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Book of a Thousand Days
When Dashti, a maid, and Lady Saren, her mistress, are shut in a tower for seven years because of Saren's refusal to marry a man she despises, the two prepare for a very long and dark imprisonment.
As food runs low and the days go from broiling hot to freezing cold, it is all Dashti can do to keep them fed and comfortable. With the arrival outside the tower of Saren's two suitors--one welcome, the other decidedly less so--the girls are confronted with both hope and great danger, and Dashti must make the desperate choices of a girl whose life is worth more than she knows.
With Shannon Hale's lyrical language, this little-known classic fairy tale from the Brothers Grimm is reimagined and reset on the central Asian steppes; it is a completely unique retelling filled with adventure and romance, drama and disguise.
As food runs low and the days go from broiling hot to freezing cold, it is all Dashti can do to keep them fed and comfortable. With the arrival outside the tower of Saren's two suitors--one welcome, the other decidedly less so--the girls are confronted with both hope and great danger, and Dashti must make the desperate choices of a girl whose life is worth more than she knows.
With Shannon Hale's lyrical language, this little-known classic fairy tale from the Brothers Grimm is reimagined and reset on the central Asian steppes; it is a completely unique retelling filled with adventure and romance, drama and disguise.
306 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2007
About the author
Shannon Hale
97 books13.7k followersShannon Hale is the New York Times best-selling author of six young adult novels: the Newbery Honor book Princess Academy, multiple award winner Book of a Thousand Days, and the highly acclaimed Books of Bayern series. She has written three books for adults, including the upcoming Midnight in Austenland (Jan. 2012), companion book to Austenland. She co-wrote the hit graphic novel Rapunzel's Revenge and its sequel Calamity Jack with husband Dean Hale. They live near Salt Lake City, Utah with their four small children, and their pet, a small, plastic pig.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 6,659 reviews
November 4, 2017
This was so heartwarming and delightful and powerful and just wow. I loved it so much! I can't wait to read more of Shannon Hale's stuff now, knowing how her writing style is. More thoughts to come in a video review (I've decided that as of next month, rather than filming a monthly wrap up at the end, I will do mini batch reviews instead, that way I can go more into depth!)
July 14, 2014
Do you guys know that feeling when you just have finished an astonishingly excellent book? You feel full of life and understanding. It's why as readers we come back and back again and hope this will be the book that gives us that exhilaration. I guess it's akin to a literary high. This book did that for me and more. It deserves more than the five star rating.
Let's see if I'll be able to give a concise review without confusing people. This story is loosely based on an obscure Grimm fairy tale (Hale mentions which one it is at the end of the book). The premise is that Lady Saren will be locked up in a tower for seven years because she will not marry Lord Khashar. Lady Saren takes Dashti who oddly doesn't mind this arrangement. She comes from a harsh background and the guarantee of having food for seven straight years while serving someone of royal blood? It seems like the gods have smiled upon her. Things start to look not so rosy anymore though, and Dashti and Lady Saren will be caught in a web of lies that will lead to an adventure neither of them could have seen coming.
The strongest point of the book for me was the character of Dashti. She is resilient, funny, caring, and loyal to a fault. The refreshing aspect about her is that she is definitely not your typical flawlessly pretty character. It's her spirit that brings forth her beauty, and that may sound cheesy but it's true. Like any other character she has her shortfalls, but comes to realize how stunted her view of things was. The author does an excellent job of weaving in the Mongolian setting and customs so the reader feels as if this is a real place. Since this is written in journal form we really get the mood Dashti's in and the progression of her and Saren's growth. Throughout we see some illustrations that aid in the storytelling. I imagine this would be a great story to read out loud. I LOVED Khan Tegus, and that's all I have to say about him because anything else I would say wouldn't even come close to describing his wonderfulness.
Shannon Hale has permanently become one of my favorite authors, she was already but now she is cemented, written in black sharpie, engraved permanent. Hale is more than an author, she is a bona fide storyteller.
I will have to retire from this review before I totally botch it up, but I want to conclude that the characters are lovely, the story enchanting, and displays the power of the written word.
Let's see if I'll be able to give a concise review without confusing people. This story is loosely based on an obscure Grimm fairy tale (Hale mentions which one it is at the end of the book). The premise is that Lady Saren will be locked up in a tower for seven years because she will not marry Lord Khashar. Lady Saren takes Dashti who oddly doesn't mind this arrangement. She comes from a harsh background and the guarantee of having food for seven straight years while serving someone of royal blood? It seems like the gods have smiled upon her. Things start to look not so rosy anymore though, and Dashti and Lady Saren will be caught in a web of lies that will lead to an adventure neither of them could have seen coming.
The strongest point of the book for me was the character of Dashti. She is resilient, funny, caring, and loyal to a fault. The refreshing aspect about her is that she is definitely not your typical flawlessly pretty character. It's her spirit that brings forth her beauty, and that may sound cheesy but it's true. Like any other character she has her shortfalls, but comes to realize how stunted her view of things was. The author does an excellent job of weaving in the Mongolian setting and customs so the reader feels as if this is a real place. Since this is written in journal form we really get the mood Dashti's in and the progression of her and Saren's growth. Throughout we see some illustrations that aid in the storytelling. I imagine this would be a great story to read out loud. I LOVED Khan Tegus, and that's all I have to say about him because anything else I would say wouldn't even come close to describing his wonderfulness.
Shannon Hale has permanently become one of my favorite authors, she was already but now she is cemented, written in black sharpie, engraved permanent. Hale is more than an author, she is a bona fide storyteller.
I will have to retire from this review before I totally botch it up, but I want to conclude that the characters are lovely, the story enchanting, and displays the power of the written word.
July 10, 2021
Middle grade that looks like YA, this is a nice, easy to read book. It offers some interesting images about the Mongolian steeps. The story is sweet and simple. A few twists here and there make it interesting enough to keep reading and it has a satisfying ending, even if not surprising.
I think Shannon Hale manages to create a really charming world by mixing a well known fairy tale with an unexplored setting. I really loved the voice of the main character as it comes through as much when she tells us about her everyday life as when she recounts the terrible and great events happening once they're prisoners inside the tower.
