The Onion Girl = Charles De Lint

The Onion Girl (Newford, #11) by Charles de Lint


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A very powerful book. I haven't read the other books he has written in this area - so it's fascinating to see how Charles De Lint brings the other references in without losing me.

Nearly finished now and the breadth of the book has widened considerably. The fae cosmology fascinates me and discovering the nature of 'The People' and the 'Old Spirits' that dwell in the Dreamlands or walk between them and the World That Is is an enjoyable journey.

There are some very fascinating characters in the book but I think my favourite has to be Jo Crazy Dog and the women's group. Joe is a trickster who walks between the worlds and acts as a guide to the women, and the women seem bound by their own unique perceptions of the Dreamlands.

To me, as a student of Celtic Mythology and the European Fey traditions, it has been fascinating to visit the realms of Canadian and North American Fey lore. There is obviously so much here to learn and I wonder how much of Charles' fiction is based in traditional lore and how much he has made up. This book has started a new quest within me - to understand how the Fey have spread across the world. Different cultures seem to experience them in radically different ways.

As a piece of fiction, it stands apart as a book separate from the other Newford books - I was able to enjoy it without understanding how it fits into the wider picture. The characterization of the main characters was very fulfilling and the supporting cast do their jobs admirably.

In summary, I enjoyed it tremendously and want to read more of his work now. Heartily recommended.

-- Gary

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Inspiration

Breathe into me the wild,
The boundless, the beauty of the child.
Let me drink deep the endless cup,
The cauldron, the grail – let me sup
Deep and my soul be filled.

To those behind the face of form,
Present since the time of Dawn,
Ever-here, everywhere – seen and unseen,
I call on you to wipe my soul clean.
Let he who ever-chatters be stilled.

Let us be one, you and me,
The tired and bound, the wild and free.
Sing to me in voice pure and clear,
Open my mind so my ears can hear.
May the words of my pen be truly skilled.

You and I have known each other long,
Aeons have passed since your first song
Filled my heart and drove me to tears.
Yet have I grown deaf over the years -
Logic and reason have been my shield.

Now I hear you sigh in the whispering grass,
Hear your laugh amongst leaves as I pass.
Let my ears finally hear your voice.
Be aware – that I have made this choice
At whatever cost, let them be healed.


Slán

Silverwolf