Yarrow

Yarrow is one of his less complex stories, but that doesn't make it any less enjoyable. The idea of an author being able to tap into an "otherworld" to gain story material is a notion I really wish were true!

I picked up Yarrow in the bookstore because I had only read Charles De Lint's short stories in Dreams Underfoot and The Ivory and the Horn. I was afraid that he wouldn't be able to keep up with the same status in a novel as he does in the short stories.I was wrong...he kept up his steady, smooth, interict flow and weave a terrific plot. Blending fantasy and horror with a bit of romance, Yarrow is a wonderful read.

This book carries a wonderful blend of charecters from every perspective of the bookworm. You have the bookseller, the adoring fan, the "famous" writter, and even the "fan" from hell who feeds off of the writter's dreams like a parasite. Having met my favorite author I know the feeling of hero worship that one of the charecters go through. I have also worked as a bookseller , and I have also written some things on my web page (poetry) from which people make odd and unfitting observations of who I should be from this writting. The past few years have kept me away from fiction, because of heavy life issues, and now I find that I have been missing out on the wonderful feeling of cuddeling up to a book. Yarrow is just such a novel. No heavy thinking here, wonderful and meaningful charecter interaction, and perhaps the unintentional hurrah for nurturing a fantasy life and balancing such a life with the day to day. De Lint definatly knows how to blend fantasy, reality, horror, and he makes it seem easy.

Perfect. Can De Lint write a bad book? As per usual, he starts out with many, seemingly unconnected plotlines and weaves them together seamlessly. Yarrow combines beautifully written fantasy with the horror of Lysistratus, and immortal dream-eater; and of course it adds De Lints distinctly modern feel. Only he could blend Harlan Ellison novels, taxi drivers, and the Sex Pistols (SID LIVES! ) together and still have a truly magical and moving novel. You grow to love all of Cat Midhir's friends, even ones that are never introduced, like Kothlen. Chalk the master of Fantasy up for another literary triumph.

Lyrical prose. Interesting characters, about whom I always want to know more. Suspense, with an honest, wide-eyed look at Evil, and no hesitation in describing it. De Lint has never hesitated to tell the truth, labeling evil and nurturing hope. I keep De Lint's books close at hand, for those dark and lonely nights. He reminds me of my dreams, and teaches me, again and again, of the power of friendship.