5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A bit of Dickens, on the light side, July 31, 2008
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When I realized I was reviewing a YA book, I wasn't sure what to expect. But I soon realized I had no worries. This book is written in the style of the Dicken's like authors of the early 1800s, in London, and records the perils and pitfalls that face Ivy from the time she is five till she is in her twenties. It is perhaps as grim as Dickens, and yet there is a lightness here that I found enjoyable. It is well written, with a solid plot and interesting characters. There are some mistreated doggies which lead to a very satisfying ending. And there is art here - the author mentions her muse in her author notes, and as I often do, I read it before the book. I am glad I did, I think the notes added to my enjoyment of the book.
I enjoyed the way the author played with some of the traits of Dicken's books; for one thing, there are some wonderful names here: Mrs. Hortense Merryfield (who is anything but merry) and Mrs. Christiana Larrington for a start. And then there are the chapter headings: my favorite perhaps was "Chapter 2: In which Mrs. Larrington Suffers in a rather Extremely Confined Space.
Given the cover, and some of the rather sexual aspects in the book, I would suggest parents consider their children's maturity level in regards to this book. That being said - if your child has read Twist, he'll have no trouble here. And if she hasn't, I would suspect that after reading this, she'd have no trouble at all with it!
Oh, and even tho its a YA book, I'd highly recommend it to those not quite so young. Its a fast read and rather enjoyable. The only reason I did not give it a five is that those are reserved that for the top of the top. This was a good read, and a well deserved four star.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Copycat Dickens with a Good Modern Message, August 17, 2008
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Julie Hearn's novel "Ivy" relates the rise and development of a young "stunner" of Victorian England who begrudgingly becomes a model for an untalented artist of the Pre-Raphaelite school. Intended for young adults, the themes and plotline resonates with some newness that at times gets caught in the quagmire of Hearn's ambitious need to conjure up Victorian England from a Dickensesque vantage point. Ah well.
Hearn tries her best to evoke the time period (mid to late 19th century) by immediately setting the tone as Victorian comedy when she employs the same technique that Dickens used for his highly commercialized serialized fiction for her chapter titles. Again borrowing from Dickens, she introduces her story with two rather odd do-gooders who present the reader with the child Ivy, the reluctant beauty, and her family of thieving connivers and haphazardly put the plot line into motion when they benevolently send Ivy off the school as a charity case.
Hearn likes the idea of strangely colorful characters; she peppers her story with an ample dosing of wildly named personages, again ala Dickens: Carroty Kate, Fing Nolan, Muck Snipe, the Crow comprise the ring of "skinners" that make use of Ivy's startling appearance to lure their prey into a specified locale of easy pickings and more equalized opportunity. Ivy's negligent family members reek with the luridness of the resigned and uneducated. Making their livings like most scavengers, they, too reap the benefits of Ivy's appearance--when wannabe artist Oscar Aretino Frosdick (OAF - my, what a name! ) offers to pay for Ivy's services as a model, they as represented by the reprehensible Cousin Jared, greedily milk him for as much as they can get.
In fact this "everyone wants a piece of Ivy" theme runs throughout Hearn's story from almost all directions. The poor girl didn't ask to be beautiful--in fact the character herself initially shows little interest in her self other than to dose her self with the popular Victorian drug of choice, laudanum, to sleep away her boredom. Hearn means Ivy's reliance on drug usage to be part of a cautionary tale for her young readers--like so many drugs used today, laudanum was not only prescribed for relief of menstrual cramps and headaches, but used to achieve the pale complexion particularly prized by females at that time. And here Hearn interjects more subtly and quite masked what I think is her true intention--for what was a female back then, but a thing to be admired and coveted?
Hearn presents her readers with a physically beautiful character. However, Ivy's beauty seems more of a bane than a blessing for her. She does not exhibit any traits associated with vanity. She is merely a product of the time intent on survival. Happiness means little to her. As a natural vegetarian, she has an affinity with nature, particularly animals. It comes as no surprise that her personal salvation comes in this form. Even so, Ivy does not come across as being particularly feisty or someone that I would want my young adult to emulate. Her cockney accent pains the reader's ear. She is merely a product of circumstance. Her beauty could bring her notoriety--it certainly invokes fascination and jealousy (murderous) in many of the characters--one scene comes to mind where Jane Morris, the model for many of Dante Gabriel Rossetti's most timeless works of art winces with anger at Ivy's presence--the message here that beauty alone as ephemeral does not satisfy or fulfill one's soul. Quite by magic, Hearn slips in her true mission statement without the blatant lesson-oriented inundation of the Tyra Banks Show. So listen up, all you preteen and teenage girls out there chasing the pop stars and supermodels of today--pursuing beauty and fame does not make you happy--it just stops you from developing yourself in other more permanent ways. Brava, Ms Hearn.
Hearn's novel could be a good springboard for discussion relating to the nature of beauty. This womanly ideal so cherished that it was sought after by great artists and poets and immortalized for all time although romantic can be as empty as an exquisite jewel box without any content. Ivy's happiness is not derived through her beauty; in fact, her beauty hinders her. She appears as an object rather than a person with a full compliment of needs and desires.
In this sense, the story works. Hearn's message, however, is impaired by her desire to emulate Dickens. For the modern girl, a more straightforward plot approach would have been more effective and appropriate. In as much as Hearn combines the good and bad with regard to the creation of artistic beauty and displays the full spectrum of comedic emotions that beauty can evoke, she creates an interesting oxymoron where the undeveloped guttersnipe can be the inspiration for that great untouchable absolute Beauty. I found myself wishing for full color plates of the art works of the time to supplement my reading.
Bottom line? Julie Hearn's novel "Ivy" would have worked a lot better for me if she had not written this by copying the style popularized by Dickens in his Victorian serials. Otherwise, she works the two major themes of losing oneself through drug usage and beauty as an empty virtue to perfection. "Ivy" set during the time period of the great Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and Sisterhood would benefit with an afterward about these pursuers of beauty. Parents or teachers recommending this book should use it to introduce readers to this lovely school of art. Recommended.
Diana Faillace Von Behren
"reneofc"
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Pauper to Pygmalion, July 29, 2008
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A good teen-age story of life in the 19th century England. The story begins in almost typical rags-to-riches fashion. Hero-quest story line but it does have a very robust and interesting authenticity to it. What really sets this story apart is the addition of the opiate; laudanum. A popular medicine of the time. The heroine is shown to be quite frail in her addiction. You end up empathizing with this poor girl early on and that never seems to let go even in the end.
The story starts out in a cockney speaking hovel and ends up in an artists studio. The story has a nice twist at the end which leaves the availability for a sequel. While the journey is complete it, at times, seems to be a tad bit rushed.
Overall a very delightful, easy read and perfectly suited to the intended audience.
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