Product Description

Customer Reviews (4)

Yes it is the best of Charles di Lint!
I love these short story books Charles writes.When I don't have tie to get involved in a whole book, I can have a little bite of wonder at a moments notice, and all these stories are stellar!Thank you for doing this for your fans!.

A short story collection
//The Very Best of Charles de Lint// is a short story collection compiled, in part, with the help of de Lint's fans. De Lint includes a very nice introduction that explains the impetus for this urban fantasy collection and how he collaborated with his fans to choose the stories. He and his fans did a wonderful job as these stories are lovely and quite diverse. A few of them could be read to children before bed, and a few of them address issues one hope's a child never has to know about.

The collection includes the sweet and touching //Pixel Pixies// about a bookstore hob trying to keep the Mistress's store safe from an invasion of pixies and //Laughter in the Leaves// about a trickster pesting an otherwise peaceful home. Couched within the same binding, though, are //Into the Green//, a story about suspicion and prejudice, and //In the House of My Enemy//, a story about domestic abuse. In some stories the reader is taken on a whimsical journey and in others on a serious exploration of the issues of identity and trust. This is a collection definitely worth picking up.

Reviewed by Rachel Wallace

Excellent Read!
And here I thought I had read everything by Charles DeLint. Fabulous stories that were new to me and what a great idea and way to show that you appreciate your readers by allowing them to determine what will be in the book. Must have for C. DeLint fans!

Great collection of hard to find short stories
Charles de Lint writes Fantasy. Now when folks think "Fantasy" they think wizards, dragons, unicorns, knights, princesses and swordfights.But although Charles De Lint is one of the Masters of Modern Fantasy, there's very little of that here. Certainly, there's one short story with Merlin himself, and a few more with what could be considered wizards. There's a dragon (sort of), a different sort of vampire tale and a swordfight. But most are more "Urban Fantasy".

However, that tag is not quite right either. Most "Urban Fantasy" is dark and gritty or has vampires.And, although a number of the stories here are rather sad & melancholy, the over all tone is more lighthearted and whimsical- romantic without a lot of what today is considered "romance", if you get what I mean.

In other words, Charles de Lint writes stories like no one else, stories which are hard to categorize. Many of the stories here are set in "Newford" a town reminiscent (to me, anyway) of Seattle or Vancouver.

Here's a complete list, courtesy of the publisher:
In Which We Meet Jilly Coppercorn
Coyote Stories
Laughter in the Leaves
The Badger in the Bag
And the Rafters Were Ringing
Merlin Dreams in the Mondream Wood
The Stone Drum
Timeskip
Freewheeling
A Wish Named Arnold
Into the Green
The Graceless Child
Winter Was Hard
The Conjure Man
We Are Dead Together
Mr. Truepenny's Book Emporium and Gallery
In the House of My Enemy
The Moon Is Drowning While I Sleep
Crow Girls
Birds
Held Safe by Moonlight and Vines
In the Pines
Pixel Pixies
Many Worlds Are Born Tonight
Sisters
Pal o' Mine
That Was Radio Clash
Old Man Crow
The Fields Beyond the Fields

All of these were previously published, but many in limited edition "chapbooks". So unless you're a super Charles de Lint completist (in which case you're going to buy this anyway), quite a few will be new to you, and others will be old friends.

My personal favorite is Mr. Truepenny's Book Emporium and Gallery.

Now one line that appears often in book reviews is a warning for new readers- "Don't buy this book first- start readingwith ....". But I am going to say just the exact opposite- if you are new to Charles de Lint, this book is an ideal place to get to know this fine fantasy author.
... Read more

Product Description
In the Old Country, they called them the Gentry: ancient spirits of the land, magical, amoral, and dangerous. When the Irish emigrated to North America, some of the Gentry followed only to find that the New World already had spirits of its own, the manitou. Now generations have passed, but the Gentry still wander homeless on the city streets. Gathering in the shadows, they bide their time and dream of power. As their dreams grow harder, darker, fiercer, so do the Gentry themselvesappearing, to those with the sight to see them, as hard and dangerous men, invariably dressed in black. Bettina can see them. Part Indian, part Mexican, she was raised to understand the spirit world. Now she lives in wintry Kellygnow, an artists colony a world away from the Southwestern desert of her youth. Outside her nighttime window, she often spies the dark men, squatting in the snow, smoking, brooding, waiting. She calls them los lobos, the wolves, and stays clear of themuntil the night one follows her to the woods, and takes her hand Once again, Charles de Lint weaves the mythic traditions of many cultures into a seamless cloth, bringing folklore, music, and unforgettable characters to life on modern city streets.Amazon.com Review
Forests of the Heart is an enthralling voyage into the seamier side of urban magic. Returning to the familiar environs of Newford, where he sets so many of his modern myths, Charles de Lint introduces some of his most memorable characters yet.

The Gentry are ancient spirits of the land, sired in rape and born of woman in the Old Country. When the Irish immigrated to the New World, some of the Gentry came along. Generations later, having no real ties to their new home, they dream dark dreams of wresting the land surrounding Newford from the native manitou spirits. The Gentry's scheming and plotting draw some of the inhabitants of Newford into a dark and desperate fight against them and a primeval spirit, old as the earth itself but slumbering in la epoca del mito, the myth time.

Bettina, a curandera--or healer--is part Mexican and part Indian. She has recently moved to Newford from the deserts of the Southwest for reasons she can't understand. She lives in Kellygnow, an art colony perched on a hill overlooking Newford. Earning her keep as a model for the various artists who live and work there, she tries to apply her desert-learned skills and knowledge in the cold, forested surroundings.

Bettina's fellow Kellygnowians include Nuala, who seems slightly more spiritual than the average housekeeper; Ellie, a sculptor with a very special commission; and the Recluse, a mysterious figure who winters at Kellygnow in one of the outlying private cottages. Donal, an Irish-born malcontent who dreams of better times, joins them, along with Miki, his musician sister, and Tommy, a Native American accompanied by a few of his apparently innumerable aunts. The looming battle against a seemingly invincible foe draws them together and forces them to depend not only upon their skills and powers, but also on hope, trust, and love.

Blending aspects of different cultural legends and myths with his keen insight into human nature, Charles de Lint offers a truly incredible and compelling tale. His specialty is an intoxicating mix of real and fantasy worlds, and Forests of the Heart delivers a delicious punch. With his deft touch and sensitive style, de Lint's mastery of the urban fantasy tale and his ability as a great storyteller remain unchallenged. --Robert Gately ... Read more

Customer Reviews (39)

Super Great!
I have been reading Charles De Lint for a long time and have quite a collection.This man can WRITE! His imagination and way with words is beyond anyone elses as far as I am concerned. Each book grabs you by the throat and carries you through to the end. You just don't want to put it down. He makes all this stuff believeable. Maybe it IS true?

Not worth the read --- maybe on an airplane
Although an avid fantasy and science fiction fan, this is the first De Lint book I have read, and will probably be the last I will read.The book takes place in the city of Newford, an imaginary city that is a frequent setting for De Lint stories, and draws on a pool of characters some of whom I understand to be recurring in other novels.Drawing on folklore elements from different cultures, and switching frequently between primary characters, the book tells the story of a diverse group of young people caught up in a conflict between Gaelic spirits that seek to displace North American spirits.

The book had problems of every sort:

* Wooden dialogue, and just plain bad dialogue.Apparently bilingual people think everything twice, once in one language and then again in the other language.This gets very tired, very fast. Ce peut te faire fatigue, tres rapidement.
* Cliches."And, Ellie? . . . Be careful."
* Unconvincing characters.This is essentially a plot driven book, so we don't look for great character depth, but even still . . .
* A profound lack of subtlety.How many dozens of times must various characters remark upon "Aunt Nancy's" giant spider shadow?Did the author think we didn't get it the first time?Did the author think he was the only one who had ever read West African fables?If he was the only one who had heard of Anansi, what is the point of having this exclaimed upon dozens of times?What would it mean to us?
* Great reliance on ad hockery and deus ex machina.Given that this is a plot-driven book, the plot needs to be tight, engaging and convincing.But the author violates one of the cardinal rules of fantasy writing, which is to set up a framework of operation for the story and then take it seriously and abide by it.You can't have a story about wizards in which Superman suddenly appears.Here, however, a new and important fact about the central conflict is invented every 30 seconds -- didn't I tell you that we could transform the monster by putting a mask on it?Even the characters seem a little surprised and unable to explain the internal logic.It reads as if it were a bed time story for a small child made up over the course of several months.

I understand De Lint has a large fan base.I must believe he has written something better than this to deserve it.

The heroine is worth all the effort reading this mish-mash
As I read, my main feeling was de Lint was either talking down to me or wasting my time telling me things I already knew. Either way, I couldn't wait to get past him and into the characters, the story ... but he wouldn't let me. Even so, getting to know a few of the characters more than made up for the frustrations of his technique.

If you haven't read any others of de Lint, especially the ones centering on "Newford," don't start here. Read Trader or his anthology Tapping the Dream Tree first to get your feet wet, get used to characters which'll pop up in later novels with gossipy, small-town regularity. (Newford's a little like the spirit of Vancouver transplanted into eastern Canada.)

I'd recommend Forests of the Heart most highly for the sole reason of getting to know the character Bettina San Miguel -- she's my sole reason for the stars. Full of spirit (and spirits), a heady mix of Spanish, English, Indigena culture roiling around in her like a pack of dogs (you'll see what I mean) and a tongue sharp as a beak. What a heart, and like a lot of us what she lacks in courage she makes up for in determination (one of the lessons in the novel). She reminds me of one of those people you're gonna love and probably misunderstand a lot as she gets older, she's brimming with mystery. Her story alone is definitely worth the effort of the rest of the novel.

It's really an OK book, a lot better toward the end when less slowed down by pedantic asides and over-explanation. But even then, it was manipulative -- the trick of cliff-hanging the audience to heighten tension. Earlier, it was hard for me to get engaged in reading. It felt like watching one of those horror movies where stupid people get on your nerves doing obviously stupid things. The plot's obvious, so you need to *like* the characters. Yet some of the characters are incredibly dense, stubborn, and I thought far too stupid to be who they otherwise are in the mileu of this novel. Let alone deserve to *be* in a novel. I'd sigh, "Who cares?" Sure, they're characters ... but they'd not become people. They seemed tacked onto the novel, devices, as if the author had designed the book via an outline, thinking if it was complicated enough, if they were, it would show "depth of charater." Paradoxically, this is a work of the mind trying to show the heart.

