Reviewer:
Primrose Blossoms
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
April 26, 2020
Subject:
Amazing
Lantern Bearers by Rosemary Sutcliff (The)
5 stars & 5/10 hearts. I think of all four books, this one may have torn my heart the most. The suddenness with which we are thrown into heartbreak... the way Aquila’s bitterness, fear, grief, and pain are portrayed just by the narrative... the way he repulses everyone who attempts to befriend him... his failure to connect with Ness and Minnow... it’s so sad and even a little depressing. And yet the historical part is fantastic; there are AMAZING characters (Artos, anyone?? OR AMBROSIUS???); there is still much humour and so much beauty; and the ending is so hopeful, after all. I can only remember a few “by heaven” or “by our lord,” etc; and nothing else. I really appreciated seeing a period of history that is SO little talked about but which is fascinating in its own right! It was a great addition to the series and I loved it.
A Favourite Quote: “’Do you think it?’ ….
“’No, I suppose not, really. But it is more comfortable to think that way.’
“’Rome has done too much of thinking what is comfortable, his father said.”
A Favourite Beautiful Quote: “Ambrosius … had taken an apple from the bowl and sat turning it in his hands, examining the delicate flecking and feathering of the skin. ‘What a beautiful thing an apple is. One so seldom notices…’”
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “’I’d be more likely to recognize you by your nose, however long that had been away.’”