, but full of beautiful imagery.
+Strong characters
+Strong descriptions
*Some interesting ideas
*Very young read
-Predictable Plot
3/5
The night before his birthday, Will Stanton looks up at the sky and wishes for snow. Before the night is through a thick blanket covers the valley. In the morning he wakes to a song, a haunting melody that beckons him onward. He steps into a world of magic, and finds it familiar. For Will Stanton is a creature of legend, an Old One, newly woken to face the Dark.
A light hearted opening eases audiences into a busy home, as Will and his brother step out to tend to the animals. But things soon turn strange, and vague warnings set the stage for a magical adventure. The story alternates between the larger plot of the Light and the Dark, and these very personal moments between a young boy and his family. Through it all the focus is kept on Will, and his struggle to reconcile his familiar identity as an 11 year old boy, and his newfound distance as an Old One. Strong language paints vivid images, sometimes flashing them so fast it feels like a montage. As a whole the story is very young, though it engages some interesting ideas. The plot is very predictable, but the scenes remain well written, and the beauty of the prose may distract audiences from an obvious ending. A young book, but full of beautiful imagery.
+Strong characters
+Strong descriptions
*Some interesting ideas
*Very young read
-Predictable Plot
3/5
This is a truly wonderful work of fantasy. Will Stanton, a seventh son of a seventh son, discovers that he is an "Old One" on his eleventh birthday, a midwinter day in 1970's England. A nearly perfect Christmas read.
Susan Cooper writes a wonderful story and The Dark is Rising series is among her best work. I find the characters relatable and engaging but she truly shines in her storytelling which draws you into both the current story and all the back story too.
This particular birthday will change one boys life forever, he will be invited to a whole new world were magic is possible. His name is Will Stanton not Harry Potter. However, Will Stanton is no Harry Potter, or is it the other way around? Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising was written before J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series, but both have a related theme, a boy who is not necessarily normal. The Dark is Rising is a speculative fiction about a boy named Will Stanton during twenty-first century England; it is also the second book to the Dark is Rising Sequence. Will Stanton is an Old One, a magical being, that can switch between Time from past to present. But it is not all fun and games for Will, he must find six signs of the Light: bronze, fire, water, wood, stone, and iron in order to defeat the Dark, for the “Dark is rising” and “When the Dark comes rising, six shall turn it back. . .” Will is not only alone in his quest for the signs; Merriman another Old One is his guide between Time and in his present time. The question is not can Will stop the Dark from rising, the question is can Will stop the Dark from extinguishing the Light?
It really took my a long time to get into the book; however, midway through the book, I found myself to be more interested in it. The book kept me guessing the whole way through, and I liked the way that it ended. I most likely would have not finished reading this book had it not been a requirement for my class, but now that I have show more finished it when I have the time I do want to read the rest of Cooper's series. I have only watched the Harry Potter movies, and I can see that both Rowling's and Cooper's series have a lot in common. I would recommend a fan of Harry Potter to read The Dark is Rising, but to keep in mind that Cooper's novel was written before Rowlings. show less
It really took my a long time to get into the book; however, midway through the book, I found myself to be more interested in it. The book kept me guessing the whole way through, and I liked the way that it ended. I most likely would have not finished reading this book had it not been a requirement for my class, but now that I have show more finished it when I have the time I do want to read the rest of Cooper's series. I have only watched the Harry Potter movies, and I can see that both Rowling's and Cooper's series have a lot in common. I would recommend a fan of Harry Potter to read The Dark is Rising, but to keep in mind that Cooper's novel was written before Rowlings. show less
3.5 stars
A good adventure quest tale. A bit lacking in character development, but there were some heart-pounding scenes that made up for it. Towards the end, I almost had a sense deja vu, like I was reading Moonheart by DeLint, which got me thinking this could be classified as early urban fantasy.
As with most Young Adult fiction, the lines of good and evil are clearly drawn. Only one or two characters traversed the grey, pulling and tugging against the inevitable tides of either side.