Every character had moments, which drastically slowed down the story's pace, where they seemed to be given "flaws" (complexity) of character to make them "more human" ... but all it did was show the messy hand of the author. Sometimes it seemed de Lint would drag a character on stage just in order to have an excuse to explain some plot line. The author did a lot more telling than showing in this novel.

There's one good philosophic point he makes, though -- the crucial distinction between power and luck, and why to chose one over the other, how that makes a difference. And I liked how all the characters needed heart healing of some sort, and how that dove-tailed them together.

But it was weary (and faintly embarrassing) to wade through tedium: the author seemed to feel the need to keep having some character or other step up to elaborate. Maybe de Lint's gotten gun-shy about readers who've just "fallen off the turnip truck." Maybe he got hit with loads of "fans" asking him dumb questions at fan-coms. But I wish he'd give his readers more credit. Sometimes the authorial voice was fairly preening, pedantic, and showing off -- trivia, arch ironic wit, "insider's wisdom," all sorts of wink-wink-nudge-nudge stuff. Please. He threw everything into this one.

I sense there's a rabid fan base he writes these stories for. I wish he respected them for their knowledge more. But I couldn't shake the feeling of looking in on a clique, an in-crowd, faintly incestuous for all its mish-mashing of world myths. (And, boy, what mish-mashing!) Perhaps de Lint is their only window on the larger world of the imagination, but I think that's just his conceit.

For all that, though, the injection of the American Southwest is a welcome zest in the Newford series. And Bettina, her lobo, the cadejos, as well as the Creek sisters -- he made them live. They are the stuff good stories are made of. Memories, too.

first delint
This was my first delint book, and my first fantasy book in a long time. I loved his style and how seamlessly everyday events flowed into spectaular and impossible. I can not wait to get into more of his work!

Another winner
DeLint is quickly becoming my favorite author, or at least sharing the title with Neil Gaiman.

FotH is the 3rd De Lint book I've read in the inviting city of Newford, and the familiarity with the city is a huge part of my enjoyment reading these. The place is starting to really feel like home, becoming someplace I can see when I read about it.

Of course, the inhabitants, human and otherwise, are the main draw though. De Lint has a magic touch for reaching out and putting a very real soul, very real pain and very real love into every character he explores, from the main protagonists to the smallest side character.

Forests of the Heart again deals with a beautiful blend of the old world faerie stories and native America mysticism, and the two worlds, even in their clashing that this book centers on, fit together like a perfect puzzle.

I try to save 5 star ratings for the absolutely best books, like De Lint's own Memory & Dream, but this is damn close. If you believe there are other things in the world with us, that most people don't see all there is to see and that reality is much deeper than the world at large accepts, read this book. Read as much De Lint as you can get your hands on. ... Read more

Product Description
Jay Li should be in Chicago, finishing high school and working at his family's restaurant. Instead, as a born member of the Yellow Dragon Clan--part human, part dragon, like his grandmother--he is on a quest even he does not understand. His journey takes him to Santo del Vado Viejo in the Arizona desert, a town overrun by gangs, haunted by members of other animal clans, perfumed by delicious food, and set to the beat of Malo Malo, a barrio rock band whose female lead guitarist captures Jay's heart. He must face a series of dangerous, otherworldly--and very human--challenges to become the man, and dragon, he is meant to be. This is Charles de Lint at his best! ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (5)

Southwest De Lint
De Lint's best fantasiesare marked by spirited conclusions.
They delve into the possibilities of what if. They touch your imagination and your longing to travel to those other places so close to home.

Try De Lint... he is addicting.

Another Excellent Story!
This isn't a big book - only 206 pages in the hardcover edition - but that doesn't matter at all.This is one of those stories that just grabs you from the start and sucks you right into the mythological world that Charles de Lint creates so well. It's not an action-packed book, nothing like that.Instead it follows the interactions of about seven individuals over the course of a few days. He makes the interactions between the "real" people and the people of myth totally believable.I never find myself saying, "Oh, how can that be?".Nope, I just go along happily for the ride.

After reading this book, I want to go and actually see the deserts of the Southwest.I want to learn more about the mythology of the region.That is one of the secrets to de Lint's writing, I think - it's very easy to visualize the settings, to become intrigued by the mysteries surrounding the characters.To want more.

I enjoyed the nod he gave to Terri Windling, and I would second the recommendation another reviewer gave about Windling's "The Wood Wife" - it's another excellent book.For those of you who may have read de Lint's "Forests of the Heart", there's a brief appearance of Bettina and one of her uncles in this book, which was a pleasant surprise.

Read this book.

A Delint Book? Why look any further?
Almost every De Lint book I have read has sucked me in instantly. All of his books are great but the Newford Series are my absolute favs. I would sugest starting with one of them, then getting into his other books. His horor novels are just that, the mental aspect will have you lieing awake at night.

I would sugest reading Forests of the Heart first before this novel, but you do not have to. All delint books stand on their own.

Medicine Road is good medicine
Medicine Road is what I've come to expect from De Lint.Wonder-full!Bess and Laurel Dillard are back.We first met them in Seven Wild Sisters.This time they are in Arizona giving concerts at local establishments. They fall or leap into a magical adventure depending on which sister's version you happen to be reading.Each sister has her own way of relating to magic and the everyday world and it colors their respective response to it.Each sister grows and changes in the "same but different" way of twins.This duality is paralleled by the characters Alice and Jim, formerly jack rabbit and coyote.They grow and change as they interact with the twins and play out their own stories. De Lint's story is reminiscent of Terri Windling's The Wood Wife, which you should check out as well. But De Lint's magic is all his own.Read this and all of his other work.You won't be disappointed.

Arizona adventure
I really enjoy a de Lint book. Nothing appears out of the ordinary, until you turn a corner or take one more step. Suddenly you're in a magical, more alive world. Ours, yet more so.
Medicine Road concerns Bess and Laurel, twin sisters traveling to Arizona for a series of concert appearances. Upon arrival in Tucson, they meet several people, threatening or otherwise. As in any de Lint book, no one is who they appear to be. His characters always reveal hidden potential. Character and reader both discover this potential as the story develops.
Their are six main actors, each of whom is at times the focus
of the action. Of these, the sisters' focal pieces are done first- person. A nice separation that draws the reader into their
viewpoint and how it affects the others around them.
The Charles Vess illustrations are light yet mysterious. I especially like the one inside the front cover. Charles de Lint is a modern-day storyteller with an old message: we are each more than we realize.
"We figure, if folks like our music, we've probably got something in common with them, and when you're far from home, this is pretty much the best way for us to meet like-minded folks."


Subterranean Press edition
... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (12)

de Lint's Muse remains strong
This is a collection of short stories that de Lint wrote from 2001 to 2005. All have been published before, but most people won't have read them all unless you follow his work obsessively. I'd only read two out of the thirteen stories.

As usual, all are delightful. This collection is all Newford stories, which are always my favorites. There are some light, fluffy tales, like "A Crow Girls Christmas". But there are also some darker tales, like "Riding Shotgun" and "Dark Eyes, Faith and Devotion", both of which show that sometimes you have to do the right thing, even if it's not the best for you personally.Even "Somewhere in My Mind There Is a Painting Box", which is full of the sparkle of faerie, has a sad, painful edge to it.

Of course, I highly recommend this book. It's Charles de Lint!

I recommend it to anyone and everyone who loves fantasy stories.
De Lint's book Muse and Reverie makes for an entirely engrossing read- each story will leave you breathless for more! De Lint's descriptions are so realistic and his characters seem so believable. De Lint's narrations and dialogues give the characters unforgettable personalities and leave readers with a sense that these ink-and-paper people really exist somewhere. De Lint takes a reader on an unforgettable journey through the hearts and minds of all his characters, never quite revealing all the secrets but still giving readers tantalizing glimpses into a world beyond their own. Muse and Reverie, like many of De Lint's books, will leave a reader half-believing in the hidden world of the faerie hidden just beneath the surface of the world of humans. I recommend it to everyone who enjoys De Lint's many wonderful works!

Better luck next time...
I have to tell you I was very disappointed with this last book. Most of the stories were reworked themes I had read too many times before. When a good one just got rolling, it ended so abruptly it was as though he ran out of time and didn't feel like finishing. After 20 years of joyously reading his novels and short stories, I was shocked by the lack of quality work. Previously I would buy his books as soon as they were released. Now, I may be a little more hesitant. Pity. There are so few truly good authors working I can rely on to provide a consistently good product. Better luck next time.

so compelling, you just might believe
Charles de Lint's newest - thirteen lovely little short stories from the master of urban fantasy.de Lint's writing is so compelling that you just might believe.A comic-strip artist working on a strip about a fairy named Diesel, finds said fairy standing on her drawing table and pointing out her mistakes.An artist, lost in the woods for fifteen years, suddenly appears and then disappears againby painting a portal on the wall of a magic cave.Two crow girls get jobs as elves at the mall at Christmastime.Many of the characters in the stories will be familiar to de Lint readers as this collection is set in Newford, his semi-fictional city somewhere in North America.If you like your urban fantasy gentle and whimsical, as opposed to dark and gritty, you owe it to yourself to read something by Charles de Lint.He is one of the authors on my perpetual list; I haven't finished reading his extensive list of published works, and I always keep my eyes open for new books as well.

Feels like a homecoming
Although I'd already read many of these stories in the original publications, I was happy to find them collected in this volume.Visiting Newford through De Lint's writing is always a treat. ... Read more

Product Description
Not far from the city there is an ancient wood, forgotten by the modern world, where Mystery walks in the moonlight. He wears the shape of a stag, or a goat, or a horned man wearing a cloak of leaves. He is summoned by the music of the pipes or a fire of bones on Midsummer's Evening. He is chased by the hunt and shadowed by the wild girl.
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Customer Reviews (17)

My first Charles de Lint
This was the first Charles de Lint book that I had ever read, and it hooked me on the rest.

They Mystery that is woven through out the pages is fantastic and "felt good".

I see that another reviewer has recommended an order for reading the books. I will go back and do that now, instead of reading them when ever I could find them.

