posts on 4/19/2006 10:29:17 AM
I've been reading The Blue Girl by Charles de Lint recently. There's a character in there called Pelly or Pell Mell, which I'm think may have inspired this song. It's really stuck with me for some reason. It sounds like children chanting a schoolyard song.
Pell Mell
Went to hell
Singing that song
We know so well.
What came next
I may not tell
Salt and ash
Wake up and yell!
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The commentator Bramble
posts on 7/29/2005 11:47:34 PM
There is no doubt about it... Charles de Lint is a literary master.
Charles de Lint has a magical way of drawing in his audience, of keeping his readers hooked. His plots are never smooth and traditionally predictable, but rather bumpy and sprinkled with constant new developments popping up at every turn. I never get bored or tired of reading his books, because the plots keep me excited and on my toes.
Another great thing about Charles de lint is that he pays careful respect and attention to the detail and reality of true original Celtic folklore. I found this both fascinating and admirable, as many writers of fiction tend to sway from the truth about Faerie folklore in order to attain greater shock value in their stories. But somehow this wizard of words manages to stick to the traditional stories and still knock you off your feet, and by the time you're done reading you'll be standing on your head with your clothes inside-out and your socks hanging off your ears—you won't know what's hit you!
I also love this wonderful genre of his that he calls urban fantasy. It's almost like some kind of punk-Faerie literature, and I love it because it combines the gorgeous, delicate strands of ancient folklore with the thick, strong cords that secure our modern lives. It twists them together Most of his stories relate to teenagers and their hardships, which makes them fairly easy to relate to. He makes his characters realistically young and up to date wit what's hot and what's not, which I think is amazing. Usually when an adult tries to write a novel in the view of a teenager and stay in line with current trends as clothing and music, they end up trying too hard and sort of “writing down”. Teens can always tell when an adult is trying too hard to be “cool” and write down to a younger audience, and it is very annoying. For example, often adult authors will desperately attempt to keep up with the current teen lingo of the time.
They usually end up putting the word “like” in every third sentence and showering terms like “butt-plug” and “fart-face” throughout the whole dialogue, making it seem as though they learned to speak English by watching episodes of Beavis and Butthead. When a sixteen year-old in a book calls someone something that I haven't heard since I was twelve (barf-brain, for example), it not only ruins the believability of the character, it also becomes quite irritating for the reader. But Charles de Lint is very good at keeping the dialogue in his novels natural, comfortable, and believable. I don't know how he does it; all I know is that he does it well.
One thing that really shocked me, though, was his picture. I didn't look at his picture until I was halfway through my second Charles de Lint book (Waifs and Strays) and when I did, I was slightly taken aback. He looked much younger than I had pictured him, for some reason, I don't know why. I pictured someone a little older looking, perhaps a British gentleman. Funny how we picture people one way and they end up another. I guess his mature, insightful writing style doesn't usually fall into the hands of someone who looks so... loose, free, content with himself. In the picture on the jacket cover he almost looks a little bit messy or scruffy. You know, carefree; as if he doesn't put very much effort into his physical appearance, which I suppose contrasts so highly with what I thought he would be like because he puts so much care and detail and beauty into his literature. I must say, I find the real Charles de Lint much better than the one I had in my head, because he looks so likeable and easygoing; the kind of guy with whom you could sit down and have a good long, meaningful conversation. You know what I mean? Just your average, run-of-the-mill, Mister Nice Guy in a crazy-print shirt. :c)
Anyway, I agree that his work on “The Blue Girl” was phenomenal, and if you enjoyed it I would also highly recommend that you read “Waifs and Strays”, also by de Lint. I really enjoyed it, and I'm sure you will too. But back to “The Blue Girl”, I just have one question concerning it. What ever became of the librarian? The one with the tattoo that helped Maxine find books on Faerie folklore at the library near Christy's office? I was certain we were going to see or hear more about her, since she had such obvious knowledge about the fae and since we were so boldly introduced to her sideline character. Her tattoo was also so clearly pointed out to us and clearly described that I was led to believe it would have some sort of further significance in the plot or later on in the story, but after the scene in the library we never heard of the librarian again. At one point I almost wondered if perhaps Maxine's Internet informant Esmerelda would eventually be revealed as the librarian, but as the novel ended I realized that the mystery of the librarian was not to be solved... at least not in this novel. After all, de Lint has ritten countless novels that
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The commentator Tigra blue
posts on 6/10/2005 10:28:46 PM
I loved wolf moon that was my favorite of hes books.
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Dr.M.M.
posts on 5/26/2005 10:09:11 PM
Anybody read his book called The Blue Girl? I read it for a book report and I loved it. It deserved the award it got.
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Rudy
posts on 5/22/2005 10:02:14 PM
Great book. Sometimes a little too descriptive, but till a very strong storyline. I think that most people can relate to the book and find thereselves reflection in sone of the caracters. I'd recommend it to people who have secrets who haut them from the past.
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