Some blurbs and reviews have compared this novel's moral message to the likes of C.S. Lewis or Tolkien, but I think that's a stretch. Cooper never once made me laugh or cry, although she did get my pulse racing a few times.
Perhaps had I read this as at the age of twelve or before, I might view it differently.
That being said, I still recommend it as a good coming-of-age quest adventure tale.
A good adventure quest tale. A bit lacking in character development, but there were some heart-pounding scenes that made up for it. Towards the end, I almost had a sense deja vu, like I was reading Moonheart by DeLint, which got me thinking this could be classified as early urban fantasy.
As with most Young Adult fiction, the lines of good and evil are clearly drawn. Only one or two characters traversed the grey, pulling and tugging against the inevitable tides of either side.
Some blurbs and reviews have compared this novel's moral message to the likes of C.S. Lewis or Tolkien, but I think that's a stretch. Cooper never once made me laugh or cry, although she did get my pulse racing a few times.
Perhaps had I read this as at the age of twelve or before, I might view it differently.
That being said, I still recommend it as a good coming-of-age quest adventure tale.
On the eve of his eleventh birthday--a Midwinter's Eve Birthday, Wil, the seventh son of the seventh son, is given a token (a sign) to keep with him. Will comes to discover that he is the last of the Old Ones, a group of "warriors" dedicated to fighting the forces of the Dark. Will must seek the other signs, as he shifts from time period to time period and encounters more of the Old Ones, and unite them for the Dark is rising. Unless Will can learn his powers, grow with them, and develop some mastery over them to locate the other signs and unite them, the world will slip into Darkness. The fate of the world rests with Will, an eleven year old boy.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. Cooper does a great job of personifying the Dark as an evil Rider out to undermine Will's efforts to seek the signs and unite them. And Cooper's narrative style and voice make this a pleasurable read as she bring characters--Will's somewhat absent-minded father, a jeweler, Will's mother, a practical and loving farm wife and mother of quite a brood of children--seven, and a vast array of characters who may be Old Ones who help Will in his journey.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. Cooper does a great job of personifying the Dark as an evil Rider out to undermine Will's efforts to seek the signs and unite them. And Cooper's narrative style and voice make this a pleasurable read as she bring characters--Will's somewhat absent-minded father, a jeweler, Will's mother, a practical and loving farm wife and mother of quite a brood of children--seven, and a vast array of characters who may be Old Ones who help Will in his journey.
Having received this book for my 11th birthday and then stayed up most of the night reading it, I find I am now unable to judge whether it's great because of the writing or because of its importance to my own childhood. In any case, it has moved me more deeply and more often than any other book I've read since, and remains one of my most cherished possessions...
The Dark Is Rising is the second book in Susan Cooper's The Dark Is Rising sequence. In this book, the series moves away from the Drew children who had been featured in Over Sea, Under Stone, and introduces Will Stanton, an eleven year old boy just discovering that he has supernatural powers, and a burden to take up an age-old fight on the side of Light against the Dark.
The story is a combination coming-of-age story, as Stanton adjusts to his new status, new powers, and the new threats to his safety (and the safety of those around him), and a quest story, as Stanton is sent to recover pieces of a powerful artifact that the Light needs to combat a new threat from the Dark. The book is loaded with references to English folklore and Arthurian myth, and part of the fun of reading the story as an adult is seeing how many of these you can spot.
The Dark Is Rising is a superlative young adult book, which, I suspect, is why it was recognized with a Newbery Honor, and why it has endured for more than thirty years while many other young adult books published contemporaneously have been cast into the dustbin of obscurity. The book suffers from a problem I have found common in young adult fiction in that the adult characters seem to be stiff and uninteresting, while the younger characters are well developed and shine, but the story still flows well enough that this can be overlooked without too much trouble.
The story of this book is, to a great extent, the central story of the entire show more series of books, and, like all of the books in The Dark Is Rising series, it is quite good.
