A blog for young readers (and YA lovers) from the Providence Athenaeum.
The Providence Athenaeum is a unique library and cultural center in the heart of Providence, Rhode Island. Growing out of the Providence Library Company (fourth library in the United States), the Athenaeum as we know it was formed in 1836. Our handsome building on the corner of Benefit and College was completed in 1838.
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This blog is updated by one of our circulation assistants (and YA enthusiast), RJ. Follow us to find out what's new in our Young Adult corner, or just for a daily dose of literary shenanigans.
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Catching Elephant is a theme by Andy Taylor
Who Will Own the Night Tournament, Round Seven: White Witch vs. Cassel’s Grandad
In celebration of the 2012 summer reading theme across Rhode Island, Own the Night, every Monday our blog will feature two night-dwellers or otherwise creepy characters facing each other down. Vote on one below, or come on in to the Athenaeum to vote in person and see the full bracket of all the contenders!
This week we have the bright enchanting villain of C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe versus the shadowy criminal caretaker of Holly Black’s Curseworker series. Grandad and the White Witch are both characters a charming smile and deadly touch.
If you haven’t read Holly Black’s Curseworkers series (White Cat, Red Glove and Black Heart), first of all, you should. In the world of Cassel Sharpe and his con-artist family, magic isn’t found through a wardrobe but at the tip of a curse worker’s fingers. Cassel’s Grandad used to be tied to the mob, but he’s mostly put his working days behind him. At any moment, though, he could slip off his gloves and use his nefarious magic gifts – death work, the power to kill anyone with the brush of his fingers. His, ahem, remaining fingers, that is.
The White Witch has more power, as she was able to keep all of Narnia into an endless winter. And though she doesn’t have Grandad’s touch of death, her habit of turning anyone who displeases her into stone has essentially the same end result.
This contest would likely come down to a test of wills and wiliness rather than magical prowess. Would mob-savvy Grandad fall for the White Witch’s enchanted food and false promises? Would the cunning White Witch underestimate the old man enough to let him close enough to touch her hand? What do you think? Who’s left standing? Who will own the night?
