Long before joining with a larger band of readers to participate in a “group read”, Kailana and I were doing “buddy reads”. I believe we started these during one of the Once Upon a Time challenges with a Charles de Lint book and have been trying to read a de Lint book together for this event each year. We decided to continue that tradition this Spring with Charles de Lint’s 2003 novel, Spirits in the Wires. We will be posting our discussion of the book in two parts, with Kailana asking the questions for each of us to answer for the first half of the book and me taking on the second half.
Spirits in the Wires is set in Newford, the North American city of de Lint’s imagination where magic rubs shoulders with the mundane. It is a city where artists and musicians, the homeless and folks with an open mind discover that the veil between our world and the fantastic can very thin indeed. In a number of short stories and novels Charles de Lint showcases the lives of the various inhabitants of Newford and in so doing spotlights how very extraordinary the ordinary things of life can be.
Now on with the discussion.
1. What are your initial impressions of Spirits in the Wires? How does it compare, so far, with other books you have read by de Lint.
I was a little worried in the beginning, but after what I felt was a slow start the book has quickly become one which stands proudly with the other Newford stories I’ve read. I am not sure that I can pinpoint anymore exactly what it was that sparked concerns in the first chapters, but I think it might have been quick back and forth first person style of the opening chapters. Possibly it was just the transition from reading so much science fiction the last few months. Either way, the feeling did pass quickly and it did not take long at all to be swept up in the story. As we will touch on in the next question, one of de Lint’s strong suits, in my opinion, is the characters he creates. None of these books function as “sequels” in the purely academic sense. While the lives of the characters continue, we as readers are not always privy to the step by step process of their lives unfolding, and that makes for an interesting dynamic in that you can pick up any of these books and soon find yourself identifying with various characters even if there are parts of their story that will have to be filled in later by reading other novels or perhaps from novels de Lint has yet to write.
2. The book has a large cast of characters so far. Are any standing out for you?
I already really liked Holly Rue because of the short story we read in The Very Best of Charles de Lint. She’s a redhead, something I am partial to. She owns a bookstore–a big plus. And she has a little hob who she’s befriended who keeps things clean and tidy and provides a link for her to the magic that is all around.
I worried that Saskia’s questioning of her origins would soon come to grate on me but then the story took some interesting turns that promise more page-turning reading as the book continues. I liked Christy Riddell from earlier stories and it was nice to see, albeit briefly, how their relationship was unfolding. It is also nice to see Christy and Geordie having some good brother moments together. It is really interesting reading about the two of them and about Jilly (one of my all-time favorite de Lint characters) because I know where their lives go later on from reading the novel Widdershins (my first introduction to de Lint).
Christy’s shadow is one interesting character and I love that whole concept of your shadow being created from parts of you that you don’t want as a child and then that rejected creation going off and having its own life. Christy’s discovery of this and his subsequent reunion (figuratively) with his shadow is great and she is such a treat to read. I love the “room” she created for herself when she wants to get away and be alone. How cool would that place be?
3. What are your thoughts on the overall theme of the book? Is the idea of ‘Spirits in the Wires’ believable?
For those who haven’t read it, part of the theme of the book is the idea that the internet has in itself become a “world” that can be and is inhabited by spirits of some kind. You get the idea right at the beginning that one of de Lint’s characters is perhaps a creation of the internet that in some ways mirrors the character who is Christy Riddell’s shadow. The idea itself sounds a bit ludicrous if you just read it without actually getting into the story. I don’t know if you recall but I mentioned in the discussions for The Very Best of Charles de Lint that I wasn’t overly fond of the short story where the bikes would come to life at night as it seemed a bit silly while at the same time I in some ways liked that concept. Here it doesn’t seem silly at all. The concept and its execution are working very well thus far. If anyone can merge technology with folklore and mythology and have it all seem like it is part of the same animal it is Charles de Lint. Thus far it is a success and I hope I feel that same way when I close the final page of the novel.
4. The book is a bit earlier in computer technology, does this affect your reading of it or do you think it still works for today’s readers?
Not really because in some ways he stays away from things that would date it by actually embracing some of the dated technology. Now I realize that doesn’t make sense, but what I am referring to is the fact that first of all he uses some generic terms like “laptop” and “computer” and doesn’t get into too many specifics with them. And then, because of events I won’t spoil, the characters actually have to use some much more dated technology to access the internet. By using some of those older computers that tech geeks and even layman may remember, it makes the “present” technology of the story seem less dated to me. And even the dated things don’t seem like that big of a deal to me personally because de Lint isn’t writing a story that could be “anytime”. It isn’t future fiction. It is “here and now” storytelling that builds on fantasy archetypes that have been around forever and reading a story that was “current” in 2003 is merely giving us a glimpse into these characters’ lives back then.