I do like young heroines who manage to save themselves and those they love without turning into kick-assing caricatures but by preserving in discovering who they really are, and using exactly that to move forward.
All in all, a lovely story that was very well told.
I think Shannon Hale manages to create a really charming world by mixing a well known fairy tale with an unexplored setting. I really loved the voice of the main character as it comes through as much when she tells us about her everyday life as when she recounts the terrible and great events happening once they're prisoners inside the tower.
I do like young heroines who manage to save themselves and those they love without turning into kick-assing caricatures but by preserving in discovering who they really are, and using exactly that to move forward.
All in all, a lovely story that was very well told.
July 14, 2018
Oh gosh, I'm going to be obsessed with Shannon Hale now, aren't I?
February 16, 2017
July 30-31, 2009
Ummm... So I started this book at 2:00 am. (Note to self: don't start books at 2:00 am! Are you crazy???) Yeah, I couldn't put it down! I finished at about 7:00. Then my husband woke me up at noon! How rude! Doesn't he realize that reading makes me nocturnal? ;)
Anyway, I started the book, and was like, "Why is this written from the lady's maid's point of view and not from the lady's point of view. Yeah, that becomes very clear within just a few pages. I really loved Dashti—she was such a fascinating character! I loved the world that Shannon Hale created for this book. The acknowledgments at the back say that it's based on Mongolian history (hence the usage of "khan"...), which is just fascinating to me. (I've always wanted to go to Mongolia. I don't know why...... *shrugs*) The belief system in the book was so interesting, and the bad guy was SERIOUSLY FRIGHTENING! EEK! He was freaking me out! But good conquers evil (it IS based on a fairy tale, after all)... as it always will... eventually! ;) Loved it. It was fabulous! 4.5 stars, at least, which rounds up.
Ummm... So I started this book at 2:00 am. (Note to self: don't start books at 2:00 am! Are you crazy???) Yeah, I couldn't put it down! I finished at about 7:00. Then my husband woke me up at noon! How rude! Doesn't he realize that reading makes me nocturnal? ;)
Anyway, I started the book, and was like, "Why is this written from the lady's maid's point of view and not from the lady's point of view. Yeah, that becomes very clear within just a few pages. I really loved Dashti—she was such a fascinating character! I loved the world that Shannon Hale created for this book. The acknowledgments at the back say that it's based on Mongolian history (hence the usage of "khan"...), which is just fascinating to me. (I've always wanted to go to Mongolia. I don't know why...... *shrugs*) The belief system in the book was so interesting, and the bad guy was SERIOUSLY FRIGHTENING! EEK! He was freaking me out! But good conquers evil (it IS based on a fairy tale, after all)... as it always will... eventually! ;) Loved it. It was fabulous! 4.5 stars, at least, which rounds up.
October 23, 2007
Hale has proved herself adept at finding obscure fairy tales and reworking them in mouth-watering new ways. Her latest offering is based on the little-known "Maid Maleen" by the Brothers Grimm. A lady and her loyal maid are locked in a tower for seven years as punishment for the lady's refusal to marry the man her father wants her to. The story details their imprisonment in the tower and the adventure that follows. Hale's version is told in diary format from the point of view of the maid--Dashti. I finished this one with mixed feelings. The conclusion I came to is that I wanted more. There was so much potential yet I felt I wasn't allowed to scratch past the surface of things. I liked Dashti, but she didn't have to struggle that hard to get what she got. Or at least her struggle wasn't given the gravity it deserved. Lady Saren, who had quite clearly been driven mad by some atrocious event, was so wonderfully vacant and creepy. I wanted to get to the root of her madness. When I finally found out, it was appropriately weird but it wasn't given enough time or depth. I wanted more. More psychological exploration, more emotion, more pages in general. Her previous books are chock full of it and so this one came off a bit...flat. These comments aside, I always recommend Shannon Hale highly and I eagerly await the fourth Bayern book.
October 29, 2018
This was a pleasant, if somewhat simplistic book with a neat conceit, unique setting, but rather uncomplicated characters and a straightforward plot.
First off, the good. I liked the setting of this story, which was heavily influenced by traditional Mongolian lifestyles from ancestor worship, to use of animals, to the cultural practices of the people. It is a pretty fascinating and complex setting that should get more attention from authors. I also liked the two main characters' arcs over the course of the story. There was a clear change in both the peasant and the princess over the course of their struggles and I appreciated how much they had changed by the end. Finally the story itself was pleasantly diverting enough and fit in nicely with the setting and culture the author devised. There wasn't much in the way of unexpected twists or turns but there also wasn't anything grossly offensive to my literary senses. It was perfectly fine.
As for the bad, every other characters in the story was remarkably shallow and basic. They were either 100% good, 100% bad, or 100% there to advance merely the story. There was no nuance or complexity to them. The good guys were just as good and virtuous in the beginning as they were at the end. The bad guys were just as bad and vicious in the beginning as they were in the end. Their motivations were equally simple and dull.
The story, while pleasantly diverting also wasn't challenging. It was pretty clear how the story was going to end from several miles away. So while the path to get to the end was fine the ending didn't even rate as a climax, just the next logical step on a very obvious blueprint of a narrative arc. There was little in the way of dramatic tension and the characters never truly felt endangered.
I also wasn't a huge fan of the voice of the narrative. The book is told through a series of diary entries of a peasant girl, Dashti. The prose was very simple and straightforward, which fits the perspective of the character writing it. But just because it was appropriate doesn't make it compelling or enthralling to my sensibilities. It certainly got the job done but it also limited the perspective I could have gotten from other characters in the story.
I think the choice to tell this story from diary entries may have fed into the other weaknesses. We only get Dashti's limited perspective on events and people, necessarily limiting our insights into their motivations, hopes, fears, and agendas. It made most of the other characters flat because we could only see them from one perspective. If the writer had interspersed Dashti's writings with the writings of other characters I think the narrative would have been richer and deeper. But then Hale would have to change the title of the book :-P
This wasn't a bad book by any stretch, just a somewhat unambitious one that didn't take any risks. While that meant that it didn't stumble at all it also resulted in a very meh book overall.
