Memory & dream: Amazon.ca: Charles De Lint: Books

Product Description

From Publishers Weekly

The Otherworld tends to lurk just out of sight in DeLint's (Moonheart; Spiritwalk) works, waiting for some chink to appear in the facade of his characters' lives and allow its spirits entry. This latest work is no exception; here fantastic creatures gain access to the bohemian village of Newford through the work of Isabelle, a talented young painter. Apprenticing herself to the troll-like master painter Rushkin, Isabelle learns to paint amazing creatures-creations that subsequently take on a (possibly evil) life of their own. When circumstances cause a friend's message to reach out to her from beyond the grave, Isabelle must confront her own delusional revisionist history and decide if she has the strength to use her art, and the courage to do what she must. While Isabelle's delusions and the book's implication that artists are superior beings become somewhat repetitious, DeLint is otherwise in top form here. His multi-voiced, time-shifting narrative (the story spans 20 years) beautifully evokes a sense of creative community, making it almost possible to believe that the rarified aesthetic atmosphere might well be capable of conjuring up a spirit or two.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Five years after the untimely death of writer and social activist Kathy Mully, two of her longtime friends-editor Alan Grant and artist Isabelle Copley-come together to publish a final edition of Mully's stories, unaware that they are about to bridge the gap between the real world and the realm that lies just beyond most humans' perceptions. In his latest crossover, de Lint (Moonheart, LJ 3/1/94) returns to the fictional Canadian town of Newford, where magical creatures coexist (for those who can see them) with ordinary citizens. He moves gracefully through the borders between reality and imagination, weaving a powerful tale about the relationship between an artist and her work. A strong addition to fantasy collections.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Product Description

Tag this product

(What's this?)

Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items.

Customer Reviews

18 Reviews

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

Average Customer Review

4.6 out of 5 stars (18 customer reviews)

Share your thoughts with other customers:

Create your own review

Most helpful customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars One of De Lint's strongest, July 17 2001

By

Melissa (Houston, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: MEMORY & DREAM (Paperback)

This book is very near the top of my favorites list. "Memory & Dream" is one of the most emotionally powerful books I have read. I felt such a strong connection to the characters, and found myself mirroring their emotions as they felt them. Anyone who has ever felt unsure of herself will see some of herself in Isabelle, and Kathy's story will absolutely break your heart. Rosalind and Cosette make me smile whenever I think of them. This book will make you laugh and cry, and you'll feel as though you have made a whole new set of friends that you'll have to revisit again and again.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Report abuse

4.0 out of 5 stars An Emotionally Moving Urban Fantasy, Jun 28 2001

By

"wellsoul@zdnetonebox.com" (Boston, MA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: MEMORY & DREAM (Paperback)

I really didn't think I'd like this book. I usually try to avoid fantasy books without any science. I avoid them because they are either simplistic rehashes or cliche. There seems to be too much of this fantasy stuff around and much of it mediocre, and I avoided Charles De Lint as seemingly in this category. Finally though the cover and title of this book grabbed me and I tried it. I was really surprised at how this book kept my interest and really made me feel for the characters. Memory and Dream is a beautiful book that made me recall the love, memories, sadness, pain, redemption, forgiveness, and letting go that we all have to do with our dreams, pasts, and artistic creations. The book made me cry and laugh and feel..and that's what a dream should do...

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Report abuse

4.0 out of 5 stars Intriguing, July 31 2000

By

HH (Phoenix, AZ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: MEMORY & DREAM (Paperback)

This book starts out with a chance meeting between Isabelle, an aspiring artist, and Rushkin, a famous painter. Rushkin offers to take Isabelle on as a student and begins teaching her the finer points of his art. As Isabelle begins to discover, one of the finer points of Rushkin's art is the ability to bring faerie creatures to life through the paintings. These creatures would "cross over" from "the before" to take up real lives in Isabelle's world. But soon after Isabelle discovers the pleasure of bringing these creatures to life, she has to deal with the grief of losing them because somebody is preying upon these faerie creatures. Isabelle must fight to save them from destruction.

This was the first novel I've read by Charles de Lint and it certainly won't be the last. My favorite part of the book was the way everything was tied together and chance encounters brought quick results. It seemed like every action of every character was somehow part of the big picture, and it tied things up into a very neat little package. I loved the interactions of the characters, especially the faerie characters. Every person seemed vibrant and alive, like I could meet them outside of the book.

Although I don't see this book as being one that epic fantasy readers would get excited about (it was a relatively short book and not very deep) it might be good for a break between epic novels. I would definitely recommend it to people who like light fantasy or people who enjoy books where our world collides with a more mysterious one.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Report abuse

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all 18 customer reviews on Amazon.ca

Want to see more reviews on this item?

› Go to Amazon.com to see all 33 reviews 4.5 out of 5 stars

Most recent customer reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars How real is art?
Charles de Lint is a popular writer in the genre known as urban fantasy -stories that place traditional magical elements into a contemporary setting. Read more

Published on April 8 2004 by Lleu Christopher

5.0 out of 5 stars Haunting and Beautiful
Wow.

I've read DeLint before and liked it, but this book hit me deeply on many levels. I cant tell you how many times tears came to my eyes with the characters' heartbreaks or... Read more

Published on Nov 29 2003 by Michael J. Vuolo

5.0 out of 5 stars This book was a real journey through my past
This book hit a very strong chord with me.....for much of my young life I struggled to be an artist and while my creations didn't have the true magic Isabelle's did, to me and my... Read more

Published on Sep 3 2003 by C. A Baker

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful story of intrigue and fantasy
I picked this book up on a whim,and I really am glad that I did. The story has kept me intruiged and wanting more. Read more

Published on Aug 2 2002

5.0 out of 5 stars Shows us the world is a magical place
After I read _Memory and Dream_, I stumbled around for about a week just thinking, "Wow..." De Lint's work often affects me that way, but this book did it to me even... Read more

Published on Oct 1 2001 by wysewomon

3.0 out of 5 stars A great beginning, a sagging middle and an interesting end
I picked this book up namely because a discussion group I participate in decided to read this. Our reason for reading it--Mr. Read more

Published on Oct 23 2000 by Michael Hickerson

5.0 out of 5 stars De Lint is the best there is!
When a young struggling art student is given the chance to apprentice with one of the worlds greatest and most famous artists she can't possibly pass it up. Read more

Published on Jun 7 2000 by Darren McKeever

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful book
This rates on my all-time favorites list, near the top. The book basically explains the past and present of a painter, Isabelle (Izzy) Copley, and how it is affecting her now... Read more