Book Description
Jilly Coppercorn and Geordie Riddell. Since they were introduced in the first Newford story, "Timeskip," back in 1989, their friends and readers alike have been waiting for them to realize what everybody else always has: that they belong together. But theyve been clueless about how they feel for each other. Now in Widdershins, a stand-alone novel of fairy courts set in shopping malls and the bohemian street scene, their story is finally being told. To walk "widdershins" is to walk counterclockwise around something. Its a classic pathway into the fairy realm. Its also the way people often back slowly into the relationships that matter, the real ones that make for a life. In Widdershins Charles de Lint has delivered one of the most accessible and moving works of his career.
Customer Reviews:
another great one.......2007-10-01
As always Charles de Lint delivers an engrossing story with so many mythic undertones that you really feel that you are there. I have been reading his books for a very long time now and I have managed to introduce my duaghter to his books and she is as avid a fan as I am. Truely a writer worth reading and a genre that has grown immensely in the decades I have been reading this author.
read it.......2007-09-27
besides onion girl, this is De Lint's most realistic work, also the most moving. Don't miss any of his Newford series.
I have 'discovered' Charles De Lint and I will never be the same.......2007-08-22
If the name Charles de Lint sounds familiar to you and yet you haven't read any of his work it may be for a number of reasons. You may have seen the many striking book covers graced by the work of John Jude Palencar as you walk down the fantasy aisles. Or it may be because Charles de Lint has written over 40 novels, has numerous short story collections, writes poetry, and is a Celtic folk musician. Whatever the reason, the name Charles de Lint should be familiar to you. If it is not, I cannot encourage you strongly enough to remedy that situation as quick as possible.
Widdershins is a novel set in de Lint's Newford series. Charles de Lint has set almost 20 novels in the fictional North American city of Newford, a place with a cast of human characters that intersect with people of the faerie realm and Native American spirits. I picked up Widdershins as my first de Lint novel because the hints that it was a love story intrigued me. I like a bit of romance with my science fiction and fantasy. It was also advertised as a book that one could read without having read any of the other Newford books: a fact that I can wholeheartedly attest to.
A varying cast of characters inhabit de Lint's Newford books, so not each book is about the same people. Some of the characters in Widdershins have no doubt had a presence in some of the other books, but he does such a fantastic job of introducing the reader to the characters in a way that does not feel awkward, does not feel like a recap of other stories, that you begin to know the characters very intimately right from the start.
Two of the principal characters of Widdershins are Jilly and Geordie, characters that have had a presence in other Charles de Lint books, most notably the book The Onion Girl. In an author's note at the beginning of the book, Charles de Lint states that Widdershins arose out of numerous fan requests to find out what happened to Jilly and Geordie after the events of The Onion Girl. Eventhough Widdershins can be read as a stand alone book, if you have any desire to read The Onion Girl without having the ending spoiled for you, you should probably read that one first. I have a feeling that I know a lot about that book from reading Widdershins (and yet I loved the characters so much I still feel compelled to go read The Onion Girl...that alone should tell you how much I loved de Lint's writing).
So after all that introduction, what is the book about? Well, it is about a group of young adult celtic musicians and how a seemingly innocent decision sets in motion circumstances that will involve humans, faerie, Native American mythological creatures, and other old, folkloric characters...circumstances that will build towards a war that could have devastating effects on members of each race. In addition to that it is a story about healing from abuse, a story of self-examination, a story of life examination. Mix in an appreciation for Celtic music, deep characterization, a writing style that builds and builds upon itself, pulling the reader right into that world, and you have Widdershins. And, I suspect, any of Charles de Lint's novels.
Charles de Lint's work has been called "fantasy for people who don't read fantasy" and this is a pretty accurate definition. While de Lint certainly treats many of the typical fantasy/fairy tale subjects, he does so in such a serious, fluid manner that it never feels silly. It rarely even feels like fantasy in the way some other books do. There is such a strong folklore and mythology element to his work that it feels as if you are reading a story rich with historical spiritual and cultural elements. In Widdershins it is all very real, and very fascinating. Each relatively short chapter in Widdershins is about a specific character, told from their point of view. The effect of this is that you get to know each character very intimately, and the suspense of the various threads of the tale builds and builds as they are woven together towards the climax. I literally found myself reading faster and faster as events began to get more and more intense. It is a very good book.