First off, the good. I liked the setting of this story, which was heavily influenced by traditional Mongolian lifestyles from ancestor worship, to use of animals, to the cultural practices of the people. It is a pretty fascinating and complex setting that should get more attention from authors. I also liked the two main characters' arcs over the course of the story. There was a clear change in both the peasant and the princess over the course of their struggles and I appreciated how much they had changed by the end. Finally the story itself was pleasantly diverting enough and fit in nicely with the setting and culture the author devised. There wasn't much in the way of unexpected twists or turns but there also wasn't anything grossly offensive to my literary senses. It was perfectly fine.
As for the bad, every other characters in the story was remarkably shallow and basic. They were either 100% good, 100% bad, or 100% there to advance merely the story. There was no nuance or complexity to them. The good guys were just as good and virtuous in the beginning as they were at the end. The bad guys were just as bad and vicious in the beginning as they were in the end. Their motivations were equally simple and dull.
The story, while pleasantly diverting also wasn't challenging. It was pretty clear how the story was going to end from several miles away. So while the path to get to the end was fine the ending didn't even rate as a climax, just the next logical step on a very obvious blueprint of a narrative arc. There was little in the way of dramatic tension and the characters never truly felt endangered.
I also wasn't a huge fan of the voice of the narrative. The book is told through a series of diary entries of a peasant girl, Dashti. The prose was very simple and straightforward, which fits the perspective of the character writing it. But just because it was appropriate doesn't make it compelling or enthralling to my sensibilities. It certainly got the job done but it also limited the perspective I could have gotten from other characters in the story.
I think the choice to tell this story from diary entries may have fed into the other weaknesses. We only get Dashti's limited perspective on events and people, necessarily limiting our insights into their motivations, hopes, fears, and agendas. It made most of the other characters flat because we could only see them from one perspective. If the writer had interspersed Dashti's writings with the writings of other characters I think the narrative would have been richer and deeper. But then Hale would have to change the title of the book :-P
This wasn't a bad book by any stretch, just a somewhat unambitious one that didn't take any risks. While that meant that it didn't stumble at all it also resulted in a very meh book overall.
February 22, 2022
What a great story I really enjoyed reading this book.
The protagonist was extremely likeable and I loved her fighting spirit and sense of duty.
It not only got her though the hard times, but got her into alot of trouble, I loved the way the story unfolded especially the ending.
Happy Reading 📕📔📗📘📚📙📚📒📚📗📘📓📚📗📔📕📓📚📗📙📚📒📓📚📘📖
The protagonist was extremely likeable and I loved her fighting spirit and sense of duty.
It not only got her though the hard times, but got her into alot of trouble, I loved the way the story unfolded especially the ending.
Happy Reading 📕📔📗📘📚📙📚📒📚📗📘📓📚📗📔📕📓📚📗📙📚📒📓📚📘📖
October 16, 2007
Quite possibly Shannon's best book! A joyous read, rich with detail and written in the author's inimitible, poetic style. I not only felt a deep connection for the narrator, but also for the male protagonist, and the Mongolia-like world she created was gorgeous to behold. Lovely, lovely, lovely!
June 8, 2017
3.5 stars for a cute YA high fantasy. Fans of fairy tale retellings, this is one for you!
January 3, 2008
Dashti, a mucker maid, is going to be locked up in a tower with her Lady Saren for seven years. Lady Saren refused to marry a man she did not love, so Dashti must prepare for a rigorous and daunting imprisonment. Soon, Dashti finds rats in the flour and mold on the cheese. It becomes a struggle to survive, and Dashti also must deal with Lady Saren’s two completely different suitors. Dashti must make a choice, for herself, and for Saren.
In Book of a Thousand Days, Shannon Hale brings to life the tale of Maid Maleen. Set in an area much like Mongolia, the Eight Realms, Hale creates up a social system very different than our own. Some realms are ruled by women, which rarely happened at the time. Hale strives to combine reality with magic, and focuses not on the princess, but on the dirty maid. Hale questions arranged marriage and encourages independence and hard work through the determined character of Dashti. Throughout the book, Hale carries a message of hope and fortitude.
Hale succeeded in her message, and inspires girls to be stronger. Although Dashti often had an attitude of servitude, she prevails with her competing attitude of perseverance. Dashti challanges unfair but long used customs of arranged marriage, a lesson for girls. Most adapted fairy tales focus on the princesses, but Dashti is in no way a princess. She knows how to work, and Hale attempts to show a different kind of heroine .
Book of a Thousand Days is a valuable book in today’s world of Clique and Gossip Girl novels. It has a message that supports girls for who they are, while telling an entrancing tale. Despite not having that much action to attract reluctant readers, after a couple chapters, the book picks up. In today’s society, any book with a strong girl main character that doesn’t do drugs or make bad decisions is extremely valuable.
I’m very excited about this book because Shannon Hale is coming near me in January. The book raises a few questions for me that would be great to ask her.
Shannon Hale has also written five other books; Austenland, River Secrets, Princess Academy, Enna Burning, and The Goose Girl. She has been heralded as one of the best living fantasy authors of the day. She won a Newbery Honor for Princess Academy.
I adored Book of a Thousand Days because it was a fantasy with not too much magic. I’m not a huge fantasy person, if only because I like to delve into a character’s feelings. Many fantasies don’t do that, and focus more on the magic. Book of a Thousand Days has characters with realistic, understandable feelings that draw you in to the fairy tale.
In Book of a Thousand Days, Shannon Hale brings to life the tale of Maid Maleen. Set in an area much like Mongolia, the Eight Realms, Hale creates up a social system very different than our own. Some realms are ruled by women, which rarely happened at the time. Hale strives to combine reality with magic, and focuses not on the princess, but on the dirty maid. Hale questions arranged marriage and encourages independence and hard work through the determined character of Dashti. Throughout the book, Hale carries a message of hope and fortitude.
Hale succeeded in her message, and inspires girls to be stronger. Although Dashti often had an attitude of servitude, she prevails with her competing attitude of perseverance. Dashti challanges unfair but long used customs of arranged marriage, a lesson for girls. Most adapted fairy tales focus on the princesses, but Dashti is in no way a princess. She knows how to work, and Hale attempts to show a different kind of heroine .
