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4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
It's hard to rate a book of short stories, especially when listening to them on audio. If I had read the physical book I could rate each story separately, but as it stands I am not positive which titles match up to which stories.
So, some of these stories I liked a lot, especially the earlier ones. Some were okay.
So, some of these stories I liked a lot, especially the earlier ones. Some were okay.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The idea of this book is more interesting than the execution, for me. It's a short story collection, each story having some aspect of magical realism to it, and the main character from one story will be an ancillary character in another. Of course this does not result in anything even mildly resembling a novel and there is no ongoing story, just a lot of strange happenings centered on a fictional city.
Thankfully none of the stories were bad, but most were not particularly interesting to me either. I almost gave up on finishing the book, but I'm glad I didn't because the second to last story was a very satisfying resolution to one of the first stories that I enjoyed the most. I probably would have preferred just to read those two stories back to back and leave the rest.
If you like stories with a distinct plot, this book may not be for you, but if you like "slice of life" stories then there may be a lot here to enjoy.
Thankfully none of the stories were bad, but most were not particularly interesting to me either. I almost gave up on finishing the book, but I'm glad I didn't because the second to last story was a very satisfying resolution to one of the first stories that I enjoyed the most. I probably would have preferred just to read those two stories back to back and leave the rest.
If you like stories with a distinct plot, this book may not be for you, but if you like "slice of life" stories then there may be a lot here to enjoy.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
My first exposure to Charles De Lint came from this collection of short stories set in the fictional city of Newford, and it was entrancing. Highly digestible yet also very accessible to the layperson, this collection stoked the fires of my imagination.
One of Charles de Lint's characters in the last story in this collection says, "My themes are simple. They're about love and loss, honor and the responsibilities of friendship. And wonder... always wonder."
That is why I read de Lint. His themes are the same as those his protagonist writes. I especially like this quote because de Lint's interest in the love of friendship is something not everyone writes about. When people write about it, it is often between women, men aren't involved. It is amazing how much the people in these stories care about each other. Almost every tale in this collection includes themes of compassion and caring.
There are other writers who cover love and loss - so many stories deal with these themes. Also I have read stories about wonder from other authors, many of them are speculative writers like de Lint.
This is the sixth de Lint book I have read since I started writing these reviews. I am not sure what else I can say except read his stories. They are magical, wonderful and true in the best sense of the word. If you can read about Jill, Sophie, Maggie and Christy and not feel blessed by de Lint, you better make sure that Despair is not hunting you down.
That is why I read de Lint. His themes are the same as those his protagonist writes. I especially like this quote because de Lint's interest in the love of friendship is something not everyone writes about. When people write about it, it is often between women, men aren't involved. It is amazing how much the people in these stories care about each other. Almost every tale in this collection includes themes of compassion and caring.
There are other writers who cover love and loss - so many stories deal with these themes. Also I have read stories about wonder from other authors, many of them are speculative writers like de Lint.
This is the sixth de Lint book I have read since I started writing these reviews. I am not sure what else I can say except read his stories. They are magical, wonderful and true in the best sense of the word. If you can read about Jill, Sophie, Maggie and Christy and not feel blessed by de Lint, you better make sure that Despair is not hunting you down.
Dreams Underfoot: The Newford Collection by Charles de Lint (2003)
Entertaining and varied. I'll probably write a more detailed review, but it wasn't at the top or bottom of my readings, but it did capture my imagination, from time to time.
Lots of scenarios involving being true to yourself and letting go of things that you no longer need to cling to.
Lots of scenarios involving being true to yourself and letting go of things that you no longer need to cling to.