The Global Sociology Blog

Sociologists and feminists should love Hereville! I am not going to comment on the aesthetic aspects of Hereville because I know nothing about that. I’ll just mention that I liked the overall background color themes and that, yes, character drawing / design (it’s probably not the correct word) reminded me a bit of F’Murrr.

The subtitle - "How Mirka Got Her Sword" -  and byline - "Yet Another Troll-Fighting 11-Year-old Orthodox Jewish Girl" - tell you a lot about the story itself. Mirka, the 11-year-old orthodox Jewish girl in question, wants to become a dragon fighter rather than conform to the role assigned to girls in her Orthodox Jewish community.

But Mirka is not the only strong woman / girl, in the book. Actually, it is women who make the story progress. Mirka’s stepmother, Fruma, is also a strong woman with a knack for argument. She can argue about everything and take several sides in the same argument, which drives her stepchildren nuts (which, I suspect, I kinda the point). At the same time, the arguing is part of her nurturing their intelligence and especially Mirka’s. It is nice to see a departure from the stereotypical "evil stepmother" character.

The last important woman in the book is the Witch, which Mirka and her little brother encounter and help and who gives Mirka directions as to how she can find her sword… which involves facing down a troll, of course.

Indeed, the male characters in Hereville are either boys (Mirka’ little brother and a couple of bullies), as well a few male relatives who function as background, and the troll (although gender might be in question here). No real flattering characters, and again, not really story-movers. This is a girl-coming-of-age story… with a lot of knitting!

And, as always, I care about background and Hereville is deeply embedded in the Jewish orthodox culture with quite of bit of humor and quirkiness thanks to Fruma. The rather lengthy description of Shabbo provides the opportunity for a very Durkheimian description of the 6th Day rituals which made me think "Boy, Ampersand really read his ‘Elementary Forms of Religious Life’."

I really loved it and could not put it down. Ampersand’d better have the next volume ready SOON!

Oh, and I reserve the right to re-use (with modifications) the following phrases:

• Fruma to Mirka (questioning why she has to do chores in preparation of Shabbo): "How tragic that no one asked for your opinion, Mirka"
• Mirka to her little brother (questioning the soundness of her plan to acquire the sword): "Has it occured to you to shut up?"
• The Witch to Mirka (asking how to fight a troll): "What am I, Professor at the Troll-Fighting University?"

So, folks, don’t be parasites, go give a few bucks to Ampersand for his great story and start pestering him to get the next installment ASAP!