The Eyes of the Amaryllis - Softcover

Babbitt, Natalie

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0374422389 ISBN 13: 9780374422387

Publisher: Farrar, Straus & Giroux Inc, 1993

Synopsis

When the brig Amaryllis was swallowed in a hurricane, the captain and all the crew were swallowed, too. For thirty years the captain's widow, Geneva Reade, has waited, certain that her husband will send her a message from the bottom of the sea. But someone else is waiting, too, and watching her, a man called Seward. Into this haunted situation comes Jenny, the widow's granddaughter. The three of them, Gran, Jenny, and Seward, are drawn into a kind of deadly game with one another and with the sea, a game that only the sea knows how to win.
When the brig Amaryllis was swallowed in a hurricane, the captain and all the crew were swallowed, too. For thirty years the captain's widow, Geneva Reade, has waited, certain that her husband will send her a message from the bottom of the sea. But someone else is waiting, too, and watching her, a man called Seward. Into this haunted situation comes Jenny, the widow's granddaughter. The three of them, Gran, Jenny, and Seward, are drawn into a kind of deadly game with one another and with the sea, a game that only the sea knows how to win.

About this title

Review:

Praise for "The Eyes of the Amaryllis":

" 'Musical' is a descriptor often applied, even over-applied, to poetry. But prose is just as obliged to rhythm and cadence, to the hum of warm vowels and the crackle of consonants. And there is music in the language of Natalie Babbitt's 16th novel, which is fitting because she is so often describing the ocean. If you listen you can hear it roaring inside her sentences. Set in an unspecified bygone era but free of fancified old-timey verbiage, this book is a little gem--something to read in one evening, tucked up in bed."--"Philadelphia"" Inquirer"

"Natalie Babbitt wastes no words in the telling of this gripping tale. Love story for sure, ghost story, maybe, but a story sure to entertain and haunt ten - to twelve year-old readers."--Armchair Interviews

." . . the perfect time to stock your shelves with these elegantly designed editions."--"School Library Journal's ""Extra Helping" on Square Fish's Babbitt reissues

"Geneva Reade goes to visit her grandmother's ocean-side cabin and is drawn into the old woman's thirty-year-long struggle to wrest a supernatural message from the depths of the sea."--"The New York Times Book Review"

"'Musical' is a descriptor often applied, even over-applied, to poetry. But prose is just as obliged to rhythm and cadence, to the hum of warm vowels and the crackle of consonants. And there is music in the language of Natalie Babbitt's 16th novel, which is fitting because she is so often describing the ocean. If you listen you can hear it roaring inside her sentences. Set in an unspecified bygone era but free of fancified old-timey verbiage, this book is a little gem--something to read in one evening, tucked up in bed."--"Philadelphia Inquirer"
"Natalie Babbitt wastes no words in the telling of this gripping tale. Love story for sure, ghost story, maybe, but a story sure to entertain and haunt ten - to twelve year-old readers."--"Armchair Interviews"
." . . the perfect time to stock your shelves with these elegantly designed editions."--"School Library Journal's" "Extra Helping" on Square Fish's Babbitt reissues
"Geneva Reade goes to visit her grandmother's ocean-side cabin and is drawn into the old woman's thirty-year-long struggle to wrest a supernatural message from the depths of the sea."--"The New York Times Book Review"

"The plot is simple but so well written and carefully constructed that its familiar elements--an estranged mother and son, an undying love--undergo a sea-change, too. And, for all its apparent simplicity, the images evoked are deep and complex."--"School Library Journal," Starred Review
"Having read this book, one feels changed, haunted for life."--"Minneapolis Tribune"
"The language is as exotic as an underwater treasure trove."--"Book World"
"Mrs. Babbitt paints late 19th century domestic and aquatic scenes with enormous sensitivity and uses language masterfully to achieve action and imagery. The characters of the widow and her granddaughter are superbly drawn. . . . The romance and symbolism will appeal strongly to adolescent girls."--"Poughkeepsie Journal"
"This is a skillfully told story, offering a haunting and challenging read for the middle reader."--"The Baltimore Sun"
"Babbitt wastes nary a word, deftly carving characters and events into a gripping tale, successfully using the sea both as an impelling atmospheric force and as an effective protagonist."--"Booklist" "The reader is treated to a poignant awareness of the power of love and its ability to shape the lives of those who experience it most deeply."--"St. Louis Post Dispatch"
"Natalie Babbitt's lightness of touch as she broaches deep and delicate themes is something admirable."--"The Christian Science Monitor"
"An intricate combination of patterns, like a jacquard weave, the book succeeds as a well-wrought narrative in which a complex philosophical theme is developed through the balanced, subtle use of symbol and imagery. It is a rare story, accessible to the discriminating preadolescent; because of its perfect scale and transcendent style, it neither diminishes the subject nor the audience."--"The Horn Book Magazine"
"An atmospheric, romantic tale."--"Kirkus Reviews"
"'Musical' is a descriptor often applied, even over-applied, to poetry. But prose is just as obliged to rhythm and cadence, to the hum of warm vowels and the crackle of consonants. And there is music in the language of Natalie Babbitt's 16th novel, which is fitting because she is so often describing the ocean. If you listen you can hear it roaring inside her sentences. Set in an unspecified bygone era but free of fancified old-timey verbiage, this book is a little gem--something to read in one evening, tucked up in bed."--"Philadelphia Inquirer"
"Natalie Babbitt wastes no words in the telling of this gripping tale. Love story for sure, ghost story, maybe, but a story sure to entertain and haunt ten- to twelve-year-old readers."--"Armchair Interviews"
." . . the perfect time to stock your shelves with these elegantly designed editions."--"School Library Journal's" "Extra Helping" on Square Fish's Babbitt reissues