Avoid
I liked his Little Country (1991), so I thought I'd try an earlier one when I saw this in a very cute used bookstore. Besides, I was in the mood for a little mystery/fantasy page-turner. Unfortunately, this is pure tripe. Avoid.

EDIT: For some reason my review comes up with 2 stars rather than 1. Amazon won't let me change it.

A Wonderful Surprise
Greenmantle is a beautiful story, a hidden story. It is a story of love, murder, revenge, loss, past mysteries, resolution, friendship and the fantastic. This is the first work of Charles De Lint's that I have read, and I must say that he will be put on my list of must read author's after this wonderful book.

Greenmantle is the tale of "a mystery," a being that exist in our world, yet lives in a parallel version of that same world. He is a stag, a greenman, Pan, a goat, etc. Alice Treasure and her mother, Frankie, move to a very small country town out in the woods after winning the lottery. Ali discovers the sound of pipes playing in the woods and is changed by the sound.

Mix this story with a mafia story and what you have is Greenmantle. I never thought that I would be a fan of any story about the mafia. Just never been in to that genre, but De Lint works the mafia into a work of fantasy and it really works! What you get is a wonderful story with a strong human touch and beautiful, well developed characters, set in the real world, yet a fantasy world at the same time.

De Lint's writing style reminds me a lot of Neil Gaiman's. Common themes can be drawn between the two writers. Both are able to create a totally believable fantasy world within the modern world in which we live. Both focus on relationships between people and the power that is in those relationships. Both take ordinary people and make them into their own kind of heroes. Gaiman has a slight edge over De Lint, but that should not take anything away from De Lint. De Lint knows how to write a page turner that doesn't just have a driving plot (numerous plots at that), but he knows how to write well. He always chooses the right words and really makes this book an enjoyable and moving experience.


The cover art is wonderful and is done by David Bergen. Nice stuff.

Favorite line of the book: "I've been all the way there and back again - just like Bilbo."

Perfect for a Charles de Lint beginner...
...well, this and Yarrow, really.While de Lint's Newford books are BY FAR his best, they are a little confusing to jump into headfirst.Greenmantle and Yarrow provide the reader with a great way to understand the modern master of urban fantasy.The characters are warm, vivid, and funny.The settings are lush, and eerily familiar at times (as though you really LIVE the tale).

The order that I would personally recommend reading de Lint books:Yarrow, Greenmantle, Memory and Dream, Dreams Underfoot, Trader (this one is a little hard to find, but it's totally worth it) , The Ivory and The Horn, Someplace to be Flying (my own favorite), Moonlight and Vines, Forests of the Heart, anf finally The Onion Girl (which is basically the all-star Newford book, so make sure you read the others first, or you won't know ANY of the characters).There are other books of his, that I have never been so enamored of; The Moonheart books, Svaha, The Little Country, etc.

If you are an aspiring writer, and are prepared to drop a few bucks, get Triskell Tales.It's a wonderful way to see the way a witer can develop in terms of style and story.Also, check out his new collaboration with Charles Vess, Seven Wild Sisters.

When worlds collide...
One of the things de Lint does best is dealing with what happens when the everyday (ordinary) meets the magic (extraordinary).In this case, the everyday is Ali, her mom, and Tony.The magic is, of course, Mally, the village, and the mystery - the green man.What happens next is pure de Lint magic.

This was the second de Lint book I read after I discovered him, the first being "Yarrow", and it's still one of my favorites.I come back to it again and again when I feel the need for a little magic in my life... something de Lint does extraordinarily well! ... Read more

Product Description
Tamson House, a rambling house in urban Ottawa, becomes the gateway to a spirit world where Celtic and native American magicks mingle and through which they enter the real world. Reprint. PW. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Okay Reading
This was the third DeLint book that I read.The first was Moonheart which I absolutely loved.Then I read Jack of Kirowan, which I thought was pretty good too.Spiritwalk was the book that naturally followed.I bought this book in July and just finished reading it 5.5 months later.I read Moonheart in about 2 weeks.It was hard to get into Spiritwalk, but once I got into the stories I enjoyed them.I especially liked the last 100 pages of the 398 page book, which I read in a day because the end of that story sparked my interest that much.It was nice to revisit the characters from Moonheart in this book.

Worth Reading
I find myself striking a balance between wanting to say, "This is not one of de Lint's best works," and "This is a thoughtful and interesting to his novel Moonheart."I found the initial structure of the book to be a bit off-setting; the book is more like three interconnected novellas instead of a solid single novel.However, by the end of the book I was emotionally vested in the characters, to the point of blurting out, "She did WHAT?" in the laundromat in the final chapter.So while not as moving nor as fantastic as Moonheart, Spiritwalk is a thought-provoking collection on life, love, relationships with the divine, and relationships with people - including ourselves.

Not De Lint's best
I was expecting a fine read when I began this book, since the writer is such a good one, a master of both short stories and novels.This book was, to put it briefly, a major letdown. The pagan characters are of course onehundred percent virtuous and always manage to save the day, an example ofperfect propoganda.If an author had attempted similar characters, onlymaking them Christian or Jewish, they would be condemned for preaching, butI guess it's okay if they're Wiccan.While De Lint condemns New Agetheology in this book, he presents quite a bit of it.The attempt to mixtogether several plots is also a failure - the first story is extremelydry, the second moderately interesting and the third average at best. Overall the attempt to mix them into one coherent book does not work andthe whole comes across as very convoluted (sp?).I'd recommend Trader foranyone who wants a real taste of De Lint's writing - even fans of hisshould skip over this.

An interesting new kind of fantasy
Spiritwalk is a sequel to Moonheart.I accidently read this book before Moonheart, but I have since corrected that error.It makes much more sense when you know who the characters are ;)

I think that de Lint'swriting is decent, and his stories are good.They are a different kind offantasy, pulling the otherworld into our world, an occurance that surprisesthe characters as much as the reader.They are perhaps gothic, having adark tone to them, but good still triumphs over evil.

Moonheart isdefinately a better book, but those who liked it would be interested in thestories in this one.Other reviewers have compared de Lint to Tolkien andCS Lewis, but I think they were misguided.The fantasy of Tolkien andLewis is of a different brand.For one thing, they are Christian, and thisis clearly reflected in the organization of their secondary worlds.DeLint's writing is based on a different, polytheistic tradition, and thisalso is apparent in his writing.[In Moonheart, it is mainly Celtic w/some Native American, in Spiritwalk it focuses more on the Native American,and in later works such as Svaha, it is a blend of Native American andEastern mysticism].Not that you can't like all three of these authors [Ido], but I do not think that they are similar enough to be compared.Iappreciate each for his merits.I would consider de Lint to be modern inhis themes, and his writing to be exclusively for teenagers and adults [NOTchildren!]My reason for this would most likely be sex scenes, which,while I'm on the topic, tend be described in rather ridiculous terms, butthen, I am no fan of romance novels.These stories are an interestingrendition of ancient rituals of magic crossing into modern Canada. ... Read more

Product Description
A tale of magic and murder

The increasingly bizarre murders have baffled the police—but each death is somehow connected with the city’s elusive Gypsy community. The police are searching for a human killer, but the Romany know better. They know the name of the darkness that hunts them down, one by one: Mulengro.
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Customer Reviews (10)

Not a bad fantasy novel but not great either.
Mulengro was a fantasy novel set in the romany culture. While not a bad novel, it wasn't excellent either. While the book had many characters, through whose eyes we saw the word, it had but one plot that built to a crescendo which was then adequately resolved.

I found it personally interesting having lived next to Gypsies at one time and seeing how they lived outside of the system with a myriad of names and matching ID cards from a variety of states. However, my time with them didn't leave me with the rosy view of them that this book portrays.

Good and evil
Charles did a better job with this one for going to the "dark side." He weaves and interesting tale involving the gypsy lore.

What fans do...
Ok, so I've read a ton of this guy's books, and thus have become a huge fan.He's great!But this one is a little boring, I'm sorry.It wasn't bad at all, but it just didn't have the usual spark that his novels hold.

Dark and wonderful.
The thing about Charles de Lint is that he is usually cheery and lighthearted.This book is anything but lighthearted, however.In spite of this difference, he has managed to keep all of the elements that make him stand out as an author.Overall, a fantastic book.

A Different Read
I am a devoted De Lint reader. I have read nearly all of his books and plan to keep them as a collection. This man is just the best! His books almost have me looking out of the corner of my eye hoping to see one of his characters. This book was different than the others I've read, but never the less, an excellent read!! ... Read more

Product Description
A novel of loss, identity, and, in the strangest of places, hope.

Leonard Trader is a luthier, a maker of guitars. Johnny Devlin is chronically unemployed. Leonard is solitary, quiet, responsible. Johnny is a lady-killer, a drunk, a charming loser.

When they inexplicably wake up in each other's bodies, Johnny gleefully moves into Leonard's comfortable and stable existence, leaving Leonard to pick up the pieces of a life he had no part in breaking.

Penniless, friendless, homeless, Leonard begins a journey that will take him beyond the streets of the city to an otherworld of dreams and spirits, where he must confront both the unscrupulous Johnny Devlin and his own deepest fears.
Amazon.com Review
When a mischievous spirit grants loser Johnny Devlin's wishfor someone else's life, luthier Max Trader wakes up in Johnny's body,surrounded by the emotionally vacant shambles Johnny has left behind,bankrupt and farther down in the world than he has ever imaginedbeing. Jarred from his complacent, self-contained path, Max has onlyhis inner resources for both emotional and financial support. He wantshis life back, but, as he struggles for it, he realizes that he willno longer be satisfied with things as they were. Fans of de Lint'sprevious work will enjoy this gently didactic story set in thefictional town of Newford's thirtysomethingish community of arty waifsand folk musicians. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (25)

slightly disappointing
To be honest, I think I had wrong expectations for this book, my first by de Lint. I found the "Top 100 Novels" list from the Modern Library, and it had two parts, the second being created by readers, voting on the Net. Eight of the 100, were books by de Lint, an author I never heard about before. Since Ron L. Hubbard and Robert Heinlein contributed similar quantities each, I was not taking this list too seriously, but still, I expected de Lint to be an outstanding writer, at least in his genre. Don't get me wrong, I think Trader is a decent book. Entertaining, easy to read. But not really outstanding. I found it focusing a lot on "side" characters (all female, by the way), pretty much neglecting the two guys, who should be the center of attention - Max and Johnny. Some teenager-mother conflicts, spiced up with lesbian themes. It misses some solid "background," "philosophy," or what you want to call it, explaining how, and why things happen. Like one other reviewer mentioned, de Lint seems to focus on entertainment, and nothing beyond that. Nothing wrong with that, but seeing him on this list eight times, I expected something deeper. Can someone help me understand this? He seems to be immensely popular - why? Is there something I'm missing?

