The Onion Girl

Rating:
Summary: Let's not beat around the bush...
Review: this is simply one of the worst books I've ever read. Although I have heard of De Lint, I've never read any of his books before now, and I definitely won't be reading any more. A mind-numbing mish-mash of formulaic bad guys (bad girls, in this case) and equally formulaic righteous good guys (mostly very nice, sweet young girls, in this case, with a few sensitive new-age guy hangers-on). Evil twins, sin and salvation, death and resurrection, the spirit creators of the Earth and the limitless forest at the edge of our dreams, all get dragged through the mud by a bunch of characters that were apparently inspired by the cast of Felicity (or maybe Dawson's Creek). If you are interested in this "urban fantasy" thing, please, do yourself a favor and read something by John Crowley, whose pencil shavings are probably more interesting than this sad, sad book.

Rating:
Summary: aaggghh inspiring!
Review: This man's author has the ability to truely weave a story that is not only entertaining but life profound! You can sit back and glean sheer entertainment value and walk away with a better understanding of the human condition, with an essential spark of hope!

Rating:
Summary: Really Enjoyed This!
Review: Unlike many of DeLint's formulaic novels where his main character finds themselves up against an evil from some ancient past, this deals more with the heart, Jilly's Heart, to be exact. It was a delight to see him stray from what seemed to be a habitual path of the formulaic for this writer. I had become somewhat of a discouraged reader due to his constant plot repetition and poor resolutions of these plots. It was refreshing to see him finally break free of this and try something new.

Jilly, is perhaps, one of the most endeared characters in DeLint's Newford sorties and I was delighted to see that he finally took the step into letting us know about the family and past history of this beloved character.

This book can be ready without reading any of DeLint's Newford stories, but those who already have will find great joy in seeing many of the old favorites coming to visit Jilly while she is in the hospital.

A story more about regret and following the paths one is given, this has less to do with DeLint's normal "urban fantasy" style and more to do with the complexities between siblings, child neglect and incest. There is more context to this story and more fleshing out of Jilly than one had before, which, is still overwhelming.

A very sad and haunting story of two sisters caught in the same situation, it is an instersting trip into the human psyche as to how both characters deal with it.

The ending was sad but redeeming as it comcludes that above all, family is everything.

Rating:
Summary: Goth Newford
Review: While not my favorite of Charles deLint's books, I enjoyed this very much. I especially liked the relationship between the sisters, as it parallels the troubles that my sister and I have gone through... be advised that this is one of deLint's darkest books and is probably not the one with which to start if you haven't read deLint before.... he remains one of my absolute favorite writers.