Rating: 
Summary: One of the greatest books ever written
Review: I read Tam Lin by chance, as it was recommended to me by a friend who happened to pick it up at the library out of the blue. All I can say is- thank goodness she did. Tam Lin is one of the best books I've ever read, and I'm quite critical. The characters are wonderful, real- those who wrote that they didn't like the book because Janet was "annoying" seem to be missing the point that only a well-written character can be human enough to be annoying sometimes. The plot develops at a slow, steady pace, which often I find irritating. Not this story- it was addictive from the first page. When I finished I went back to the beginning and read it again. When I'm craving good, pleasurable writing, I open my copy and start reading at random. Never have I found a book so easily quotable, as Dean's writing style is lyrical and crafted with almost impossible perfection. Lastly, I would read Tam Lin if only for the literary references- had I not read Tam Lin, I doubt I would have read The Lady's Not For Burning.
Rating: 
Summary: Great writing, no plot
Review: It was about at page 300 when I finally gave up waiting for anything to truly happen in the book and just decided to complete it for the sake of completion. I enjoyed the characters and the setting, but almost nothing happened in this book. I was an English major at a good university. None of the English majors knew the works like these characters did. I felt like the author was trying to show off every single work she had ever read and asked her friends for oblique references. I enjoyed the depth of her main character and her style of writing but this book is like Disney's Pocahontis - pretty colors, but no action for the plot. And before all the English majors start complaining about the subtlety, there was very little. References to the fairies were obvious (Ms. Wolfe screamed it from her first introduction). I did enjoy the atmosphere and I thought the college days were well done. I'd give this high marks if there had just been more to do with the given fairy tale (some plot) and her characters didn't speak with literary references 98% of the time. This book is written for the very select group of people who would understand the references. I will look for other books by the author though.
Rating:
Summary: One of three books that have profoundly influenced my life!
Review: I read this the summer before I went to college, and while my college life is incredibly different from that descirbed in the book (I attend a women's college, for one thing), I still find it remarkably relavent to my life, both in and out of the college world. Tam Lin is, in many ways, more than just a novel; I almost treat it like an English-class reading list. I made a list of all the quotations and their known refernces, and I have since been reading them. I have also been known to quote sentances of the book to others when Pamela Dean just says it better. Beyond that, it speaks to me that there is a tiny thread of magic in the most mundane of life's experiences. i'd like to end with a quote about why I love this book. "Whatever else fairy tales might be good for, they taught you to keep your promises." p. 437.
Rating:
Summary: spell-binding
Review: Having recently started the Fairy Tale Series, I bought this book, and was so enthralled by it that I simply could not put it down! Although the body of the book seems to be more mundane than fantastic, hints of magic abound. Pamela presents the lives of the three college roomates in an alltogether entertaining manner. I especially loved the literary discussions the characters had, and found them extremely amusing at times. This book is awesome, borrow it, buy it, whatever! Just read it!
Rating:
Summary: Unpleasant characters made the book annoying
Review: While I usually enjoy reading fiction that is based off fairy and folk tales, "Tam Lin" tried my patience to the point where I didn't think I could go on reading. The main reason: for most of the book, I abosolutely could not stand the main character, Janet. She's like eighteen years old, and she thinks she knows everything. I've had to take classes with girls just like Janet at college--do I really need to read about them in my free time? Janet was just so SNOBBY, so close minded, having a set idea of what is good literature and what is not and barely tolerating the kinds of fiction she didn't like. Also, she had Keats memorized. Eventually, I started liking her a tiny bit--to my amazement--which may be because she had grown up a little as the novel progressed. Some of the other characters were interesting, and the subplot with the pregnant girls who commited suicide at the college was interesting. I'm not sure WHY the girls died--something to do with the fairy plot, their lovers asking them to save them from the sacrifice--but it was spooky.As for the book's portrayal of English majors, I am an English major and it had no relevance to my life whatsoever, but that doesn't say all that much. I couldn't believe how well educated everyone in the book was--they knew stuff I know now, but would not have recognized when I started college, all these obscure literary references that only English/liberal arts majors would probably care about. So while I began to like the book better than I thought I would towards the end, I overall can't give it more than two stars.
Rating: 
Summary: pretentious and long-winded
Review: I actually have read this book 3 times: once before entering university, once during, and once after leaving. Perhaps my experience as a 1990s student at an engineering school spoiled this book, or the fact that the characters in the book reminded me of the people that most grated on me in high school: theater people. Also I happen to live in the Northfield MN area-at least she got the Carleton student ethos right. :o(
Rating:
Summary: Without a doubt, one of the best
Review: I've read all the reviews people before me have put up, and seen that the main reason people didn't like Tam Lin was for the characters. They found them flat. I thought that some of the elven characters (those that turned out to be elven) were rather flat, but they were SUPPOSED to be, it was a major part of everything, they had been through so much time that they were barely there- I think Pamela Dean relayed that absolutely beautifully, and as for the other characters, well, I adored them. I absolutely loved them. But, more than the characters, I loved the writing style. To me the rhythm was almost poetic, as all truly great prose is. I could have read this book even had it no plot, just for the way one word struck the next. Not a single poorly chosen word in the book. And for me to say that, I, who unconsciously make editing remarks through every book I read, is unusual. But I DID love the plot as well. I found the sequence of events fascinating, the stories of the ghosts beautiful, the characters enthralling. I loved the references to Shakespeare and other great pieces, and the translations and quotes from them. All in all, I don't think there's anything in it I would change. I liked it that much.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic!
Review: I found the book to be absolutely great ... picked it up one afternoon, and didn't put it down until I'd finished it. Dean has a wonderful way with her characters, and she keeps you wondering.
Rating:
Summary: I really enjoyed this book.
Review: At first, I didn't really like this book, but after a few chapters, I was hooked. I loved the characters, and I thought that Dean's interpretation of the ballad was very interesting. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in fantasy.
Rating:
Summary: Fabulous Book in a fabulous series
Review: Having read this book shortly after completing my first year of university, I have to say that it's a fairly accurate description of university life. I loved the characters, and I loved the story, but most of all I loved the references, obvious and oblique, to literature. I've read this book several times, and have lent it to several people, all English majors, and we've yet to find all of the references. I particularly like the Lewis Carrol reference in the opening lecture. I highly recomend this novel for anyone considering or taking a degree in liberal arts. I also recomend the other books in the Fairy Tale's Series - especially Steven Brust's "The Sun, The Moon and the Stars".
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