Could Have Been Better
This was my first De Lint novel - I think that I am going to try another based on such high praise from others, perhaps this was just an unlucky pick. I did like the character Max Trader and felt there was so much potential for this tale, alas unrealized. Bones, Buddy and maybe Nia, okay. The other characters were uninteresting, whiney, undeveloped and just plain boring - way too much detail about stuff I didn't want to know.

A Compelling Story, To Awake in Another Body!
Consider this facinating plot. You wake up in the body of another person, and of course, the other person wakes up in your body. In this case, the bad guy acquires all of the possessions of the good guy, who is only left with a more youthful body and dozens of people who hate him.

I don't want to say anymore and ruin the story, but I could not put this book down. Highly recommended.

Thanks for your "helpful" vote for my short recommendation--the highest recommendation, I might add.

Also, check out Richard Laymon's "Body Rides," a fascinating novel with a similar theme.
Body Rides

No magic this time...
Just not one of de Lint's better efforts.An interesting start but never develops into much.Nothing new here...

I LOVED it.
Although I can understand the other reviewers' points of view, I have to disagree.I loved this book.This is the first book I have ever read by Charles de Lint, but I thought it was entertaining and a really good read.I would definitely give it a try. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (24)

Not bad
I enjoyed this, but not quite as much as other deLint works I have read.Part of what makes his work interesting to me is that it it introduces a little magic into our every day world.This novel however was all magical, from start to finish.

The kindle edition is also marred by a bad scan job.Pretty much every chapter header was misspelled for example.Not just one or two, but all or nearly all.It shows a real lack of respect both for the reader and for the author and I rate it one star lower for this reason.

Charles De Lint
Again, De Lint does not fail! The book is wonderful. The condition I recieved it in, not so great...front corner of the book, hardbound, had been chewed.

Glad to see them get together... finally..
I'm glad this book was written.but i couldnt give it 5 stars.. When the newford series began, it was all about brushing up against the edges of magic.. drawing you into the mystery of "what if.."Lately its like the mystery isnt there anymore.. That feeling I got from the first books in the newford series is not there anymore... alot of the joy i get from this series was lacking..

A fine story within an unfocused framework
"Widdershins" deals very satisfyingly with unresolved matters from "The Onion Girl" (my favorite De Lint book to this date), and it is a must-read for those interested in knowing how Jilly faces her paralysis and her relationship with Geordie. The sections involving these topics are fresh and exciting, and they lead to emotional high points of great intensity. But between these sections lies some less-than-exhilarating material.

As readers of "The Onion Girl" know, Jilly as a child was repeatedly raped by her brother then became a junkie and prostitute living on the streets. After a kind cop rescued her, she grew up to be a warm, flighty artist with a huge heart. But she eventually was hit by a car and lost the ability to paint. Her magical friends may one day be able to repair her body, but only after she confronts the emotional wounds from her past.

Through a chain of events too complicated to explain, she ends up trapped in her "heart home," a piece of the otherworld comprised of people and places she unknowingly created out of her own memories. According to the book, a heart home is normally a happy and peaceful place, but as we see here, it can be an incredibly dangerous place, where one's deepest fears and hangups become a reality. For Jilly, the experience quickly turns into a life-threatening nightmare.

The manner in which she and some other characters handle this situation is fascinating, and I enjoyed every moment of it. But this is only one of several plot threads. The book centers on a potential war between fairies and "cousins." Fairies, we are told, came to the Americas along with the European explorers. Cousins are the original inhabitants, consisting of people who can take the form of specific animals, depending on their bloodline. (The book's cover art has nothing to do with the story, and that's too bad, because a picture of the man with the deer head would have been cool.)

The plot is set into motion by a cousin from the salmon clan who enlists a gang of bogans (a type of fairy) to hunt down the man who blinded him. They cause so much destruction in their path that they threaten the cold peace currently existing between fairies and cousins. This premise is spurred along by so many mishaps and misjudgments on the part of various characters that it begins to border on comedy, but never quite crosses that border.

While it's an old convention to have the conflict between fictional races serve as a metaphor for racial tensions in our world, De Lint maps out the situation in an intriguingly complex way. Very few of his characters are fundamentally bad. Each group has its own rules and perspective, coming from cultures dominated by powerful sorcery and immense lifespans. ("Human lives are so fleeting compared to ours," remarks one of the fairies condescendingly.) "Widdershins" follows the pattern of De Lint's later books in presenting no clear division between good and evil, and in exploring nonviolent solutions--not quite Gandhi territory, but close.

Jilly is clearly the most compelling character, and the emotional crescendo that her story achieves is unparalleled by anything else in the book. I also like Joe Crazy Dog, the half-crow, half-canine cousin who is the series' closest thing to a traditional hero. But I had trouble warming up to Grey, the cousin being hunted. The book hints at romantic possibilities between him and Lizzie, a spunky fiddler he rescues from the bogans, but he is too wounded from his own experiences to open up to her or anyone else. As for Mother Crone, her character is never developed enough for us to understand the attraction between her and Geordie. She seems to exist in the plot mostly to create a wedge between him and Jilly.

The story of the fairy-cousin skirmishes, in contrast, features a lot of politics and little payoff. Perhaps De Lint is setting up for later developments in future books, though in the introduction he notes that he rarely writes direct sequels. Whatever his plans, the material weighs down an otherwise captivating adventure.

P.S. I unfortunately read "Widdershins" before "The Onion Girl." Do not make the same mistake--not only because it will ruin the surprises of the earlier book, but even more because it will make the later book harder to follow.

Fairy land
"Widdershins" by Charles de Lins, © 2006

Many thanks to Borders for allowing me to read another book.I buy coffee to go with it, my wife buys coffee and reads magazines and cook books.We generally end up spending some money there, so it is not just a library experience.
Really good story about fairies and brogans and doonies, and than there are the Earth spirits like Raven and Walker (deer) and Grey (crow) and Cody (half breed, crow and coyote).It seems the story takes place in Alabama or Mississippi, some small town, Nowheresville, but full of magic.
Liz has blown into town with her band to play a weekend at a bar/hotel there (it seems strange that it is there and I do not know how this place supports a bar/hotel, but really it happens all the time in small towns all over the land).She wants to avoid problems with other members of the band, so she goes off by herself to do something, and her car breaks down.Here she is stranded in the middle of nowhere and no idea of what to do.Along come four or five guys carrying a dead deer,there is a bit of confrontation, she gets help from this stranger Grey, he starts her car, tells her to go back and get it fixed at a place and when he leaves, he just walks down the road and disappears.Then the fun starts: the gang with the dead deer are brogans, who hunt and generally create mayhem, Grey is a spirit being from way back and is related to Indian beliefs.Lizzie is not alone in this weird world of fairies and spirits.Jilly and Geordie and Chris are all in on the problems and excitement from before and help Liz do the right thing, as well as introduce her and the band to the other world of fairies and such.
The structure of the story, chapters are arranged by character, is fun and gets the story going very nicely.You slowly get to know the different people and their history.I enjoyed reading it the whole time. ... Read more

Product Description
His name when he was human was Kern. Now he is the most feared of beings: a werewolf. When the change first came upon him, his parents drove him away with silver daggers. Later, he sought human companionship, but he could not hide the truth for long. And so he kept running until he ran headlong into the deadliest pursuer of all—a harper bent on stealing his life away.By chance Kern was able to find refuge at the Inn of the Yellow Tinker, and the woman he was destined to love. But can he risk both human and harper vengeance to keep her? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (23)

great
this novel was well put together, i quite enjoy this author. so far everything i've read by him (to date probably 3 books including this one... but still) has been well written. he seems to know what words to use to best capture a feeling or mood or set the tone. characterization is also very well done.

this book is about a were wolf who comes across an inn and falls in love with a woman there and her family and tries to set up something of a life with them, but he has this evil magician on his tail who wants to kill him. the time in which the book took place has a kind of a solemn almost medieval mood too it, not with the knights n such, but the way in which the characters speak and the setting, it all has a 'back then' feel to it. so he tries to set up this life and it gets to be near perfect, which he longs for because in his past he hasn't been accepted by neither humans nor wolves because of what he is. but here he has finally found a place where people accept him. then he goes to this party where the evil magician/ harper is and the harper moves in on his new found happiness.

i wish the author would have went into a bit more detail when concerning the actions of people not narrating, because i guess it's too much like real life where we have to assume inner turmoil and motivation behind their actions, but besides this criticism this book was pretty good. even as i noted this i still very much enjoyed the story, only after i've finished do criticisms pop into my head, when i'm no longer under the author's spell :P

a decent read on werewolves. there is a bit of romance, but it isn't the focus of the story. it's more about the werewolf himself and his struggle to find a place for himself in the world. it's a pretty good one.

Decent
This was an okay book, but for some reason I felt that something was lacking.I didn't feel as drawn into it as I have with other books.

short story
This was a change from a lot of his books - it was more like an expanded short story.But I still enjoyed it as it was nice to see the role reversal of the werewolf and the Bard.It needs to be taken into consideration thatthis story was different in that most tales cover an extended period of time with epic happenings, but this was a short slice of the life of just a few people. In that context, it was an enjoyable book.Yes, not as good as some of Charles De Lint's, but still good in it's own right.

wolf moon
I believe that this book was an excellent novel that wisked you away on a mythical journey in what seemed like mid-evil times with a little razzle dazzle magic thown in. There are about 6 main characters that all go through their own mini story and some of course bigger and longer than others. The protaganist is a shapechanger named Kern who becomes a werewolf at will. The antaganist Is a bard/wiard named tulioch who can summon creatures from his harp and is after our friend Kern using one of said beasts named the ferah. The story is filled with dramatic twists and tuns and battles (both mental and phisical) that keep it exiting. My favorite part would have to be the ending's climactic battle Featuring the bard and Kern in his wolf form with the other characters playing small parts that come together for a truthfully exiting pageturner that will keep you guessing. I would easily recomend this book to everyone I know with a little lust for magic but still longing for a book of exceeding standards.

