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4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
Charles De Lint is amazing. His stories become so real and make it easier to believe that magic exists in our everyday world. He is so talented and able to write women to perfection!
I love Charles deLint and this is his classic Newford mix of whimsy and hard reality. Finally we get to see back-story on Jilly, who has served as a background character in many other novels and featured in lots of short stories. I love Jilly all the more after this book. It was well written with vivid description, deLint's usual incredible job at characterization and a pretty good pace. The book is really long and could probably have had a few edits and sub-plots cut-out without losing anything, but overall the book was a pure delight and just reinforces my adoration for the author.
Do not read this book if sexual assault is triggering for you.
Charles de lint is a wonderful author and this book is buetiful writen but it deals with some really heavy stuff that I dis not know was coming, I could not finish it.
Charles de lint is a wonderful author and this book is buetiful writen but it deals with some really heavy stuff that I dis not know was coming, I could not finish it.
One star off due to my unfortunate faery allergy. Otherwise, the characters and intrigue kept me riveted and engaged on some snowy afternoons. No doubt I'll be visiting these folk again.
Man, this one really put me through the wringer. It was a story of healing and self-acceptance, but getting there was painful. Beautiful, in the end, and worth it.
Charles de Lint vaikuttaisi pikaisen googlailun perusteella olevan Suomessa melko tuntematon kirjailija. Kanadalaisen de Lintin ansiot ovat urbaanifantasian puolella, joista suosittuja ovat etenkin kuvitteelliseen Newfordin kaupunkiin sijoittuvat tarinat. Niissä de Lint yhdistelee modernia kaupunkielämää fantasiaelementteihin. Kirjoja on parinkymmenen vuoden aikana ilmestynyt yli 20.
The Onion Girl on jonkun laskutavan mukaan 11. osa sarjaa. Jatkuvajuonisista jutuista ei ole kyse, vaan samojen henkilöiden kierrätyksestä. Kirjassa on runsaasti henkilöitä, joista suurin osa lienee aikaisemmista kirjoista tuttuja. Lukukokemusta ei kuitenkaan haitannut se, että henkilögalleria oli vieras.
Kirja kertoo Jilly Coppercornista, aurinkoisesta ja elämäniloisesta taiteilijasta, joka on Newfordin piirien keskushenkilö, jonka kaikki tuntevat ja josta kaikki pitävät. Jillyllä on kuitenkin synkkä historiansa, joka palaa kummittelemaan, kun Jilly joutuu auton yliajamaksi.
Tarina käsittelee varsin raskaita aiheita, kuten lasten hyväksikäyttöä ja rikkinäisiä perheitä. Yksi peruskysymys on, miten erilaisia kohtaloita voi syntyä yhtä surkeista olosuhteista. Kirjassa riittää kuitenkin hyviäkin hetkiä ja reipasta fantasian ja mielikuvituksen lentoa.
Charles de Lintin löytäminen oli miellyttävä tapaus ja aion ehdottomasti jatkaa Newfordin kartoittamista, sen verran hyvä maku The Onion Girlistä jäi, kirjan varsin järkyttävistä yksityiskohdista huolimatta. (5.7.2009)
The Onion Girl on jonkun laskutavan mukaan 11. osa sarjaa. Jatkuvajuonisista jutuista ei ole kyse, vaan samojen henkilöiden kierrätyksestä. Kirjassa on runsaasti henkilöitä, joista suurin osa lienee aikaisemmista kirjoista tuttuja. Lukukokemusta ei kuitenkaan haitannut se, että henkilögalleria oli vieras.
Kirja kertoo Jilly Coppercornista, aurinkoisesta ja elämäniloisesta taiteilijasta, joka on Newfordin piirien keskushenkilö, jonka kaikki tuntevat ja josta kaikki pitävät. Jillyllä on kuitenkin synkkä historiansa, joka palaa kummittelemaan, kun Jilly joutuu auton yliajamaksi.
Tarina käsittelee varsin raskaita aiheita, kuten lasten hyväksikäyttöä ja rikkinäisiä perheitä. Yksi peruskysymys on, miten erilaisia kohtaloita voi syntyä yhtä surkeista olosuhteista. Kirjassa riittää kuitenkin hyviäkin hetkiä ja reipasta fantasian ja mielikuvituksen lentoa.
Charles de Lintin löytäminen oli miellyttävä tapaus ja aion ehdottomasti jatkaa Newfordin kartoittamista, sen verran hyvä maku The Onion Girlistä jäi, kirjan varsin järkyttävistä yksityiskohdista huolimatta. (5.7.2009)
Content warning: sexual assault of children (some very young) - not described in detail, repeated sexual and physical abuse of young girls
RE-READ REVIEW
I don't remember when I discovered this book, but I think it was in college and it was after I read Spirits in the Wires. If this had been my introduction to Newford, I think I would've been less inclined to read the others in the series; it's a hard book. But Jilly is unendingly sweet, while still acknowledging the hardships she's gone through. Ending is a little bit unsatisfying because some things don't get resolved, but ultimately a really interesting story of how nobody is evil without cause. Complicates victimizers stories without minimizing or excusing their actions.
RE-READ REVIEW
I don't remember when I discovered this book, but I think it was in college and it was after I read Spirits in the Wires. If this had been my introduction to Newford, I think I would've been less inclined to read the others in the series; it's a hard book. But Jilly is unendingly sweet, while still acknowledging the hardships she's gone through. Ending is a little bit unsatisfying because some things don't get resolved, but ultimately a really interesting story of how nobody is evil without cause. Complicates victimizers stories without minimizing or excusing their actions.