Book of a Thousand Days is a valuable book in today’s world of Clique and Gossip Girl novels. It has a message that supports girls for who they are, while telling an entrancing tale. Despite not having that much action to attract reluctant readers, after a couple chapters, the book picks up. In today’s society, any book with a strong girl main character that doesn’t do drugs or make bad decisions is extremely valuable.
I’m very excited about this book because Shannon Hale is coming near me in January. The book raises a few questions for me that would be great to ask her.
Shannon Hale has also written five other books; Austenland, River Secrets, Princess Academy, Enna Burning, and The Goose Girl. She has been heralded as one of the best living fantasy authors of the day. She won a Newbery Honor for Princess Academy.
I adored Book of a Thousand Days because it was a fantasy with not too much magic. I’m not a huge fantasy person, if only because I like to delve into a character’s feelings. Many fantasies don’t do that, and focus more on the magic. Book of a Thousand Days has characters with realistic, understandable feelings that draw you in to the fairy tale.
September 7, 2022
What a book! I inhaled this one in a very few sittings, absolutely spellbound by the story world (inspired by medieval Mongolia!!!), the dark and beguiling story, and the amazing narrative voice which is very simple, direct, and unadorned as it tells a story that's far more mature and terrifying than you imagine at first.
I did come away wishing we'd seen the development of one particular character unfold sooner: their ending felt a little abrupt and anticlimactic to me. But this is literally the only criticism I can think of. This is an absolutely wonderful fairytale retelling for fans of Robin McKinley's BEAUTY and Intisar Khanani's THORN.
I did come away wishing we'd seen the development of one particular character unfold sooner: their ending felt a little abrupt and anticlimactic to me. But this is literally the only criticism I can think of. This is an absolutely wonderful fairytale retelling for fans of Robin McKinley's BEAUTY and Intisar Khanani's THORN.
April 27, 2014
Sigh. I really, really wanted to love this book because I love Shannon Hale and all my Goodreads friends have given it 5 or 4 stars but... I just didn't.
I didn't like Dashti or Saren. Really, I HATED Saren. More often than not I wanted to beat her head against a rock. She's stupid, annoying, and a terrible person. Dashti, the narrator, wasn't much better. While people who like the book would probably say that she's just fiercely loyal, I found her to be kind of an idiot. I think I would've bought the whole "maid willing to be locked up for 7 years to serve her lady" thing if Dashti had been with Saren for years before it had happened. But no, Dashti had literally just met Lady Saren when she agreed to be locked in a tower for 7 years with a whiny brat she didn't even know. I don't find that to be loyal, I find it to be idiotic. Especially
I appreciated the whole ancient Mongolian kind of feel and backdrop for the book, but the constant references to the Eternal Blue Sky and the Sacred 9 really started to grate on my nerves. If I had a dollar for every time Dashti said "Ancestors, forgive me" or talked about praying to a specific god I would be able to buy myself a nice, big library of books I actually enjoy. I also found that I was annoyed by the healing songs Dashti would sing, mostly because she would ALWAYS preface it by saying "I sang the song for [whatever], the one that goes like this....." as if knowing the nonsensical words would actually mean anything to read.
I could go on, but just know that Shannon Hale has done much better. The Goose Girl is fantastic and forever one of my favorites, but skip Book of a Thousand Days.
2 stars at the most
I didn't like Dashti or Saren. Really, I HATED Saren. More often than not I wanted to beat her head against a rock. She's stupid, annoying, and a terrible person. Dashti, the narrator, wasn't much better. While people who like the book would probably say that she's just fiercely loyal, I found her to be kind of an idiot. I think I would've bought the whole "maid willing to be locked up for 7 years to serve her lady" thing if Dashti had been with Saren for years before it had happened. But no, Dashti had literally just met Lady Saren when she agreed to be locked in a tower for 7 years with a whiny brat she didn't even know. I don't find that to be loyal, I find it to be idiotic. Especially
I appreciated the whole ancient Mongolian kind of feel and backdrop for the book, but the constant references to the Eternal Blue Sky and the Sacred 9 really started to grate on my nerves. If I had a dollar for every time Dashti said "Ancestors, forgive me" or talked about praying to a specific god I would be able to buy myself a nice, big library of books I actually enjoy. I also found that I was annoyed by the healing songs Dashti would sing, mostly because she would ALWAYS preface it by saying "I sang the song for [whatever], the one that goes like this....." as if knowing the nonsensical words would actually mean anything to read.
I could go on, but just know that Shannon Hale has done much better. The Goose Girl is fantastic and forever one of my favorites, but skip Book of a Thousand Days.
2 stars at the most
July 26, 2020
Reading Rush: Day 6
Fulfilled the 'read a book set on a different continent from where you live' prompt.
(Though this book is fantasy, the setting was based on medieval Mongolia.)
This was also my seventh and final book for the 2020 Reading Rush.
Fulfilled the 'read a book set on a different continent from where you live' prompt.
(Though this book is fantasy, the setting was based on medieval Mongolia.)
This was also my seventh and final book for the 2020 Reading Rush.
August 20, 2024
A charming little read about love, courage and sacrifice that I finished in one sitting.
I loved little Dashti from the very beginning. With a plain face but a great soul she could teach the most hard-hearted of people what it means to be kind and very brave, despite of all your fears.
image from Pinterest
Her "mama also used to say that the mightiest of the healing songs was a good laugh" and that "hitting is the language of cowards and drunkards". So Dashti is trying to protect and to heal, to sing each troubled soul into happines and be a crutch for every other broken one. Because she is a mucker, and that is what muckers do: sing to heal.
If you like fairytales and stories about love, sacrifice and courage above fear; with true heroes and happy ever afters, and a little bit of healing magic thrown in the mix, you're gonna love this book! I know I did! :D
Check out this review and more over at The Magic Book Corner
I loved little Dashti from the very beginning. With a plain face but a great soul she could teach the most hard-hearted of people what it means to be kind and very brave, despite of all your fears.
image from Pinterest
Her "mama also used to say that the mightiest of the healing songs was a good laugh" and that "hitting is the language of cowards and drunkards". So Dashti is trying to protect and to heal, to sing each troubled soul into happines and be a crutch for every other broken one. Because she is a mucker, and that is what muckers do: sing to heal.