5. We have also been introduced to a few ‘other’ characters (the hob, Christy’s shadow, etc). Which is your favourite?
Oops…should have read these once more before starting my answers.
You already know how I feel about Christy’s shadow. But to recap: Great Character!
The hob is great. I love the idea of a little person who lives in a bookstore and voraciously reads. I mean who can’t relate to that?!?!
Since I answered most of this question above, let me bring up one other character who I initially did not like and am now feeling very conflicted about: Aaron. Now the reader isn’t meant to like Aaron. He is a sleaze-ball, a scumbag, an arrogant, pompous self-centered egomaniac. But in true de Lint fashion Aaron begins to get a bit complex. True, he isn’t an endearing character, but for all that it turns out that he might just be human after all. Goodness knows how his story will turn out, but I’m much more anxious to find that out than I ever imagined I would be when the story started. The introduction of Suzi really sparked something in this character and it turned the story in a direction I didn’t expect at all.
Charles de Lint is not one of those writers who lets every character have a “happily ever after”. A hallmark of his stories are the presence of broken people with genuine issues, some of whom successfully conquer them and others who are, at least for the moment, being conquered by them. So there is no telling who Aaron will be when the novel comes to a close. But I cannot wait to find out.
Well, that is it for now. Feel free to comment about these answers or about anything related to Charles de Lint and his stories in the comments below. And be sure to check out Kailana’s site for her portion of this week’s discussion. And tune in next Monday where we will wrap it up and tell you if Spirits in the Wires is a must-read or not.
I am so glad to see that you are reading de Lint. He is one of my most favorte authors, and one that I most recomned to readers. I have read everything by him at least twice. Except for the Chapbooks, they are hard to find and Powells has them for $60 each. I just wish I knew where to get them. Great questions and review.
I can see why you have, his books are largely wonderful and there is so much going on that I can see why one would want to read them again. I’m not sure it would really feel like Spring if I wasn’t reading a Newford story.
Too bad they don’t have those chapbooks collected somewhere for a reasonable price.
I have to agree with you on the beginning. You are right, it did seem like a tacked on prologue. I never thought of it that way. I didn’t notice it so much this time. I knew I would like the book eventually, so I stuck with it. I think when I tried before I had only read one de Lint and I didn’t like it, so I wasn’t as confident I would like this one. (There has to be sequels to an extent because you won’t read The Onion Girl because you have all ready read Widdershins…)
Oh, so we met Holly in The Very Best of de Lint? I figured it was that book, but I read 3 short story collections last year and couldn’t remember for sure. I really liked her, too. The book store character is always an easy sell. I really was intrigued by Christy, Saskia, and the Shadow, but I actually don’t think I have ever read a book or story where they were the central characters. They just seem to be mentioned or secondary characters. That I recall. At this point I have read a lot of de Lint and might just have forgotten a story. (I wonder if there is something that covers Christy and his first girlfriend? The one that is the spirit of the city? That would be interesting.)
I didn’t mind that I knew where things were going. This book is between The Onion Girl and Widdershins, so I knew where they started out and I know where they were going to end up. That didn’t ruin the reading experience any.
I thought this book could be silly, but it is actually working out rather well. I think it is because of the idea of ‘Gremlins’ like I mentioned in my own post. In comparison, the bikes that came to life was a bit silly.
I will be curious to see how Aaran plays out. I am a bit further into the book than you, so I will leave my thoughts on him until next week. Remind me to mention him. 🙂
I have to admit I am all ready trying to think of suggestions for our next de Lint read… I think this is my last unread Newford book on my shelves. That will likely mean me having a tiny de Lint shopping spree before the year is out because I like to have him to fall back on. I think I read 5 books by him last year. At least.
Anyway, fun discussion! I look forward to the questions you come up with next week.
Yes, the are “sequels” after a fashion in that novels continue story lines but what I like about the way de Lint does it is that most of the books aren’t a “direct” sequel the way say GRRM’s Song of Ice and Fire books are. You get the impression that a lot of living is still going on that we just aren’t privy to.
The story of Christy and the city-spirit girlfriend would indeed be a good one. I too wonder if he covers it somewhere.
