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Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance
Orphaned, raised by wolves, and the proud owner of a horned pig named Merlin, Weylyn Grey knew he wasn’t like other people. But when he single-handedly stopped that tornado on a stormy Christmas day in Oklahoma, he realized just how different he actually was.
That tornado was the first of many strange events that seem to follow Weylyn from town to town, although he doesn’t like to take credit. As amazing as these powers may appear, they tend to manifest themselves at inopportune times and places. From freak storms to trees that appear to grow over night, Weylyn’s unique abilities are a curiosity at best and at worst, a danger to himself and the woman he loves. But Mary doesn’t care. Since Weylyn saved her from an angry wolf on her eleventh birthday, she’s known that a relationship with him isn’t without its risks, but as anyone who’s met Weylyn will tell you, once he wanders into your life, you’ll wish he’d never leave.
Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance tells the story of Weylyn Grey’s life from the perspectives of the people who knew him, loved him, and even a few who thought he was just plain weird. Although he doesn’t stay in any of their lives for long, he leaves each of them with a story to tell. Stories about a boy who lives with wolves, great storms that evaporate into thin air, fireflies that make phosphorescent honey, and a house filled with spider webs and the strange man who inhabits it.
There is one story, however, that Weylyn wishes he could change: his own. But first he has to muster enough courage to knock on Mary’s front door.
In this warm debut novel, Ruth Emmie Lang teaches us about adventure and love in a beautifully written story full of nature and wonder.
That tornado was the first of many strange events that seem to follow Weylyn from town to town, although he doesn’t like to take credit. As amazing as these powers may appear, they tend to manifest themselves at inopportune times and places. From freak storms to trees that appear to grow over night, Weylyn’s unique abilities are a curiosity at best and at worst, a danger to himself and the woman he loves. But Mary doesn’t care. Since Weylyn saved her from an angry wolf on her eleventh birthday, she’s known that a relationship with him isn’t without its risks, but as anyone who’s met Weylyn will tell you, once he wanders into your life, you’ll wish he’d never leave.
Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance tells the story of Weylyn Grey’s life from the perspectives of the people who knew him, loved him, and even a few who thought he was just plain weird. Although he doesn’t stay in any of their lives for long, he leaves each of them with a story to tell. Stories about a boy who lives with wolves, great storms that evaporate into thin air, fireflies that make phosphorescent honey, and a house filled with spider webs and the strange man who inhabits it.
There is one story, however, that Weylyn wishes he could change: his own. But first he has to muster enough courage to knock on Mary’s front door.
In this warm debut novel, Ruth Emmie Lang teaches us about adventure and love in a beautifully written story full of nature and wonder.
332 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 14, 2017
About the author
Ruth Emmie Lang
2 books1,111 followersRuth Emmie Lang was born in Glasgow, Scotland and has the red hair to prove it. When she was four years old, she immigrated to Ohio where she stills lives today. She has since lost her Scottish accent, but still has the hair. Ruth lives with her husband and son on two wooded acres in the Cleveland area. Her first novel, Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance, was a finalist for the Ohioana Book Award.
Follow her on Twitter and Instagram: @ruthemmielang
Follow her on Twitter and Instagram: @ruthemmielang
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,987 reviews
August 21, 2018
*4.5 Stars!*
Beautifully written with tons of magic and heart!
This story was a warm hug and made me want to step out into nature and embrace all its magic and natural wonders.
From the second we meet Weylyn we can tell he’s different, but his distinct peculiarities are what make him special. He can somehow summon the power to alter weather conditions and has the unique ability to communicate with animals. Having lost his parents at a young age, Weylyn ended up being raised by wolves and has a potent connection with nature.
As one would expect, this sort of lifestyle leaves Weylyn highly undomesticated, but in the most endearing way imaginable. He doesn't put on a show, even though he’s quite capable of one, and there’s not a chance your heart won’t warm to his genuine innocence and humble nature as it pays tribute to the power of kindness.
This book is written in a good old-fashioned storytelling kind of style; a true “Once Upon A Time” tale that will make you abandon all suspicion and grab hold of your belief in magic and endless possibility—something that comes so easily in our youth.
The plot is delivered in first person narratives and just about every major character gets a turn at their own perspective. We get inside everyone’s mind and learn how each of them views the curious case of Weylyn.
With all of these incredible ideas at play, I felt that some more depth would have helped to back them up, and I sometimes wished the story dug a bit deeper into the mystery behind the magic.
However, even that didn’t cause the story to feel like it was “lacking”—but as though a bit more could have been added. And, as my good friend Norma pointed out, not every mystery is meant to be solved.
This was a gentle read, and certainly a fantastic one, with expert prose and breathtaking imagery, and I’d highly recommend to fans of magical realism and great storytelling!
Book Stats:
▪ Genre/Category: Magical Realsim/ Fantasy
▪ Characters: Solid, well-constructed cast of lovable characters.
▪ Plot: Spans decades, following a young orphaned boy with certain magical “powers” into adulthood, spanning decades.
▪ Writing: Vivid and imaginative. Beautiful descriptions.
▪ POV: 1st Person Perspective: Various narrators.
▪ Cliffhanger: None. Standalone
*Traveling Friends read*
Beautifully written with tons of magic and heart!
This story was a warm hug and made me want to step out into nature and embrace all its magic and natural wonders.
From the second we meet Weylyn we can tell he’s different, but his distinct peculiarities are what make him special. He can somehow summon the power to alter weather conditions and has the unique ability to communicate with animals. Having lost his parents at a young age, Weylyn ended up being raised by wolves and has a potent connection with nature.
As one would expect, this sort of lifestyle leaves Weylyn highly undomesticated, but in the most endearing way imaginable. He doesn't put on a show, even though he’s quite capable of one, and there’s not a chance your heart won’t warm to his genuine innocence and humble nature as it pays tribute to the power of kindness.
This book is written in a good old-fashioned storytelling kind of style; a true “Once Upon A Time” tale that will make you abandon all suspicion and grab hold of your belief in magic and endless possibility—something that comes so easily in our youth.
The plot is delivered in first person narratives and just about every major character gets a turn at their own perspective. We get inside everyone’s mind and learn how each of them views the curious case of Weylyn.
With all of these incredible ideas at play, I felt that some more depth would have helped to back them up, and I sometimes wished the story dug a bit deeper into the mystery behind the magic.
However, even that didn’t cause the story to feel like it was “lacking”—but as though a bit more could have been added. And, as my good friend Norma pointed out, not every mystery is meant to be solved.
This was a gentle read, and certainly a fantastic one, with expert prose and breathtaking imagery, and I’d highly recommend to fans of magical realism and great storytelling!
Book Stats:
▪ Genre/Category: Magical Realsim/ Fantasy
▪ Characters: Solid, well-constructed cast of lovable characters.
▪ Plot: Spans decades, following a young orphaned boy with certain magical “powers” into adulthood, spanning decades.
▪ Writing: Vivid and imaginative. Beautiful descriptions.
▪ POV: 1st Person Perspective: Various narrators.
▪ Cliffhanger: None. Standalone
*Traveling Friends read*
July 14, 2018
”Why do you do that?”
“Do what?”
“Take something beautiful and vandalize it with skepticism?”
first of all, a million gratitudes to st. martins for sending me a copy of this book. it was on my radar as “looks like my kind of thing,” but i’ve been trying not to buy hardcovers, especially hardcovers by authors new to me, until wealth finds me, so when they offered this unto me, i was all a-squeal.
i knew i would like it, but i didn’t expect to like it this much.
it is in fact SO MUCH “my kind of thing” that i’m a little swoony. it’s magical realism, sure, but even more than that, it’s pure storytelling. which, no, thank you very much, is not what all authors do. in fact, very few have the knack for it, and this book has gone a long way towards filling the hole in my heart that appeared when donald harington died.
it’s clear, direct, clean prose that’s not trying to be post- or post-post- or meta-anything, that’s not compensating for a lack of direction with literary gimmicks, that’s not fecund with self-importance or message or meaning, that doesn’t need to use words like “fecund” to show off.
which is not to say that it’s simple or unambitious or anything like that - like i said, there aren’t many writers who can pull this off, because when you streamline and take away all the distractions to the reader, there’s less to hide behind. as any magician will tell you, it takes more skill to work clean but it’s a more impressive show. and make no mistake, this book is magical.
as far as the plot goes, it’s about the life of weylyn grey, an orphaned boy raised by wolves who has a number of unusual abilities best summarized as “affecting the natural world.” he can create or prevent weather, communicate with animals (including his pet horned pig, merlin ♥), restore or regrow plants, etc. there’s no explanation about why he has these abilities, for which i am grateful, and it’s more like his presence inspires these occurrences, through some heightened connection to nature, which connection made itself known from the book’s opening chapter, also known to me as that time i was hooked. from. page. one.
that is how i like my writing to be; it’s fluid, vivid, lightly cadenced, it’s just meat falling off the bone. it’s hard to describe, but when it’s done right, i’m all thrills and flutters. and when it’s done right in a debut? well, i dunno - because it rarely happens. even harington’s first, Lightning Bug, wasn’t anywhere near him at his full powers, and to me, he’s the gold standard for this kind of magical american folkloristic writing.
unlike harington’s invented town of stay more, arkansas, where magic and oddness was woven into the existence of the town and people, here weylyn stands alone, the gooey magical center around which the rest of the world remains ordinary. and it is this normal world who gets to tell his story - the novel is narrated by the people weylyn meets along his travels, some who become a sort of scattered surrogate family, relating their experiences with him throughout several different periods in his life in the brief pauses before he moves on again.
it's just great. and if i don't cut myself off here, i will go on and on all day and no one needs more of me babbling. i think this one's a keeper. if you and me tend to have the same tastes, you should get on this one as soon as possible. if not, do it for merlin
******************************************
thoroughly enjoyable/magically delicious.
review to come.
come to my blog!
“Do what?”