If you like fairytales and stories about love, sacrifice and courage above fear; with true heroes and happy ever afters, and a little bit of healing magic thrown in the mix, you're gonna love this book! I know I did! :D
Check out this review and more over at The Magic Book Corner
April 19, 2018
I didn't have the energy to write a formal or full negative review of this book; however, if you're interested in my major content concerns, please see below for my thoughts in the comments of this review.
There was one scene in this book that outraged me with very inappropriate content. The rest of the book would've been two stars on its own and was meh and indifferent for me, besides being mildly inappropriate and impure as well.
These thoughts are my own opinion, and I have nothing against anyone who feels differently. My aim is merely to spread the word to inform friends who share my content concerns, which I'm glad to be able to do.
There was one scene in this book that outraged me with very inappropriate content. The rest of the book would've been two stars on its own and was meh and indifferent for me, besides being mildly inappropriate and impure as well.
These thoughts are my own opinion, and I have nothing against anyone who feels differently. My aim is merely to spread the word to inform friends who share my content concerns, which I'm glad to be able to do.
May 26, 2008
I enjoyed this a lot - so much so that I DIDN'T finish it last night. I wanted to save it so that I would have something to look forward to reading this afternoon. I found myself thinking about the story several times throughout the day and wondering how it might end. I wasn't disappointed. Another great job by Shannon Hale!
January 28, 2010
As luck would have it, the very day Dashti enters the service of a lady is the very day said lady is bricked into a tower for seven years to learn obedience. Dashti goes along with her to keep her company and take care of her. Between fighting off rats, Lady Saren's torpor, and the unsettling attentions of Saren's two very different suitors, Dashti has her hands full. And that's just the beginning.
I love Dashti. She grows so much in this book! She starts off a simple girl from a simple way of life, unquestioningly following the laws of the land, and she becomes a strong woman, confident in herself and her abilities. The book is really Dashti's diary, so it was interesting to see her thinking and even her writing style change as she grows into herself.
Dashti's is the most obvious transformation, but Lady Saren quietly undergoes some drastic changes. She starts out a weak, irritating, ineffective girl who seems to be nothing but a chain around Dashti's neck, but sometime when you aren't looking she becomes something... more.
This is my first time reading Shannon Hale, and if this is any indication of the rest of her work, it won't be my last. I sat down to get started on this before spending a little time on the computer, and the next thing I knew I was finishing it. Seriously. One sitting. There was one part that started to drag just a little bit, but somehow a book about two girls in a tower became a page turner. I enjoyed how Dashti's "voice" changed as she changed, and I'm very impressed with Hale's skill in pulling that off.
I was thrilled to read a young adult book with a strong female lead and no love triangle in sight! Yay! I know I wrote the bit about two suitors, but believe me, there's no love triangle.
I highly recommend this all the way around.
I love Dashti. She grows so much in this book! She starts off a simple girl from a simple way of life, unquestioningly following the laws of the land, and she becomes a strong woman, confident in herself and her abilities. The book is really Dashti's diary, so it was interesting to see her thinking and even her writing style change as she grows into herself.
Dashti's is the most obvious transformation, but Lady Saren quietly undergoes some drastic changes. She starts out a weak, irritating, ineffective girl who seems to be nothing but a chain around Dashti's neck, but sometime when you aren't looking she becomes something... more.
This is my first time reading Shannon Hale, and if this is any indication of the rest of her work, it won't be my last. I sat down to get started on this before spending a little time on the computer, and the next thing I knew I was finishing it. Seriously. One sitting. There was one part that started to drag just a little bit, but somehow a book about two girls in a tower became a page turner. I enjoyed how Dashti's "voice" changed as she changed, and I'm very impressed with Hale's skill in pulling that off.
I was thrilled to read a young adult book with a strong female lead and no love triangle in sight! Yay! I know I wrote the bit about two suitors, but believe me, there's no love triangle.
I highly recommend this all the way around.
August 13, 2012
OMG
THIS BOOK.
Shannon Hale you mastermind!!!
I cannot believe I had this GEM untouched on my bookshelf for so long---why, why am I an idiot?? Awww, it was so cute, and lovely, and emotional, and fairytale-like! What am I saying? This isn't just fairytale-like, this IS in fact a fairytale retold, and the original is called "Maid Maleen" by the Brothers Grimm. It basically tells the story of two girls, one a princess (not really a princess, but the daughter of a very rich and powerful lord) the other one her maid, who get imprisoned in a tower because the princess refuses to marry this evil guy. A few years later they manage to escape and find out everyone in the kingdom is dead -- so they travel to a neighbour kingdom and start working in the kitchen of another powerful lord's house, but this one is kind and lovely and everything a woman wants in a man. The original story has the princess as the protagonist, but Shannon made the maid the heroine of Book of a Thousand Days, and I have to say IT WORKED.
I love the irony between this book and my absolute favorite by the author, which is Goose Girl -- the stories are similar, but in Goose Girl the maid is vicious and steals the princess's identity, while in Book of a Thousand Days the poor maid, Dashti, has to pretend she's the princess because the real one is constantly afraid of the world and makes Dashti do things for her.
I absolutely loved Dashti's voice and practical manner during the whole story; loved how she took care of what needed to be done most of the times under the worst circumstances; loved her undeniable loyalty towards her loony lady; loved the touching memories and stories regarding her mother, the only person she had in the world (YOU BREAK MY HEART SHANNON HALE!); loved how, in time, she realized she could make a difference, even if she wasn't born in a golden crib. I say, this is quite the flawless heroine.
The writing is typical Shannon Hale: musical, addictive, sarcastic, brilliant, and my only regret is that the final events happened too fast -- I wanted more!
Definitely one of the best books I've read this year so far, and a new all time favorite. Go read it!
*PT* Cuidado com o Dálmata -- Book of a Thousand Days
Fairy Tales Retold Challenge 2012 ~ 5/12
THIS BOOK.
Shannon Hale you mastermind!!!
