More timely now than ever

I read this years ago, but as with all good things, I wanted to revisit it. With society forgetting the connections to the natural world, we need to take the time to reconnect and understand that we are a part of the natural world NOT APART from it.

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Love de Lint’s Work

During this past year of isolation I have pondered my place in the world and how to be of service. This story, though I wish it was longer, helps me settle my heart, put my head down and keep pushing forward. This is truth in fiction.

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Needs a Trigger Warning

A bit of this book contains themes of child loss and miscarriages. This was incredibly triggering for me after a loss early this year, and I wish there had been a little something in the beginning. I really love Charles de Lint stories, but find myself unable to continue this.

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My least favorite De Lint

I first discovered de Lint in 1985 back in 1985 with”Moonheart.” I have read everything By him that I could since that first book. I mention this because when I say my least favorite de Lint, I have read most of his work. I have been going to his books on audio, and I am generally not a fan of his narrators. Stacey Glemboski reads this one and manages to virtually put me to sleep. The story is disappointing to me, at least real active to his other works, but Glemboski is downright off putting for me. I find the generic reader on Kindle more engaging.
De Lint writes well with great phrasing to describe the landscape, but, particularly in this reading, the scenes that feature only Eithnie are surprisingly lifeless and a bit pedantic. The character of Sharleen enlivens all her scenes and were favorite part of the book. I have always been enchanted by the way that de Lint’s characters interact. This book is too much in Eithnie’s head for me.
While not bad, one short story with the Crow Girls is far more enticing and lively.

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De Lint is my favorite author

I took to his works in the 90s, I hadn't gotten around to this one yet . I will say this is not my favorite one of his works. That said it's still very true to his genre one of the things I tend to respect about this author over all is his ability to blend the folklore, myths, and modern so seamlessly. As a lover of all things fae, earth, and mythological I appreciate his attention to details. If you like these things I definitely suggest his other works like tapping the dream tree, moon heart, and dreams underfoot. if you are triggered by talk of child loss then yes you will want to pass on this piece but still don't let that discourage you from his work overall

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Great at putting you to sleep

The first chapter comes across as more of poetry, which is fine if you’re into that. It is slow to get to anything substantial, and when it does it is disappointing. It is very figurative. You have to derive what it means to you. It takes way too much work to find the meaning of this book. The narrator is reading this so slow. I sped it up to 1.2X, and it was a little better. However, I still had a hard time, because she is very monotone throughout the book. I really wanted to like this book, but I really didn’t.

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Love de Lint; narration needs a tweak

I love everything I’ve read by Charles de Lint. This is my first time listening to one of his books instead of reading it myself. I’m not finished with it yet, but it’s worth mentioning that in chapter three, “saguaro” should be pronounced “swarro” and “cholla” should be pronounced “choya”. It’s hard to be an Arizonan and hear them mispronounced. (That’s my only gripe.)

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Oh, what a find!

Made me so nostalgic for my childhood in the woods! I wish to do more!

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Wow! Love this book, will listen again many times!

I have read this book several times, being a huge fan of de Lint. This audio book was wonderfully performed and really brings the characters to life. Will listen to it over and over again many times.

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Disappointing.

Warning, spoilers.

I'll start by the worst thing.
A forest is dying because the world is polluted by humans. The protagonist promises to help the spirits of the forest. The help consists of... getting pregnant with a fey's child.
...really? A woman reduced to a walking uterus? And that's all she can do to fix things? SO very disappointing.

I mean, I understand this was probably meant to say thay humans are polluting the world and the only way to "redemption" is to spiritually merge with nature. I get that the meaning of the story is figurative. But to the figurative side there's also the narrative one, and it's LAME.

A lot of the book is rhetorical. Yes, I agree that the world is polluted and a mess and we should do something about it - probably not getting pregnant - but most of what the protagonist thinks and does is pages and pages of boring, philosophical-like, pointless beating around the bushes that seems deep but is pretty shallow.

This book definitely aims too high and can't get there.

And yes, the writer knows how to write. Poetic, dreamy. But the what, not the how, is lacking.

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