Althea M. (althea) reviewed on 9/16/2008 + 774 more book reviews

A collection of short stories, all set in DeLint's imaginary city of Newford. DeLint is a good writer. I can't deny that a couple of these stories even made me cry. But, overall, their quality is really diminished by being too social-agenda-oriented. Too many of them seem to be written For Disadvantaged Youth; To Have a Positive Influence. It's been a recurring criticism I've had of DeLint's writing - he's good enough to just let his characters Be People, rather than Girl-With-An-Eating-Disorder, Abused-Homeless-Boy, or etc. But he doesn't. I generally agree with DeLint's messages of tolerance, diversity, multi-culturalism, ecology, and especially the importance of artistic ..and the one story about the girl who gets her life together, goes back to school, gets a job - and finds herself with not enough time for things that really matter to her, definitely spoke to me) - but too often pop psychology takes over and the writing begins to feel preachy. And it's no fun to be preached at, even when you agree with the message of the sermon.

Contents:
"Waifs and Strays"
"Mr. Truepenny's Book Emporium and Gallery"
"The Forest Is Crying"
"The Wishing Well"
"Dead Man's Shoes"
"Bird Bones and Wood Ash"
"A Tempest in Her Eyes"
"Saxophone Joe and the Woman in Black"
"The Bone Woman"
"Pal o' Mine"
"Where Desert Spirits Crowd the Night"
"Dream Harder, Dream True"
"The Pochade Box"
"The Forever Trees"

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