"The plot is simple but so well written and carefully constructed that its familiar elements--an estranged mother and son, an undying love--undergo a sea-change, too. And, for all its apparent simplicity, the images evoked are deep and complex." --"School Library Journal, Starred Review"

"Having read this book, one feels changed, haunted for life." --"Minneapolis Tribune"

"The language is as exotic as an underwater treasure trove." --"Book World"

"Mrs. Babbitt paints late 19th century domestic and aquatic scenes with enormous sensitivity and uses language masterfully to achieve action and imagery. The characters of the widow and her granddaughter are superbly drawn. . . . The romance and symbolism will appeal strongly to adolescent girls." --"Poughkeepsie Journal"

"This is a skillfully told story, offering a haunting and challenging read for the middle reader." --"The Baltimore Sun"

"Babbitt wastes nary a word, deftly carving characters and events into a gripping tale, successfully using the sea both as an impelling atmospheric force and as an effective protagonist." --"Booklist"

"The reader is treated to a poignant awareness of the power of love and its ability to shape the lives of those who experience it most deeply." --"St. Louis Post Dispatch"

"Natalie Babbitt's lightness of touch as she broaches deep and delicate themes is something admirable." --"The Christian Science Monitor"

"An intricate combination of patterns, like a jacquard weave, the book succeeds as a well-wrought narrative in which a complex philosophical theme is developed through the balanced, subtle use of symbol and imagery. It is a rare story, accessible to the discriminating preadolescent; because of its perfect scale and transcendent style, it neither diminishes the subject nor the audience." --"The Horn Book Magazine"

"An atmospheric, romantic tale." --"Kirkus Reviews"

"'Musical' is a descriptor often applied, even over-applied, to poetry. But prose is just as obliged to rhythm and cadence, to the hum of warm vowels and the crackle of consonants. And there is music in the language of Natalie Babbitt's 16th novel, which is fitting because she is so often describing the ocean. If you listen you can hear it roaring inside her sentences. Set in an unspecified bygone era but free of fancified old-timey verbiage, this book is a little gem--something to read in one evening, tucked up in bed." --"Philadelphia Inquirer"

"Natalie Babbitt wastes no words in the telling of this gripping tale. Love story for sure, ghost story, maybe, but a story sure to entertain and haunt ten- to twelve-year-old readers." --"Armchair Interviews"

." . . the perfect time to stock your shelves with these elegantly designed editions." --"School Library Journal's "Extra Helping" on Square Fish's Babbitt reissues"

The plot is simple but so well written and carefully constructed that its familiar elements--an estranged mother and son, an undying love--undergo a sea-change, too. And, for all its apparent simplicity, the images evoked are deep and complex. "School Library Journal, Starred Review"

Having read this book, one feels changed, haunted for life. "Minneapolis Tribune"

The language is as exotic as an underwater treasure trove. "Book World"

Mrs. Babbitt paints late 19th century domestic and aquatic scenes with enormous sensitivity and uses language masterfully to achieve action and imagery. The characters of the widow and her granddaughter are superbly drawn. . . . The romance and symbolism will appeal strongly to adolescent girls. "Poughkeepsie Journal"

This is a skillfully told story, offering a haunting and challenging read for the middle reader. "The Baltimore Sun"

Babbitt wastes nary a word, deftly carving characters and events into a gripping tale, successfully using the sea both as an impelling atmospheric force and as an effective protagonist. "Booklist"

The reader is treated to a poignant awareness of the power of love and its ability to shape the lives of those who experience it most deeply. "St. Louis Post Dispatch"

Natalie Babbitt's lightness of touch as she broaches deep and delicate themes is something admirable. "The Christian Science Monitor"

An intricate combination of patterns, like a jacquard weave, the book succeeds as a well-wrought narrative in which a complex philosophical theme is developed through the balanced, subtle use of symbol and imagery. It is a rare story, accessible to the discriminating preadolescent; because of its perfect scale and transcendent style, it neither diminishes the subject nor the audience. "The Horn Book Magazine"

An atmospheric, romantic tale. "Kirkus Reviews"

Musical' is a descriptor often applied, even over-applied, to poetry. But prose is just as obliged to rhythm and cadence, to the hum of warm vowels and the crackle of consonants. And there is music in the language of Natalie Babbitt's 16th novel, which is fitting because she is so often describing the ocean. If you listen you can hear it roaring inside her sentences. Set in an unspecified bygone era but free of fancified old-timey verbiage, this book is a little gem--something to read in one evening, tucked up in bed. "Philadelphia Inquirer"

