Book rec- Pigs Don't Fly

[chase_acow]

snowflake_challenge

Challenge #9: promote at least one canon that you adore (old, new, forever fandom).


My mother was the village whore and I loved her very much.

"Left an orphan with a small dowry and a magic ring, all Summer wanted was to find a husband and settle down. But she hadn't reckoned on the raggle-tail assortment of creatures who needed her help, even if the amnesiac, blind knight was the handsomest man she had ever seen ....
But the blaspheming dog, broken-down horse, crippled pigeon, half-dead tortoise and flying pig had ideas of their own, and Summer was to find her journey's end - and love - very different from what she expected...."

I'm sure I've written about this book before, but I love it more than enough to do so again. I picked it up as a young teenager, drawn to the animals on the cover and loved every second of a book I felt was written just for me. I remember at the time, I didn't know what a whore was, and I'm sure if my dad had been paying more attention he wouldn't have let me buy it. It was slightly over my head at first, there's a lot of big ideas that are lived instead of explained, but every time I read it something else jumps out at me.

It has a heroine who was as overweight as me, going on adventures, being swept away by magic, and finding impossible love. There are a lot of hard parts, a lot of kindness, she makes a lot of mistakes but she makes her own decisions - and I was in love with her. I've read it so many times, I have it in both hard cover and paperback.

It's part of a series that is connected by the unicorn ring that allows her to speak to animals, but this and the direct sequel Master of Many Treasures are my favorites and I think the best.

If you'd need to know anything else to give it a chance, feel free to ask and I'll answer to the best of my ability.

Comments

[scripsi]

I've never heard of his book, but it sounds interesting!

[chase_acow]

This is my favorite kind of first person narration, where it sounds like she's tell me a story. I've never seen it on any lists anywhere, but looking at it, it came out in 1994 so like before I even knew what the internet was.

[dine]

I'm pretty sure I read this way back when - the cover is damn familiar, as is the author's name. I don't recall specifics, but it does sound like it would have been right up my alley. and now I'm reminded of a book of that era featuring a young woman and a wombat (my first intro to said critters) which I loved and reread a million times. sadly I can't recall the name now; possibly I should commission a librarian friend to find it for me,

[chase_acow]

I absolutely love the hunt for an old book I suddenly remember from being a kid! I have found some completely ridiculous YA that I took way too seriously then. It's the most fun. I hope you find it!

[dine]

librarians are damn handy! a librarian friend found it for me - it's Witch and Wombat by Carolyn Cushman, published 1994 (must have been a good year for the genre) - I found a used copy cheap and shall enjoy rereading it - here's hoping it's as good as my memories

[muccamukk]

I've never heard of this and it sounds like exactly the kind of book I'd enjoy. Thanks for mentioning it!

[chase_acow]

It was like a light bulb finally came on re the challenge. I have like, a handful of books I'll always treasure that I've never heard anyone else ever talk about. I hope that maybe someone gives this one a shot and also finds a new favorite! : )

[muccamukk]

Kobo has the first three as an omnibus!

[inferiorwit]

that cover is fantastic. i miss when genre novels actually had illustrated covers; everything these days is slick and forgettable and cobbled together out of stock photos.

[chase_acow]

Absolutely! I don't follow along with Mercedes Lackey books anymore, but I always loved the intricate drawn covers. The Gryphon trilogy were some of my favorites.

[inferiorwit]

i got introduced to mercedes lackey back in the day because i found a copy of the white gryphon in a thrift store and thought it was the coolest thing i'd ever seen

i was also like 12, but my point remains

[spikedluv]

I've never heard of this; it sounds interesting.

[chase_acow]

I think it holds up okay to modern standards. I don't remember anything that would put me off if I picked it up for the first time today. She starts out looking for a husband, but by the end, she definitely is not playing by anyone else's arbitrary gender roles.

[8hyenas]

okay, will read. but when i look on goodreads it lists "the unlikely ones" as the first in the series? should i read that one first or am i good to start with pigs don't fly?

[chase_acow]

The Unlikely Ones is a stand alone - same magical ring, different protagonist and different animals but otherwise unrelated. I liked it okay, but I read it way after these two. Pigs Don't Fly and Master of Many Treasures are basically a duology and close together on the timeline. And then there's one book later that deals with the aftermath, but I wasn't a fan of that one.

[silentflux]

Wow - that sounds like a lot of fun :) Definitely the kind of book I love. I will definitely check it out - thanks for reccing! ♥

[chase_acow]

I hope you find it and like it! I'm doing a reread now myself!