This review has also been posted to my blog Dreaming About Other Worlds. show less
The story is a combination coming-of-age story, as Stanton adjusts to his new status, new powers, and the new threats to his safety (and the safety of those around him), and a quest story, as Stanton is sent to recover pieces of a powerful artifact that the Light needs to combat a new threat from the Dark. The book is loaded with references to English folklore and Arthurian myth, and part of the fun of reading the story as an adult is seeing how many of these you can spot.
The Dark Is Rising is a superlative young adult book, which, I suspect, is why it was recognized with a Newbery Honor, and why it has endured for more than thirty years while many other young adult books published contemporaneously have been cast into the dustbin of obscurity. The book suffers from a problem I have found common in young adult fiction in that the adult characters seem to be stiff and uninteresting, while the younger characters are well developed and shine, but the story still flows well enough that this can be overlooked without too much trouble.
The story of this book is, to a great extent, the central story of the entire show more series of books, and, like all of the books in The Dark Is Rising series, it is quite good.
This review has also been posted to my blog Dreaming About Other Worlds. show less
I was surprised by this book and its dreamlike wanderings. At points I found myself re-reading without realizing I'd already gone through a page or two the night before, and that drowsy dreamlike sense of the writing was a real appeal.
Easily a 4, even above. Interestingly though, I liked this book within a few days of having completed it more than I did at the point of completion. Things stuck in my mind and I kept on thinking about it and seeing more in the book than I recognized while I was reading and understanding it more. Conceptually, in the writing, in the types of conflicts and how they're resolved, it's so very different from the first book and, so far, different from the third book. It's quite interesting. I have to come back here and say more further along in the series.
A very enjoyable fantasy novel. Although written for children, it is more than good enough to be enjoyed by adults. It's not exactly character driven, and the main protagonist never really does anything, but rather has things done to him. But the plot has plenty of interesting twists and turns and I was never bored while reading.
The first I'd heard of this book was catching a glimpse of the trailer for the upcoming movie. The movie looked entertaining, so I figured I'd do my usual and read the book before seeing the movie. The book was a most pleasant surprise. This is a wonderful story filled with rich characters and a great and beautiful magick. It reads like a classic that might be required reading in school at some early level. I found something a little awkward about the very beginning of the book which made it a little slow to start, but it quickly became a very compelling and truly enjoyable read, one that I'll likely revisit.
Just saw the trailer for the Movie, very upsetting ! after the success of rings, harry potter etc. i guess it was a clever choice - I loved these books when I was young and reread them again last year. Theres a slightly annoying Enid Blyton english tweeness but it's easy to look past it. I read and reread the first chapter of "The dark is Rising" when i first discovered it, one of the books that has left a big mark on me.
This is the second in the Dark is Rising series and this is where we learn about the old ones as well as Will Stanton. I'd forgotten about Will's adventures, but not completely. I remembered the winter and the darkness, but not all the details. I was happy when I remembered that Merriman Lyon would be returning and even happier when he showed up. Again, like Over Sea, Under Stone, it was as if I never read this book before. All the details were brand new (even though I've read it before) and therefore listening is a fantastic experience. I loved this book and can't wait to finish the series.
A classic example of the book is better than the movie. As a child, I loved the movie adaptation and finally picked up the book out of curiosity to discover the differences. Susan Cooper is a fantastic story teller and I look forward to reading the other books in the series.
En bok fylld av spänning, svår att släppa ifrån sig. Boken fungerar utmärkt som högläsning för lite äldre barn, och den lämnar många tankar kvar!
http://storyjunkie.livejournal.com/23958.html
This is the second book, and namesake, of Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising sequence. Dealing with what it now a cliche in young adult fantasy books, the main character is an eleven year old boy with a Destiny, who gains the knowledge to be suddenly much older than his years. The boy is Will Stanton, and he's an Old One, one of the founders and mainstays in the natural order of the universe. That's Light Side in the particular duality of this series.
All of the intense characterization and psychological details are used between three characters: Will, a recurring character Merriman Lyon and a man named Hawkin. Will is necessarily the center of attention, and Cooper does an amazing job of keeping him eleven years old. Whatever he does, that sense of youth, inexperience, is never lost, even when he is acting as an Old One, it is through the filter of that younger understanding.