I am enjoying that it is a book before Widdershins as well. And I probably will read The Onion Girl someday. I’ve been wanting to re-read Widdershins as I’ve forgotten much of it and if I do so then reading The Onion Girl first makes much more sense. Plus I own a copy so my excuses are not good ones.
I will remind you about Aaron. I suspect I’ll want to discuss my feelings on him further after the book is finished.
I copied this list off of Wiki as far as the Newford books go. The ones in Bold I’ve read, the ones in italics I own but have yet to read:
Books set in Newford, by internal chronological order
Dreams Underfoot (1993)
The Dreaming Place (1990)
A Whisper To A Scream (originally credited to Samuel M. Key) (1992)
I’ll Be Watching You (originally credited to Samuel M. Key) (1994)
Memory And Dream (1994)
The Ivory And The Horn (1995)
Trader (1997)
Someplace To Be Flying (1998)
Moonlight And Vines (1999)
Forests Of The Heart (2000)
Tapping the Dream Tree (2002)
The Onion Girl (2001)
Spirits in the Wires (2003)
Medicine Road (2003)
The Blue Girl (2004)
Widdershins (2006)
Make a Joyful Noise (2006)
The Hour Before Dawn (2005)
Old Man Crow (2007)
Little (Grrl) Lost (2007)
Promises to Keep (2007)
Dingo (2008)
Muse and Reverie (2009)
So I’ve still got several to read, thankfully.
I’m thinking I am going to take back up our failed (my failure only) buddy read from last year, Someplace To Be Flying, next as I was enjoying what I had read.
I think that was actually 2 years ago. 2010. I hardly remember that book any more, actually…
Forests of the Heart, The Blue Girl, Little (Grrl) Lost and Dingo were all really good! Promises to Keep disappointed me because it didn’t offer any new information. I had such high hopes for it!
I saw a copy of Promises at the library the other day and didn’t pick it up because I remember someone not being wowed by it, thanks for reminding me that it was you!
It might not be so bad for you. I had just read Widdershins so it was still fresh in my mind. If you were to go back and read it first you might enjoy it more. And you have never read The Onion Girl. There were a few good moments, don’t get me wrong, but overall it just wasn’t my favourite work by him. I probably had high expectations because it was a Jilly work.
For a long time Charles de Lint was a mystery for me, but after all in my little corner of the world for a great period censorship did wonders. However, lately I discovered Charles de Lint’s works and started to read it. A little slow, but catching up. He is a very talented writer and I am glad that I found him although a bit late. But after all it is better late than never 🙂
Better late than never is so true! I discover many writers (and musicians for that matter) well after others have and yet am still thrilled when I fall deeply for their creative works.
I must confess that I haven’t read any Charles de Lint works so I went to check him out at my library – they’ve got quite a few of his works and I must say they look really good – I can’t believe I’ve never heard of these before because they look exactly like the type of book that I would normally choose. I will definitely pick some up (I don’t think the library will let me have any more books at the moment however as I already have about 6/7! eek)
Enjoying your none challenge – signed up two books – I must say though I seem to have a proper argument with myself about which category they fall into and I keep rechecking the definitions! For example, read the Taken which is a book about Immortals – I’m thinking that’s folklore? Don’t know though!
Lynn 😀
I have a hard time sometimes defining books too, Lynn. Just remember that I’m no stickler. If you have a good reason for considering a book to be in a certain category, that is good enough for me.
You should try de Lint. Just be careful which book you choose first. You may want to go with the Dreams Underfoot short story collection as a start. It is very good and chronologically has some of the earlier Newford stories. Some of his early, non-Newford stuff has the hallmarks of an early writer and I would hate to see you not enjoy your first taste of de Lint. If you’d rather start with a novel pick Someplace to Be Flying.
Ooh, this sounds intriguing… I’ve read many De Lint short stories, not so many novels. I think I read a short story involving these characters and the internet as a place (though I’m afraid a lot of those stories have gone blurry for me! It’s been too long).
I’ve been meaning for ages to read more De Lint, ever since The Blue Girl convinced me of his brilliance. I suspect this challenge is going to give me ideas on more than one novel to pick up! And thank you for that chronological list of Newford books, SO helpful (sure, I could have found it on Wikipedia, but I never have and probably wouldn’t have thought of looking for it!)
No problem. I love Wiki for this kind of thing. I’m glad I thought of it too because now I’ve seen the list and realize that I’ve got a lot of wonderful de Lint reading ahead of me.
He is pretty incredible.