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Forests of the Heart by Charles De Lint
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http://www.quillandquire.com/reviews/...
Forests of the Heart
by Charles de Lint
Ottawa writer Charles de Lint is one of Canada’s best-kept literary secrets, one of our most accomplished writers despite an undeserved lack of mainstream recognition. His work defies easy categorization: it’s marketed as fantasy, but far removed from clichéd swordplay and sorcery. It’s not quite magic realism, and a step above standard urban fantasy – de Lint prefers the term “mythic fiction” to describe his writing, in which supernatural worlds overlap with contemporary society.
If there is any justice, Forests of the Heart, de Lint’s latest novel, should vault him from cult favourite to mainstream success. The novel involves the Gentry, displaced Irish spirits of the land who accompanied the earliest Irish immigrants to North America, only to find the New World already occupied by spirits of its own. The Gentry have a plan to take power, to find themselves a home, using an innocent sculptress and the archetypal force known as the Green Man. (Be warned – as is usually the case with de Lint, a brief summary does little justice to the power of his storytelling.) The novel is set both in the artistic and musical communities of Newford – the urban, northeastern setting of much of de Lint’s writing – and in a parallel dreamtime reality, “la epoca del mito.”
De Lint’s greatest strength as a writer is not his impressive imagination, nor his ability to seamlessly integrate the folklore traditions and beliefs of the Irish, native Canadians, and natives of the Southwestern desert. Rather, de Lint’s greatest skill is his human focus – the mythic elements never overshadow his intimate study of character. De Lint is a romantic, a believer in human potential, and his fiction is populated not only with creatures of myth, but with artists and social workers, musicians and runaways, all creating intentional communities based on hope and dreams and mutual belief in the magic of the world around us. To read de Lint is to fall under the spell of a master storyteller, to be reminded of the greatness of life, of the beauty and majesty lurking in shadows and empty doorways.
Reviewed by Robert Wiersema (from the June 2000 issue)
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I'd forgotten how much name dropping of obscure musical artists de Lint did - though it makes sense with some of the characters working in a indie music shop.
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I guess it goes to show how rich and interconnected Newford is that de Lint can conjure up so many images and stories with a simple sentence.
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As I am re-reading yes, there are definitely always references in the Newford series. De Lint really built his universe making it a real place! But it is nothing that should prevent one from enjoying and appreciating the stories.
Here are some examples:
Bettina mentions that her sister Adelita studied at Butler University, which happens to be the same place that Lizzy from Memory and Dream, Sophie Etolie and Jilly Copercorn, both who appear in numerous stories and novels, studied Art.
Later on Jilly and Sophie are mentioned having breakfast with Donal
The person who runs the program for street people, Angel is also mentioned in several short stories.
I believe Gypsy Records is also mentioned in the story Time Skip, starring Jilly Coppercorn and Geordie Riddle. I believe one of them worked part time there. The Dear Mouse diner also comes up in several stories.
The artist Rushkin, one of the characters in Memory and Dream is mentioned as having stayed at Kellygnow. The artist Jane Connelly is mentioned who I believe is either in Seven Wild Sisters or Someplace to Be
Flying
This is what I have noticed up to now. It is fun to find all the different characters again!
Melanti and Julia did I miss anything?
This is my first de Lint read. Wonderful, lyrical writing. Just finished the first chapter so I am probably behind most of you. I don't think one would need to know any Spanish to be able to understand the dialogue, that is well done. But, I do read Spanish, so perhaps that is why there is no jarring from language to language.I have heard of the an bradan, but not an felsos from Irish mythology. Do I need to know now, or does de Lint give me a hint later?
Okay, Chapter 2 answers my question. I am loving this book. Can't put it down.
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Glad you are enjoying it Kathy! I think De Lint is such a talented writer and more readers should know about him.
On the other hand, I could understand why people who only read paranormal romances might not appreciate him, as De Lint is deeper and not always a light read. While he writes fantasy, he is definitely not escapist.
Re-reading I am impressed at how successfully he ties in the different mythic themes in his story and make them work, for example the idea of wild dogs. Bettina has her "cadejos" , the little dogs and their magic in her chest and the gentry have their wild wolf nature, and both as Bettina's father points out, are spirits with lots of magic.
Yes, this is a great read. I actually prefer a deeper read to engage me. The paranormal romance part of fantasy has almost turned me off from reading the fantasy genre. It is so refreshing to read this book to remind me why I love fantasy. I especially enjoy the mix of myths and legends in the story line too. And the writing itself is fabulous. Too many books that I have read seem condescending to me as a reader, I don't know why authors think that I can't read a sentence if the words have more than 5 letters in them.
