Rating: Summary: Flying over some, stopping short of others Review: After disapointment in Yarrow and Greenmantle, I found Flying able to lift my spirits. The characters were, as usual, too many, but are far more fleshed out and less one-dimensional than others. Some scenes in the book were exceptionally poigant and cannot be conveyed in words.(I won't give it away tho.=D) This book left me in a much better mood after the let down with de Lint's previous stories, but I'm still regarding Moonheart as his best.
Rating: Summary: I'm packing my bags and moving to Newford! Review: Animal People. The animal characters with human traits and god like powers that are part of the Native American mythology. They're just stories. They aren't real, are they. Are They? They are in Newford. And as they live out their myths sometimes innocent humans get caught in the cross-fire. Meet the Corvae; Jack (jackdaw), Maggie (magpie), Raven and the Crow Sisters as they try to keep the Trickster Coyote from finding Raven's Cauldron and "unmaking" the world. For the freelance photographer, the junk dealer, the 2-bit hustler, the college student and the rest it is both a fantastic adventure and a bloody nightmare.
Rating: Summary: Wanna fly? Review: As always, de Lint's work is full of magic, and "Someplace to Be Flying" is no exception. His characters jump off the page to meet you, grab you by the hand, and take you along... if you're lucky, you'll soon be flying. They'll show you things about the world, and yourself, that you never imagined could be true.
Rating: Summary: Wanna fly? Review: As always, de Lint's work is full of magic, and "Someplace to Be Flying" is no exception. His characters jump off the page to meet you, grab you by the hand, and take you along... if you're lucky, you'll soon be flying. They'll show you things about the world, and yourself, that you never imagined could be true.
Rating: Summary: As the Crows Fly Review: Charles de Lint's very unique style of urban fantasy really takes wing here, through the use of Native American folklore concerning animal spirits and the worldly people they inhabit. This makes for a very enjoyable read as de Lint explores the magic and danger of the fantasy world, through the actions and travails of the mystically inclined and free-spirited denizens of Newford's eccentric big city landscape. But even though de Lint's ideas are as highly unique as always, this book has some problems in plot and characterizations. First, there are far too many over-described and incongruously eccentric characters who have middling influence on the ultimate plotline, and keeping track of them all becomes tiresome. Other than the Crow Girls, some of the most intriguing characters I've ever come across, just about everyone else in this novel blends together in their contrived "differentness" and whimsy. It appears that de Lint is obsessed with the alternative nation of mystical hippies and friendly punks, with everyone falling into that supposed anti-stereotype - especially de Lint's annoying alter ego Christy Riddell, who has no other purpose in the story except to appear out of nowhere and explain things to confused characters (and readers). Add to this a messy writing style in which the point of view shifts abruptly from third person to first, for various characters of inconsistent importance, plus a plot that gets bigger and more diffuse as it goes along, then leads to an inconclusive climax and a whole pile of loose ends. This is quite disappointing because of the highly intriguing settings and themes in de Lint's unique world of urban fantasy. [~doomsdayer520~]
Rating: Summary: Mediocre fantasy at best Review: De Lint's lukewarm prose and limp plot detract from a collection of inspired and interesting characters. This should come as no surprise to readers who have had to endure his previous works. De Lint is often compared to Stephen King, and for good reason: De Lint creates fascinating situations and characters, only to butcher them with an awkward, fumbling narrative. How many characters in his novel must be in love with all those trendy, retro, neo-folk trappings that De Lint himself is in love with? All of them? Isn't this just a little transparent and silly? De Lint might as well write a short pamphlet that says "I think the animal people are cool and I listen to Loreena McKennitt so that makes me cool, too." That's about as much substance as I got from this novel.And finally, I will say that De Lint's "Jack the Giant Killer" stories were quite enjoyable, just in case anyone thinks I automatically hate everything he writes. _Someplace to be Flying_ should be avoided, even if you're a De Lint fan.
Rating: Summary: The best yet! Review: deLint's construction of Newford and the folk who live there are so entrancing that as soon as you open the book you are there. I never want to leave, which is why I read his Newford books over and over again. This latest edition to Newford mythology kept me enthralled - I couldn't put it down. And as soon as I finished it I wanted to start over again. This is by far the best deLint book I have read so far (and I have read most). Spellbinding!
Rating: Summary: My favorite De Lint (so far)... Review: For me, this book has all of the strengths (the great ensemble cast, the mythological background, in this case, Native American, and of course, the power of the story itself), and almost none of the admittedly few weaknesses (dialogue tends to ramble a bit in some tales at times) of Charles De Lint. And then, of course, there are the Crow Girls. Very, very! There's a lot going on in this story (544 pages worth in the paperback edition), and it's all deliciously satisfying for this reader. In particular, Jack Daw walking into the nest of vermin that tortured and killed his beloved is one of the more compelling and unsettling descriptions of raw violence and vengeance that this reader has encountered from this author. One of the very best examples of "urban mythology," and if you like that, or you even think you might like that, check it out.
Rating: Summary: Stephen King just became my SECOND favorite author Review: I bought this book off the shelf at the grocery store one evening just because it looked like a good read. WOW, I couldn't put it down! When a book can keep me up till 2AM reading untill my eyes burn, THAT'S a good read! Horrer, mystery and fantasy all in one.
Rating: Summary: The Crow Girls are a Riot Review: I bump my original review up a star. I never did like Lily or even Hank that much, but the other characters make it worth the trip. This one is right up there with "Trader" and "The Little Country".
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