Not his best work, but I give it 3 1/2
On occasion I get in the mood for some fantasy fiction, and this was a quick read on my commute for a couple of days. It's not de Lint's usual fare, being a more traditional fantasy rather than Urban Faerie, and it's an earlier, less polished novel.

The stories focuses on Kern, a werewolf being hunted by a mysterious harping mage accompanied by a frightening spirit-beast. Throughout the tale we get to meet an interesting cast of characters, including Ainsy, the proprietress of an inn, and her friends and adopted family who help her run it. And herein lies my first complaint--while the characters are a curious bunch, there's not as well-developed as they could have been. They're not entirely flat, but de Lint's later characters are crafted much more in depth.

The story is similar. It was a quick, light read, with good language, but it seemed to jump too quickly, particularly the romance between Kern and Ainsy. A book twice the length could have been a much better look at the story.

I'm betting the publisher had a lot to do with it, since fantasy novels in the late 80s tended to often be rather short. Still, there are rough edges, too, that attest to a less-experienced writer.

If you're used to de Lint's other novels, don't go in with expectations, On the other hand, it'd a nice bit of a quick read, and I'm keeping it in my collection. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (25)

Good but ultimately unsatisfying (spoiler)
I've come to expect engaging characters and a story that piques the imagination from Charles de Lint. It is beautifully written and the characters very well-drawn, likeable and believable. Yet it was, at the end, unsatisfying for me. The conclusion did not tie up the "loose ends" of the tale, namely (SPOILER ALERT!) bringing John and Grace together. His death seemed abrupt, and there was no sense of conclusion either to his story or Grace's. It felt as though the story ended too soon. Perhaps that was the author's point: Some lives do end too soon, and we don't always get to conclude our business in this world. But in fiction, I usually hope for a little more, and I was disappointed and unfulfilled at the end of the book.

Definitely not one of De Lint's best books
I have read a ton of Charles de Lint books and really loved his Newford books.I was eager to read one of his more recent novels.This book is okay but lacks a lot of the magic of his Newford books and is pretty slow at certain parts.I listened to this on audio book and the audio book was very well done.

Grace is a very tattooed gearhead that enjoys working on cars with her grandfather.When her grandfather dies she recedes some from her friends and by some strange fate ends up getting shot in the local grocery store.After getting shot she wakes up in her apartment where an old woman is standing over her letting her know she's dead.Grace is in a kind of in between place where the people who die in a six block area surrounding her apartment find themselves, kind of a limbo.They can return to the "real world" twice year.While back in the real world Grace meets someone special, and while yearning to see him again she struggles to solve the mystery of why the souls are trapped in this limbo.

Grace and all of the other characters introduced are likable and believable.They are all kind characters, except for the obvious "bad guy", and all strive to make the most out of their lives in limbo.The idea of having a location have this kind of limbo-world for souls is interesting and creative and de Lint ties it to a lot of mexican/native american mythology.

My biggest problem with this book is the pacing.It takes too long for Grace to get to limbo and once she is there it takes too long before she actually does something.I understand de Lint was trying to give us a sense of boredom that Grace experienced and convey the passage of time, I just wish he would have done it in a way that didn't bore me as a reader.

SPOILER ALERT (although I tried to make it as non-spoiler as I could)
Also there are some things that happen in the plot that seem to happen for basically no reason.For example John, the guy Grace meets has some premonition about not seeing her again.After that he is pretty much cut out of the story.I mean Grace doesn't even mention him a ton after that, which is odd considering her attachment to him.Then when her friend in limbo mentions that a Juan (John) is needed to break the evil spirit you expect John to play into it somehow...only he doesn't.After a while I began to wonder why John's story was even included.Really besides the catalyst it provides to make Grace gain thecourage to fight the evil spirit, he doesn't ultimately play that big of a part in the story.
SPOILER END

At the end of the book you kind of feel let down.There is all this build up and then not much ever happens.The main storyline is resolved, but not in a way that surprises or in a way that is ironic.

Overall, a creative idea but definitely not the most magical of De Lint's works.The pacing is poor and some parts are just plain boring.If you are interested in reading de Lint and are a newcomer to his works I would recommend Moonheart and Spiritwalk (or basically any other book of his) over this book.

Sorry to see it end
A mystery with a very original approach.Yes, Grace is dead, but the afterlife is very different from what she expected.Why?And where are the loved ones she was expecting to see?Throw in a love story and you have another DeLint story with twists and turns.I was a little disappointed that one major plot line was unresolved at the end, but perhaps that preserves the mystery of what awaits us all.

Gravely disappointing, though still somewhat enjoyable
I was highly anticipating this most recent work by de Lint.I had pre-ordered it months ago and was looking forward to it when I got it.However, this is one of the most disappointing books I've read in awhile.Perhaps because I enjoy de Lint's books so much, I may hold him to a higher standard, but this was just not a great read.While the story line is interesting, the characters are not super well-developed or rich like those in other books.Furthermore, as noted by some of the other reviewers here, there is quite a bit of repetition here.We are fairly bludgeoned with the fact that Grace is tattooed, likes hot rods, and likes rockabilly.And I found myself wincing every time I read the phrase "after a beat" or "paused a beat," as in "she paused a beat and then laughed."It's kind of an odd phrase and to use it over and over throughout the book, it was like nails on a chalkboard each time I encountered it.

I deeply hope that this is only a fluke--hey, not every one can be a homerun, right--and that de Lint returns to his great writing.

Grace is a mystery
Well, this isn't a 'standard' de Lint book in the normal stomping grounds of Ottawa, Canada. However, possibly because of the influence of Terri Windling, he's written a book that takes place in the Southwest (altho this isn't his first foray into that area). It was kind of a surprise but I wasn't surprised that, once again, he's provided a very, very compelling and thoughtful story. As with all of his books that I've read, I thought this was really good and rereading material. I've a shelf in my bookcase devoted to Charles de Lint. ... Read more

Product Description
High school senior Miguel’s life is turned upside down when he meets new girl Lainey, whose family has just moved from Australia. With her tumbled red-gold hair, her instant understanding of who he is, and her unusual dog—a real Australian dingo—she’s unforgettable. And, as he quickly learns, she is on the run from an ancient bargain made by her ancestors. There’s no question that Miguel will do whatever he can to help her—but what price will each of them have to pay? Dingo is quintessential Charles de Lint, set close to his beloved, invented city of Newford—a mixture of darkness and hope, humor and mystery, and the friendship within love. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

enjoyable short novel
Charles deLint is one of the few authors whose books I will buy strictly because he wrote them and thus they must be mine. Before reading one of his Newford books, I hadn't realized that this amazing genre of Urban Fantasy existed, let alone that it could be as lyrical as a fairy tale. In Dingo, one of his more recent books set in the Canadian city of Newford, a boy meets a girl and her dog, and another boy meets another girl and her dog... there is magic in those connections, and while it becomes obvious fairly early on that the book can only go one way, the journey is still a satisfying one.

There are Tails, but no TALE
I absolutely LOVE Charle's de Lint's writing so when I saw that he had another new book out I just had to have it! I was expecting a usual de Lint novel, something that touches you with its mystery and beauty so when I opened the book and found that, well, it wasn't really 'up to snuff' I was devastated!
It has the touch of Charles de Lint, but the writing is like someone else's! I felt none of the mystical beauty from his other books, instead I found myself disappointed in this average novel that did absolutely nothing for me! Sure, I like the IDEA, but the execution...well, I just expected better. I suggest that if this is your first time reading de Lint that you find one of his short story anthologies or maybe start with his other two new novels: The Blue Girl and Little Grrl Lost, both amazing. This isn't up to par.

These dingoes have no bite
I am a fan of many of Charles de Lint's books, and when I picked up this one, I was hoping for another good young adult fantasy along the lines of "The Blue Girl".However, "Dingo" fell far short of my expectations.

The writing felt flat to me.I never really got a feel for who the characters were.This could be due to the fact that they all spoke the same way, using the same words, and that the teenagers didn't really speak like teenagers.Without the speech attributions, it would be difficult to tell the difference between Miguel, his father, Lainey, Em, Johnny, or even the villain.A few Aussie slang words did little to help the reader differentiate between the characters; without them, the speech patterns were basically the same.

At times, I even wondered if I was reading a book for much younger readers... but with the addition of a few choice swear words from the book's quasi-villain, Johnny Ward, that theory was soon quashed.Miguel's comment about homeschooling and evolution further showed that de Lint really doesn't know much about today's young people.

There were also a number of editing problems.Just off the top of my head, I can recall inconsistent capitalization, inconsistent names, an extra unnecessary pronoun, and a missing paragraph break.I expect more from the books I read.Sadly, it seems today's publishers do not.

Basically, "Dingo" follows the pattern of many of de Lint's novels: protagonists meet person(s) with strange qualities, get sucked into world of mythical creatures/dreams/spirits, and find their way out again.But "Dingo" didn't seem original or exciting enough to really stand on its own as a good example of de Lint's work.I found the ending to be especially disappointing, as the protagonist didn't really solve anything (that was left to another character).

I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone, even if they are a de Lint fan."The Blue Girl" is a much better introduction to de Lint's work, especially for younger readers.

Pretty bad, actually....
I've been a de Lint fan for years.This book...was just awful.He has written to the young adult audience before, and it wasn't as lousy as this.
Angst-filled "She's my girlfriend!" and "I'm in love!" exclamations -Oh, gag, really?Did de Lint really write this?
Besides being so...juvenile, what was with the ridiculous stereotypes?Does de Lint even KNOW any homeschoolers?"Sitting at the kitchen table all day" - are you kidding me???? And what was with the pointless and unnecessary swipe at Catholicism thrown in there at the end?
As I said, I have been a fan for years, but this is FAR from his best, and I would be embarrassed to even recommend this to anyone who didn't already know his work.