“Take something beautiful and vandalize it with skepticism?”
first of all, a million gratitudes to st. martins for sending me a copy of this book. it was on my radar as “looks like my kind of thing,” but i’ve been trying not to buy hardcovers, especially hardcovers by authors new to me, until wealth finds me, so when they offered this unto me, i was all a-squeal.
i knew i would like it, but i didn’t expect to like it this much.
it is in fact SO MUCH “my kind of thing” that i’m a little swoony. it’s magical realism, sure, but even more than that, it’s pure storytelling. which, no, thank you very much, is not what all authors do. in fact, very few have the knack for it, and this book has gone a long way towards filling the hole in my heart that appeared when donald harington died.
it’s clear, direct, clean prose that’s not trying to be post- or post-post- or meta-anything, that’s not compensating for a lack of direction with literary gimmicks, that’s not fecund with self-importance or message or meaning, that doesn’t need to use words like “fecund” to show off.
which is not to say that it’s simple or unambitious or anything like that - like i said, there aren’t many writers who can pull this off, because when you streamline and take away all the distractions to the reader, there’s less to hide behind. as any magician will tell you, it takes more skill to work clean but it’s a more impressive show. and make no mistake, this book is magical.
as far as the plot goes, it’s about the life of weylyn grey, an orphaned boy raised by wolves who has a number of unusual abilities best summarized as “affecting the natural world.” he can create or prevent weather, communicate with animals (including his pet horned pig, merlin ♥), restore or regrow plants, etc. there’s no explanation about why he has these abilities, for which i am grateful, and it’s more like his presence inspires these occurrences, through some heightened connection to nature, which connection made itself known from the book’s opening chapter, also known to me as that time i was hooked. from. page. one.
I have delivered over a thousand babies in my career, but one in particular stands out in my mind. Weylyn was by all outward appearances a healthy baby boy: eight pounds, two ounces, all the necessary parts accounted for, and a wail that could shatter good china. He fit perfectly in the crook of his mother's arm and watched her with one eye, carefully, as she was still a stranger to him. I would have forgotten all about this seemingly ordinary child if it hadn't been for the storm.
The moment Weylyn took his first bewildered gulp of fresh air, it began to snow. Not just a few flurries, but buckets of the stuff, tumbling through the sky and belly flopping on the ground outside the hospital room window. By the time the nurses had him cleaned and swaddled, there was a good six inches on the ground.
It was June 29.
The child turned one eye on me, then opened the other like a backward wink. His irises were molten pools of solder that had not yet set, and for a moment I thought I could see a fire behind them, keeping them liquid.
"He's a healthy baby boy," I told the mother, trying my best not to sound unnerved.
Weylyn's eyes closed peacefully, and the snow melted almost as quickly as it had fallen, leaving shimmering gray puddles on the sidewalk below.
that is how i like my writing to be; it’s fluid, vivid, lightly cadenced, it’s just meat falling off the bone. it’s hard to describe, but when it’s done right, i’m all thrills and flutters. and when it’s done right in a debut? well, i dunno - because it rarely happens. even harington’s first, Lightning Bug, wasn’t anywhere near him at his full powers, and to me, he’s the gold standard for this kind of magical american folkloristic writing.
unlike harington’s invented town of stay more, arkansas, where magic and oddness was woven into the existence of the town and people, here weylyn stands alone, the gooey magical center around which the rest of the world remains ordinary. and it is this normal world who gets to tell his story - the novel is narrated by the people weylyn meets along his travels, some who become a sort of scattered surrogate family, relating their experiences with him throughout several different periods in his life in the brief pauses before he moves on again.
it's just great. and if i don't cut myself off here, i will go on and on all day and no one needs more of me babbling. i think this one's a keeper. if you and me tend to have the same tastes, you should get on this one as soon as possible. if not, do it for merlin
******************************************
thoroughly enjoyable/magically delicious.
review to come.
come to my blog!
September 4, 2019
🌲 5 Extraordinary Magical Stars for Ruth Emmie Lang's Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance 🐺
I LOVED this book so much! I stayed up late, reading into the wee hours because I couldn't bear to put the book down. I was saddened to turn the final page and find that I was done. I will genuinely miss these characters and the whimsical, magical world contained within the pages of this extraordinary story.
This is not my typical kind of read and I'm so grateful that I opted to join in with a group read which motivated me to branch out of my reading comfort zone. This is a character driven story and the characters are the type that seep into your heart and burrow in - making a space for themselves for the longterm.
"Weylyn is a mystery to me. A strange, intriguing, oddly charming mystery."
The story centers around the extraordinary life of Weylyn Grey who was orphaned as a boy when his parents died in a blizzard. Weylyn was raised by wolves for some years. Having a strong connection to both nature and animals, the wolf pack becomes his family and the woods his home. Weylyn completely stole my heart! For someone who had endured such tragedy in his childhood he had such an amazing life. I don't want to give much away but I will say that I absolutely loved how he always ended up with people who needed him just as much as he needs them. Everyone he met, was touched in some way by having spent time with Weylyn. He is pure innocence & unspoiled goodness with a sprinkle of magic.
"I feel like...before, I had one way of looking t things, and now, I have a million possibilities, and I get to choose."
There were numerous characters in the story as it spanned almost 50 years of Wylen's life. Each section shared a special relationship/time in his life. Each was magical in its own way but my favorites were the relationships between Wylen and his foster sister, Lydia, and the relationship between Weylyn and Mary. They had such special bonds. Both of these women simply embraced Weylyn for who he was. They understood his restless need to roam and his desire to be both part of a family while also still being free.
"Don't leave anything you can't come back to." I know I can come back here and I will be welcomed, and that brings me more comfort than anything else in this world."
That quote seemed a fitting place to end this review. Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance is one book that I know I can always come back to and find comfort in the magical world contained within its pages.
I LOVED this book so much! I stayed up late, reading into the wee hours because I couldn't bear to put the book down. I was saddened to turn the final page and find that I was done. I will genuinely miss these characters and the whimsical, magical world contained within the pages of this extraordinary story.
This is not my typical kind of read and I'm so grateful that I opted to join in with a group read which motivated me to branch out of my reading comfort zone. This is a character driven story and the characters are the type that seep into your heart and burrow in - making a space for themselves for the longterm.
"Weylyn is a mystery to me. A strange, intriguing, oddly charming mystery."
The story centers around the extraordinary life of Weylyn Grey who was orphaned as a boy when his parents died in a blizzard. Weylyn was raised by wolves for some years. Having a strong connection to both nature and animals, the wolf pack becomes his family and the woods his home. Weylyn completely stole my heart! For someone who had endured such tragedy in his childhood he had such an amazing life. I don't want to give much away but I will say that I absolutely loved how he always ended up with people who needed him just as much as he needs them. Everyone he met, was touched in some way by having spent time with Weylyn. He is pure innocence & unspoiled goodness with a sprinkle of magic.
"I feel like...before, I had one way of looking t things, and now, I have a million possibilities, and I get to choose."
There were numerous characters in the story as it spanned almost 50 years of Wylen's life. Each section shared a special relationship/time in his life. Each was magical in its own way but my favorites were the relationships between Wylen and his foster sister, Lydia, and the relationship between Weylyn and Mary. They had such special bonds. Both of these women simply embraced Weylyn for who he was. They understood his restless need to roam and his desire to be both part of a family while also still being free.
"Don't leave anything you can't come back to." I know I can come back here and I will be welcomed, and that brings me more comfort than anything else in this world."
That quote seemed a fitting place to end this review. Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance is one book that I know I can always come back to and find comfort in the magical world contained within its pages.
November 19, 2017
4.5 stars.
One of the factors that helps transform a very good novel into a great one is memorable characters. And while I've read a lot of books this year and over the last several years that featured characters I couldn't quite get out of my mind, it's rare to find a character as special, as incredible as Weylyn Grey, the main character in Ruth Emmie Lang's terrific Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance .
"Weylyn doesn't quite fit into the world we're familiar with," Daddy said, choosing his words carefully. "He's a strange boy, but in a wonderful sort of way."
Orphaned at a young age, Weylyn was raised by wolves—literally, he lived with a pack of wolves—and is more comfortable being with animals and living outdoors than following traditional social constraints. But that doesn't mean he doesn't get lonely, and when he meets 11-year-old Mary Penlore in the woods, and he saves her from being attacked by one of his wolves, Mary realizes that Weylyn is unlike anyone else she has ever met, and even then she realizes she needs him in her life, and in fact, is willing to run away from home and live among the wolves with him.
The thing is, when Weylyn is around, interesting things happen. The weather seems to change dramatically, he can literally communicate with animals of all types, and he seems to be able to stop tornadoes and storms from happening. But at times, it also appears he might cause those things to happen. He can't explain it, and no one around him can either (if they actually believe what they see), but his biggest fear is somehow he'll cause harm to someone he cares about, so he's more willing to go it alone than hurt someone.
"I've been called magic, but I wouldn't use that term exactly. I like to think of myself as always being in the right place at the right time, or the wrong place at the wrong time. Very rarely am I simply in an acceptable place at a generally convenient time."
Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance follows Weylyn through his life, as he makes his way across the country. It's a story told by those who got to know him, even for a short while, and feel the amazing impact he had on their lives. A family challenged by the decision to take young Weylyn in as a foster child, a teacher struggling with her own childlessness, a young mayor tired of living his life in his father's shadow, even a young boy who wants to believe magic is real—these are the people whose lives Weylyn touches. And as a touch point is Mary, whose life always bears the indelible impact of knowing him.
This is one of those special books that requires you to suspend your disbelief, or simply believe that there are things in life that may seem impossible to grasp, but you just need to accept them. If magic, and communicating with animals, and causing strange phenomena to occur doesn't appeal to you, you'll probably not enjoy this book. But if you do, and you can just let yourself take a leap along with the characters, this is a story you'll marvel over.
I was absolutely charmed by this book from start to finish. I loved nearly all of the characters and I loved Weylyn's relationships with the many people he met. One character remarked that Weylyn might be "too good for this world," but fortunately the world isn't quite as cruel to him as I feared it might be. I also worried that Lang might take the plot into melodramatic territory, and I was so pleased she steered clear of that.
