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4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
Overall Average Rating - 4.3
Uncle Dobbin's Parrot Fair - 4
The Stone Drum - 4
Timeskip - 4
That Explains Poland - 4
Romano Drom - 4
The Sacred Fire - 4
Winter Was Hard - 5
Pity the Monsters - 4
Ghosts of Wind and Shadow - 5
Small Deaths - 5
The Moon Is Drowning While I Sleep - 4
In the House of My Enemy - 5
But for the Grace Go I - 5
Bridges - 4
Our Lady of the Harbor - 4
Tallulah - 4
When I picked this book up, I actually hadn't realized that it was a short story collection. I discovered Charles de Lint in an old Best Fantasy and Horror of the Year anthology and put this on my TBR, believing it to be his first full-length novel. Nevertheless, I enjoyed what I found within. Despite the fact that this isn't a novel, the stories are all interconnected. They tell the tale of a town called Newford and the people and magical entities therein, and a lot of characters show up more than once across the collection. Most of the stories were 4-star reads for me, and they lost points for a variety of reasons. Being that this is a book from the nineties, it occasionally felt a little politically incorrct; that said, it was clear from the overall material of the book that the author celebrates diversity and is trying to recognize the humanity of people that are frequently overlooked by society. Therefore, I think this is mainly an issue of language changing over time and that nothing about this would have been questioned at all in the time it was written. Additionally some of the stories just didn't grab me as much as others or felt too predictable or stereotypical. Regardless, I am excited to continue reading more about Newford and move on to one of de Lint's actual novels next time around.
Uncle Dobbin's Parrot Fair - 4
The Stone Drum - 4
Timeskip - 4
That Explains Poland - 4
Romano Drom - 4
The Sacred Fire - 4
Winter Was Hard - 5
Pity the Monsters - 4
Ghosts of Wind and Shadow - 5
Small Deaths - 5
The Moon Is Drowning While I Sleep - 4
In the House of My Enemy - 5
But for the Grace Go I - 5
Bridges - 4
Our Lady of the Harbor - 4
Tallulah - 4
When I picked this book up, I actually hadn't realized that it was a short story collection. I discovered Charles de Lint in an old Best Fantasy and Horror of the Year anthology and put this on my TBR, believing it to be his first full-length novel. Nevertheless, I enjoyed what I found within. Despite the fact that this isn't a novel, the stories are all interconnected. They tell the tale of a town called Newford and the people and magical entities therein, and a lot of characters show up more than once across the collection. Most of the stories were 4-star reads for me, and they lost points for a variety of reasons. Being that this is a book from the nineties, it occasionally felt a little politically incorrct; that said, it was clear from the overall material of the book that the author celebrates diversity and is trying to recognize the humanity of people that are frequently overlooked by society. Therefore, I think this is mainly an issue of language changing over time and that nothing about this would have been questioned at all in the time it was written. Additionally some of the stories just didn't grab me as much as others or felt too predictable or stereotypical. Regardless, I am excited to continue reading more about Newford and move on to one of de Lint's actual novels next time around.
This was a really interesting read - so clear to see so many of the building blocks of a certain era of urban fantasy and good to know where they originate, but at the same time gosh I'm glad that other folks picked them up and built on them.
Got the audiobook from the library and was able to give this book another shot. Really enjoyed the stories, now that I'm not so stressed I was able to focus on them more. I really need to read for Charles de Lint, it's been a while and his books are always so creepy and beautiful at the same time. Glad I gave this one another shot.
seems more like a spring/summer book, i just feel like reading something wintry. i’ll reread when the weather matches more haha
3.5 rounded up to 4 for goodreads. i'll have more thoughts in a couple days whn i've chewed on this
Strong female characters in urban fairytales. De Lint has a beautiful way of approaching women's issues in our modern world.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Very nice collection of fantasy in places where you would least expect to see it.
I believe this is my first introduction to Charles de Lint, but it won't be my last. These interrelated stories take place in the same fictional city (Newford) and have related and overlapping characters. The stories range from the fantastical to the somewhat horrific or darker side of fairy tales. There are lots of artists and musicians and writers populating the stories, giving the impression that those involved in the arts are also those most likely to be able to see and experience the magical world. The magic here is presented as essentially coexisting with the rest of the mundane world, but only some people are aware of it.
I got occasionally weary of the humans in the stories -- the aforementioned artists and other bohemians -- but I never tired of the many fantasy creatures, ranging from Bigfoot to fae to wonderfully strange balloon men and many, many others.
I'm pretty sure this book was given to me by my mother some time ago, so thanks to her for recommending it.
I got occasionally weary of the humans in the stories -- the aforementioned artists and other bohemians -- but I never tired of the many fantasy creatures, ranging from Bigfoot to fae to wonderfully strange balloon men and many, many others.
I'm pretty sure this book was given to me by my mother some time ago, so thanks to her for recommending it.