I cannot believe I had this GEM untouched on my bookshelf for so long---why, why am I an idiot?? Awww, it was so cute, and lovely, and emotional, and fairytale-like! What am I saying? This isn't just fairytale-like, this IS in fact a fairytale retold, and the original is called "Maid Maleen" by the Brothers Grimm. It basically tells the story of two girls, one a princess (not really a princess, but the daughter of a very rich and powerful lord) the other one her maid, who get imprisoned in a tower because the princess refuses to marry this evil guy. A few years later they manage to escape and find out everyone in the kingdom is dead -- so they travel to a neighbour kingdom and start working in the kitchen of another powerful lord's house, but this one is kind and lovely and everything a woman wants in a man. The original story has the princess as the protagonist, but Shannon made the maid the heroine of Book of a Thousand Days, and I have to say IT WORKED.
I love the irony between this book and my absolute favorite by the author, which is Goose Girl -- the stories are similar, but in Goose Girl the maid is vicious and steals the princess's identity, while in Book of a Thousand Days the poor maid, Dashti, has to pretend she's the princess because the real one is constantly afraid of the world and makes Dashti do things for her.
I absolutely loved Dashti's voice and practical manner during the whole story; loved how she took care of what needed to be done most of the times under the worst circumstances; loved her undeniable loyalty towards her loony lady; loved the touching memories and stories regarding her mother, the only person she had in the world (YOU BREAK MY HEART SHANNON HALE!); loved how, in time, she realized she could make a difference, even if she wasn't born in a golden crib. I say, this is quite the flawless heroine.
The writing is typical Shannon Hale: musical, addictive, sarcastic, brilliant, and my only regret is that the final events happened too fast -- I wanted more!
Definitely one of the best books I've read this year so far, and a new all time favorite. Go read it!
*PT* Cuidado com o Dálmata -- Book of a Thousand Days
Fairy Tales Retold Challenge 2012 ~ 5/12
June 15, 2009
I loved this Young Adult book! Hooray for Shannon Hale! I probably wouldn't recommend this book to girls under 12, but I think Hale has produced a wonderful heroine for the older teen set. I liked this book better than Princess Academy. I felt the themes were more accessible--everyone can relate to having a crush on someone totally out of your league. And who can’t envision the horror of being betrothed to a grotesque villain or locked up with rats? I loved how the two girls-- Saren, a princess and lady, and Dashti, a peasant “mucker” maid--reversed roles in the course of the story. The story begins with Dahti thinking that Saren is so much more valuable as a person because Saren is gentry. However, Dashti comes to realize that Saren is weak and cowardly. Slowly, Dashti evolves into a heroine partly out of necessity (she can see Saren doesn’t possess what is needed to save them) and partly because she comes to realize that she is in love, and is loveable. Hale’s writing style is amazing, as usual. And the setting of Mongolia with a dash of the mystical I found refreshingly different in today’s fantasy market. I can’t even describe what a fantastic book this is. I am always looking for books with great role models for my daughters, and this is definitely one of them!
November 11, 2012
Reviewed by Jessica Cave for TeensReadToo.com
Shannon Hale's BOOK OF A THOUSAND DAYS is a riveting read that allows you to see into the soul of a young girl.
Angry at her for not marrying the ruler of a nearby kingdom, Lady Saren's father locks her and her maid in a tower. He plans to leave them there for seven years. It is Dashti, the maid's, responsibility to keep them fed and in good condition, no matter how hot or how cold it may be.
With evil lords, unresponsive guards, and dreamy suitors knocking on their tiny window on a daily basis, they have enough views of outside life to keep living through to the next day. But when all signs of outside human life suddenly vanish, they find themselves in a race against time to save the eight realms and their own lives.
I started and ended this book in a single day (despite having household tasks, homework, and a to-do list longer than it's ever been before). I was caught up in the world of Dashti and her dear Lady Saren. Their tale brought me to tears and made me laugh.
This novel was definitely an enjoyable read that kept me turning pages as fast as I could.
Shannon Hale's BOOK OF A THOUSAND DAYS is a riveting read that allows you to see into the soul of a young girl.
Angry at her for not marrying the ruler of a nearby kingdom, Lady Saren's father locks her and her maid in a tower. He plans to leave them there for seven years. It is Dashti, the maid's, responsibility to keep them fed and in good condition, no matter how hot or how cold it may be.
With evil lords, unresponsive guards, and dreamy suitors knocking on their tiny window on a daily basis, they have enough views of outside life to keep living through to the next day. But when all signs of outside human life suddenly vanish, they find themselves in a race against time to save the eight realms and their own lives.
I started and ended this book in a single day (despite having household tasks, homework, and a to-do list longer than it's ever been before). I was caught up in the world of Dashti and her dear Lady Saren. Their tale brought me to tears and made me laugh.
This novel was definitely an enjoyable read that kept me turning pages as fast as I could.
March 2, 2009
A true heroine rises from the Grimm Brother ashes.
Hale has created a female character worthy to be loved and adored for a long time to come. She is filled with guts, heart, and soul.
This is a tale of imprisonment, courage, love, romance, fantasy, and one spectacular protagonist.
This is a tale of the silenced being given a voice, of the oppressed fighting their way out of darkness, so they can feel the burn of the sun of life on their skin once again.
It is a tale about the power and magic of words. And the power of the female body.
Hale uses Dashti, her beautifully crafted mucker maid, to express the necessity of the written word, and to provide the glorious hope of storytelling.
Everybody has a story worth telling, because everybody has a life worth living.
Dashti, for me, represents of those who have been told they can't. All those who have been silenced, broken down, pushed aside.
But all those who have believed in their worth, in their need to tell their story.
Hale has created a female character worthy to be loved and adored for a long time to come. She is filled with guts, heart, and soul.
This is a tale of imprisonment, courage, love, romance, fantasy, and one spectacular protagonist.
This is a tale of the silenced being given a voice, of the oppressed fighting their way out of darkness, so they can feel the burn of the sun of life on their skin once again.
It is a tale about the power and magic of words. And the power of the female body.
Hale uses Dashti, her beautifully crafted mucker maid, to express the necessity of the written word, and to provide the glorious hope of storytelling.
Everybody has a story worth telling, because everybody has a life worth living.
Dashti, for me, represents of those who have been told they can't. All those who have been silenced, broken down, pushed aside.