Lang is a fantastic storyteller, and her imagery and dialogue are so skilled, it's so hard to believe this is her debut novel. Books like this don't come along too often, so this is a special one to savor. I can't wait to see what Lang has up her sleeve in the future.
NetGalley and St. Martin's Press provided me an advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making this available!
See all of my reviews at http://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blo....
One of the factors that helps transform a very good novel into a great one is memorable characters. And while I've read a lot of books this year and over the last several years that featured characters I couldn't quite get out of my mind, it's rare to find a character as special, as incredible as Weylyn Grey, the main character in Ruth Emmie Lang's terrific Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance .
"Weylyn doesn't quite fit into the world we're familiar with," Daddy said, choosing his words carefully. "He's a strange boy, but in a wonderful sort of way."
Orphaned at a young age, Weylyn was raised by wolves—literally, he lived with a pack of wolves—and is more comfortable being with animals and living outdoors than following traditional social constraints. But that doesn't mean he doesn't get lonely, and when he meets 11-year-old Mary Penlore in the woods, and he saves her from being attacked by one of his wolves, Mary realizes that Weylyn is unlike anyone else she has ever met, and even then she realizes she needs him in her life, and in fact, is willing to run away from home and live among the wolves with him.
The thing is, when Weylyn is around, interesting things happen. The weather seems to change dramatically, he can literally communicate with animals of all types, and he seems to be able to stop tornadoes and storms from happening. But at times, it also appears he might cause those things to happen. He can't explain it, and no one around him can either (if they actually believe what they see), but his biggest fear is somehow he'll cause harm to someone he cares about, so he's more willing to go it alone than hurt someone.
"I've been called magic, but I wouldn't use that term exactly. I like to think of myself as always being in the right place at the right time, or the wrong place at the wrong time. Very rarely am I simply in an acceptable place at a generally convenient time."
Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance follows Weylyn through his life, as he makes his way across the country. It's a story told by those who got to know him, even for a short while, and feel the amazing impact he had on their lives. A family challenged by the decision to take young Weylyn in as a foster child, a teacher struggling with her own childlessness, a young mayor tired of living his life in his father's shadow, even a young boy who wants to believe magic is real—these are the people whose lives Weylyn touches. And as a touch point is Mary, whose life always bears the indelible impact of knowing him.
This is one of those special books that requires you to suspend your disbelief, or simply believe that there are things in life that may seem impossible to grasp, but you just need to accept them. If magic, and communicating with animals, and causing strange phenomena to occur doesn't appeal to you, you'll probably not enjoy this book. But if you do, and you can just let yourself take a leap along with the characters, this is a story you'll marvel over.
I was absolutely charmed by this book from start to finish. I loved nearly all of the characters and I loved Weylyn's relationships with the many people he met. One character remarked that Weylyn might be "too good for this world," but fortunately the world isn't quite as cruel to him as I feared it might be. I also worried that Lang might take the plot into melodramatic territory, and I was so pleased she steered clear of that.
Lang is a fantastic storyteller, and her imagery and dialogue are so skilled, it's so hard to believe this is her debut novel. Books like this don't come along too often, so this is a special one to savor. I can't wait to see what Lang has up her sleeve in the future.
NetGalley and St. Martin's Press provided me an advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making this available!
See all of my reviews at http://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blo....
July 29, 2020
When I started this book it didn't appeal to me right away. I kind of felt skeptical about buying into the premise at first. It grew on me though, I think mostly because of what felt like very realistic and understandable reactions from the other characters in the book. The beginning also felt somewhat disjointed and I remember feeling annoyed about it and how all of it fit together. Lang did a pretty good job bringing it all back together in the end though. I also felt like it was weird at points how even when we were reading something from a child's perspective that it felt oddly mature and adult like, especially with Roarke but that's not really the author's fault because it is being told as if the events took place in the past and are being told to us by an older adult person. I still found it weird though at times. This was good though, it managed to balance magic realism by the end in a way that let me suspend disbelief and it was a fell good story that didn't feel too saccharine. This one was four stars for me.
November 14, 2017
This is - again - one of those books I was sure I would love but didn't. I enjoyed reading it but I just thought I would adore it. On paper it has everything I look for in books: whimsy, fairy-talesque writing, quirky characters with a human core, with a story spanning decades but something didn't quite click for me.
This is Weylyn's story - an orphan raised by wolves, able to control the weather and speak with animals, a gentle soul with a heart of gold. This is also the story of the people whose lives he touched and changed and influenced. Somehow he is able to make other people better while at the same time being unable to find balance for himself. We only get glimpses of the man he becomes because while he is at the centre of this tale he is also elusive and hard to grasp.
Some of the characters were absolutely brilliant: I adored his adopted sister Lydia and her refusal to be like her parents want her to be. Their sibling relationship was beautifully executed and I would have loved to spend more time with them together. I also thought Weylyn's first teacher, Meg Lowry, was a great character, hardworking and honest and so willing to do what's right.
The least convincing part of the book for me was Weylyn. For some reason he never felt like a proper character but rather a puppet there to move the plot along - or to get other people to think. That made it difficult for me to care about the love story at the core of this book because I found the other characters way more interesting.
As such I found the book worked best when it focussed less on Weylyn and more on the other characters and their lives and decisions. I adored the parts where characters were at a crossroad and had to decide between the easy path or the more difficult path that might lead to more happiness. These parts ran true and were engrossing to read and I wish we had seen more of that.
First sentence: "I have delivered over a thousand babies in my career, but one in particular stands out in my mind."
_____
I received an arc of this book curtesy of NetGalley and St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review. Thanks for that!
This is Weylyn's story - an orphan raised by wolves, able to control the weather and speak with animals, a gentle soul with a heart of gold. This is also the story of the people whose lives he touched and changed and influenced. Somehow he is able to make other people better while at the same time being unable to find balance for himself. We only get glimpses of the man he becomes because while he is at the centre of this tale he is also elusive and hard to grasp.
Some of the characters were absolutely brilliant: I adored his adopted sister Lydia and her refusal to be like her parents want her to be. Their sibling relationship was beautifully executed and I would have loved to spend more time with them together. I also thought Weylyn's first teacher, Meg Lowry, was a great character, hardworking and honest and so willing to do what's right.
The least convincing part of the book for me was Weylyn. For some reason he never felt like a proper character but rather a puppet there to move the plot along - or to get other people to think. That made it difficult for me to care about the love story at the core of this book because I found the other characters way more interesting.
As such I found the book worked best when it focussed less on Weylyn and more on the other characters and their lives and decisions. I adored the parts where characters were at a crossroad and had to decide between the easy path or the more difficult path that might lead to more happiness. These parts ran true and were engrossing to read and I wish we had seen more of that.
First sentence: "I have delivered over a thousand babies in my career, but one in particular stands out in my mind."
_____
I received an arc of this book curtesy of NetGalley and St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review. Thanks for that!
November 25, 2017
Meet Weylen Grey. Orphsned at the age of four, taken in by a wolf pack, loves nature in all it's permutations, needs to feel free, and has strange talents and beliefs. One day, he meets a young girl named Mary, and his life begins to change. Where this story will take him he doesn't know, but he is soon going to find out. This is Weylens story but also the story of all those he touches, and let's into his life
I loved this story, the strangeness, the uniqueness. Sounds trite to say it struck a chord it me, but it did. The tenderness with which all the characters are treated, even those the most flawed. Non judgemental. Touching and honest.
The difficulties those who are different have to fit into acceptable, supposedly normal categories. How they are seen by others, and the trouble they have trying to deny who they are, or what they can do. Of course, most people do not have Weylens particular talents but the struggle they go through are probably much the same. Weylen touches many lives, from a young boy, to a girl who is, well a kind of adopted sister, to a nephew who is in love with super powers and magic. He will change many, before he learns it is possible to find someone who will love him for just him, a journey that just might be worth taking. An unforgettable character.
"I asked my father if he believed in magic, and he said he believed in possibilities.," Well, who is it with enough hubris to say that they understand everything in the world? Not me, but I do believe in possibilities, and would love to have a little of the magic of Weylen in my life.
ARC from Netgalley.
I loved this story, the strangeness, the uniqueness. Sounds trite to say it struck a chord it me, but it did. The tenderness with which all the characters are treated, even those the most flawed. Non judgemental. Touching and honest.
The difficulties those who are different have to fit into acceptable, supposedly normal categories. How they are seen by others, and the trouble they have trying to deny who they are, or what they can do. Of course, most people do not have Weylens particular talents but the struggle they go through are probably much the same. Weylen touches many lives, from a young boy, to a girl who is, well a kind of adopted sister, to a nephew who is in love with super powers and magic. He will change many, before he learns it is possible to find someone who will love him for just him, a journey that just might be worth taking. An unforgettable character.
"I asked my father if he believed in magic, and he said he believed in possibilities.," Well, who is it with enough hubris to say that they understand everything in the world? Not me, but I do believe in possibilities, and would love to have a little of the magic of Weylen in my life.
ARC from Netgalley.
August 17, 2018
4.5 Stars!
This was a Traveling Friends read that I almost missed participating in as I didn’t have myself a copy of this book but after popping into the first goal thread I knew that I had to rectify that immediately. The words magic, whimsical, and mysterious are definitely elements that I am attracted to so on my way to Amazon I went.
BEASTS OF EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCE by RUTH EMMIE LANG is an engaging, charming, heartwarming, and a mesmerizing tale that gave me such a warm and serene feeling while I was reading this book. I was totally entranced in this tale right from the very beginning which is about a young boy named Weylyn who was raised by wolves.
RUTH EMMIE LANG delivers an absolutely beautifully written, appealing, and magical read here with a storyline that will bewitch you and enchanting characters that you won’t soon forget. Weylyn by far was such a special, endearing, and the most wonderful character that I have ever come across in a book. His innocence and sweet demeanour was so adorable and truly extraordinary.
The way that we got to know Weylyn through the stories of everyone that he encountered throughout his life was such a clever and heartfelt way to truly and wholeheartedly embrace this character.
