I know I’m not alone in thinking quarantine is starting to get old.
And this is being written by someone who is a self-proclaimed homebody. Parties? Ick. Concerts? No thanks. Crowded, loud, smelly public place? Just shoot me.
But I’ll be damned if I don’t feel like going into the most crowded Target store right now, and reveling in the close proximity of other humans. Even those annoying people who hover right at your backside in checkout lines. I guess we are a social species after all.
But I know, as I’m sure most people would agree, that it’s just smart and socially responsible to stay home as much as possible. You won’t die of boredom. And a quote that was recently shared by a friend on Facebook pretty much states that fact: “Only boring people get bored.”
I tend to agree. That’s why having interests that can be practiced within the home (READING!) are vital. So basically, I’m exercising my civic duty by gorging on all the books. You’re welcome, world.
Synopsis:
Zelda isn’t a typical 21-year-old. She didn’t graduate from high school, she’s never had a job, and (to her chagrin) she’s still a virgin. But the thing that really makes Zelda stand out from the crowd is her absolute obsession with vikings. Viking mythology, viking customs, even viking cuss words – Zelda knows it all. A viking stripper even comes to her birthday party (and is asked not to take his armor off, at Zelda’s request.)
Zelda was born with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Though she’s capable of doing much more than doctors believed she’d be able to at birth, Zelda’s older brother Gert still provides for her and takes care of her however he can, sometimes making questionable choices in the process. When Zelda is introduced to some of the people Gert is associating with, she knows they’re villains attempting to convince Gert to take on a dangerous quest (Zelda’s viking-inspired terminology.)
In Zelda’s perception of the world, everything is either black or white. People are either part of her tribe or they aren’t, they’re either good or they’re bad, they follow the rules or they break them. She judges others by how well they fit into her viking inspired framework, and Gert’s new friends are extreme outliers.
With the help of Gert’s ex-girlfriend, AK47 (actual name: Annie), Zelda sets out on a noble quest of her own to slay the monsters that seek to steal the only family Zelda has left. As Zelda learns what it means to sacrifice for the ones you love, she begins to grow into the independent person she was always meant to be. From getting a job at the public library, to learning that it’s okay and normal to have sex with a boyfriend, Zelda morphs into the heroine of her own Viking tale.
I loved Zelda’s voice and perspective in this book. Her simplistic way of viewing the world rang true and gave a refreshing spin on people’s actions. Zelda is an innocent and she views the world through rose tinted glasses, though this leads her into some dangerous paths. Zelda is exposed to more than one dicey situation, as well as multiple sexual advances and sometimes violent abuse.
I read in another review by Jillian Medoff from The New York Times that she wasn’t particularly thrilled by the victimization of Zelda. She felt Zelda was being unfairly portrayed in certain scenes, and Zelda was often exposed to humor and social situations that she couldn’t accurately interpret. Medoff wasn’t sure if this was for the audience to find Zelda’s ignorance funny or for the audience to pity Zelda.
I would make the argument that the scenes MacDonald writes, where characters try to take advantage of Zelda or diminish her worth, are entirely plausible, though they are disturbing. As deplorable as it is, it is not unheard of for people to mistreat individuals with cognitive deficits. In fact, it’s naive to believe otherwise. As a reader, I felt uncomfortable and angry at how Zelda was being treated and I wanted to intervene on her behalf. My response was empathetic, but not because I feel Zelda’s a helpless character. Zelda, and the people she’s representative of, deserve respect. I feel MacDonald wrote these heart wrenching scenes to communicate how vital that understanding is.
Despite her hardships, the resilience of Zelda is what makes her truly brilliant. She doesn’t allow the terrible actions of others to prevent her from seeking autonomy and growing throughout the story. And I thought the ending of the book was satisfying, if not story-book happy.
While you’re stuck at home, this is a good book to uplift you a bit.
Click the Amazon link to get your copy now!
Happy & healthy reading!
Lexi