Wednesday 8 August 2007

Witch Baby - Francesca Lia Block



I'm falling in love with Francesca Lia Block! "Witch Baby" is just as refreshing and magical as "Weetzie Bat". Even if Witch Baby is not as care-free as her almost-mother, her story is written with the same fairy tale-y touch. Light as a feather and full of meaning at the same time.
Witch Baby doesn't feel she belongs anywhere. Her almost-family love her but they don't understand her. She doesn't understand herself either, because she doesn't know who she is. She keeps asking everybody the ultimate questions ("What time are we upon and when do I belong") but nobody has the answers she is looking for. She tries to capture the world in her photographs. She never cries but she always wants to. She carries the weight of the world on her shoulders, but she is only a baby, a black lamb without a herd, expressing everyone else's anger and pain. But she is also a pancake dancer stowawitch, and the most slinkster-cool jamming drummer girl ever.
Franscesca Lia Block has a talent in mixing the words and playing with them, creating a dazzling flow of colours and feelings I'm never tired of. Her characters are such an unlikely group of friends,but also so real. Her stories are about finding ourselves and our true love, about family and death and friendship. Universal themes told with a unique style that is like a bowl of cherries: addictive.

5 comments:

Heather said...

I discovered Block this year. Have not gotten ahold of Witch Baby yet, but I want to.

Anonymous said...

Valentina, Block is a new one on me and obviously an author whose work I need to get hold of. It's really good to find someone else writing about children's books. I've spent years lecturing on them, not because it was my job (although it was) but because they are my great passion. I shall come and visit you often.

valentina said...

children's books are my passion too:) Welcome to my blog!

Stephanie said...

When I first started The First Look program at Harper Collins, I got lucky enough to review Ruby by Lia Block. I adored it!! I hadn't heard of the author before. It was sensational!!

valentina said...

That's great!Can't wait for it to come in now!