The story is brisk and engrossing, with many major events coming one after another, lending to that sense of urgency, and the pleasure of reading.
This is the second book, and namesake, of Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising sequence. Dealing with what it now a cliche in young adult fantasy books, the main character is an eleven year old boy with a Destiny, who gains the knowledge to be suddenly much older than his years. The boy is Will Stanton, and he's an Old One, one of the founders and mainstays in the natural order of the universe. That's Light Side in the particular duality of this series.
All of the intense characterization and psychological details are used between three characters: Will, a recurring character Merriman Lyon and a man named Hawkin. Will is necessarily the center of attention, and Cooper does an amazing job of keeping him eleven years old. Whatever he does, that sense of youth, inexperience, is never lost, even when he is acting as an Old One, it is through the filter of that younger understanding.
The story is brisk and engrossing, with many major events coming one after another, lending to that sense of urgency, and the pleasure of reading.
One of the things that is interesting about this book (and about the series so far) is all the references to mythological and fantastical themes and characters. This second book the series deals with a different set of characters (or one character really - Will Stanton). Will is likeable and brave, though he seems strangely unfazed by his newly found status (or maybe it is part of his heritage to just know who he is).
I enjoyed this book. It is action packed, and fun. There's not much in the way of character development, just an exciting adventure.
However, to me, it seems like the book hasn't entirely aged well, particularly the language, as it feels somewhat old-fashioned. I am just not really sure a child reading it today would be as enthralled as I know many adult fans of this book were.
http://archthinking.blogspot.com/2009/10/review-dark-is-rising.html
However, to me, it seems like the book hasn't entirely aged well, particularly the language, as it feels somewhat old-fashioned. I am just not really sure a child reading it today would be as enthralled as I know many adult fans of this book were.
http://archthinking.blogspot.com/2009/10/review-dark-is-rising.html
On the eve of his eleventh birthday--a Midwinter's Eve Birthday, Wil, the seventh son of the seventh son, is given a token (a sign) to keep with him. Will comes to discover that he is the last of the Old Ones, a group of "warriors" dedicated to fighting the forces of the Dark. Will must seek the other signs, as he shifts from time period to time period and encounters more of the Old Ones, and unite them for the Dark is rising. Unless Will can learn his powers, grow with them, and develop some mastery over them to locate the other signs and unite them, the world will slip into Darkness. The fate of the world rests with Will, an eleven year old boy.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. Cooper does a great job of personifying the Dark as an evil Rider out to undermine Will's efforts to seek the signs and unite them. And Cooper's narrative style and voice make this a pleasurable read as she bring characters--Will's somewhat absent-minded father, a jeweler, Will's mother, a practical and loving farm wife and mother of quite a brood of children--seven, and a vast array of characters who may be Old Ones who help Will in his journey.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. Cooper does a great job of personifying the Dark as an evil Rider out to undermine Will's efforts to seek the signs and unite them. And Cooper's narrative style and voice make this a pleasurable read as she bring characters--Will's somewhat absent-minded father, a jeweler, Will's mother, a practical and loving farm wife and mother of quite a brood of children--seven, and a vast array of characters who may be Old Ones who help Will in his journey.
i reread this as an adult and was entranced by how little i remembered, but how very much the feeling of it crept back into me. like sense memory.
This series was an important part of my young adulthood, and forms at least part of the foundation of my love of fantasy novels, and probably reading in general. They're a touch dated now, but the story moves well and the characters are easy to engage with. Among my favorites of all time.
In the lead up to Christmas the UK has suffered weather conditions very similar to those described in the first part of the book and this certainly added a frisson to the reading. This is an absolute superb book which, through Cooper's clever use of British myths and legends, transcends the genre. Superb - my only regret is that I really can't remember reading this as a child as I would have absolutely adored this series.
This book is one of my perennial favorites. Forget the movie--the book, as usual, is so much better. It is possible to start with either this book or Over Sea, Under Stone. Young Will battles against the forces of evil that sneak in all too close to family and loved ones. The wintery show down is exciting and the entire book kept me on the edge of my seat.