But all those who have believed in their worth, in their need to tell their story.
November 24, 2022
با اینکه کتاب ساده ای بود ولی دوستداشتنی بود^_^
کتاب وایب قشنگی داشت و بهم یاد آوری کرد چه چقدر روشنایی و سلامتی مهمه و یادم آورد که از داشتنشون شکر گذار باشم:)✨🏯🕯️🌾
کتاب وایب قشنگی داشت و بهم یاد آوری کرد چه چقدر روشنایی و سلامتی مهمه و یادم آورد که از داشتنشون شکر گذار باشم:)✨🏯🕯️🌾
December 20, 2020
Book of a Thousand Days was a solid fun read! Some aspects I liked:
- an interesting aesthetic: I don't think I've previously read anything set in the central Asian steppes before
- illustrations made by the author are always a plus!
- the heroine was kinda cool: hard-working, brave, loyal, humble, no-nonsense
- overall: an enjoyable and quick read.
I do have to take a star off, though, because a couple of things felt off:
- an interesting aesthetic: I don't think I've previously read anything set in the central Asian steppes before
- illustrations made by the author are always a plus!
- the heroine was kinda cool: hard-working, brave, loyal, humble, no-nonsense
- overall: an enjoyable and quick read.
I do have to take a star off, though, because a couple of things felt off:
July 2, 2012
This particular story has a fairy tale feel to it... and it was incredibly entertaining.
Seven years they were to stay, Lady Saren and her handmaid Dashti. You’d think the first a strong princess, a brave one… another one of those in your face, I’ll do as I please versions of princesses. She’s not. You’d think Dashti, meek and obedient. She is. Despite said fact, it’s still Dashti who shines in this one because the princess was often times too delicate, too soft, too shy… and just not quite all there.
And just so you know, all those stars are on account of Dashti, who’s loyal to a fault, kind and soft hearted. It’s Dashti who’s a special ability to sing others well. She shines despite having to do things she had no choice but to do. Despite her servitude and the attitude she bore in that position, she’s still a strong voice, the strongest in fact.
Because were this all about Saren, I don’t think I’d have enjoyed the story one bit. It's Dashti’s thoughts, her voice what excited me, what had me laughing and then sometimes cringing. I enjoyed her voice; the change in their circumstance and her views of the same. Starting off as excited, plodding toward being bored out of her mind, then later being utterly frustrated at what her lady would and would not do.
There’s the added bonus in how it’s told: each entry by Dashti revealed the changes in her thinking and some times even glimpses of her Lady improving. There's also a fantastic and magical feel to it, but it's something that didn’t drown everything else out. Her skill was just extra. This wasn’t a heavy on the magic; it being mainly about staying resilient, holding true to who you are, what you want and what’s right.
3.5/5
Seven years they were to stay, Lady Saren and her handmaid Dashti. You’d think the first a strong princess, a brave one… another one of those in your face, I’ll do as I please versions of princesses. She’s not. You’d think Dashti, meek and obedient. She is. Despite said fact, it’s still Dashti who shines in this one because the princess was often times too delicate, too soft, too shy… and just not quite all there.
And just so you know, all those stars are on account of Dashti, who’s loyal to a fault, kind and soft hearted. It’s Dashti who’s a special ability to sing others well. She shines despite having to do things she had no choice but to do. Despite her servitude and the attitude she bore in that position, she’s still a strong voice, the strongest in fact.
Because were this all about Saren, I don’t think I’d have enjoyed the story one bit. It's Dashti’s thoughts, her voice what excited me, what had me laughing and then sometimes cringing. I enjoyed her voice; the change in their circumstance and her views of the same. Starting off as excited, plodding toward being bored out of her mind, then later being utterly frustrated at what her lady would and would not do.
There’s the added bonus in how it’s told: each entry by Dashti revealed the changes in her thinking and some times even glimpses of her Lady improving. There's also a fantastic and magical feel to it, but it's something that didn’t drown everything else out. Her skill was just extra. This wasn’t a heavy on the magic; it being mainly about staying resilient, holding true to who you are, what you want and what’s right.
3.5/5
January 6, 2016
I definitely liked the first half better than the last half (and I'm still convinced that I've read this before), but it was a good book. I love Shannon's writing style and how it's always so fairytale like and amazing. *needs to reread her Books of Bayern series immediately*
January 29, 2018
I loved this book so much! But the book is more than a thousand pages so you know. I like the characters and the character development. I loved the love relationship and how brave the protagonist is. She truly is looked upon by the gods! I cannot wait to read more of Shannon Hale books.❤️❤️❤️😍
May 6, 2023
I really enjoyed this retelling of Maid Maleen by the Brothers Grimm set within an Asian-inspired world. Shannon Hale's writing is superb! Each book I've read by her feels like a timeless classic of a fairytale!
September 26, 2018
3.5 stars for the book.
A 100 stars for the audiobook narration. A full cast audio and done so well.
A 100 stars for the audiobook narration. A full cast audio and done so well.
October 12, 2009
Kisah yang sangat menakjubkan! Tanpa ragu saya memberikan bintang 5 untuk buku ini.
Book of a Thousand Days bercerita tentang kehidupan yang dijalani Lady Saren dan pembantunya Dashti saat mereka dikunci oleh ayah Lady Saren di menara selama 7 tahun karena Lady Saren menolak perjodohan dirinya dengan salah satu penguasa daerah, Lord Khasar. Kisah ini diceritakan oleh Dashti yang memang pandai menulis dan membaca.
Dashti datang untuk bekerja pada Lady Saren di hari kesatu tanpa mengetahui apa yang akan menimpanya ketika Lady Saren menyuruhnya bersumpah tidak akan meninggalkannya. Dashti pun bersumpah dan dijebloskan ke dalam menara untuk menemani Lady Saren. Dashti menuliskan kegiatan dan kejadian yang menimpa mereka selama terkunci. Bagaimana persediaan makanan mereka perlahan-lahan digerogoti tikus, dan mereka harus berperang melawan tikus atau makanan mereka akan cepat habis.
