The Modern Fairies
Pollard cleverly animates the art of storytelling and its roots in French history ... It’s a lot to follow at times, and the fairy-tale form can constrain the chapters into short, sometimes elliptical fragments, making it harder for the novel to sustain its broader arc. More compelling than the plot and characters is Pollard’s vibrant language ... This memorable novel reminds the reader of the enduring power of storytelling to transform and even save lives, then and now.
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The novel’s most important storyteller is also its most frustrating element ... Inconsistent — and patronizing — use of translation ... Worse, Pollard keeps us completely in the dark about just who this narrator is until the final chapter, a grave mistake ... Can feel furiously grotesque ... Encouragingly, the book’s third act is its strongest ... She sticks the landing.
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Pollard’s sure touch, seamlessly blending humour and disgust ... It’s the book’s energy that keeps the pages turning rather than plot. This is a novel with oodles of charm.
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