Not de Lint's best, but a cute jaunt
I love de Lint, so I could never truly bad mouth any work of his, but Dingo was a little below my expectations. It seemed juvenille - maybe just aimed at a younger crowd? Typical de Lint style and content, but a little watered down. It was a quick read, though, so if you need a de Lint fix but don't have time for anything a little more far reaching, Dingo would be it. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (27)

Nothing better than Charles de Lint
There is nothing better than to read a Charles de Lint book and this one is no exception. Pick it up and read it if you love or even like fantasy.

Charles de Lint is timeless
From my childhood into my adult years as an English teacher, de Lint has influenced me.As an author, he has inspired me.No one makes up a world of Fairie perfectly intertwined with the "real" world like Charles de Lint.I adore his dark fairy tales and his descriptions painted my subconscious as a young adult.Anyone who loves a thought-provoking read will enjoy de Lint's short stories as well as full novels.He is a timeless artist.
Amber LaShea Holmes
Snow White on Acid:Nine Fantastical Nightmares

Fantastic Fantasy
I usually have no patience for short stories, but I love those by Charles de Lint.I know of only one other person (Ursula Le Guin) who can consistently write short stories that I love.Charles de Lint writes interesting characters.Many of the ones in his short stories are also in one or more books, so for a fan this is a bonus.More information about Georgie or Sophie or Jillie.I am a constant fan of how well Charles de Lint writes women characters and I love the occational story about women who are attracted to other women.Thank you, Charles.

Charles de Lint at his social conscience best
This is reprint of an early Newford anthology with most of the entries having been written in the mid to late 1990s; "If I Close My Eyes Forever" and "In the Land of the Unforgiven" are brand new entries.Each well written tale brings to life the common theme of social justice for even the fringe.As always the tales come from the perspective of those either at the bottom rung or in the ooze below the food chain instead of the power brokers.Thus the audience sees Newford in a different light than typically seen (while politicians at all levels and both parties rapture culpability on TV, those left behind "starred" in the pictures on the news during Katrina); fascinatingly this also may leave the tales' protagonists in jeopardy of being put away for not seeing the proper light, in this case the magic of the city.MOONLIGHT & VINES is Charles de Lint at his social conscience best, but done in an entertaining slice at life.

Harriet Klausner

Magic in the real world
Fantasy that takes place on another world, with a bunch of characters' names that look like someone stepped on the typewriter keys, is not my thing.(I do make the exception for Tolkien, since his world is based on legends from ours). And most urban fantasy is very dark and depressing, as if magic can't exist on our plane without becoming warped and twisted.I have been a de Lint fan for many years, since reading Moonheart -- his brand of urban fantasy appeals to me, since I love the idea of 'other' impacting on our world.His creation of Newford is typical of any big city anywhere in the world -- there is good and bad about it, light and dark, much like magic itself. I have read all the Newford stories, and this collection is by far the best of them all.I have read a couple reviews that complain de Lint's writing here is too 'happy', that it lacks an edge.I disagree -- the stories don't all end happily.What he has done with them, however, is have them end hopefully.Things may not be perfect for the characters by the end of the story, but whatever problems they still have, they are now equipped to deal with them.I don't need 'happily ever after', but I do like 'this too shall pass'.And I so want to visit the Wordwood ....Buy, beg, or borrow a copy of this, and prepare for one of the most mystical and amazing reads of your life. ... Read more

Product Description
Now in softcover, a brand new installment in the Newford saga, the World Fantasy Award-winning series of urban fantasy fiction by one of the most popular writers working today. Charles de Lint's urban fantasies, including Moon-heart, Forests of the Heart, and The Onion Girl, have earned him a devoted following and critical acclaim as a master of contemporary magical fiction. At the heart of his work is the ongoing 'Newford' series, of which this is the latest volume. Here we meet a bluesman hiding from the devil; a Buffalo Man at the edge of death, a murderous ghost looking for revenge, a wolf man on his first blind date, and many more.Amazon.com Review
Tapping the Dream Tree collects 18 stories by bestselling contemporary fantasy master Charles de Lint. One story, "The Witching Hour," is original to this volume, with a few others taken from limited-edition chapbooks; the remaining tales have been drawn from an impressive diversity of magazines and anthologies. The stories are set in and around de Lint's mythic, haunted American city of Newford, and fans will recognize several characters from de Lint's popular series.

The powerful story "Ten for The Devil" is a superb choice for an opener: it showcases de Lint's literary strengths and treats of his recurring themes of magic, music, creativity, and human worth. Musician Staley Cross's grandmother has always warned her to be careful when she plays her blue fiddle. But Staley never quite believed that her music could rouse dangerous magic... until one night, playing in a faraway field, she discovers the Devil doesn't only go down to Georgia. First published before the filming of O Brother, Where Art Thou?, "Ten for the Devil" draws upon the same crossroads myth as does the movie, but takes a very different road as it follows Staley's search for her only hope of soul survival: a mysterious bluesman known as Robert. --Cynthia Ward ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Magical Realism at Its Best
These short stories are beautifully crafted. In fact, I could hardly think of better examples of the short story form. While they all take place in environments familiar to the readers of de Lint's other Newford books, no knowledge of those stories is actually required for thorough enjoyment. In fact, one could say these stories embody the Newford tales strippped of any non-essential detail. They are a must-read for anyone interested in reading or writing good short fiction. While classified as "fantasy" this is not your typical swords and sorcery stuff. The characters live in a real world that just happens to sometimes tap into or feel the overlap of a world that lies at a magical angle to their daily lives.

Dreams Are Important
"Tapping the Dream Tree" is a weighty collection of Newford stories by Charles De Lint, revisiting some of his favoriate characters such as Jilly, Sophie and the Crow Girls.It does include a novelette --'Seven Wild Sisters'.For those of us who have had to search for vanished magazine copies of the stories, this anthology is a wonderful find. His characters are real, in some universe, and it's great to know more about them and their lives. Any De Lint reader needs to have this volume in their collection.

A Former Non-Fan of De Lint
After reading the reviews posted here I realize that I have missed out on quite a lot of excellent reading material over the years. The only three de Lint books I have ever come into contact with are The Onion Girl, Tapping the Dream Tree, and Spirits in the Wires.Some die-hard fans will therefore, I am sure, immediately discount my disagreement with the seemingly negative opinion of this book shown by the majority of the reviewers here.In particular, I strongly disagree with the review that states, "This one is for the fans... only" because this is the first De Lint book I ever read.

I will freely admit that I am a sucker for a good short story.I must also say that, if the first de Lint I had read was a continuous novel, I might not have gone around town recommending it to everyone I knew, as I did with Tapping the Dream Tree.This might not be as deep or as emotional or as detailed as some of de Lint's other work, but, from my reading of the stories, de Lint writes into these stories as much detail and emotional description as a short story can possibly contain.

As a short-story writer, one of the most difficult things to do well is to leave out parts that you could write in.If you choose well, these left out pieces add to your characters and stories more effectively than their inclusion.de Lint is excellent in this respect.Some of these characters are so well written that you want to step into their world and find out what they are like on a normal day and if they've ever had a normal day and what they like in their coffee or if they like coffee at all.They are characters that have deep wells of untouchably fascinating personality.

In summary... I loved this book.I loved these characters.This is the first De Lint book I ever read.This is still my favorite De Lint book. If you have never read de Lint, and if you like short stories from Bradbury (all of his shorts, not just his Martian Chronicles), and you would like to find a book of fantasy that captures the same feelings of making all things strange and, in strangeness, strangely beautiful, read de Lint's Tapping the Dream Tree.It is good enough to be worth reading.

People don't understand these stories are not new.....
All of these stories are from previous rare Chap books and other small press printings from many many years of Mr. De Lint's body of work.
So some of the stories aren't as well told because well they were written 10-15 years ago.....also this clearly states it is full of SHORT stories..short stories can't go into the kind of detail several folks seem to be demanding from De Lint. If you want more details of some of these characters by the OTHER anthologies of Newford as well as the full length novels. Don't whine and complain because you feel like you got dropped into the middle when the books clearly says it is MORE tales from Newford..not ALL the tales from Newford....sigh.
Beautiful collection lovely lyrical quality and and engaging characters. I have only a few De lints I have not enjoyed and this certianly not one of them.

Sadly, de Lint and Newford stumble -
I'm a fan of Charles de Lint, and I love Newford, the city he's created and in which he's set so many good tales.I was eager to get to this fourth volume of Newford stories.

I confess that I'm one of a billion fans silently pressuring de Lint to tell me more about all my favorite characters, and here they are - the Riddels, the Kelledys, the crow girls.Well, mother always said to be careful what you wish for.

These stories are just so disappointing.The characters you love... just coasting, covering no new ground, sad shadows of themselves.Here, for example, is Jilly Coppercorn - mouthing catchphrases and jerking around like an automaton.Christy Riddel meats a ghost - who has a hell of a lot more life than he does.Suddenly the conflicted, intelligent writer is a cardboard cut-out, as deep and nuanced as a french fry. And here's Sophie, on another magical adventure - having the same tired argument with herself about whether the magic is real.

Yes, there are new characters.In one excruciatingly badly written tale, told entirely in dialogue, two young men discover magic power and Learn About Themselves.Bleh.A man and woman save a stranger from getting killed and discover he was being hunted by fallen angels.How to keep the "freaks" (a word he uses WAY too often, here and elsewhere) from coming for revenge?

"Live a good life. Be good people.Keep hateful thoughts out of your heart and mind."This theme is repeated throughout the anthology, over and over and over, just this clumsily.Every tale a morality tale, everywhere a Message.

Really, some of these stories are so bad, one wonders why people published them in their anthologies and magazines and such. I guess because they say "Charles de Lint" on them.Maybe nobody wants to hurt his feelings. And maybe that's a problem.The Onion Girl, and now Tapping the Dream Tree, suggest that maybe de Lint doesn't have anything more to say about our beloved characters, or even magical Newford.Somebody, something, needs to push him to use his powerful, wonderful imagination again.Hey, I know, nobody's perfect. But the time period covered by these stories... that's a long time stumbling.

Fans may want to grit through this collection, despite the flaws and disappointments."Ten for the Devil," "Pixel Pixies," and "Big City Littles" are worth reading, and harken back to the GOOD collections of Newford tales, in spirit.

