Individual Reading

THE MOON AND THE SUN

This time I’ve chosen the book “THE SUN AND THE MOON” by Vonda Neel McIntyre. It was published in 1997.

Vonda Neel McIntyre (August 28, 1948 — April 1, 2019) was an American science fiction writer and biologist.

The reasons why I’ve chosen this book.
1-The genre. The book combines two major genres: science fiction and historical romance.
2-The book ws based on the scintific article “The Natural History and Extinction of the People of the Sea”
3-Bestseller. That even beat out A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin when it was published.
4-Award. It won the Nebula Award for Best Novel.
5-The plot. The book tells us a magnificent story about sea creatures, luxurious palaces, flourishing France, the Sun King…

Vocabulary:

Opulence — the quality of being expensive and luxurious;
Languorous — mentally or physically tired or not active, in a way that feels or looks pleasant;
A gilt — covered with a thin layer of gold or a substance that is intended to look like it;

Also, I would like to share some sentences with you. I relish the way the author gives the description of any even not very important detail to her readers.
Examples:
1.Their voices beat the planks like a drum.
2.Flung coins to the people at the edges of the throng, the old women, the crippled men, ragged children.
3.It pranced, arching its neck, snorting, waving its tail like a flag, moving between the people like a fish through water.

Moreover, there are some similes that I really apreciate.
Examples:
As powerful as the ocean
As filthy as the water in the harbor of le Havre

Thus, from the first pages was clear that The Moon and the Sun melds fantasy and history to create a charming and meticulously-researched novel that will appeal to readers who enjoy history and romance with a fantasy element. If you are one of those, I’d really recommend this book!