Lalu kekasih Lady Saren, Khan Tegus, datang. Namun Lady Saren menyuruh Dashti untuk berpura-pura menjadi dirinya dan berbincang-bincang melalui sebuah lobang di menara tanpa pernah saling menatap wajah satu sama lainnya. Setelah tiga tahun mereka terkunci di menara dan tak ada seorang pun yang datang menolong mereka, kecuali Lord Khasar yang mengancam dan menakut-nakuti mereka, persediaan makanan pun menipis, dan Dashti harus berjuang agar mereka bisa keluar dari menara itu.
Setelah mereka berhasil keluar dari menara, mereka kembali ke kota Lady Saren untuk menemukan bahwa kotanya telah hancur dan semua anggota keluarganya mati. Kini tinggal dirinya dan Dashti yang tersisa. Tanpa memberitahu kemana mereka berjalan karena Lady Saren tak sudi menemui Khan Tegus, Dashti justru membawa Lady Saren ke kota Khan Tegus. Disana mereka bekerja sebagai pencuci panci kotor di dapur rumah Khan Tegus. Sementara itu Lady Saren tetap tak mau memberitahu jati dirinya karena khawatir dirinya akan dibunuh.
Keberuntungan sepertinya mengiringi Dashti terus, hingga akhirnya Dashti bisa menjadi juru tulis di rumah itu sementara Lady Saren tetap bekerja sebagai pencuci panci di dapur. Lady Saren yang rapuh perlahan mulai terlihat sembuh, sementara Lord Khasar dan pasukannya perlahan namun pasti menguasai hampir semua daerah sekitar, dan sebentar lagi kota mereka pun akan diserang.
Lord Khasar mengumumkan bahwa mereka tak akan menyerang kota itu, kalau mereka menyerahkan Lady Saren. Lagi-lagi Lady Saren menyuruh Dashti untuk menggantikan dirinya dan mengaku sebagai Lady Saren. Dashti tak bisa menolak karena dirinya sudah bersumpah setia. Dashti pun mengaku dirinya Lady Saren, dan mengorbankan dirinya ke Lord Khasar.
Apakah Dashti bisa terus menjaga Lady Saren dan tetap hidup setelah menghadapi Lord Khasar? Menjelang ending ceritanya makin seru dan saya kagum dengan cara bercerita Shannon Hale yang tidak mudah tertebak. Memang, saya berharap a happy ending (ya, saya memang kuno) tapi bagaimana happy endingnya, Shannon Hale mampu mengantarkan saya ke akhir cerita yang indah.
I really-really like this book *geleng-geleng ala Bollywood* Ide ceritanya orisinil dan alurnya tidak terlalu cepat juga tidak terlalu lambat. Pokoke pas dah :D
Book of a Thousand Days bercerita tentang kehidupan yang dijalani Lady Saren dan pembantunya Dashti saat mereka dikunci oleh ayah Lady Saren di menara selama 7 tahun karena Lady Saren menolak perjodohan dirinya dengan salah satu penguasa daerah, Lord Khasar. Kisah ini diceritakan oleh Dashti yang memang pandai menulis dan membaca.
Dashti datang untuk bekerja pada Lady Saren di hari kesatu tanpa mengetahui apa yang akan menimpanya ketika Lady Saren menyuruhnya bersumpah tidak akan meninggalkannya. Dashti pun bersumpah dan dijebloskan ke dalam menara untuk menemani Lady Saren. Dashti menuliskan kegiatan dan kejadian yang menimpa mereka selama terkunci. Bagaimana persediaan makanan mereka perlahan-lahan digerogoti tikus, dan mereka harus berperang melawan tikus atau makanan mereka akan cepat habis.
Lalu kekasih Lady Saren, Khan Tegus, datang. Namun Lady Saren menyuruh Dashti untuk berpura-pura menjadi dirinya dan berbincang-bincang melalui sebuah lobang di menara tanpa pernah saling menatap wajah satu sama lainnya. Setelah tiga tahun mereka terkunci di menara dan tak ada seorang pun yang datang menolong mereka, kecuali Lord Khasar yang mengancam dan menakut-nakuti mereka, persediaan makanan pun menipis, dan Dashti harus berjuang agar mereka bisa keluar dari menara itu.
Setelah mereka berhasil keluar dari menara, mereka kembali ke kota Lady Saren untuk menemukan bahwa kotanya telah hancur dan semua anggota keluarganya mati. Kini tinggal dirinya dan Dashti yang tersisa. Tanpa memberitahu kemana mereka berjalan karena Lady Saren tak sudi menemui Khan Tegus, Dashti justru membawa Lady Saren ke kota Khan Tegus. Disana mereka bekerja sebagai pencuci panci kotor di dapur rumah Khan Tegus. Sementara itu Lady Saren tetap tak mau memberitahu jati dirinya karena khawatir dirinya akan dibunuh.
Keberuntungan sepertinya mengiringi Dashti terus, hingga akhirnya Dashti bisa menjadi juru tulis di rumah itu sementara Lady Saren tetap bekerja sebagai pencuci panci di dapur. Lady Saren yang rapuh perlahan mulai terlihat sembuh, sementara Lord Khasar dan pasukannya perlahan namun pasti menguasai hampir semua daerah sekitar, dan sebentar lagi kota mereka pun akan diserang.
Lord Khasar mengumumkan bahwa mereka tak akan menyerang kota itu, kalau mereka menyerahkan Lady Saren. Lagi-lagi Lady Saren menyuruh Dashti untuk menggantikan dirinya dan mengaku sebagai Lady Saren. Dashti tak bisa menolak karena dirinya sudah bersumpah setia. Dashti pun mengaku dirinya Lady Saren, dan mengorbankan dirinya ke Lord Khasar.
Apakah Dashti bisa terus menjaga Lady Saren dan tetap hidup setelah menghadapi Lord Khasar? Menjelang ending ceritanya makin seru dan saya kagum dengan cara bercerita Shannon Hale yang tidak mudah tertebak. Memang, saya berharap a happy ending (ya, saya memang kuno) tapi bagaimana happy endingnya, Shannon Hale mampu mengantarkan saya ke akhir cerita yang indah.
I really-really like this book *geleng-geleng ala Bollywood* Ide ceritanya orisinil dan alurnya tidak terlalu cepat juga tidak terlalu lambat. Pokoke pas dah :D
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