The magical realism of this novel wasn’t really explained to us in too much depth and I would have liked that to have been explored a little bit more. But, with that being said I do absolutely believe that leaving us with a little bit of mystery and wonderment to the circumstances surrounding Weylyn’s extraordinary life was quite the clever and brilliant way to end this story.
I was truly entertained & thoroughly enjoyed escaping into Weylyn’s extraordinary life every time I held this book in my hands! Would highly recommend!
* Traveling Friends Read and a special thank you to my dear friend Kris for helping me figure out what made this book so mysteriously extraordinary!
This review can be found on our themed book blog:
https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com
This was a Traveling Friends read that I almost missed participating in as I didn’t have myself a copy of this book but after popping into the first goal thread I knew that I had to rectify that immediately. The words magic, whimsical, and mysterious are definitely elements that I am attracted to so on my way to Amazon I went.
BEASTS OF EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCE by RUTH EMMIE LANG is an engaging, charming, heartwarming, and a mesmerizing tale that gave me such a warm and serene feeling while I was reading this book. I was totally entranced in this tale right from the very beginning which is about a young boy named Weylyn who was raised by wolves.
RUTH EMMIE LANG delivers an absolutely beautifully written, appealing, and magical read here with a storyline that will bewitch you and enchanting characters that you won’t soon forget. Weylyn by far was such a special, endearing, and the most wonderful character that I have ever come across in a book. His innocence and sweet demeanour was so adorable and truly extraordinary.
The way that we got to know Weylyn through the stories of everyone that he encountered throughout his life was such a clever and heartfelt way to truly and wholeheartedly embrace this character.
The magical realism of this novel wasn’t really explained to us in too much depth and I would have liked that to have been explored a little bit more. But, with that being said I do absolutely believe that leaving us with a little bit of mystery and wonderment to the circumstances surrounding Weylyn’s extraordinary life was quite the clever and brilliant way to end this story.
I was truly entertained & thoroughly enjoyed escaping into Weylyn’s extraordinary life every time I held this book in my hands! Would highly recommend!
* Traveling Friends Read and a special thank you to my dear friend Kris for helping me figure out what made this book so mysteriously extraordinary!
This review can be found on our themed book blog:
https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com
January 1, 2018
5 Glorious, Heartfelt, Happy and Truly Magical Stars.
Oh, how wonderful it is to read one final book in the year 2017 and have it be Ruth Emmie Lang’s “Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance.” I loved this magical and altogether whimsical book with every fiber of my being and every breath that escapes me. My cup runneth over!
Wevlyn Grey is a boy who is raised like no other. By wolves. He even calls one ma. His parents died in a snow storm, their car crashing and thereafter, he lived in the woods. In some mystical way, Wevlyn Grey understand animals and his interaction with them is harmonious.
One incredible day, he meets Mary and she recognizes how special Wevlyn is. He convinces her to run away with them. And amazingly enough, she does.
As the years pass, Wevlyn meets a quite a few people. All of them notice that he is a different sort of man. After all, strange things happen when is around, he seems to have powers, so to speak. Rain and/or snow starts and stops, as do other weather phenomena.
Wevlyn is a man who acts selflessly, yet his actions are at times viewed to be selfish. His behavior is different and therefore, he is feared. At those times, your heart breaks for this truly beautiful and genuine man, who doesn’t fit into the world as we know it. When these things happen, Wevlyn is terribly afraid of hurting people even though his impact on them is profound and soulful. Each person Wevlyn comes into contact with knows it – unfortunately he does not. There are, however, several people who do not give up on Wevlyn Grey, whose heart of gold, and magical spirit, have festered deep within, and they will do their best to fight for him and persevere.
“Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance” was one of my favorite reads of 2017. And what a read it was! It stole my heart and then some. I loved Wevlyn’s magical, whimsical personality, his kind heart, the sweet creatures he “spoke” to, and all of the people Wevlyn encountered, especially his step-sister Lydia, his foster mother Meg, Mayor Bobby, Gus and of course, Mary. I also adored Wevlyn’s relationship with Ma. What a wolf! The characters souls shined through like a bright light that zinged straight to my heart. This is a book that encapsulates all of the goodness of the literary world. “Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance” contains magical realism and while it may require you to suspend a teeny tiny bit of belief, it is worth it: your heart will sing and you won’t be able to contain that smile that will simply come bursting forth. This phenomenal book by Ruth Emmie Lang is a must-read. I loved it with all of my heart and soul. I hope you will too.
I read this book because of my GR friend Larry H’s absolutely stellar review. It moved me so much that I just knew I had to read this book. Over the last year, several of Larry’s reviews have made me want to read the books he reviewed (interestingly enough another was a book about magical realism “Himself” – which I also loved!). Thanks Larry! Keep them coming.
This was a buddy read with Jan. We both really enjoyed this and I’m so glad we read it together! Thanks for reading it with me Jan. Happy 2018 my friend (and sister)!
Published on Goodreads, Amazon, Twitter and Instagram on 1.1.18.
Oh, how wonderful it is to read one final book in the year 2017 and have it be Ruth Emmie Lang’s “Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance.” I loved this magical and altogether whimsical book with every fiber of my being and every breath that escapes me. My cup runneth over!
Wevlyn Grey is a boy who is raised like no other. By wolves. He even calls one ma. His parents died in a snow storm, their car crashing and thereafter, he lived in the woods. In some mystical way, Wevlyn Grey understand animals and his interaction with them is harmonious.
One incredible day, he meets Mary and she recognizes how special Wevlyn is. He convinces her to run away with them. And amazingly enough, she does.
As the years pass, Wevlyn meets a quite a few people. All of them notice that he is a different sort of man. After all, strange things happen when is around, he seems to have powers, so to speak. Rain and/or snow starts and stops, as do other weather phenomena.
Wevlyn is a man who acts selflessly, yet his actions are at times viewed to be selfish. His behavior is different and therefore, he is feared. At those times, your heart breaks for this truly beautiful and genuine man, who doesn’t fit into the world as we know it. When these things happen, Wevlyn is terribly afraid of hurting people even though his impact on them is profound and soulful. Each person Wevlyn comes into contact with knows it – unfortunately he does not. There are, however, several people who do not give up on Wevlyn Grey, whose heart of gold, and magical spirit, have festered deep within, and they will do their best to fight for him and persevere.
“Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance” was one of my favorite reads of 2017. And what a read it was! It stole my heart and then some. I loved Wevlyn’s magical, whimsical personality, his kind heart, the sweet creatures he “spoke” to, and all of the people Wevlyn encountered, especially his step-sister Lydia, his foster mother Meg, Mayor Bobby, Gus and of course, Mary. I also adored Wevlyn’s relationship with Ma. What a wolf! The characters souls shined through like a bright light that zinged straight to my heart. This is a book that encapsulates all of the goodness of the literary world. “Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance” contains magical realism and while it may require you to suspend a teeny tiny bit of belief, it is worth it: your heart will sing and you won’t be able to contain that smile that will simply come bursting forth. This phenomenal book by Ruth Emmie Lang is a must-read. I loved it with all of my heart and soul. I hope you will too.
I read this book because of my GR friend Larry H’s absolutely stellar review. It moved me so much that I just knew I had to read this book. Over the last year, several of Larry’s reviews have made me want to read the books he reviewed (interestingly enough another was a book about magical realism “Himself” – which I also loved!). Thanks Larry! Keep them coming.
This was a buddy read with Jan. We both really enjoyed this and I’m so glad we read it together! Thanks for reading it with me Jan. Happy 2018 my friend (and sister)!
Published on Goodreads, Amazon, Twitter and Instagram on 1.1.18.
January 27, 2018
5 magical stars to this story of Weylen Grey, who’s parents died when he was young, and he lived with wolves.
This is the story of the people he engaged with during his life, and the magic that occurred simply by his being... This story touched my heart!!!❤️❤️
Forgot to mention...,this is also a love story!!
This is the story of the people he engaged with during his life, and the magic that occurred simply by his being... This story touched my heart!!!❤️❤️
Forgot to mention...,this is also a love story!!
January 1, 2018
5 shining stars and a place on my 2017 favorites list!
Every once in a while you come across a character in a book that grabs your heart and just won’t let go. For me, Weylyn is that character. Weylyn has made a lasting impression not only on everyone he meets in the pages of this novel, he’s made a lasting impression on me.
What a perfect book to read at the end of a fantastic reading year. I read this as a buddy read with Susanne, which was a fantastic way to enjoy and discuss this wonderful book. Thank you Susanne!
Weylyn Grey's story arc is the stuff of fairy tales. Orphaned and raised by wolves, he has magical powers, and struggles to fit into the world. The reader learns about Weylyn from the perspective of the characters he meets along the way. I normally dislike this method of storytelling, but in this book, it works, and it works beautifully. Weylyn is the glue that holds all the stories together. The descriptions of the places he visits are so beautiful I could envision being there. The magic is so well done it never felt out of place because, while it was fantastical, it was all grounded in the real world, with real characters.
I’ve always had a soft spot for the lonely misfit, and Weylyn touched my heart. I loved his child-like wonder at the world, his appreciation for all the things that we often take for granted, his goodness of heart. And while he didn’t fit into society and was thought of as weird, he often didn’t care what people thought, and followed his instincts. But down deep he longed to fit in and live a “normal” life.
But to me, it isn’t about him fitting in as much as it is about the people around him accepting him for who he is. Not surprisingly, most of the people who befriend and accept Weylyn are somewhat of an outcast themselves, or they are damaged in some way. Which is a lesson to ponder. While Weylyn makes a strong impact on the people he meets along the way, and changes their lives for the better, he doesn’t see it that way. He thinks his powers ruins people’s lives and to protect them, he must keep moving from place to place, never staying in a place for long, or finding a place to call home. Other's lives are changed but his losses only multiply.
He doesn't see himself as deserving and worthy of what he wants most in the world. Can Weylyn open his heart to possibilities and find the courage to take the first step? The reader finally hears the story from Weylyn’s perspective in the last chapter, and what wonderful way to end the book it was. I closed the last page with a smile on my face and a warm feeling in my heart. The cover of this book is beautiful, and when I finished I realized the meaning of it and loved it even more.