I guess I remembered incorrectly. This was horrible. It was all we could do to finish. Poorly written, improbably plot, pointless details (how exactly did the book of Graymarye help him?), and the ending: did no one notice the necklace of signs hanging around his neck? While we are now two books into the series and are curious as to what the rest are about, we are trying to decide if we can endure more torture. Doesn't the next one have to be better?
THE DARK IS RISING is a ficticous fantasly novel by Susan Cooper. The novel is about a boy named Will Stanton and his discovery that he is part of an ancient organization whose sole purpose is to defeat the Dark and save the world. When Will turns 11, he begins to experience strange occurences, such as the rooks attacking the old tramp. Will does not dwell on these scenes until he discovers from Merriman and the Lady that he is more than an 11 year old boy. Will discovers that he is an Old One, which means he is destined to fight the Dark with the Light just as the other Old Ones have always done. Will is the Sign Seeker and must find the Signs (iron, bronze, wood, water, fire, and stone) to unite them in his fight against the Dark. Only when has the signs, will he have a chance of saving mankind. I do not like this book. The character of Will is unbelievable and unrealistic in his reactions to his life being turned upside down. A normal 11 year old boy would have been frightened or told his parents. However, Will goes along with whatever Merriman tells him and accepts everything as if it is normal. I also did not like how Cooper did not provide any lead-up to the main action of the story. From the beginning, the action starts. She does not provide any time for the reader to make a connection with Will. I also found the story boring. If I were to read a fantasy novel in class, I would choose anything but this book. Therefore, I would not recommend this novel to anyone show more becasue it is an uphill struggle to read. I struggled to stay awake most of the time I read it. I also think this is one of the worst books I have read in a long time because of its boring storyline and unrealistic characters. show less
This 2nd book in the "Dark Is Rising" series, published about 7 years after the first one, is much more interesting and better written than the first. It was a Newbery Honor Book the year it was published. This entry features a new protagonist; the children from the first book do not appear here.
MILD SPOILER WARNING
Will Stanton is celebrating his 11th birthday on Midwinter Day. At this time it is revealed to him that he is the last of the Old Ones, immortals dedicated to keeping the world from domination by the forces of evil, the Dark. He is immediately sent on a quest for the six magical Signs that will one day aid the Old Ones in the final battle. Merriman Lyon (aka Great Uncle Merry—and probably Merlin) is revealed as the first of the Old Ones and is there to aid Will as he discovers his destiny. The quest takes place during the twelve days of Christmas and we discover that the Old Ones can move through time at will.
MILD SPOILER WARNING
Will Stanton is celebrating his 11th birthday on Midwinter Day. At this time it is revealed to him that he is the last of the Old Ones, immortals dedicated to keeping the world from domination by the forces of evil, the Dark. He is immediately sent on a quest for the six magical Signs that will one day aid the Old Ones in the final battle. Merriman Lyon (aka Great Uncle Merry—and probably Merlin) is revealed as the first of the Old Ones and is there to aid Will as he discovers his destiny. The quest takes place during the twelve days of Christmas and we discover that the Old Ones can move through time at will.
This book, the second in The Dark is Rising sequence, was much better than the first. This is written for young adults, but unlike the first book in the sequence (Over Sea, Under Stone), it didn't always feel like it. I was very absorbed by this story and was interested in where it was going.
My biggest complaint about the book was that often the main character didn't know how to solve problems that arose, but did what just felt right and that solved everything. He never really had to work to overcome his adversaries, everything sort of just fell into his lap. It would've been nice to see him work to figure out what had to be done.
This wasn't deep or challenging, but it was enjoyable.
My biggest complaint about the book was that often the main character didn't know how to solve problems that arose, but did what just felt right and that solved everything. He never really had to work to overcome his adversaries, everything sort of just fell into his lap. It would've been nice to see him work to figure out what had to be done.
This wasn't deep or challenging, but it was enjoyable.