Honestly, though, it's a waste of time, money, and hope.And a sorry waste of Charles de Lint. ... Read more

Product Description
When Imogene, her mother, and her brother move to Newford, she decides to reinvent herself-this time she won't go looking for trouble. She quickly gets to know two very different people. Maxine is a "good girl," following a strict life plan. Imogene helps Maxine loosen up and break a few rules, and in turn Maxine keeps her on the straight and narrow. Imogene's other new friend is a little more unusual. His name is Adrian. He is a ghost. Adrian was killed when he jumped off thehigh school roof in 1998, and hasn't left since. He has a huge crush on her--so much so that he wants her to see the fairies that also haunt the school. The fairies invade Imogene's dreams, blurring the line between the unreal and the real. When her imaginary childhood friend Pelly actually manifests, Imogene knows something is terribly wrong. With Maxine, Adrian, and Pelly's help, Imogene challenges the dark forces of Faery. This compelling novel from Charles de Lint, the acknowledged founder of the "urban fantasy" genre, is set in the city of Newford, home to some of his best stories. After reading it, you will want to live in Newford, too.Amazon.com Review
Imogene Yeck, former gang member and current fairy butt-kicker, is the cool "blue girl" at the center of Charles de Lint's latest urban fantasy novel. Seventeen-year-old Imogene jumps at the chance to lose her bad girl reputation when her family moves to a new town. She purposely lays low at Redding High, only making friends with Maxine, a shy, studious girl who is Imogene's opposite in every way. Despite a few run-ins with the ruling football jock and his cheerleader girlfriend, Imogene keeps her temper in check and even lends some of her bravado to Maxine, who begins to come out of her straight-A shell. Things are going well for the new friends--until the day Imogene meets Adrian, the benign ghost of a boy who died in the school's parking lot. Adrian and Imogene's unusual connection attracts the unwelcome attention of Redding High's resident Little People, or fairies. Affronted by streetwise Imogene's lack of belief in them, the fairies set into motion a malevolent prank that will not only turn Imogene completely blue from head to toe, but pit her, Adrian and Maxine against some of the most frightening beings of the Otherworld--the soul-sucking Anamithims. de Lint's Blue Girl reads like a really well-executed episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer--smart and thought provoking, without taking itself too seriously. Although the action builds slowly, the final scene, involving a bucket of blue paint, a knife fight, and green monster blood, is absolutely worth it. Buffy fans who enjoy meeting Imogene and Co. will also want to check out Holly Black's dark fairy tale, Tithe, and Nina Kiriki Hoffman's modern ghost story, A Stir of Bones --Jennifer Hubert ... Read more

Customer Reviews (42)

Fantastic young adult literature.
Yet another choice book for my college Young Adult Literature class. In this book, seventeen-year-old Imogene decides to reinvent herself when she moves to Newford with her mother and brother. She keeps her punk look, but tries to avoid the trouble she was always immersed in prior to the move. After making friends with the resident nerd and catching the attention of school bullies, she encounters further difficulties when attracts the attention of the school ghost and some less than friendly fairies. In order to survive, she must learn to accept the parts of herself she tried to leave behind.

The Blue Girl is one story told in first person by three different characters. This alone, I felt was a good reason to read the book. In my YA Lit class it was mentioned that many young readers don't fully understand point of view in a story, often thinking that the narrator is always the author. Not only does this book have three different characters narrating, but there are parts in the book in which a single event is narrated by more than one character, allowing for the reader to experience and compare differing points of view. In addition to the book's value in explaining point of view, it contains themes that are valuable to young adult readers. Primary among these are acceptance, be it of others, yourself or of a specific event as well as the coming of age theme that is so common in the young adult genre.

Once again, adult readers need to keep in mind that this is a young adult book and as such is written to appeal to a teen audience. While it is good literature, the characters do reflect the fact that they are teens and they act and react as such. This is not to say that it isn't a good book, or a worthwhile read, but adult readers especially should remember that they are reading a book in the young adult genre and so shouldn't expect characters to act as one might expect in adult fiction.

A book to be re-read over and over
I've re-read this book so many times over that I've lost count. It's such a fun read. I'm nearly 18 years old and I enjoy this book so much I HAD to buy it. If you like the Spiderwick Chronicles BOOKS (Not the movie, and if you've seen the movie and haven't read the books, shame on you. The books are much better) and strange stories such as Coraline, you'll enjoy this book as well.

I've finally ordered this book because I've read it tons of times from the local library. Imogene, Maxine, and Adrian are three wonderfully real characters in my opinion.

I really do think that if you like strange, slightly dark, comical, and intriguing stories, I think you'll enjoy this book as well. This book has led me other De Lint books as well, I have yet to find any to read at the library yet, but I will continue searching.

WIndow into my psyche
Charles de Lint has an insight to magic and how girls/women think and feel. Whenever I read his books I think he had a window into my past. I can identify with the characters at many levels. He is a master at weaving magic that could be here.

Amazing
I have read a huge amount of teen fantasy literature, and this is by far one of the best current examples of this genre. The way de Lint describes people, sounds, everything, he seems to capture perfectly that weird space/time between dreaming and waking.The characters are unique, believable and likable. I bought this for my sister for her birthday and she also loved it. You will not be disappointed! I look forward to reading more books by this author.

Good teen book with dark faeries
The book was excellent! If you enjoyed the Holly Black faerie books, you will really enjoy The Blue Girl. Imogene and Maxine are great characters and the faeries are dark. Definitely recommend! ... Read more

Product Description
From her mentor, Rushkin, Isabell Copley had learned to paint creatures that come to life--literally--and years after these creatures have ruined her life, Isabelle returns to painting, haunted by memories, dreams, and the threat of her mentor's return. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (33)

In which my ability to read urban fantasy is apparently completely broken.
First, fair's fair. When I was younger I really enjoyed Charles de Lint-- particularly his Newford books. I'm now really really really tired of de Lint, and frankly of Urban Fantasy books in general, but this is probably a combination of my age and how many of these books I have read. More than de Lint. Mostly more than de Lint, anyhow.

As Newford books go, this is a good example. If you like urban fantasy, this will probably be something for you. Nuff said.

Okay-- I'm going to stop being fair now. Ready? Seriously. I'm going to be terribly unfair. And not apologize either. Here goes:

I HATED this book. HATED it. I am so FREAKING TIRED of urban fantasy books featuring waif-like women with masses of tangled hair of whatever goshdarn color. I wanted to drop-kick Isabelle and her precious waif-like paintings out of a plate glass window. And WHY in the name of all that's good in the world are the main characters in urban fantasy novels always painters or lute players or madrigal singers or earth mothers or writers? Does nobody in Newford have an actual job?

I would give nearly anything for an urban fantasy novel that features a stocky banker. With short hair. Who studied accounting. At least then I would have the feeling that I wasn't reading a singles advertisement from the writer over and over and over again. Bookish male, 40s, seeks waif-like artist with masses of tangled hair for a carefree and magical existence. Likes Celtic music and pre-Raphaelite painting. WE GET IT, OKAY? Sheesh.

An Artist's story
As stated by Publishers weekly -the book's implication that artists are superior beings become somewhat repetitious - HEY be repetitious... afterall aren't artists of any type superior beings?lol

Just another delightful story of many characters that you get to know and love.

Try it out.

A Powerful and Emotional Tale
This was a very large book for de Lint and really the first of the Newford novels that de Lint wrote. We get to hear about Jilly, Allan and Kathy, but the protagonist is Izzy. It is her story of how she came to Newford got caught up with all her friends and how she learned how to paint under the tutelage of the famous painter and reclusive Ruskin.

The story starts off in 1992 when Allan asks Isabelle to come back to Newford to illustrate a collection of stories by their old and deceased friend Kathy. The story goes back and forth from the present in 1992, to the mid seventies and up till 1980. Most of the story is told in the past where Izzy must cope with here life and how it got to where it is, which is reclusion on her home in Wren Island after she had put Newford and all her friends behind after Kathy's death.

The past deals with Ruskin and how he teaches Izzy to paint magical paintings where the artist can open a path into another world and bring her paintings to life. She calls them numea, and they are living beings that look exactly like the painting. Rusking though is a bad guy and is teaching Izzy to bring them into the world for his own reasons. The past is told so Izzy can deal with all the problems, Kathy's death, Ruskin, and her ability to lie to herself to hide bad things that have happened to her, and she needs a resolution about the numea and the one called John who was once her boyfriend.

As you can see the story deals with a lot of complicated problems for the protagonist, and the secondary characters also deal with heavy subject matter. This is a happy story in places, but also a dark one, and can be almost horrific in some instances, as it's a tale of overcoming tragedy. The length of the novel allows for a lot of topics to be fleshed out for the characters, and while at first I didn't understand why the book had to be so long, in the end you realize it was all worth it. This was a book I was sad to put down because I didn't want it to end.

Fantasy or Reality?
Isabelle Copley gets the opportunity of a lifetime when she's invited to study under famed artist Vincent Rushkin. The reclusive Rushkin has never been seen in public, much less taken on a student. Isabelle soon finds out the reason Rushkin chose her. He teaches her that she has the ability to bring the characters in her paintings to life. After this life changing discovery, Isabelle finds out that there's much more to her mentor than meets the eye.