Edited to add:
There are overt, and not so overt references to movies and books: To Kill A Mockingbird, White Fang, Charlotte’s Web, Dr. Doolittle, The Jungle Book, Harry Potter, and probably more that I’ve missed. I loved this nod to so many great books.
Magical realism has not been my go-to genre, but I’ve recently discovered I like it quite a lot. Highly recommended for those who like charming, whimsical, magical, warm-hearted, character-driven novels.
** many thanks to Netgalley, Ruth Emmie Lang, and St. Martin’s Press for an e-galley of the book in exchange for an honest review
Every once in a while you come across a character in a book that grabs your heart and just won’t let go. For me, Weylyn is that character. Weylyn has made a lasting impression not only on everyone he meets in the pages of this novel, he’s made a lasting impression on me.
What a perfect book to read at the end of a fantastic reading year. I read this as a buddy read with Susanne, which was a fantastic way to enjoy and discuss this wonderful book. Thank you Susanne!
Weylyn Grey's story arc is the stuff of fairy tales. Orphaned and raised by wolves, he has magical powers, and struggles to fit into the world. The reader learns about Weylyn from the perspective of the characters he meets along the way. I normally dislike this method of storytelling, but in this book, it works, and it works beautifully. Weylyn is the glue that holds all the stories together. The descriptions of the places he visits are so beautiful I could envision being there. The magic is so well done it never felt out of place because, while it was fantastical, it was all grounded in the real world, with real characters.
I’ve always had a soft spot for the lonely misfit, and Weylyn touched my heart. I loved his child-like wonder at the world, his appreciation for all the things that we often take for granted, his goodness of heart. And while he didn’t fit into society and was thought of as weird, he often didn’t care what people thought, and followed his instincts. But down deep he longed to fit in and live a “normal” life.
But to me, it isn’t about him fitting in as much as it is about the people around him accepting him for who he is. Not surprisingly, most of the people who befriend and accept Weylyn are somewhat of an outcast themselves, or they are damaged in some way. Which is a lesson to ponder. While Weylyn makes a strong impact on the people he meets along the way, and changes their lives for the better, he doesn’t see it that way. He thinks his powers ruins people’s lives and to protect them, he must keep moving from place to place, never staying in a place for long, or finding a place to call home. Other's lives are changed but his losses only multiply.
He doesn't see himself as deserving and worthy of what he wants most in the world. Can Weylyn open his heart to possibilities and find the courage to take the first step? The reader finally hears the story from Weylyn’s perspective in the last chapter, and what wonderful way to end the book it was. I closed the last page with a smile on my face and a warm feeling in my heart. The cover of this book is beautiful, and when I finished I realized the meaning of it and loved it even more.
Edited to add:
There are overt, and not so overt references to movies and books: To Kill A Mockingbird, White Fang, Charlotte’s Web, Dr. Doolittle, The Jungle Book, Harry Potter, and probably more that I’ve missed. I loved this nod to so many great books.
Magical realism has not been my go-to genre, but I’ve recently discovered I like it quite a lot. Highly recommended for those who like charming, whimsical, magical, warm-hearted, character-driven novels.
** many thanks to Netgalley, Ruth Emmie Lang, and St. Martin’s Press for an e-galley of the book in exchange for an honest review
December 10, 2022
"Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance" by Ruth Emmie-Lang is the Story of Weylyn Grey's Magical Life.
Are you in the mood for a dose of Magical Realism?
If so, this could be a book for you with three reasons why:
Reason #1: The Main Character:
This is one my favorite read for 2022 and one that will stay with me for a good long time. Forever, hopefully, and the reason is because of the wonderful main character of Weylyn Grey.
Weylyn lives a unique existence from a very young age. He knows he's not like other people but with his humble disposition you'd never guess how special he really is. He can do things others can't or even imagine through his innate connection to animals and nature. He's a gentle soul, honest to a fault, and respectful. You might say, he's almost perfect.
Reason #2: The Writing:
What I love in a book is an author whose evocative writing is beautifully lyrical, storytelling that's creative and entertaining, and characters that are fully developed, and offer connectivity. Here I sit before you, my friends, one happy and contented reader, who has hit a book "lotto", thanks to the writing of Ruth Emmie-Lang.
Reason #3: The Emotional Pull:
This is Weylyn's story from childhood through late-in-life years as told through the perspective of individuals who were impacted by his presence in their lives. Individuals who grew to know him, care about and support him, and learned to understand his specialness.
While this book is about Weylyn, the supporting characters are the backbone of his story as we learn how each of them are magnetically and emotionally pulled to him. This grew to be just as much their story as Weylyn's.
The audiobook is an amazing experience through the narrations of Peter Berkrot, Cassandra Campbell, Danny Campbell, and Piper Goodeve. All four narrators are equally responsible for bringing this story to life and my heart is still humming from listening to this audiobook months ago.
This story has my heart from beginning to end with its wonderful characters, love of family, believing in oneself, fear and acceptance of the unknown, and the magic of love. It's all surrounded by the pureness and turmoil of Weylyn Grey's magical life and I highly recommend this book and audiobook to all who love reading a beautifully written story. All 5 magical stars!
Are you in the mood for a dose of Magical Realism?
If so, this could be a book for you with three reasons why:
Reason #1: The Main Character:
This is one my favorite read for 2022 and one that will stay with me for a good long time. Forever, hopefully, and the reason is because of the wonderful main character of Weylyn Grey.
Weylyn lives a unique existence from a very young age. He knows he's not like other people but with his humble disposition you'd never guess how special he really is. He can do things others can't or even imagine through his innate connection to animals and nature. He's a gentle soul, honest to a fault, and respectful. You might say, he's almost perfect.
Reason #2: The Writing:
What I love in a book is an author whose evocative writing is beautifully lyrical, storytelling that's creative and entertaining, and characters that are fully developed, and offer connectivity. Here I sit before you, my friends, one happy and contented reader, who has hit a book "lotto", thanks to the writing of Ruth Emmie-Lang.
Reason #3: The Emotional Pull:
This is Weylyn's story from childhood through late-in-life years as told through the perspective of individuals who were impacted by his presence in their lives. Individuals who grew to know him, care about and support him, and learned to understand his specialness.
While this book is about Weylyn, the supporting characters are the backbone of his story as we learn how each of them are magnetically and emotionally pulled to him. This grew to be just as much their story as Weylyn's.
The audiobook is an amazing experience through the narrations of Peter Berkrot, Cassandra Campbell, Danny Campbell, and Piper Goodeve. All four narrators are equally responsible for bringing this story to life and my heart is still humming from listening to this audiobook months ago.
This story has my heart from beginning to end with its wonderful characters, love of family, believing in oneself, fear and acceptance of the unknown, and the magic of love. It's all surrounded by the pureness and turmoil of Weylyn Grey's magical life and I highly recommend this book and audiobook to all who love reading a beautifully written story. All 5 magical stars!
August 28, 2020
I’ve really grown to appreciate more and more the books I read that make my heart happy. What Ruth Emmie Lang has written here is like a love letter to everything charming, innocent, lovely and wondrous about life. At its heart, it’s a love story, not only in the classical sense, but also a love story between man and nature, the bond between family members, both biological and chosen, and those between humans and animals. The centerpiece of this story, told in six parts, or “books”, over the course of almost 50 years, is Weylyn Grey, an enigmatic and curious figure who we first meet as a young boy being raised by a wolf pack after losing his parents in a tragic accident. There he meets 11-yr old Mary Penlore, the daughter of a butcher, who has come to deliver meat to the pack. Having lost her own mother, she and Weylyn forge a mutual understanding and friendship that forms the basis of the reader’s journey through the book. Her affinity for him and the wolves he lives among gives her a unique insight into him that guides the course of events throughout. It isn’t a smooth journey, mind you. There are lots of fits and starts to their story, as life and circumstance move them along, sometimes together, sometimes apart over the course of several decades.
A constant throughout this magical realism tale is Weylyn coming to terms with the special powers that seem to be tied to his emotional frame of mind at any given moment, whether frustration, sadness or even extreme happiness. His inability to control these unusual occurrences, generally involving weather and nature, causes him to question his ability to fully live as a human and experience the normal relationships with those whose lives are intertwined with his. His impulse to protect others, while noble in intent, often causes him to run away from situations, rather than stay and work through them. His tale is told mostly through the eyes of these people, rather than Weylyn himself. Each book is a look into his journey from boy to man, and is told in a clever rotating two-character narrative that fleshes out what was happening in his life at the time by those who know him best. These are interspersed with current day interludes, told through the eyes of a spirited, but wise boy named Roarke. Along the way, we meet a host of wonderful characters, both human and animal, whose own stories are as fascinating and enjoyable as Weylyn’s and Mary’s. Ultimately, the story belongs to these two, though, and it’s a delightful, heartwarming, magical, feel-good tale, full of adventure, truckloads of humor and charm, and all around goodness. I highly recommend it.
★★★★★ ❤️
A constant throughout this magical realism tale is Weylyn coming to terms with the special powers that seem to be tied to his emotional frame of mind at any given moment, whether frustration, sadness or even extreme happiness. His inability to control these unusual occurrences, generally involving weather and nature, causes him to question his ability to fully live as a human and experience the normal relationships with those whose lives are intertwined with his. His impulse to protect others, while noble in intent, often causes him to run away from situations, rather than stay and work through them. His tale is told mostly through the eyes of these people, rather than Weylyn himself. Each book is a look into his journey from boy to man, and is told in a clever rotating two-character narrative that fleshes out what was happening in his life at the time by those who know him best. These are interspersed with current day interludes, told through the eyes of a spirited, but wise boy named Roarke. Along the way, we meet a host of wonderful characters, both human and animal, whose own stories are as fascinating and enjoyable as Weylyn’s and Mary’s. Ultimately, the story belongs to these two, though, and it’s a delightful, heartwarming, magical, feel-good tale, full of adventure, truckloads of humor and charm, and all around goodness. I highly recommend it.
