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riotsquirrrl's review
3.0
3.5 stars mostly because most of these stories are much of the same as other stories from CDL. Which is disappointing because in general I've found his anthologies to be better than his novels. So the same issues with fatphobia, cultural appropriation of Indigenous beliefs, etc. that I've written about in reviews of his other works. There are also some real cringe entries, mostly works the author had published in anthologies that seem overly shoehorned to the themes. I'm looking at you, "Mutant" and "Masking Indian."
The best of the lot is "Seven Wild Sisters" the novella that closes out the book and it's what upgrades this from being a 3 to a 3.5 star book. I've found that the author frequently struggles with creating engaging antagonists, especially for longer works. In this case he manages to make the story fairy-tale enough that his antagonist is both believable and suitably outlandish, without resulting in a certain cartoonishness as with the all-evil-all-the-time cuckoo clan.
I'm also disappointed that this collection had a dearth of specific songs or artists named. A significant part of why I like his work is because he does that, and has an immense catalogue of music at his disposal to choose from, especially folk and traditional music.
The best of the lot is "Seven Wild Sisters" the novella that closes out the book and it's what upgrades this from being a 3 to a 3.5 star book. I've found that the author frequently struggles with creating engaging antagonists, especially for longer works. In this case he manages to make the story fairy-tale enough that his antagonist is both believable and suitably outlandish, without resulting in a certain cartoonishness as with the all-evil-all-the-time cuckoo clan.
I'm also disappointed that this collection had a dearth of specific songs or artists named. A significant part of why I like his work is because he does that, and has an immense catalogue of music at his disposal to choose from, especially folk and traditional music.
wsking's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
amgeever's review
5.0
FYI: I originally reviewed this book on Bookbub a few days ago. I just realized that this is the ninth Newford book but it was the first one I read. Like I say below, you can jump in anywhere and take a trip to Newford. I'm going to gush a little now... Charles de Lint liked my review on Bookbub. When I saw that in my notifications I squealed and wriggled like a teenager meeting Justin Bieber, ran upstairs and interrupted my husband (who introduced me to de Lint's work), squealed the news some more while doing a combo happy dance/jump up and down, and then told everyone I know on Facebook about it with a first line to my post of "holy shit, holy shit, holy shit!!!". If you ever read this, Mr. de Lint, that 'Like' made my year. :-) I've just finished my first novel, post-apocalyptic fiction with zombies (search Love in an Undead Age if you're interested, folks). I really want to write urban fantasy some day but first I have to figure out how to do it without being a de Lint knock-off. Because if you have a choice between the real thing and a knock-off, it's a no-brainer.
The Review:
Charles de Lint is one of my favorite authors. His fictional city of Newford (somewhere in North America, I always envision it in Canada) is such a fully formed universe and there's always more to discover. You can read any of his books and jump right in, regardless of what else you have or have not read. I guarantee you that you will want to read more, know more, and the more you learn of his worlds, and especially of Newford, the more you want. His writing is that good.
This book has perhaps my favorite short story of all time: Pixel Pixies. Which isn't truly about pixies at all, but the sweetest little house hob in the world. When my mother was in the hospital at the beginning of her cancer journey, which ended in her passing 6 months later, I read Pixel Pixies to she and my father. When I read the last paragraph I literally could barely do so for wanting to cry. Not because the story is sad, but because it's so beautiful, so hopeful, so abso-freaking-lutely WONDERFUL. I still get teary thinking about that evening, reading that story to my mom and dad.
That is what Charles de Lint does... transports you not only to a world, but indelibly marks the feelings that go with those times and those places, and the people you shared them with if you shared them, so that you will never forget them. And they always touch you.
Take a trip to Newford. You will want to stay and meet everyone, especially the Crow Girls. Of this I am 1000% sure.
The Review:
Charles de Lint is one of my favorite authors. His fictional city of Newford (somewhere in North America, I always envision it in Canada) is such a fully formed universe and there's always more to discover. You can read any of his books and jump right in, regardless of what else you have or have not read. I guarantee you that you will want to read more, know more, and the more you learn of his worlds, and especially of Newford, the more you want. His writing is that good.
This book has perhaps my favorite short story of all time: Pixel Pixies. Which isn't truly about pixies at all, but the sweetest little house hob in the world. When my mother was in the hospital at the beginning of her cancer journey, which ended in her passing 6 months later, I read Pixel Pixies to she and my father. When I read the last paragraph I literally could barely do so for wanting to cry. Not because the story is sad, but because it's so beautiful, so hopeful, so abso-freaking-lutely WONDERFUL. I still get teary thinking about that evening, reading that story to my mom and dad.
That is what Charles de Lint does... transports you not only to a world, but indelibly marks the feelings that go with those times and those places, and the people you shared them with if you shared them, so that you will never forget them. And they always touch you.
Take a trip to Newford. You will want to stay and meet everyone, especially the Crow Girls. Of this I am 1000% sure.
mrswhiteinthelibrary's review
4.0
While not as magical as some of his previous story collections, this collection takes you through the city of Newford and beyond into surrounding realms of imagination. A must for any de Lint fan.
ariereads's review
4.0
And again, de Lint makes his way back to my "favourite authors" list. While not quite reaching the magic of Dreams Underfoot, Tapping the Dream Tree is filled with beautiful writing and this time, most of the stories are heart-warming too. There are only two here that I would consider dark, involving an innocent boy on death row, and also a ghost seeking revenge on a serial killer.
The other stories are fanciful and lovely (though often still with that hint of darkness). There's the werewolf going on a blind date after putting an ad in the paper; the hob who organises the books in a second-hand book-store; Sophie returning to the dreamworld for yet another adventure and, of course, Jilly Coppercorn.
If this sounds at all "childish", I assure you it is not, though all his writing - yes, even the darkest - retains that sense of childhood wonder that I think the majority of us have lost.
The other stories are fanciful and lovely (though often still with that hint of darkness). There's the werewolf going on a blind date after putting an ad in the paper; the hob who organises the books in a second-hand book-store; Sophie returning to the dreamworld for yet another adventure and, of course, Jilly Coppercorn.
If this sounds at all "childish", I assure you it is not, though all his writing - yes, even the darkest - retains that sense of childhood wonder that I think the majority of us have lost.
stelepami's review
3.0
I especially liked the stories that took place out of town. Something about the first and last stories put me in the mood to re-read Gone-Away Lake.