Widdershins reminded me of two other stories: American Gods and Lord of the Rings. Widdershins shares a very strong bond with American Gods in its treatment of how gods, faerie, mythological creatures, etc. followed the humans, particularly the Europeans, as they migrated to North America. The effect that this has on the spirits already present in North America is treated similarly in both books. If you liked one, I guarantee you'll like the other. Both books are cut from the same rich, cultural/mythological cloth. It reminded me of Lord of the Rings in that a significant amount of time was spent with each character after the grand climax, allowing the reader to see resolution of the various issues and allowing a glimpse into where each character would go from here. I really enjoyed that as I became so strongly attached to so many of the characters that it gave me time to gently let them all go. It is a very effective writing style.
And finally, I mentioned something about abuse. If you work in the mental health field in any capacity then I highly recommend this book. Its treatment of the healing of abuse is so profound that I was deeply moved by that plot line alone, not to mention the many other wonderful things Widdershins has to offer. Charles de Lint has some wonderful insight into the healing of the human soul.
Widdershins is a fantastic, rich, complex and wonderful book. I give it my highest of recommendations and count myself as a new fan of Charles de Lint.
De Lint Delivers.......2007-08-03
Widdershins is another great journey into the world of Jilly. Twists and turns keep up interest, Couldn't put it down!
Don't start here.......2007-07-29
Maybe don't start with de Lint at all. He's one of the authors, along with Tad Williams, whom I keep trying to like because they show so much promise. Both Williams and de Lint create fascinating premises, which--for my tastes--are unfortunately accompanied by often painful dialogue and *slightly* lacking characters. That's just me, though--if you like Williams, you'll find de Lint a worthwhile read. Still, this book shouldn't be your first experience because it's a sequel of sorts to earlier work. It *does* stand on its own, but you should check other titles and reviews for a first time recommendation. Just so you can judge my tastes vs. yours in relation to de Lint, I greatly admire Donaldson's "Lord Foul's Bane" and Hobb's Farseer and Tawny Man trilogies, as well as George RR Martin's "Song of Fire and Ice" and Bishop's "Black Jewels" series.
Book Description
It's a cold December day when teenage apprentice witch Beatrice Bailey and her friends Ollie, Teddy, and Cyrus prepare to take the difficult qualifying exam for witches. They need to pass it in order to be accepted by any of the witch academies. On her way to the exam, Beatrice encounters a strange fox that leaves no footprints in the snow, and then suddenly disappears before her eyes. Is this an omen of strange things to come? Several weeks later, Beatrice and her friends learn—to their surprise and dismay—that they've been accepted at Widdershins Academy. They had applied to several schools for witches, but Widdershins wasn't on their list. How on earth did they get accepted there? Something mysterious is going on—and the mystery grows deeper on the day they arrive at Widdershins Academy. Kids who shared Beatrice's adventures in earlier novels are in for a special treat when they open this brand-new adventure in the popular series. And kids who are new to Beatrice's magic adventures will want to read all the others as soon as they've finished The Witches of Widdershins Academy.
Average customer rating:
- Enigmatic, Unusual Blend of Abnormal Psychology and the Supernatural
- A METICULOUSLY WRITTEN BUNCH OF TALES
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First Book of Ghost Stories: Widdershins
Oliver Onions
Manufacturer: Dover Pubns
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Onions, Oliver
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ASIN: 0486236080 |
Customer Reviews:
Enigmatic, Unusual Blend of Abnormal Psychology and the Supernatural .......2005-11-06
Oliver Onions considered ghosts to be like stars in the daytime - always present, but rarely observable. He argued that what we interpret as irrational or disturbed behavior, may not always be simply a symptom of mental illness, but could be due to the influence of unseen, ghostly apparitions. The eight stories in this modern Dover edition (The First Book of Ghost Stories) were first published in 1911 under the title Widdershins.
The Beckoning Fair One, the longest story (68 pages) in this collection, was called the best ghost story in the English language by another noted writer of ghost tales, Algernon Blackwood. It is quite good and I am surprised that I had not previously encountered it. The setting, a vacant house in an aging section of town, appeals to Paul Oleron, an unsuccessful writer looking for inexpensive lodging relatively free from noise and distractions. Very gradually Oleron becomes more reserved, less interested in his those around him. Oleron may be developing early signs of depression, perhaps even paranoia. Or something else might be happening.
Phantas, Rooum, Benlian, The Accident, The Lost Thyrsus, Hic Jacet, and The Cigarette Case - the other seven ghost stories - have little or nothing to do with traditional ghosts. Onions continues his study of disturbed and distressed individuals, and only obliquely offers any evidence for supernatural influences.