★★★★★ ❤️
February 7, 2019
I wanted something light, whimsical, and I wanted magical realism. I wanted to clear my mind from a WW2 book and as I read through my massive TBR pile, this one jumped out at me. I mean, the title alone can draw you in. So I grabbed the audio and started it immediately.
Weylyn Grey is a young child whose parents died and he is raised by and lives with wolves. But he's different. Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance tells the entire life story of Weylyn Grey and it's told through the eyes many people who know him or cross paths with him. He has these abilities. He can talk to animals, he can control the weather, he can tug at your heart strings, and he can pretty much charm everyone he knows. Well, I guess I'm in the minority on this one as I found it just OK. A tad on the slow side I thought. Yes, Weylyn is a unique character but at times I thought he's been around living in the world for so long, he really shouldn't still be this naive. Some of the characters that move in and out of his life are good characters but nothing was really standing out for me. Some of the things that happened I felt were not fully developed or explained. I am a magical realism fan but I thought this was kinda light on it. Fantasy....still trying to figure that part out.
The audio was good with multiple narrators. The voice for Weylyn Grey, hmmmm....always sounded a bit childish to me, even when he was an adult. I know many people just adore this one and there are great reviews on it. It just wasn't a stand-out for me.
Weylyn Grey is a young child whose parents died and he is raised by and lives with wolves. But he's different. Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance tells the entire life story of Weylyn Grey and it's told through the eyes many people who know him or cross paths with him. He has these abilities. He can talk to animals, he can control the weather, he can tug at your heart strings, and he can pretty much charm everyone he knows. Well, I guess I'm in the minority on this one as I found it just OK. A tad on the slow side I thought. Yes, Weylyn is a unique character but at times I thought he's been around living in the world for so long, he really shouldn't still be this naive. Some of the characters that move in and out of his life are good characters but nothing was really standing out for me. Some of the things that happened I felt were not fully developed or explained. I am a magical realism fan but I thought this was kinda light on it. Fantasy....still trying to figure that part out.
The audio was good with multiple narrators. The voice for Weylyn Grey, hmmmm....always sounded a bit childish to me, even when he was an adult. I know many people just adore this one and there are great reviews on it. It just wasn't a stand-out for me.
February 6, 2018
My name is Weylen Grey, and I'm near-sighted, allergic to ragweed, and my feet are flat. I can't cast spells, I don't grant wishes, and I'm not sure if I can turn a frog into a prince, but I have no intention of finding out. Some people like to think I can affect the weather, but I'd still recommend a a good, old-fashioned umbrella for keeping the rain off. It's also been said that I can talk to animals, but if you want me to teach your dog to speak English, I'm sorry. You're out of luck."
The moment I read Renee's review, I knew I had to read Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance. Fantasy/magical realism is not one of my usual genres but since reading such beautifully written books as The Bear and The Nightingale, The Girl in the Tower, and When the Moon Was Ours, I've been much more open to it.
I've always been fascinated by stories of children who are raised by wolves. There's just something so compelling about the notion of a child being raised without exposure to the often selfish and misguided values of humans. There's such beauty in the simple and authentic ways of the pack. These stories always conjure somewhat romantic notions of pure family relationships, friendships, and living in harmony with nature.
The story is told from alternating perspectives of the characters central to Weylen's life from childhood to old age. I loved his supporting cast. They were supporting in the sense that they helped to carry the story but more importantly in the sense they supported Weylen himself. So often in books with gifted or "different" protagonists, we see the character become isolated and lonely as a result of rejection. Though Weylen certainly faced some social obstacles, he had a beautiful support network to nurture and love him.
As for Weylen himself, he was a character to love. There were times when my heart broke as he struggled with living with his own powers and differences. The sense of strength he conveyed tempered with humility and gentleness endeared him to me to no end.
I won't comment on the plot. The blurb tells you all you need to know. This is a book to begin with as little outside influence as possible. All you need is an open heart and mind.
It's very difficult to believe Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance is Ruth Emmie Lang's debut. Her writing is both mature and easy to read; sophisticated without being pretentious or overly flowery. It's rare to find a book that can really tug at your heartstring while being hopeful and refreshing at the same time. That is where this book really shines.
I can't wait to see what Ms. Lang comes out with next. I believe the contact info section on her website indicates that the film/TV rights may have been optioned. I do hope that's the case because I think this book would translate beautifully.
The moment I read Renee's review, I knew I had to read Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance. Fantasy/magical realism is not one of my usual genres but since reading such beautifully written books as The Bear and The Nightingale, The Girl in the Tower, and When the Moon Was Ours, I've been much more open to it.
I've always been fascinated by stories of children who are raised by wolves. There's just something so compelling about the notion of a child being raised without exposure to the often selfish and misguided values of humans. There's such beauty in the simple and authentic ways of the pack. These stories always conjure somewhat romantic notions of pure family relationships, friendships, and living in harmony with nature.
The story is told from alternating perspectives of the characters central to Weylen's life from childhood to old age. I loved his supporting cast. They were supporting in the sense that they helped to carry the story but more importantly in the sense they supported Weylen himself. So often in books with gifted or "different" protagonists, we see the character become isolated and lonely as a result of rejection. Though Weylen certainly faced some social obstacles, he had a beautiful support network to nurture and love him.
As for Weylen himself, he was a character to love. There were times when my heart broke as he struggled with living with his own powers and differences. The sense of strength he conveyed tempered with humility and gentleness endeared him to me to no end.
I won't comment on the plot. The blurb tells you all you need to know. This is a book to begin with as little outside influence as possible. All you need is an open heart and mind.
It's very difficult to believe Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance is Ruth Emmie Lang's debut. Her writing is both mature and easy to read; sophisticated without being pretentious or overly flowery. It's rare to find a book that can really tug at your heartstring while being hopeful and refreshing at the same time. That is where this book really shines.
I can't wait to see what Ms. Lang comes out with next. I believe the contact info section on her website indicates that the film/TV rights may have been optioned. I do hope that's the case because I think this book would translate beautifully.
July 28, 2018
5 magical stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance reads almost like a fairy tale. It is magical and whimsical story about boy named Weylyn who was orphaned at an early age and raised by a pack of wolves. He has magical powers which make it difficult for him to fit into the world. He is such a lovable character.
The book is narrated by multiple characters, each telling a story of Weylyn crossing paths in their lives; weaving together the life of Weylyn Grey.
It is a beautiful, charming story, full of uniqueness, love, magic, and possibilities.
I read this with my Traveling Friends group.
Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance reads almost like a fairy tale. It is magical and whimsical story about boy named Weylyn who was orphaned at an early age and raised by a pack of wolves. He has magical powers which make it difficult for him to fit into the world. He is such a lovable character.
The book is narrated by multiple characters, each telling a story of Weylyn crossing paths in their lives; weaving together the life of Weylyn Grey.
It is a beautiful, charming story, full of uniqueness, love, magic, and possibilities.
I read this with my Traveling Friends group.
October 29, 2019
DR. DANIEL FOUST, OB/GYN
“I have delivered over a thousand babies in my career, but one in particular stands out in my mind. Weylyn was by all outward appearances a healthy baby boy: eight pounds, two ounces, all the necessary parts accounts for, and a wail that could shatter good china. He fit perfectly in the crook of his mother’s arm and watched her with one eye, carefully, as she was still a stranger to him. I would have forgotten all about this seemingly ordinary child if it hadn’t been for the storm.
“The moment Weylyn took his first bewildered gulp of fresh air, it began to snow. Not just a few flurries, but buckets of the stuff, tumbling through the sky and belly flopping on the ground outside the hospital room window. By the time the nurses had him cleaned and swaddled, there was a good six inches on the ground.
“It was June 29.
“The child turned one eye on me, then opened the other like a backward wink. His irises were molten pools of solder that had not yet set, and for a moment I thought I could see a fire behind them, keeping them liquid.
“‘He’s a healthy baby boy,’ I told the mother, trying my best not to sound unnerved.
“Weylyn’s eyes closed peacefully, and the snow melted almost as quickly as it had fallen, leaving shimmering gray puddles on the sidewalk below.”
The story of Weylyn Gray, is a young, eccentric boy, gifted in unusual ways, as this story begins. A story that is filled with humour and adventures, a collection of entertaining animals, with a light sprinkling of magical realism, this one will leave you smiling. Raised by wolves after both his parents died, Weylyn is a special child, who learns easily how to adapt, and when a runaway girl’s adventure results in his story being exposed, he is soon placed in a home with a family.
Shared between the stories of multiple viewpoints, I loved Weylyn, a special character that we watch begin as a boy and grow into a man. A man who has special gifts, gifts that cause some people to taunt him or fear him, and others to find him oddly profound, gentle and giving – or just plain odd – but most find his calm ways gentle and comforting.
”I had once asked my dad if he believed in magic. He’d said he believed in ‘possibilities.’ That year, Weylyn Grey showed us all just what kind of things were possible.”
There’s a fairly frequent theme of Nature throughout this story: wolves, trees, fireflies, flowers, plants, along with other animals run through this story which added a calming, enchanting atmosphere to this, which I loved.
Many thanks to my friend Karen, whose review prompted me to add this one!
Karen’s review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
“I have delivered over a thousand babies in my career, but one in particular stands out in my mind. Weylyn was by all outward appearances a healthy baby boy: eight pounds, two ounces, all the necessary parts accounts for, and a wail that could shatter good china. He fit perfectly in the crook of his mother’s arm and watched her with one eye, carefully, as she was still a stranger to him. I would have forgotten all about this seemingly ordinary child if it hadn’t been for the storm.
“The moment Weylyn took his first bewildered gulp of fresh air, it began to snow. Not just a few flurries, but buckets of the stuff, tumbling through the sky and belly flopping on the ground outside the hospital room window. By the time the nurses had him cleaned and swaddled, there was a good six inches on the ground.
“It was June 29.