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I completely understand on the romance. A few years back I was reading a ton of the detective style urban fantasy, and so many of those are paranormal romance in disguise.
I have to admit that I peeked at your bookshelf to try to figure out what books you are complaining about. One thing jumped out at me right from the start, and I'm not sure how many people know about it... Luna Publishing and Mira Publishing are both imprints of Harlequin Romance. There's not too many fantasies other than Snyder published under "Mira" but if you see that Luna white and blue face on the cover of any book, make sure to keep the Harlequin connection into account. I've been burned on several series published by Luna that started off decently and turned into drivel within a couple of books.
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Of the PR type Urban Fantasy, there are only 3 series that I liked enough to read beyond the first books: Sookie Stackhouse, Jane Yellowrock and Mercedes Thompson.
The Sookie books were my introduction to the genre and the lightness and sensuality, as well as the quirkiness drew me in. I read all the books that were out at the time, which was 8 , straight through. Then I had to wait about a year for the next one. In the meantime I discovered the type of Urban Fantasy that has since become my favourite, what is now called Mythic fiction, so when the next Sookie book came out I did not enjoy it nearly as much.
I like Jane Yellowrock Skinwalker by Faith Hunter because the main character is Cherokee and is a shapeshifter, but the book also did not withstand a second reading. The writing was not engaging enough for me, too many inconsistencies in her world, the story and characters to make it.
The best series in terms of writing Imo is Patricia Briggs with her Mercedes Thompson. She builds a world that does not fall apart upon closer examination and like De Lint, has very interesting engaging characters.
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Faith Hunter did the Jane Yellowrock series.
Patricia Briggs does the Mercedes Thompson books.
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Faith Hunter did the Jane Yellowrock series.
Patricia Briggs does the Mercedes Thompson books."
Thanks for pointing that out Melanti! I corrected the mistakes!
Finished the book. Thanks for the recommendation, I really enjoyed the read.
Forests of the Heart is not one of the many Charles de Lint books available from my library. It does look interesting so I'll keep an eye out for it.
Jalilah wrote: "
Starting September 1Here is where we can discuss Forests of the Heart by Charles de Lint"
Monica wrote: "Forests of the Heart is not one of the many Charles de Lint books available from my library. It does look interesting so I'll keep an eye out for it."
Jalilah wrote: "This short review sums up what I appreciate about De Lint's writing:
http://www.quillandquire.com/reviews/...
Forests of the Heart
by Charles de Lint
Ottawa writer Charles de ..."
I hope this reply goes through. I have taken out of my library Forests of The Heart. It was the second book I have read of Charles de Lint. I am rereading it so I can reply again. Carole Lane. thanks.
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I thought you would Kathy! Any things you especially liked?
For me I am fascinated by both Celtic and Native American mythology, but I am also partial to Mexican. My mother's family are from New Mexico and love the Mexican interpretation of Catholicism.
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Since you are versed in mythology Monica, I would be interested on how you would find De Lint's blending of Celtic,Native American and Mexican Mythology.
Greetings,I am busy reading The Green Man ..tales from the Mythic Forest which has The Hunter's Moon in it by Patricia A.Mckillip and I have read THE Seven Wild Sisters, but I will complete The Tapping I to the Dream Tree also. Next on the list will be Forests of the Heart. I do have a copy of this boom and have read it long ago. Then the list goes on. I see Cloven Hooves by Megan Lind holm and Merlin's Wood by Robert Holdstock. My library have been searching all over Australia to belp me keep up however in return I have a write a few paragraphs about each one so they can be put in the Library magazine. I guess it will open readers up more to the fantasy world. So the lists go on......I would also describe Charles DeLint as being not only mythic Fantasy writer but also a Mythic one too. He is not paranormal thank goodness. The writing group I belong to love this subject and write copious sex scenes as part of it. Needless to say that is not my thing and though I write Fantasy, I am too influenced by the telling of myths etc. Enjoy your day ladies. We are entering into Spring and the days are beginning to lengthen. I add this found in the preface. When we journey deep 'into the woods' in myths, fairy tales or modern fantasy fiction , we travel to a place of magic. Happy reading.
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I'll be looking forward to reading your impressions Carole!
I agree about DeLint being a Mythic writer and in a completely different class than all these paranormal romance series.
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How are you liking The Green Man collection? I quite enjoyed it, and some of the stories have stuck with me, even though it's been years since I read it.
Into the Forest
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Here is where we can discuss Forests of the Heart by Charles de Lint