Phantas is unusual in that it involves what we would call today either a time warp, or even possibly a parallel universe. It reminded me of Escort, a ghostly sea story by Daphne du Maurier.
Rooum is the story of a troubled individual whose believes his body is being physically possessed by some supernatural entity. In his story Benlian Oliver Onions melds obsession, insanity, and the supernatural into a compact, disturbing tale.
The Accident offers the artist Roumarin an unexpected opportunity to avoid a personal catastrophe. Contrastingly, The Lost Thyrsus is a more somber examination of one woman's conflict between Dreams and Reality. Hic Jacet demonstrates that some decisions in life cannot be reversed, or more explicitly, will not be permitted to change.
The final story, The Cigarette Case, would probably not seem out of place in an anthology of traditional ghost stories, even though its ending is somewhat enigmatic.
Oliver Onions' unusual blend of abnormal psychology and the supernatural may not appeal to those looking for traditional ghost stories. However, for the more venturesome reader, I recommend The First Book of Ghost Stories - Widdershins.
A METICULOUSLY WRITTEN BUNCH OF TALES.......2002-10-29
I originally picked up this hard-to-find book after reading of it in Newman & Jones' excellent overview volume, "Horror: The 100 Best Books." "Widdershins" is a collection of Oliver Onions' short stories, and was first published in 1911. Onions was supposedly a meticulous writer, writing and rewriting and rerewriting, changing words repeatedly until he felt that things were just right. And his attention to detail does indeed show. All the stories in this volume are impeccably written, with wonderful attention to detail, sensuous mood, and finely modulated suspense. None of the tales in this book are what I would call especially scary, especially by modern standards of violence and shock and grue, but all are fascinating and eminently readable. The main feature of all eight creepy little tales in this collection is that the supernatural element in each of them can be otherwise explained; that is, the ghosts or other strange happenings that we read of can be seen as being merely mental aberrations of the protaganist.
The collection starts off with a bang with "The Beckoning Fair One," one of the most oft-anthologized horror tales. This ghost story has been called one of the best in the English language by such luminaries as Algernon Blackwood and H. P. Lovecraft, and who am I to argue with them? The tale is certainly the best in the "Widdershins" collection, and concerns an author who moves into a deserted house and starts to become influenced by its ghostly female occupant? Or...is it just in his mind? In "Phantas," one of the survivors of an 18th century sinking galleon sees a vision of a 20th century ship as his own boat slips beneath the waves. Or...does he really? "Rooum" is the tale of an old engineer who complains of a phantom that constantly races up behind him and then THROUGH him, taking a bit more of himself with each passage. Is this really happening...or is the old guy just going barmy? In "Benlian," a sculptor decides to really put ALL OF HIMSELF into his last great project...soul and all. Does he really, or is the old bloke just slightly off his chump? "The Accident" involves no ghosts at all; just two men, enemies from their youth, who meet in a restaurant for dinner 40 years later. It's a tale of cosmic fate and what might have been. In "The Lost Thyrsus," we're back to the spooky region, and a convalescent woman who, after reading Keats' "Endymion," is visited by a horde of Grecian bacchanals. Does she really...or is it all in her sick mind? "Hic Jacet," a longish tale, tells of a hack writer who attempts to pen the biography of his recently deceased artist friend, and the major problems he has with this task. Is the deceased artist really haunting him...or is it, again, all in his mind? Finally, in "The Cigarette Case," two Englishmen on a walking tour in Provence encounter two strange women. Or do they really? When reading "Widdershins," the reader must answer all these questions for him/herself. I prefer to tend toward the more ghostly explanations myself, but that's just me.
I should perhaps warn potential readers of this volume that "Widdershins" is NOT an easy read. I can't imagine anyone of average intelligence going into this book without the aid of an UNabridged dictionary, an atlas, an encyclopedia and the use of the Internet as research tools. There are lots of 100-year-old British slang words and expressions, and even I--a copy editor with what I feel to be an above-average vocabulary--was thrown many times. Still, for those willing to take the time and effort to read this book with the care and attention it deserves--the same care and attention, I might add, that Oliver Onions obviously invested in his writing of this volume--"Widdershins" will repay their efforts.
Average customer rating:
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Widdershins (Alan Rodgers Books)
Oliver Onions
Manufacturer: Aegypan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Onions, Oliver
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Dark Fantasy
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ASIN: 1598188305 |
Book Description
The centerpiece of this rare collection, "The Beckoning Fair One," is widely regarded as a classic of the horror genre. At first blush, it's a conventional haunted house story involving an unsuccessful writer, who moves into an empty house in hope that isolation will help his failing creativity. His sensitivity and imagination are enhanced by his seclusion, but his art, his only friend, and his sanity are all destroyed in the process. . . .
