Title: Jepp, Who Defied the Stars
Author: Katherine Marsh
Source: The Library
Goodreads Summary:
Fate:
Is it written in the stars from the moment we are born?
Or is it a bendable thing that we can shape with our own hands?
Jepp of Astraveld needs to know.
He left his countryside home on the empty promise of a stranger, only to become
a captive in a luxurious prison: Coudenberg Palace, the royal court of the
Spanish Infanta. Nobody warned Jepp that as a court dwarf, daily injustices
would become his seemingly unshakable fate. If the humiliations were his alone,
perhaps he could endure them; but it breaks Jepp's heart to see his friend Lia
suffer.
After Jepp and Lia attempt a daring escape from the palace, Jepp is imprisoned
again, alone in a cage. Now, spirited across Europe in a kidnapper's carriage,
Jepp fears where his unfortunate stars may lead him. But he can't even begin to
imagine the brilliant and eccentric new master--a man devoted to uncovering the
secrets of the stars--who awaits him. Or the girl who will help him mend his
heart and unearth the long-buried secrets of his past.
My thoughts:
I read everything and I read for every reason. Some books I read as a distraction, others I
read to a distraction. Most books I learn from, some I just have fun with. Some
books are boring and I use them to help me fall asleep. And then sometimes I
read a book so beautiful, I don’t want it to end. Jepp Who Defied the Stars was
such a book.
I took an astronomy class in college. I did terribly, for the most part. I am an
awful math student, and for some reason it never occurred to me that astronomy
was a ton of math and formulas. I thought I would just be learning about
constellations and planets and astronomers. I imagined it like an elementary
version of astronomy I guess. And the history of astronomy, about all the
famous astronomers, was the only part of the class I did well in. I was
fascinated with Tycho Brahe. We learned in class the story of how he died –
that he was at a dinner party at a noble’s house, and had to go to the
bathroom. But he didn’t want to interrupt dinner, because that was rude and
disrespectful, and so his bladder exploded and he died. I had no idea this
could happen to people and it freaked me out. I never forgot that story. I
recently learned (after reading Jepp) that this is more of a story, not true
fact. Nonetheless, Tycho Brahe had become a huge reference for me, and when I
saw that Jepp, Who Defied the Stars was in part about Brahe, I had to read it.
And this book was so beautiful. And heartbreaking. At times
I had to put it down and walk away because the story was bumming me out. Jepp
went through so much in his journey. He began life as the dwarf son of a
hotelier, and lived in the tavern happily.
His mother was always there to protect him from those who would make fun
of him, and he knew he was loved and safe.
Then one day, a fine nobleman came to town, for the purpose of taking of
Jepp with him to Coudenberg Palace, to live with the Spanish court of
the Infanta. Don Diego, the nobleman,
spoke of a good life for Jepp there, where he would be cherished. I didn’t know
this, but dwarves were part of court life back then- sometimes as beloved
members, most of the time as court jesters who were treated cruelly. It was
here that Jepp’s life takes a turn, which begins his quest for the truth of his
life and to change his stars.
Interestingly, royal horoscopes were procured for nobles,
and in this book, for the dwarves at Coudenberg. Astronomers not only studied
the stars, they were also astrologists. And in a twist of fate, Jepp is sent to
live with Tycho Brahe, who is in charge of the royal horoscopes Don Diego had
ordered. Tycho lived on the island of Hven, in Uraniborg Castle, which also
served primarily as a research institute/astronomical observatory. Jepp’s fortune changes yet again, as it does
throughout the course of this book
.
Jepp’s life is filled with questions, and uncertainty, even
though on the surface his life seems to be mapped out. The variable is always
Jepp. (math reference! I hope I used it
right! Lol) He knows what his life is
supposed to be like, but can he change it? Can he change his destiny? Can any
man?
I really loved this book – it was gorgeously written, with
rich characters and settings. I lived the ups and downs with Jepp, and
sometimes I even cried. It will make you
think about life, its twists and turns, its hills and valleys. It was amazing,
and I believe everyone should read it.
