After finishing Deerskin, I really liked the book but I thought that the "mental" chapters were seemed so long and spoken words often got lost in the description of the scene and reactions of people. Especially with Ossin in the scene, it seemed to that Lissar failed to realize the love that was growing with Ossin as the spend time together. It really happens when he showed her the paintings and if she had notice that he was expressing his feelings about her was more than any other princess. Because of the lack of her ability to heal completely from Lissar’s past, when Ossin is finally ready to express his feeling of her, Lissar runs instead of starting a new chapter.
I think that her realization of her past and memories happens when she finds out that it is Ossin’s sister’s wedding and not Ossin’s. Upon doing so I think that she has a full circle of relief and mental healing with Lissar to help her move on with her life. Her angry that she express at her father’s attempt of other marriage and the pain that he place onto her, but the memories that she suppress came back with Ossin. Little does Lissar remembers, but she and Ossin are also identical in every way. They do not like their tittles and think very little of it, love of the simple things (dogs, getting dirty), they do not mind getting dirty and they both hate dressing up and being in the receiving room of the place. I think that the likeness that Ossin and Lissar have with each other is the reason why Lissar’s memories came back the strongest with him around. Not to remember the horrible times in her life, but the life that she had with as a child and with Ash around.
In Deerskin the value of the Moonlady’s gifts to Lissar is what we first look at, but I like that Ossin’s gifts are what really help Lissar heal throughout the book. First gift of Ash, it helps her move on from her mother’s death and helps her keep her personal groundings and views. Ash is the reason why Lissar fights and lives throughout the story. The second gift of the six puppies, which helped her heal and grow into a person and a friend of many from Ossin to Lilac. Then her memories at first it seems like they are a curse but in reality they are a blessing because Lessar grows and realizes who she is and how she must move forward with the scars of the pass. His last gift of love even though Lissar feels like she does not deserved it, Ossin pushes through and tells her the truth and he loves her and does not care what has happen in her pass as long as she loves him.
I believe this is what Lissar somewhat looks like when she goes off on exposing her father.
The points you make are very valid and I agree with most of them. One thing I noticed is that Lissar becomes enraged, in a silent way (if possible), at the fact of finding out her father is to marry. She finds herself relieved but upset at the same time. Lissar knows she needs to go save Camilla's life by not letting her marry her father. I believe it almost reminds her of herself and what was going to happen to her if she had not run away. When confronting the throne room full of people and the royals her courage comes forth to save Camilla and herself. It is her one chance to tell her father how she feels and that he must pay for it. Ossin helps her through this without Lissar fully knowing. He stands by her side and does not move away when the heat/flame enters the room. In the end, Ossin shows her that she can "run through meadows" too.
ReplyDeleteThe question I have is about the lady gifts -- is the gift Ossin's love for her or is it instead Lissar's ability to love him? Perhaps she gives Lissar the ability to become a woman and love truly (both things she accuses her father of depriving her of).
ReplyDeleteI have to write on here because I agree so completely that while I found Deerskin engaging and a worthwhile read, I sometimes felt so lost in the ideas and descriptions that seemed to overwhelm a lot of the book. I sometimes had trouble realizing if it was just McKinley's way of writing, or if it was a sort of... obliviousness on Lissar's part. Was she using the description as a way of making Lissar into a very detailed character who seemed to notice every finite detail of life in order to hide from her repressed memories? Maybe what she was describing were also things Lissar was noticing as well. Like the color of a flower, etc. Whatever it was, it added to the book, but to myself as a reader was a bit of a distraction.
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