Average customer rating:
- Great read
- Slow start with a great ending
- great writing
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Moonspins and Widdershins: The Widdershins Trilogy
Manufacturer: BookSurge Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Fantasy
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
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ASIN: 1419604341
Release Date: 2005-07-20 |
Book Description
The mysterious English mansion on Gramarye Hill had fascinated young Ian from the time he had come to live with his aunt. His longing to enter Gramarye coupled with a sensation that he had been there before frustrated and confused him. When he is finally allowed to enter Gramarye, he meets the eccentric owner, Dickson and several other folk with mysterious powers. He soon meets a girl named Roesia who, like Ian, cannot remember anything from early childhood. Ian and Roesia soon find out how they fit into this strange household. They enter into adventures that they never had dreamed possible as they time jump with Dickson from the 20th century to meet impossible dangers and unknown enemies from the Iron Age.
Customer Reviews:
Great read.......2006-11-22
I really enjoyed this book. The characters were so unique, adding to the interesting plot with lots of surprises. Looking forward to the next in the series!
Slow start with a great ending.......2006-04-08
The hero of the story, Ian, is one that almost anyone can relate to. Even though he has special abilities, they aren't so out of the normal that you feel he has an advantage in life.
A well written novel, with an almost classic feel to the reading. The story does develope the characters quite well, without over doing it. Some of the character's styles of speech get old, and is a bit much at times. Still the book was a great read, and will provide enjoyment for me in the future. Cannot wait for the next one. If you like this one, read "David and the Phoenix", by Edward Ormondroyd. An old classic newely reprinted!!!
great writing.......2005-08-29
I love this book. The author is very imaginative and you really see the characters and scenery as she does. It will spin a magical spell around you!!!
Average customer rating:
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Widdershins
Christine Harris
Manufacturer: Random House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000M4PJW8 |
Book Description
With a touch of romance and a strong heroine, Don’t Take Any Wooden Nickels offers more of the fast–paced and suspenseful inspirational writing readers found in A Penny for Your Thoughts.
Working to provide quality work clothes to women who can’t afford to buy their own, Callie becomes involved with one young woman trying to come out of drug rehabilitation—just as she’s charged with murder.
What appears to be a routine murder investigation in her sleepy waterside village suddenly becomes complicated amid international intrigue, cutting–edge technology, and deadly deception. In a desperate moment at what could be the end of her life, Callie cries out to the God who is as close as a whispered prayer.
Customer Reviews:
Wooden Nickel= Be Cautious.......2007-05-28
Callie Webber has come back to her Chesapeake Bay home to relax after working hard for the J.O.S.H.U.A. foundation. However , she ends up investigating another charity, one that helps out troubled women with clothes and accessories to start a new job. Callie is drawn to one of the young women, Shayna and is eager to get her started with her new career. But then Shayna's boyfriend goes missing. Eddie Ray then ends up dead in the trunk of her car. Not believing the rumors that Shayna is a murderer Callie goes to investigate who it really is. The clues she discovers all lead up to finding out that Eddie Ray might have stumbled onto something that he shouldn't have.
This is another wonderful work from Mindy Starns Clark. Callie continues to be a likable heroine, who shows that she can remain calm and cool in heated situations. I also liked that the detective working with Callie was female as well showing that women can domen's jobs. The suspense in this book is excellent, you are kept guessing the whole way through. The reader is introduced to many clues throughout the book, but it is only at the end that you see how they all fit together. This book really makes you guess Tom's identity. At first I was annoyed that he kept ditching Callie and wouldn't offer her any answers to her questions. It was totally understandable why she would be frustrated, angry and why she would resort to snooping. It all came down to a trust issue but I can see why Callie would question Tom when he won't tell her anything. I even thought for a while that the other guy could possibly be Tom, he was a good guy for Callie though at the very least. I liked the references to geocaching, it was really cool to learn more about that activity. Once again this is an superb addition to the series, highly recommended for mystery fans.
Suspense at its best!.......2007-04-06
This entire series is fantastic! Very suspenseful and addicting, with great characters. Books 4 & 5 were my favorite, and seem to be the most popular among the general population.
Suspenseful, intelligent Mystery set in the Chesapeake.......2005-04-01
"Don't Take Any Wooden Nickels" was the first book I've read by author Mindy Starns Clark, and this book turned out to be a dandy thriller. This is the second book in Ms. Starn's Million Dollar Mystery series. The first few chapters were a bit slow to get into the story, but by Chapter Five I was hooked on Callie Webber, the fresh, witty heroine of this series and the other wonderful characters inhabiting her Chesapeake Bay world.
