Sunshine by Robin McKinley Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Sunshine
Book Review: A Post-Apocalyptic Fantasy Horror Romance
Summary: 4 Stars
Robin McKinley is most famous in adult fiction for her retellings of Beauty and the Beast (in Beauty and Rose Daughter), and in a way this is another revision of that same story. McKinley herself refers to this by making Beauty and the Beast Sunshine's favorite tale; it's the story Sunshine tells Constantine at the beginning of the book as part of her effort to keep him from eating her, and Sunshine mentions there are a million different ways to present it. Fortunately, this book isn't tightly tied to the fairy tale and seems to use it only as a touchstone.I don't usually go for first person narratives; I often find them limiting. This book suffered from some of what I don't like about being trapped in one character's head (in this case, Sunshine's): namely, that most of the large cast of supporting characters comes across as rather shallow and defined only by a few distinguishing traits each. That being said, this book wouldn't be itself if we didn't see the action filtered through Sunshine's perception of it. She isn't just the main character - she's the main attraction. She natters away as if telling the story over a cup of coffee (or more likely tea for her) at her beloved coffeehouse, complete with all the diversions into what she considers necessary explanation that would happen in live conversation. Her sidestories of her past gradually reveal a great deal about her and her world and are a necessary element of making this tale feel real. The only time they become a nuisance is when they get used to stretch out the tension. Something big will be about to happen, and then Sunshine will start explaining something tangentially related. This is a nice enough trick but one that felt overused to me.
There's plenty of gore and fear and surprise and magic in this book, enough that it kept me reading during every free minute I had from work (the night I finished it, I read for four and a half hours straight). There's something like romance as well, though you'll have to read the book yourself in order to fully appreciate it. My own theory is that Constantine is compelling because he amplifies all the traits considered to be most masculine: he's strong, sometimes dangerous and always in control of his emotions, but he's capable of tenderness and can use his violent tendencies for protection as well as attack.
I checked the author's website, and she's coy about whether there will be a sequel. However, to me this book feels like the setup not just for one sequel but a whole series, given the amount of space that is dedicated to building this fascinating world. And too many threads are left dangling at the end. The true natures of Mel (Sunshine's boyfriend) and the "goddess of pain" remain mysteries, and despite how much Sunshine talks about her mother, we never actually meet her in present-time action. Plus, I suspect a reunion with at least one once-thought-dead member of Sunshine's father's family is in order. But even if none of these questions are answered, the resolution Sunshine reaches in accepting her changed self at the end of this book is enough to make reading this more than worthwhile.
Book Review: A Sequel Please!
Summary: 5 Stars
The storyline, narration and description, all great. Simply put, I loved this book and hope for a sequel.Book Review: A beautiful vampire story
Summary: 5 Stars
I am an avid fan of all types of fiction novels (mystery, horror, sci-fi, romance, etc.), but I have a special affinity for novels about other worldly creatures especially vampires and lyncanthorpes. I have been reading these types of novels for years, and have quite a collection. I can truthfully say that I immediately fell in love with this story and the characters. I could not put this book down and was quite saddened when I knew I was near the end. This truly is one of the best vampire novels I have ever read, and even if you are not a vampire fan, you will still fall in love with this story and the various characters. I am keeping my fingers crossed and hoping for a sequel. This story centers around Sunshine whose parents own a coffeehouse in a not so great section of town. This coffeehouse contains quite a few interesting and likeable characters, from those who also work at the coffeehouse, to those who visit and make it their home away from home. Being in a bad section of town this coffeehouse picks up quite a few characters, some of whom are not quite human. In this world of Sunshine's (which is right after a huge war where there is a fear that vampires will take over the world in the next century), there's quite a bit of magic. It's a world where everyone owns a magic charm or ward either on their person, in their house and even on their car. These wards guard against many types of things, but mainly the threat of vampires who are considered enemy no. 1.
Take this one sweet girl who decides to take a drive to a lake at night, and ends up chained next to everyone's biggest fear, a vampire. What follows next is how her life changes from that night on. I am not going to give any more of this story away. I just hate reading a review where too much of the story is given away before you have even bought the book. I will just say I highly recommend this book to all.
Book Review: A compelling tale with a familiar plot
Summary: 4 Stars
This is the usual story about a witch and a vampire. Since the Southern Vampire series, even the witch's low income job is not new. The writing is well done, and I enjoyed the book very much. However if, like me, you are a fan of this storyline, you will not be surprised by the plot at any point. But if you are looking for gore, sex, and vampires, it's worth a read.Book Review: A delightful book
Summary: 5 Stars
I have to say, I'm somewhat baffled by all the less-than-enthusiastic reviews. I devoured this book as soon as I picked it up, and I've probably read it more times than even a bibliophile should admit.
It does contain a lot of background/setting information. The plot is not linear; not all the loose threads are wrapped up. But these are things that I find quite charming about Sunshine. It's richly detailed, evocative, has depth, has layers. It's a first-person book that's written from a real first-person perspective; you get to know the heroine's mind very intimately. And she's someone that I'd want to know in real life. She's someone I'd want on my side, or baking my cinnamon rolls.
I can't wait for the next one. There had better be a next one.