This is the first book I've read by Charles de Lint, but I can tell you it will not be the last. De Lint divulges just enough information as you go along to keep you needing to know what happens next, but not allowing you enough to be able to completely figure it out and ruin the mystery of what's to come. Once I was about a quarter of the way through the book, it became nearly impossible to put down. It's been a long time since I found a book that drew me in as completely as this one did. De Lint manages to take a purely fantastical story and make it believable. This is definitely the best book I've read so far this year and I wouldn't be surprised if it stays on my favorite list for a long time to come.

as an artist this book changed my life
A tragically beautiful story as intriguing as it is heartbreaking. It is about the struggle of an artist dealing with her unbelievable gift and the consequences of that gift. The memories it caused changed her life and that of those around her. As she deals with the past and the present she begins to see how her life and actions have and will effect the future. The more I read the more I understood that it was about so much more than that.
An ultimate battle between hope and despair that has not only renewed my faith in my own work as an artist but inspired me to become so much more. Charles De Lint writes with such accuracy and realism that you cant help but believe that the people in his books are real. After reading Memory and Dream I felt as though I knew the characters as actual people, friends. This book will wrench your guts and restore your faith at the same time. I highly recommend it to anyone who has every dreamed and picked up a paint brush or pen in hopes of creating something beautiful for others or for themselves. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (40)

Reading Fairy Tales
The Onion Girl (Newford)
A quote from this really thought provoking book written by Charles De Lint,
"People who've never read fairy tales, the professor said, have a harder time coping in life that the people who have.They don't have access to all the lessons that can be learned from the journeys through the dark woods and the kindness of strangers treated decently, the knowledge that can be gained from that company and example of Donkeyskins and cats wearing boots and steadfast tin soldiers.I'm not talking about in-your-face lessons, but more subtle ones.The kind that seep up from your subconscious and give you moral and humane structures for your life.That teach you how to prevail, and trust.And maybe even love.The people who have missed out on them have to be re-storied in their adult lives." pg 30HB edition

This tale is a whirlwind mixture of contemporary life in Canada and life in the Faerie Realm that many of these contemporary characters step in and out of during the course of this adventure.A deep exploration of personal gnosis and magickal transformation, this story leads you into yourself and shows a new pathway to Faerie.
enjoy!
J'té
from my blog
http://wytchwoodbookreviews.blogspot.com/2008/06/onion-girl.html#links

There is a reason you can find this at Half-price books
Another reviewer stated:

"DeLint's earlier books had a sense of wonder and delicacy both in his writing and in his portrayals of characters and Dreamlands/Otherlands. As you read, it felt as if the magical place he was talking about was not only real but that it could be fragile as well; it *was* real but only as long as you believed and DeLint was very good at making us believe. With this book, however, I didn't feel drawn in - more like bludgeoned."

In many ways, that is true.In this book deLint gives you a lot of pages (some of his books are rather slender), he writes about one of his core characters, but he seems intent on proving that his world is solid, that the bad side of things is real and can be encountered.

/Sigh

I've been an ad litem for Child Protective Services.I've served on the board of a rape crisis center.I know that there is ugliness in the world.Heck, I've worked around cess pools, I know that at times the world is not only ugly, it can stink.

But that isn't why I read deLint.It isn't why I read at all.

I consider this book as tainted by the trends of the 80s and 90s, though not broken by them.deLint has grown out of them (though consider The Little Country with its complete mainstream, down to the fan service bizarre sex scene -- like Gaimon, he couldn't avoid the trends).

I own a copy, I didn't throw it away or sell it back.But I'd read other deLints first -- perhaps "Promises to keep" or a similar book.

Another wonderful DeLint adventure
I have many books by Charles DeLint - this one is longer than most but enjoyable all the way through.As with all his books, there is action and adventure, but also psychology - insight into the characters thoughts and mind.Plus of course a good dollop of the spiritual and magical.One of few hard covers that has survived my last house move (when I had to halve my library) and I am unlikely to ever part with it.

"If Jilly ever got access to fairyland..."
A friend once remarked that it was a fairly bad idea to read too many Charles de Lint books in a short period of time. This is true. However, it had been quite a while since my last book by de Lint, so I generally enjoyed The Onion Girl.

It is not my favorite book by de Lint, despite the general enjoyment factor. Some of the book was just a little too much of the same old same old urban fae routine. I think that this is a general issue with the Newford books and it goes to the point of not reading too many de Lint books in a short period of time.

In contrast, other elements of the book felt a little too far out of his comfort zone. Vacchs does the "children of the secret" much more believably than The Onion Girl ever manages. It may be that hard boiled detective novels are simply a better vehicle for this kind of subject matter. For me, the best de Lint characters are more worn down by life than really wounded like Jilly and Raylene. Not because the wounded aren't interesting, but because these particular characters do not ring quite as true as de Lint characters often can.

Jilly in particular lacks spark. It is difficult to read either how she engages so well with some people or how she is unable to engage with others. Raylene is ultimately quite a bit more complex, and I generally found her story to be the most compelling.

All in all, I am not sorry that I read The Onion Girl. For people who like de Lint already, it should be a good (if not great) entry in the Newford group. Enjoyable, even if nothing really special. If you do not have a strong stomach for urban fae, this will probably not be your cup of tea. Three-and-a-half stars.

Can De Lint truly do wrong?
Let me just start by saying that I LOVE this author; he is one of very few that I read simply because he wrote it.
Saying that, although this is not my absolute favorite book of his I have ever read, it is one that I will recommend to every one who likes De Lint.
This book is entirely about Jilly who has to be one of the most likable characters ever created. Almost from the first page you are thrust into a heart breaking story that even threw it's moments of predictability is extremely entertaining none the less.
Even the best books aren't with out their problems;
The story jumps through various times through history which can get very confusing if you aren't paying attention and you could easily find yourself going back to the beginning of the chapter to find out who you are talking to and what year it is.
And I don't like the timing in the book, there are places where I don't want to wait two or three chapters to find out what happens and I had a really hard time not skipping ahead and missing some of the book.

Please don't let me stop you from buying it, this book really was wonderful, he has a way of telling stories that really makes you want to be a part of them. I promise you, this book is worth your money.
... Read more

Product Description
He is the Songweaver, but before he was a master of song he was merely Cerin of Wran Cheaping—a seventeen-year-old orphan raised by a wildland witch. Then he encountered the Maid of the Grey Rose—the lone survivor of the war that devastated the Trembling Lands and the promised bride of Yarac Stone-Slayer, the feared and terrible Waster.The mysterious beauty captured Cerin’s heart, drawing him into a world both dark and deadly, until, armed with only a tinkerblade and the magic of song, he would take on a man’s challenge . . . and choose a treacherous path toward a magnificent destiny. The Harp of the Grey Rose is award-winning fantasist Charles de Lint’s first novel, long out of print—and it hints of the wonderful stories to come. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Obviously a First Novel
I've read De Lint's later works and it becomes so obvious that this is a first attempt.Overall, I liked it well enough.I just don't feel the characters are developed enough or it goes much into depth.Plus, it's a very Tolkien-esque knockoff.

We have a dark power rising to take over, deep mines abandoned by dwarves long ago, strange companions, unlikely heroes, etc.It's pretty generic fantasy with a half-hearted love story.

Cerin of course falls in love with a woman he names The Grey Rose and feels there is some terrible curse upon her.Well, it turns out he's right.He journeys to find her and saves her from what he thinks is her worst threat, but that's only the beginning.

There are elements like the magic harp she gifts him with, and some half-human or dwarf, half-beast creatures.Remind anyone of the Orukai or Hobbits?Halfbreeds anyone?There are some back stories of how Cerin's parents were cast out, Calman cursed, loves lost, etc.Ancient wars...

Nothing is very developed though.There is potential in the writing, but the plot and character variety are pretty typical fantasy.De Lint really broke away from this and found his own later.I would highly recommend "Memory and Dream," but this I could have skipped.It's typical fantasy with typical characters and a typical plot.I give De Lint credit from breaking away from this style and rising above it.What Tolkien did has been copied MUCH too often!But, I think every author has to get this out of their system before finding his or her own.

Not his best, but I liked it
This was a quick, enjoyable read, but it is readily apparent that this was his first novel. It pulls too heavily from other sources and doesn't have deLint's distinctive voice that make his later stories so spell-binding.

Very Good Book
I read this book and couldn't put it down.It keeps you in the book and makes you wish you were there.It was like The Riddle of the Wren, but The Harp of the Grey Rose missed out on some of the details it had.The only thing that wasn't great about the book, is that it seemed like two stories.Besides that, this is a great book and you should buy it.

Ho-Hum
Those looking for a typical De Lint read won't find it here."The Harp of the Grey Rose" reads at a young level, with none of the hints of darkness and/or redemption of some sort that can be found in De Lint's later works.You can tell about fifty pages into the book that it was originally a novella even if you didn't know so beforehand.Though it seems like the rest of the story is a bit forced,if you have a free afternoon, its an amusing story and it doesn't take long to read.

Early De Lint shows only a hint of his potential
I had seen this title on lists of CDL's work, but it took me several years to find a copy.Having read it, I understand why he let it go out of print, and may be keeping it that way even though a new edition would surely sell.It's not a bad book, but it's very much an immature work compared to his later stuff.It's connected to the Newford stories (it's about the childhood of the harper Kelledy), but the tone is very different.The most striking thing about it is the heavy Lloyd Alexander influence, something De Lint seems to have shed as he developed his own voice.In fact, it's downright derivative, though competent and even promising. It straddles, a bit awkwardly, adult fantasy and children's literature, and does not have the distinctive complexity of imagination that makes De Lint's mature work so fascinating and unique.For a fan of the mature work, it's not much more than a curiosity; as an introduction to De Lint it barely hints at the brilliance that came later. ... Read more

Product Description
Charles de Lint's remarkable novels and shorter fiction are, in a very real sense, coming of age stories.Here, for the first time, is a collection of his stories about teenagers&150a collection for teen and adult readers alike.From the streets of his famed Newford to the alleys of Bordertown to the realms of Faerie, this is storytelling that will transfix and delight, with characters who will linger in the mind&150many of them from his novels. Featuring an illuminating preface by acclaimed author, anthologist, and critic Terri Windling, Waifs and Strays is a must-own for de Lint fans, and an ideal introduction to his work for newcomers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

deLint short stories geared towards teens
A collection of various short stories from the different worlds that the author writes in- Bordertown, Newford, and a few others. Sometimes the magic is obvious- sometimes it's in the subtle connection between friends... but the magic is always there. I love the way that the stories transport me from our solid reality into a more fluid dream- just the way a fantasy should.

Waifs and Strays
Charles DeLint is probably one of the best modern day writers and this book is wonderful. Charles DeLint never disappoints.

don't stray from this title
Charles DeLint is my favorite author and I've read almost everything I have found that he has written.I was excited with 'Waifs and Strays' since all but 3 of the included stories were new to me.I really enjoyed the introduction to each story as he explains when each was written and for which publication; and I was especially impressed with his introduction to "May This Be Your Last Sorrow".You gotta read this, especially if you are a fan of DeLint's.

Waifs and Strays
"This is one of the writers (Charles De Lint) who wrote in the Borderland Series, so I thought I would round up his books too.I was glad I did as I enjoyed his other stories as well.A good writer who can you Young Adult as well as Adult Fiction."

Waifs and Strays
Targeted for young adults, great stories for adults as well. Stories are from various sources, but all from the same magical author. De Lint's stories are wonderfully creative, and inspiring, with uniques perspectives on unusual situations. ... Read more