“The child turned one eye on me, then opened the other like a backward wink. His irises were molten pools of solder that had not yet set, and for a moment I thought I could see a fire behind them, keeping them liquid.
“‘He’s a healthy baby boy,’ I told the mother, trying my best not to sound unnerved.
“Weylyn’s eyes closed peacefully, and the snow melted almost as quickly as it had fallen, leaving shimmering gray puddles on the sidewalk below.”
The story of Weylyn Gray, is a young, eccentric boy, gifted in unusual ways, as this story begins. A story that is filled with humour and adventures, a collection of entertaining animals, with a light sprinkling of magical realism, this one will leave you smiling. Raised by wolves after both his parents died, Weylyn is a special child, who learns easily how to adapt, and when a runaway girl’s adventure results in his story being exposed, he is soon placed in a home with a family.
Shared between the stories of multiple viewpoints, I loved Weylyn, a special character that we watch begin as a boy and grow into a man. A man who has special gifts, gifts that cause some people to taunt him or fear him, and others to find him oddly profound, gentle and giving – or just plain odd – but most find his calm ways gentle and comforting.
”I had once asked my dad if he believed in magic. He’d said he believed in ‘possibilities.’ That year, Weylyn Grey showed us all just what kind of things were possible.”
There’s a fairly frequent theme of Nature throughout this story: wolves, trees, fireflies, flowers, plants, along with other animals run through this story which added a calming, enchanting atmosphere to this, which I loved.
Many thanks to my friend Karen, whose review prompted me to add this one!
Karen’s review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
January 4, 2022
Words cannot express the love I have for this book. The movie Big Fish was one of the first movies that made me feel something without knowing what. This reminds me of that movie. I have never read such an utterly whimsical and magical book. I expect this book to remain a favorite of mine not just now but for years to come.
October 3, 2018
3.5/5
First Impression(s)
At first, I thought this novel was going to be four stars—it’s well-written and unique; but it started slowing down towards the middle/end, and (strangely) I wanted it to end already, which is never a good sign for a book-lover.
Plot
There was a lot going on with the plot. From all the sub-plots to the main-plot, there was never a dull moment. So this was a good thing; I never felt bored. I also enjoyed how even though there were multiple sub-plots, the main storyline followed Weylyn and his magical travels with his pet pig, Merlin.
Characters
Weylyn (a.k.a. wolf boy) is amazing! He’s such a sweetheart. So is Mary and Lydia. Honestly, I enjoyed all of the characters throughout the story. They were believable and flawed and different—no two felt the same.
Writing
Very solid. Some parts were better than others, but isn’t that normal? Regardless, I never had issues with the writing.
Overall, I’m surprised that this book suddenly lost steam toward the end; I really enjoyed the beginning and middle, so to get towards the end with the thought of, “I just want this to be over!” was odd.
Would I Recommend and To Whom?
I would recommend this to all ages, since it starts with two young children and continues on until they are adults. It’s a story anyone could enjoy!
First Impression(s)
At first, I thought this novel was going to be four stars—it’s well-written and unique; but it started slowing down towards the middle/end, and (strangely) I wanted it to end already, which is never a good sign for a book-lover.
Plot
There was a lot going on with the plot. From all the sub-plots to the main-plot, there was never a dull moment. So this was a good thing; I never felt bored. I also enjoyed how even though there were multiple sub-plots, the main storyline followed Weylyn and his magical travels with his pet pig, Merlin.
Characters
Weylyn (a.k.a. wolf boy) is amazing! He’s such a sweetheart. So is Mary and Lydia. Honestly, I enjoyed all of the characters throughout the story. They were believable and flawed and different—no two felt the same.
Writing
Very solid. Some parts were better than others, but isn’t that normal? Regardless, I never had issues with the writing.
Overall, I’m surprised that this book suddenly lost steam toward the end; I really enjoyed the beginning and middle, so to get towards the end with the thought of, “I just want this to be over!” was odd.
Would I Recommend and To Whom?
I would recommend this to all ages, since it starts with two young children and continues on until they are adults. It’s a story anyone could enjoy!
March 9, 2018
Weylyn Grey is an utterly delightful protagonist: it is very hard not to fall in love with him.
We meet Weylyn when he is ten year’s old and living among a pack of wolves. He is certainly different from everyone else in this regard, but he also can control the weather – like extreme weather – but doesn’t realize it. (Oh and animals also love him, kind of like Dr. Doolittle but not in an over the top silly way, but one that works within this book). As he grows older and becomes more aware of his effect on his surroundings he withdraws.
Flash forward to present day and Weylyn befriends Roarke (a neighborhood daredevil) and while enjoying Roarke’s company Weylyn shares his own stories of adventure. These stories are split into 5 sections of the book (plus a section for present day); each section’s chapters alternate perspectives between that narrative’s set of characters.
The chapters move very quickly as they are short and you can get through a large chunk of this book in one sitting. You will not want to put this book down until you find out what ultimately happens to Weylyn as you feel so invested in his story. Author, Ruth Emmie Lang, did a wonderful job at crafting unique, lovable characters (some not so lovable, but that was the point – you will know who I mean…she stinks!); this story of love and acceptance was beautifully written.
Also: LOVE the cover!
Review can also be found on my book blog Saturday Nite Reader: https://saturdaynitereader.com/2018/0...
July 30, 2018
5 simply darling stars!
I will get straight to the point-- I adored this book. As soon as I finished, I wanted to give it a big five-star hug.
Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance is the story of Weylyn Grey and the people he encounters throughout his interesting life. Weylyn is a unique and special character, leaving quite a lasting impression on the lives of everyone around him.
This is a light, fun read full of adventure and *possibilities*. With likable characters that will make you smile, this fantastical book captures the heart. And huge props to Ruth Emmie Lang for tackling the difficult task of multiple characters/narrators in this book. Each voice offers a special part of this story, and not once did I feel confused or distracted.
This is definitely a book I would go back and read again down the road. I look forward to revisiting it someday.
**Another great group read with the Traveling Sisters/Friends!! We all enjoyed this special book!
I will get straight to the point-- I adored this book. As soon as I finished, I wanted to give it a big five-star hug.
Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance is the story of Weylyn Grey and the people he encounters throughout his interesting life. Weylyn is a unique and special character, leaving quite a lasting impression on the lives of everyone around him.
This is a light, fun read full of adventure and *possibilities*. With likable characters that will make you smile, this fantastical book captures the heart. And huge props to Ruth Emmie Lang for tackling the difficult task of multiple characters/narrators in this book. Each voice offers a special part of this story, and not once did I feel confused or distracted.
This is definitely a book I would go back and read again down the road. I look forward to revisiting it someday.
**Another great group read with the Traveling Sisters/Friends!! We all enjoyed this special book!
Read
September 7, 2022Hi Beasts fans,
I just wanted to drop a note letting you all know that I have a second book coming out on November 15! It's called THE WILDERWOMEN, and it's about two sisters with special abilities who go on a journey to find their mother who disappeared under mysterious circumstances. You can find out more about it (and add it to your to-read list) here:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...
And thank you to everyone who has reviewed advanced copies so far! Goodreads played a big role in the success of BEASTS, and I can only hope it will do the same for this story.
I just wanted to drop a note letting you all know that I have a second book coming out on November 15! It's called THE WILDERWOMEN, and it's about two sisters with special abilities who go on a journey to find their mother who disappeared under mysterious circumstances. You can find out more about it (and add it to your to-read list) here:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...
And thank you to everyone who has reviewed advanced copies so far! Goodreads played a big role in the success of BEASTS, and I can only hope it will do the same for this story.
February 1, 2022
CW: death of a loved one, animal death, fatphobia, disordered eating
November 9, 2017
What an enchanting debut by author Ruth Emmie Lang. LOVED following the path of Weylyn, a unique boy raised by wolves, a mesmerizing character who touches the lives of numerous people. His character drew me in from the get-go. His rawness and honesty, the magical things that happen on the unexpected journey and the charge in atmosphere whenever he is around made me believe. I wanted to travel into the woods with him. Thanks to St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 6, 2021
I immediately fell in love with this book!!!
The story, the characters, the scenery were all just so wonderful!
Since I started reading this book during a work week instead of on a day off I reluctantly had to pause my progress several times to go be an adult. Sadface.
As a result I feel I was cheated out of how much more amazing this book would be if I had been able to get lost in it with no interruptions.
I loved it so much that as soon as I conquer my stack of unread ARC's I am going to revisit it.....on a day off.....with nothing to disturb me.....in a marathon reading session.
IT'S THAT GOOD!!!
Everyone should read this book!
Imagine my surprise when I found out this was the author’s first publication.
What a way to introduce yourself!
I can't wait to read anything else she decides to put out into the world!
I received a free copy of this via a Goodreads giveaway.
Re-read for C-town book club January 2019:
Even sweeter the second time. And I was right...it is better when uninterrupted by adulthood!
I loved getting reacquainted with all the characters (especially Weylyn).
This is such a beautifully written story and the author's passion for her characters leaps off the pages.
Read this book if you enjoy well written stories that give you feels!!!
The story, the characters, the scenery were all just so wonderful!
Since I started reading this book during a work week instead of on a day off I reluctantly had to pause my progress several times to go be an adult. Sadface.
As a result I feel I was cheated out of how much more amazing this book would be if I had been able to get lost in it with no interruptions.
I loved it so much that as soon as I conquer my stack of unread ARC's I am going to revisit it.....on a day off.....with nothing to disturb me.....in a marathon reading session.
IT'S THAT GOOD!!!
Everyone should read this book!
Imagine my surprise when I found out this was the author’s first publication.
What a way to introduce yourself!
I can't wait to read anything else she decides to put out into the world!
I received a free copy of this via a Goodreads giveaway.
Re-read for C-town book club January 2019:
Even sweeter the second time. And I was right...it is better when uninterrupted by adulthood!
I loved getting reacquainted with all the characters (especially Weylyn).
This is such a beautifully written story and the author's passion for her characters leaps off the pages.
Read this book if you enjoy well written stories that give you feels!!!