Callie is a thirty-something widowed private investigator who has moved to the tranquil Chesapeake Bay area to start a new life after the tragic death of her husband in a boating accident. Callie has a new job as an investigator for a philantropic organization called J.O.S.H.U.A., where her responsibility is to investigate charitable groups who have applied for grant money. During a brief hiatus between assignment for J.O.S.H.U.A., Callie is doing a bit of volunteer work on her own with a local charity that helps collect career-type clothing for impoverished women. In the course of this work, Callie befriends a recovering drug addict named Shayna Greer, who suddenly finds herself accused of the murder of her boyfriend Eddie Ray. Shayna turns to Callie for help in proving her innocence, and Callie finds herself driven to find the real murderer. There are many plot turns in the story, and my the second half of the book, the suspense level is very high! Author Clark is known for her inspirational Christian writing, and while at first I was surprised with the Christian references, I found myself liking this strong, god-fearing protagonist very much.
Callie also finds herself flirting with her good-looking neighbor Kirby Collins, while also being attracted to her mysterious boss at the J.O.S.H.U.A. foundation, Tom.
I'm definitely looking forward to reading the other offerings in this great series!
Take This Book for a Great Read.......2005-01-29
When Callie Webber is in her home town on the Chesapeake, she volunteers with Advancing Attire, a non-profit that helps poor women get started in office jobs, mainly by providing appropriate clothes. Callie's latest client is Shayna. When Shayna calls that afternoon, she's upset because her boyfriend, Eddie, is missing. When they do find Eddie, he's dead in the trunk of Shayna's car. Now Callie's unexpected week off has become quite full. With the police naturally focusing their attention on Shayna, Callie must find evidence that proves this young woman is innocent. When she does find something, it leads her to something she never would have imagined, and more danger then she can handle alone. Meanwhile, Callie is also investigating a national non-profit that claims it will help Advancing Attire expand its office space. And she' trying to deal with disappointment from not getting to meet her mysterious boss, Tom.
Like the first book, this one starts slow. It steadily gains speed and by the climax, it's impossible to put down. Even before then, the writing style draws the reader in and makes it easy to get caught up in the story and sub-plots. Callie really grows in this book as she is forced to face the isolation she's placed herself in after the death of her husband. And, while I saw the final scene coming long before I got there, I couldn't help but smile as I read it.
I am quite taken with this series and will be reading book three as soon as I can get my hands on it.
Terrifically Suspenseful read..........2004-07-13
What a wonderful book, I couldn't put it down. I spent the weekend on vacation and all I wanted to do was keep reading my book. Some Christian fiction books I read you know the ending by the 3rd chapter but not with Mindy Starns Clark. I didn't realize this was a series at first so I started with this book but I'm going back and getting the first one, A Penny for Your Thoughts. Wonderful writing, and I've read a lot of Christian Fiction.
Product Description
3 Christian Fiction Trade Paperback Titles in Million Dollar Mysteries Series - 2 Don't Take Any Wooden Nickels - 3 a Dime a Dozen - 4 a Quarter for a Kiss
Books:
- A Box of Treats: Five Little Picture Books about Lilly and Her Friends
- A Deal With the Devil
- A Fan's Notes
- Accordion Crimes
- Across the Nightingale Floor (Tales of the Otori, Book 1)
- Along Came a Spider (Alex Cross Novels)
- Any Rich Man Will Do
- Aunt Dimity Beats the Devil (Penguin Mysteries)
- Awaken Me Darkly (Alien Huntress, Book 1)
- Baa Baa Black Sheep
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- The Sanford Guide to Antimicrobial Therapy 2006
- Night Vision: A Jane Lawless Mystery
- Gas-liquid Solid Chromatography
- Love in the Present Tense: How to Have a High Intimacy, Low Maintenance Marriage
- Maximum City: Bombay Lost and Found
- New York Then and Now
- Never Have Your Dog Stuffed: And Other Things I've Learned
- Strange Bedfellows: The First American Avant-Garde.
- Henri De Toulouse Lautrec: The Reporter of Modern Life
- Genetics and Morphogenesis in the Basidiomycetes
The Blue Girl (Firebird)
The Hour Before Dawn: And Two Other Stories from Newford
Medicine Road
Someplace to Be Flying (Newford)
Forests of the Heart (Newford)
