Dingo - Book Rant

Dingo (Newford #17)
by Charles de Lint

What is it about:
High school senior Miguel's life is turned upside down when he meets new girl Lainey, whose family has just moved from Australia. With her tumbled red-gold hair, her instant understanding of who he is, and her unusual dog a real Australian dingo, she's unforgettable. And, as he quickly learns, she is on the run from an ancient bargain made by her ancestors.

There's no question that Miguel will do whatever he can to help her, but what price will each of them have to pay?

What did I think of it:
This could have been a nice read about two mismatched teenage boys helping two shapeshifting teenage girls escape their destiny, but instead de Lint managed to spoil this whole book for me with just one careless remark.

Our white skinned red-gold haired twins refer to the Aboriginals as 'guests', because our redheaded fair skinned wonder twins the Dingo's were first in Australia...

Seriously!?

You're really going to degrade the Aboriginals - who suffered a lot of really nasty things, and who are still fighting for their rights - to guests who are being tolerated just to fit your own Mythology!? WTF!!!

If this was my first book by de Lint it would have been my last. Having read several others which I really loved, and having more of his books in my TBR pile, I'm going to assume this is a weird (and disrespectful) slip up. It will take me some time to get the bad taste of this book out of my mouth though, so it might be a while before I pick up my next de Lint book.

Why should you read it:
I'd pick one of his other books if I were you.


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From a Whisper to a Scream - Book Review

From a Whisper to a Scream (Newford #3)
by Charles de Lint

What is it about:
In the early 1990s, Charles de Lint wrote and published three dark fantasy novels under the pen name "Samuel M. Key”. Now, Orb presents them for the first time under de Lint’s own name.

Years after the death of a notorious child murderer, people have begun to die again...and a crime photographer begins to suspect he has the one true clue that connects the horrific events.

What did I think of it:
After reading and really liking The Blue Girl I wanted to read more by Charles de Lint. I decided to pick this book because it sounded like it might be a dark and scary read.

And it is indeed a lot darker and a lot more grim, but just as beautiful despite its darkness.

The story is told from multiple viewpoints, some of the characters likable, others far more seedier. My favorite character was Thomas Morningstar, a Native American police officer. I thought the story line about him trying to find his place in society, torn between his loyalty to his tribe and his desire to make a place for himself in the world outside of the reservation was very compelling.

The overall story is very gripping and suspenseful. It doesn't take long to figure out who the killer is, but it's all about how, and if, he can be stopped. There are themes of abuse, trying to move on from life shattering events, and holding on to the past.

This story isn't an easy one, but still I loved it and was drawn in. The ending gives hope, and I will most probably reread this book in the future. And I most certainly will get my trotters on more books by de Lint.

Why should you read it:
It's a dark, but compelling read.

The Blue Girl - Book Review

The Blue Girl (Newford #16)
by Charles de Lint

What is it about:
Seventeen-year-old Imogene's tough, rebellious nature has caused her more harm than good—so when her family moves to Newford, she decides to reinvent herself. She won't lose her punk/thrift-shop look, but she'll try to avoid the gangs, work a little harder at school, and maybe even stay out of trouble for a change.

Her first friend at Redding High, Maxine, is her exact opposite. Everyone considers Maxine a straight-A loser, but as Imogene soon learns, it's really Maxine's overprotective mother whose rules about clothes and curfews make it impossible for her to speak up for her true self. Oddly, the friendship works. Imogene helps Maxine loosen up and break a few rules, and in turn, Maxine keeps Imogene in line.

But trouble shows up anyway. Imogene quickly catches the eye of Redding's A-list bullies, as well as the school's resident teenage ghost. Then she gets on the wrong side of a gang of malicious fairies.

When her old imaginary childhood friend Pelly actually manifests, Imogene realises that the impossible is all too real. And it's dangerous. If she wants to survive high school—not to mention stay alive—she has to fall back on the skills she picked up in her hometown, running with a gang.

Even with Maxine and some unexpected allies by her side, will she be able to make it?

What did I think of it::
I will confess: this book caught my eye because of the cover! It did sounds like a cool read as well, so I decided to give it a try.

Now you might notice this book is part of a series. But I can tell you it can easily be read as a stand alone. I haven't read any other book in this series, and didn't feel like missing out. From what I understand these books are mostly linked because they're all set in the same fictional town. Some of them are more closely linked, but this one stands pretty much on its own within the series. Some of these books are more Young Adult, others more Adult.

The story (being Young Adult) is told in multiple viewpoints and multiple tenses, differing between Then and Now. This might sound confusing, but when reading the book I didn't have any trouble in following the story.

I liked both Imogene and Maxine. They were a perfect fit in my opinion. They have a lot of things in common, and where they were different they could help each other out. I really liked reading about how they met and how they interacted.

The paranormal aspects of this story (the ghost, the fairies) were taken from traditional folklore and mythology, but de Lint gave them their own unique spin that made them very intriguing. I was gripped by the events and was rooting for Imogene and Maxine to solve all their problems.

All in all this is a really fun and suspenseful read, that I found hard to put down. I will most certainly give other books in this series a try. Luckily I got some suggestions from a friend which books to try next.

Why should you read it:
It's a really cool Paranormal (YA) read.