May 31, 2017
Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance follows the life of Weylyn Grey, from childhood through adulthood and beyond. It’s a powerful story filled with kindness, love and magic. A story about how one person can influence the lives of so many. I can’t even begin to describe how much I loved Weylyn, he is so selfless that it hurts. It’s tragic and beautiful at the same time, every time you see him helping people you can’t help but feel good, but at the same time you realize that the one person that needs help the most is him. The whole book is in fact filled with the perfect balance of happiness and sadness, it feels like life.
As a matter of fact, it only takes about 50 pages for it to pull the punches. I think it’s a new record for me, it usually takes a lot of build up to make me invested enough in the characters and the story before I become emotional. Not with this one, I was crying and feeling so many things right from the start and that was the moment when I realized that this is indeed something special and magical.
Through his life, Weylyn Grey will encounter many people. In fact, it is through the eyes of others that we get to meet and know him. This is where Ruth Emmie Lang stands out, characters come and go but in the short time that we get to spend with them, they manage to make more of an impression than other characters do in an entire book. It only takes one chapter and it will be enough to make you fall in love with the characters that the author created. It’s not only people, some of the most lovable and memorable characters are actually animals, from wolves to pigs and even bees, Weylyn’s companions come in all forms and shapes.
It’s tough to write about this book, the more I love a book, the harder it is for me to gather my thoughts, especially when the only thing I can think about are the feelings that I experienced while reading it. How could I put those feelings into words, I’m not a writer, I’m not that good with words but I think I know someone who is. If you want to experience an immersive and magical journey with characters that almost pop out of the book, you should read this. I don’t think you’ll regret it.
I received an advanced copy of this book courtesy of St. Martin's Press and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
As a matter of fact, it only takes about 50 pages for it to pull the punches. I think it’s a new record for me, it usually takes a lot of build up to make me invested enough in the characters and the story before I become emotional. Not with this one, I was crying and feeling so many things right from the start and that was the moment when I realized that this is indeed something special and magical.
Through his life, Weylyn Grey will encounter many people. In fact, it is through the eyes of others that we get to meet and know him. This is where Ruth Emmie Lang stands out, characters come and go but in the short time that we get to spend with them, they manage to make more of an impression than other characters do in an entire book. It only takes one chapter and it will be enough to make you fall in love with the characters that the author created. It’s not only people, some of the most lovable and memorable characters are actually animals, from wolves to pigs and even bees, Weylyn’s companions come in all forms and shapes.
It’s tough to write about this book, the more I love a book, the harder it is for me to gather my thoughts, especially when the only thing I can think about are the feelings that I experienced while reading it. How could I put those feelings into words, I’m not a writer, I’m not that good with words but I think I know someone who is. If you want to experience an immersive and magical journey with characters that almost pop out of the book, you should read this. I don’t think you’ll regret it.
I received an advanced copy of this book courtesy of St. Martin's Press and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 17, 2019
Eu nu am un gen literar preferat, dar am un subiect preferat: viața în sălbăticie. Astfel de cărți mă fac să mă simt mai liberă. Apoi mă gândesc, dacă e nevoie de acel ,,mai'', libertatea aceea nu este adevărată, nu? Pentru că libertatea pură, la fel ca fericirea, apare doar în deplinătatea ei. Weylyn a trecut peste semantică și m-a făcut să simt că orice se poate întâmpla. M-a ajutat să înțeleg că sălbăticia se află în fiecare dintre noi, că orice om are nevoie de magie și vrea să creadă în ea, chiar dacă nu recunoaște, și m-a învățat cum arată o iubire care traversează peste decenii, țări, oceane, continente și temeri, acea iubire care e permanentă și trebuie apreciată pentru că viața nu este la fel. E o carte absolut încântătoare, senină și minunată, plină de emoție, sensibilitate și gingășie. Recenzia aici: https://sandradeaconu.blogspot.com/20....
,,Acolo era Weylyn, un strop mai vizibil decât o umbră în lumina vagă a dimineții, mișcându-se de la stup la stup, ca o fantomă care își căuta propria piatră de mormânt, sperând că cineva a lăsat flori.''
,,Acolo era Weylyn, un strop mai vizibil decât o umbră în lumina vagă a dimineții, mișcându-se de la stup la stup, ca o fantomă care își căuta propria piatră de mormânt, sperând că cineva a lăsat flori.''
November 26, 2017
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher/author after I requested it as a Goodreads Giveaway.
I wasn't sure what I would think about this book because I don't always like fantastical elements but I found it charming and well-written, with several characters living unusual lives. A boy named Weylyn who lived with wolves, friends Mary and Lydia who influence his life in different moments, and a special pig who might have the ability to control the weather.
I liked the changing perspectives and the jumps between decades, because they kept the story moving forward and allowed it to be examined from different angles. I am surprised this isn't marketed as YA, despite some of the characters moving well into adulthood.
I wasn't sure what I would think about this book because I don't always like fantastical elements but I found it charming and well-written, with several characters living unusual lives. A boy named Weylyn who lived with wolves, friends Mary and Lydia who influence his life in different moments, and a special pig who might have the ability to control the weather.
I liked the changing perspectives and the jumps between decades, because they kept the story moving forward and allowed it to be examined from different angles. I am surprised this isn't marketed as YA, despite some of the characters moving well into adulthood.
Read
October 1, 2017Weather Or Not
By Judge Steph Opitz
This wonderful, whimsical, warm-hearted novel is filled with subtle and not-so-subtle nods to the books I loved as a child. White Fang, The Jungle Book, The Wizard of Oz, Charlotte’s Web, and even Lord of the Rings—they’re all in there. Reading Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance made me I realize that there’s nothing better than a novel that feels both new and familiar at the same time.
Beasts follows the lovable Weylen Grey, a lone wolf (pun intended), whose life is the stuff of fairy tales: his parents die in a blizzard, he was raised by wolves, he struggles with a foster family, meets a magic pig, stops a tornado, struggles to fit into society, and wanders the country on all sorts of grand adventures. And, he falls love.
This story defies all meteorological, botanical, and geographical laws. Thunderstorms and blizzards show up seemingly out of nowhere, forests grow overnight, and wild animals seem to be able to communicate with humans. It’s both a fairy tale and a love story, but love and affection seems to envelop so many different things: the natural world, a family, a partner, and the unexpected joys of navigating life’s ups and downs.
Reading this book is so comfortable and uplifting, you almost feel as if you could conjure a herd of fireflies to get through a power outage, or a field of daffodils to celebrate a loved one’s birthday. Beasts is exactly the book I needed right now, and it made me so happy I wanted to howl at the moon.
We're happy to announce our exclusive title, Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance by Ruth Emmie Lang. This is an early release for BOTM members only - the rest of the world has to wait till November. Read more at https://www.bookofthemonth.com/beasts...
By Judge Steph Opitz
This wonderful, whimsical, warm-hearted novel is filled with subtle and not-so-subtle nods to the books I loved as a child. White Fang, The Jungle Book, The Wizard of Oz, Charlotte’s Web, and even Lord of the Rings—they’re all in there. Reading Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance made me I realize that there’s nothing better than a novel that feels both new and familiar at the same time.
Beasts follows the lovable Weylen Grey, a lone wolf (pun intended), whose life is the stuff of fairy tales: his parents die in a blizzard, he was raised by wolves, he struggles with a foster family, meets a magic pig, stops a tornado, struggles to fit into society, and wanders the country on all sorts of grand adventures. And, he falls love.
This story defies all meteorological, botanical, and geographical laws. Thunderstorms and blizzards show up seemingly out of nowhere, forests grow overnight, and wild animals seem to be able to communicate with humans. It’s both a fairy tale and a love story, but love and affection seems to envelop so many different things: the natural world, a family, a partner, and the unexpected joys of navigating life’s ups and downs.
Reading this book is so comfortable and uplifting, you almost feel as if you could conjure a herd of fireflies to get through a power outage, or a field of daffodils to celebrate a loved one’s birthday. Beasts is exactly the book I needed right now, and it made me so happy I wanted to howl at the moon.
We're happy to announce our exclusive title, Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance by Ruth Emmie Lang. This is an early release for BOTM members only - the rest of the world has to wait till November. Read more at https://www.bookofthemonth.com/beasts...
November 30, 2017
I won a copy of Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance in a Goodreads Giveaway.
4.5
A boy is born and when he takes his first breath, snow begins to fall. It’s not a delicate snowfall but more like a sudden, blinding blizzard. The infant open his eyes, looks around and when he closes his eyes to rest, the snow stops and melts immediately. What’s even more strange about this unexpected and brief snow storm? It’s the end of June.
This is our introduction to Weylyn Grey.
Weylyn is one of the most unique, charming and intriguing characters I’ve ever encountered. Orphaned at a young age, he is raised by a pack of wolves and later gains a "magical" pig named Merlin as his constant companion. His story is told mainly by the people he encounters during his life. Some are friends while most are strangers, each relating a tale about the effect that Weylyn has had on his or her life. Many only have one unusual tale to tell but others, like Mary Penlore, a girl he meets when they are both children, come in and out of Weylyn’s life many times over the years. These stories are full of a magical vibe, endearing characters and a sense of wonder.
The book follows Weylyn throughout his life and across the country. Mystery and curious events seem to follow Weylyn everywhere he goes. He seemingly can manipulate weather and has a connection to animals that could rival Dr. Doolittle’s. More at ease in nature and with animals, Weylyn continually struggles to form lasting attachments to people. Most think he’s weird and only a few manage to get through his walls and maintain some type of a relationship with him. While Weylyn is mostly portrayed as a positive person, he is often lonely and you really feel for him. That said, the book is never maudlin. Though Weylyn meets and helps many people during his life, his story always comes back to Mary Penlore.
I really enjoyed Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance. Ruth Emmie Lang’s debut novel is imaginative, beautifully written and wonderfully accomplished. So much love went into writing it. There are so many lovely moments and it reminds me of some of Alice Hoffman’s earlier works. I think it’s definitely worth a read if you are a fan of magic realism. I look forward to watching Lang grow as a writer and I eagerly await her next book.
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