Natalie Babbitt wastes no words in the telling of this gripping tale. Love story for sure, ghost story, maybe, but a story sure to entertain and haunt ten- to twelve-year-old readers. "Armchair Interviews"

. . . the perfect time to stock your shelves with these elegantly designed editions. "School Library Journal's "Extra Helping" on Square Fish's Babbitt reissues""

The plot is simple but so well written and carefully constructed that its familiar elements--an estranged mother and son, an undying love--undergo a sea-change, too. And, for all its apparent simplicity, the images evoked are deep and complex. School Library Journal, Starred Review

Having read this book, one feels changed, haunted for life. Minneapolis Tribune

The language is as exotic as an underwater treasure trove. Book World

Mrs. Babbitt paints late 19th century domestic and aquatic scenes with enormous sensitivity and uses language masterfully to achieve action and imagery. The characters of the widow and her granddaughter are superbly drawn. . . . The romance and symbolism will appeal strongly to adolescent girls. Poughkeepsie Journal

This is a skillfully told story, offering a haunting and challenging read for the middle reader. The Baltimore Sun

Babbitt wastes nary a word, deftly carving characters and events into a gripping tale, successfully using the sea both as an impelling atmospheric force and as an effective protagonist. Booklist

The reader is treated to a poignant awareness of the power of love and its ability to shape the lives of those who experience it most deeply. St. Louis Post Dispatch

Natalie Babbitt's lightness of touch as she broaches deep and delicate themes is something admirable. The Christian Science Monitor

An intricate combination of patterns, like a jacquard weave, the book succeeds as a well-wrought narrative in which a complex philosophical theme is developed through the balanced, subtle use of symbol and imagery. It is a rare story, accessible to the discriminating preadolescent; because of its perfect scale and transcendent style, it neither diminishes the subject nor the audience. The Horn Book Magazine

An atmospheric, romantic tale. Kirkus Reviews

Musical' is a descriptor often applied, even over-applied, to poetry. But prose is just as obliged to rhythm and cadence, to the hum of warm vowels and the crackle of consonants. And there is music in the language of Natalie Babbitt's 16th novel, which is fitting because she is so often describing the ocean. If you listen you can hear it roaring inside her sentences. Set in an unspecified bygone era but free of fancified old-timey verbiage, this book is a little gem--something to read in one evening, tucked up in bed. Philadelphia Inquirer

Natalie Babbitt wastes no words in the telling of this gripping tale. Love story for sure, ghost story, maybe, but a story sure to entertain and haunt ten- to twelve-year-old readers. Armchair Interviews

. . . the perfect time to stock your shelves with these elegantly designed editions. School Library Journal's "Extra Helping" on Square Fish's Babbitt reissues

"

-The plot is simple but so well written and carefully constructed that its familiar elements--an estranged mother and son, an undying love--undergo a sea-change, too. And, for all its apparent simplicity, the images evoked are deep and complex.- --School Library Journal, Starred Review

-Having read this book, one feels changed, haunted for life.- --Minneapolis Tribune

-The language is as exotic as an underwater treasure trove.- --Book World

-Mrs. Babbitt paints late 19th century domestic and aquatic scenes with enormous sensitivity and uses language masterfully to achieve action and imagery. The characters of the widow and her granddaughter are superbly drawn. . . . The romance and symbolism will appeal strongly to adolescent girls.- --Poughkeepsie Journal

-This is a skillfully told story, offering a haunting and challenging read for the middle reader.- --The Baltimore Sun

-Babbitt wastes nary a word, deftly carving characters and events into a gripping tale, successfully using the sea both as an impelling atmospheric force and as an effective protagonist.- --Booklist

-The reader is treated to a poignant awareness of the power of love and its ability to shape the lives of those who experience it most deeply.- --St. Louis Post Dispatch

-Natalie Babbitt's lightness of touch as she broaches deep and delicate themes is something admirable.- --The Christian Science Monitor

-An intricate combination of patterns, like a jacquard weave, the book succeeds as a well-wrought narrative in which a comple...

About the Author:

Artist and writer Natalie Babbitt (1932-2016) is the award-winning author of the modern classic Tuck Everlasting, The Eyes of the Amaryllis, Kneeknock Rise and many other brilliantly original books for young people. She began her career in 1966 as the illustrator of The Forty-ninth Magician, written by her husband. When her husband became a college president and no longer had time to collaborate, Babbitt tried her hand at writing. Her first novel, The Search for Delicious, established her gift for writing magical tales with profound meaning. Kneeknock Rise earned her a Newbery Honor Medal, and in 2002, Tuck Everlasting was adapted into a major motion picture. Natalie Babbitt lived in Hamden, CT.

About this edition

• Publisher: Farrar, Straus & Giroux Inc
• Publication date: 1993
• ISBN 10: 0374422389
• ISBN 13: 9780374422387
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 127