This book was difficult to read. A friend recommended it to me, and, though I know why, the fact that she was my friend was the only reason I finished this book. Coming from an abusive household made Jilly and Raylene's PoVs and backstories sometimes hard to stomach. The abuse scenes weren't particularly graphic, but they were very triggering, and I strongly advise people who were/are in similar situations to be very careful before picking up this book.
I also want to caution people who are disabled or people who have chronic illnesses. Some may find it great representation! And that's wonderful. Jilly Coppercorn, the MC, has been through a horrible car accident and is bedridden with paralysis on one side. She goes through a lot of negativity, thinking of herself as the "Broken Girl," but eventually comes to terms with herself. Spoilers, perhaps? But it's hardly surprising. However the book is very difficult to read if you're in a difficult situation yourself. Yes, the MC finds some sort of peace at the end with her disability, but during the process there are a lot of awful thoughts. I have a chronic illness, which limits what I can do dramatically (running, any kind of sports, things with my hands, etc. etc. etc.), and reading this was very, very hard. I would never want to go through it again.
But on to the book itself.
Some books are written so the reader doesn't know they're even reading, and some books are written so the reader is definitely aware they're reading beautiful prose without being deprived of visuals. The Onion Girl is of the latter category. I looooved the prose - when Charles de Lint wasn't lecturing. The dialogue . . . not so much. The girls had such stilted dialogue that could (should?) have been edited out - there is so much time dedicated to explaining what I could get contextually. It's almost written in children's video-game style: "Let's go here." "That's a good idea, but how about we go here first, so we can do this?" "Good idea, let's do that."
I have a feeling there were too much characters to keep track of and to give arcs to, so they were left feeling very much like cardboard. I mean, I get it, it's a very long series, but I still feel like they could have been handled better (especially the characters in the World As Is). Speaking of, there were also too many subplots - some I believe included just to lecture (the pit bulls?).
I like the basic idea of the two sisters coming from similar situations who branched off and ended up quite differently, opposites who ended up facing each other in the climax. I also wish the climax would have felt more . . . climactic? Things dissolved too quickly for my taste. And after the climax, things just kind of dragged on, and I wished it had ended more succinctly.
To be a bit nitpicky, there were things that just . . . bothered me, too, about the way Charles de Lint described characters or used voice. Like using "coffee" to describe skin tone multiple times, and describing a dark-skinned couple as "exotic" another time - it shows a lack of creativity, and it's . . . not very respectful. There were also multiple times where I got a major queerphobic vibe from characters (especially Raylene, but I do understand that characters' views ≠ author's views). Apparently Charles de Lint wrote books with queer characters, so I'll wait with my judgement on this issue, though I really didn't appreciate the lesbophobic and homophobic slurs being thrown around so often. Not sure what the point was, as it really didn't have a subplot or anything.
Anyway, this was my first book by Charles de Lint, and I have a lot of his books on my to-read list, but I'll probably be a lot more cautious next time.
I also want to caution people who are disabled or people who have chronic illnesses. Some may find it great representation! And that's wonderful. Jilly Coppercorn, the MC, has been through a horrible car accident and is bedridden with paralysis on one side. She goes through a lot of negativity, thinking of herself as the "Broken Girl," but eventually comes to terms with herself. Spoilers, perhaps? But it's hardly surprising. However the book is very difficult to read if you're in a difficult situation yourself. Yes, the MC finds some sort of peace at the end with her disability, but during the process there are a lot of awful thoughts. I have a chronic illness, which limits what I can do dramatically (running, any kind of sports, things with my hands, etc. etc. etc.), and reading this was very, very hard. I would never want to go through it again.
But on to the book itself.
Some books are written so the reader doesn't know they're even reading, and some books are written so the reader is definitely aware they're reading beautiful prose without being deprived of visuals. The Onion Girl is of the latter category. I looooved the prose - when Charles de Lint wasn't lecturing. The dialogue . . . not so much. The girls had such stilted dialogue that could (should?) have been edited out - there is so much time dedicated to explaining what I could get contextually. It's almost written in children's video-game style: "Let's go here." "That's a good idea, but how about we go here first, so we can do this?" "Good idea, let's do that."
I have a feeling there were too much characters to keep track of and to give arcs to, so they were left feeling very much like cardboard. I mean, I get it, it's a very long series, but I still feel like they could have been handled better (especially the characters in the World As Is). Speaking of, there were also too many subplots - some I believe included just to lecture (the pit bulls?).
I like the basic idea of the two sisters coming from similar situations who branched off and ended up quite differently, opposites who ended up facing each other in the climax. I also wish the climax would have felt more . . . climactic? Things dissolved too quickly for my taste. And after the climax, things just kind of dragged on, and I wished it had ended more succinctly.
To be a bit nitpicky, there were things that just . . . bothered me, too, about the way Charles de Lint described characters or used voice. Like using "coffee" to describe skin tone multiple times, and describing a dark-skinned couple as "exotic" another time - it shows a lack of creativity, and it's . . . not very respectful. There were also multiple times where I got a major queerphobic vibe from characters (especially Raylene, but I do understand that characters' views ≠ author's views). Apparently Charles de Lint wrote books with queer characters, so I'll wait with my judgement on this issue, though I really didn't appreciate the lesbophobic and homophobic slurs being thrown around so often. Not sure what the point was, as it really didn't have a subplot or anything.
Anyway, this was my first book by Charles de Lint, and I have a lot of his books on my to-read list, but I'll probably be a lot more cautious next time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Rape
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes