The Mystery of Grace ~Charles de Lint
2009, Tor Books
272 pages
REVIEW SUMMARY:
Charles de Lint’s latest offering treats the readers to a small cast of characters that will grab hold of your heart from the very beginning. It is all the more disappointing when the later third of the story takes some disappointing turns that do the characters, and the reader, no favors.
MY RATING: 3.25/5 stars
BRIEF SUMMARY:
Charles de Lint returns to the world of adult fiction after a brief hiatus with this stand alone novel set outside of his fictional town of Newford. In this novel Charles de Lint introduces the reader to the world of classic car restoration and rockabilly music and combines it with his masterful knowledge of Native American folklore to tell the story of Altagracia “Grace” Quintero and the events that occur after her untimely death. On two nights a year the dead are allowed to return to the land of the living and on her first sojourn back, Grace meets artist John Burns and forms an instant bond. The knowledge that this may be her true soul mate is complicated by the fact that she is not only absent from the real world for all but 2 nights a year, but also because the afterlife in which she is trapped does not seem to be the place where the majority of those who pass on go. As Grace attempts to discover the mystery behind her afterlife locale, John Burns must come to grips with the fact that this new relationship of his is anything but normal.
MY REVIEW:
PROS:
-de Lint’s craftsmanship with the written word is as strong as ever. The man is a true artist in his medium.
-Strong characterization, even of minor characters. Charles de Lint has the ability to quickly paint a picture of people that allows the reader to form a connection with them without an enormous page count.
-The romance between the characters, up until the two-thirds mark, is some of the most wonderful storytelling about love and connection that I have ever read.
-At a little over 270 pages this book is just the right length.
-Amazing John Jude Palencar cover. Art director Irene Gallo and John Jude Palencar have really topped themselves with this beautiful book cover.
CONS:
-Book takes a turn in direction during the last third that I was ultimately unhappy with.
-Readers may find themselves with the feeling that both they and the character of John are cheated based on directions that the story went in.
-While Charles de Lint does not endorse any one religion, there is a brief but heavy focus on Catholicism and faith that may turn off non-believers because of its emphasis on religious ceremony and believers because of the overall message that believing, and not what one believes, is what really matters.
BOTTOM LINE:
If you are a Charles de Lint completist then you may feel compelled to pick this one up regardless of my own personal qualms with recommending it. There is some top-notch characterization and storytelling going on here and the de Lint magic is certainly present in his skill with the written word. The latter third of the book, which felt like a drastic departure from the direction the book had been proceeding in, ultimately marred the experience for me to such an extent that I won’t be encouraging others to pick this one up. If you like esoteric examinations of what might be on the other side of this life, de Lint provides ample food for thought and can stand toe-to-toe with the best of them. If, like me, you feel that the first 2/3 of the book was leading you down a different path than Charles de Lint takes you down, you may want to look to his long list of sure-fire winners before choosing to discover the mystery of Grace.
It is impossible to say more than I have already said about my reasons for disappointment with this book without going into spoilers. Very soon I will be doing just that. I will place a large “Spoilers” warning and will strongly encourage you to go straight to the comment section from there in the event that you think you might read this novel someday.
I am more than willing to admit that it might just be me. I could be completely off base with my assessment of The Mystery of Grace, at least in my feelings about whether or not you would like it. I feel completly comfortable with my assessment of the book as regards myself. It seems to be a trend with these books that examine death. The Brief History of the Dead, The Ghost in Love, and now The Mystery of Grace have all been books that blew me away in the beginning. Had I been asked early on I would have declared these to be winners. In all three examples, however, it felt to me like the writer brought himself and the reader to a certain place and then did not know how to get out of it. Or at least did not execute the ending with the same level of skill that the rest of the book showed. I do not know if it because all of these writers are trying to examine the post-death experience without actually ascribing to any specific belief system or if it is just me assigning a different theme to the novel than the writer intended, but all three of these books are examples of great writing that seemed to go off the rails at the very end.
If you pick up The Mystery of Grace and adore it from start to finish, I would not find fault with you. I have no doubt that Charles de Lint is an amazing writer. I have experienced this first hand. Someone could also say, “Who do you think you are?” in questioning the validity of my opinion as a book reviewer. But here’s the thing. I am not a book reviewer. I am a book reader who likes to share his opinions about the stories he reads. And as a reader I closed the final page of The Mystery of Grace and felt a bitter disappointment at the direction the story took. I know this story will speak to many readers. Much of the novel spoke to me and gave me a lot to think about. It also made me want to go pick up another Charles de Lint book right away because I enjoy his storytelling ability so much. But this one let me down as a reader, and here is why:
SPOILERS!!!! PLEASE PROCEED TO THE COMMENTS SECTION IF YOU DON”T WANT TO READ BIG TIME SPOILERS FOR THIS NOVEL!!!
I’M SERIOUS!!!
HERE WE GO!!!
As I stated before, the first two thirds of this novel focuses on both Grace and John. In these chapters we get to travel with each character and get to know them and see their relationship through their respective eyes. These chapters lead to some wonderful interactions with Grace and John and their various friends. As a reader you cannot help but feel the charm and warmth of these characters. Their love has a degree of tragedy and a degree of hope to it. In my opinion this hope is crushed when John suddenly passes away. I felt completely robbed at that point. We are not even allowed to be with John when this occurs, which would have at least felt more true to the character and the storytelling devices that de Lint was using. Instead Grace arrives back on one of her two annual visits to find that John has died. We are given the idea that he then proceeded to his afterlife thinking that he was about to be reunited with Grace, but that obviously did not happen as Grace has not seen him. I read the rest of the book just waiting for things to work out for Grace and John to get back together but this never happened. It feels like John is all but forgotten and relegated to the background as the events unfold revealing why Grace is trapped in this limbo area.
Don’t get me wrong, there was nothing inherently wrong with this part of the story. It was suspenseful and interesting, if a bit too wordy in its examination of belief systems, and it was an integral part of the story. But instead of examining this part of the story and staying true to the threads of the relationship of Grace and John, I felt like Charles de Lint just let that storyline go, leaving it up to the reader to interpret the possible ending for Grace and John for themselves. With a writer of Charles de Lint’s caliber, this was no doubt exactly the point he was trying to make. As a reader, however, I was infuriated and disappointed. I would have rather had a story that was clearly tragic then to have one in which one of the major characters is whisked offstage suddenly never to return. You can read into the ending that Grace and John ultimately got back together, but that is exactly what you would have to do. Look way between the lines. And even if it was obvious that Charles de Lint was inferring that these two characters have a future together, the ending felt so abrupt after a long climax of events and a rather depressing denoument that it wasn’t satisfying for me.
Again, I have no doubt that Charles de Lint wrote the story he intended to tell. For me as a reader, it wasn’t the story I intended to read, and what makes that more tragic is that I feel like I was lead down a specific path in the story only to be taken wildly off course at the end. That is where my true disappointment lies. If Charles de Lint hadn’t created characters that I cared so much for so quickly, I would have been able to view this as an interesting concept novel and probably would have rated it much higher. Since I became involved with Grace and John, I couldn’t help but be disappointed by a lack of true closure to their relationship.
SPOILERS OVER!!!!
I’d love to hear your thoughts on the story if you’ve read it, even if they do not agree with mine. As I stated earlier, my opinion is no more valid than the next and I have no doubt I will be in the minority with my thoughts on this one. Those of you who have experienced this will know the pain of reading a work by a beloved author and not feeling like it lived up to expectations. Most often the author in question bounces back with their next work, or at least the next work of theirs that we choose to read. Charles de Lint is talented and he remains firmly entrenched in the upper echelon of writers I admire. This one just fell a bit short for me.
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This was my first book read (second book reviewed) for the Once Upon a Time III Challenge.
I am reading Dingo, one of his young adult offerings, right now for the Once Upon a Time challenge. I really need to read more de Lint! I won’t rush out and get this one, though. I have read a couple of books by him about ten years ago and then even though I kept looking at books by him at the bookstore, I wasn’t buying anything. It wasn’t until I started seeing him around the blogosphere that I decided it was time I really started reading him. That being said, though, this is only the third book I have read by him in the last couple years. So, really need to read more from him!
I was blown away by the first book of his I read, Widdershins and also loved the short story collection Moonlight and Vines. I haven’t finished Little Grrl Lost, but so far it is very good. Definitely different because it is a YA book, but good nonetheless. I certainly want to read many more of his novels and short stories that are centered around Newford.
Love de Lint, but I might skip over this one until I’ve exhausted some of the others on my TBR list! Have you read The Blue Girl? I read it last year for RIP and it was really wonderful YA reading..
I didn’t read the spoilers because I’m going to read this one anyway :p Though I tend to share much of the same thoughts on books that you do…so I’ll keep this review in mind while reading it. I’d have to buy this one just for the cover though! That Palencar cover is just amazing! And I see in your comment to Kelly that you’re reading Little Grrl Lost! I just finished that one and really enjoyed it…hope you do to! You can’t go wrong with The Blue Girl, Moonheart, or Greenmantle! Those are my favs…I think.
I just got a brand-new copy of this at my library, and I’m looking forward to reading it for the challenge. So I totally skimmed your review and skipped the spoilers, but I’ll be back when I’ve finished. I did see the part about the turn of events you didn’t care for, so it’s good that I’ll be prepared for that. I’m really curious now.
It’s a shame this let you down in comparison to his other novels and collections. I do love the cover and will definitely be getting a copy, but I have quite a few of his other books to read first and won’t be in a hurry to get to this after your review sadly. I am a completist though and will do eventually 🙂
I already ordered my copy and will be getting it as soon as it arrives. I read your spoilers, hoping that knowing all that beforehand would lessen any possible disappointment. 🙂 I still have a couple of unread books by Charles de Lint, though, so I might read them first. So far Promises To Keep is my favourite, with Widdershins as a close second.
Wow, fabulous review (though I skipped the spoilers!). And what a wonderful cover! I’m sold.
My absolute favorite DeLint is also the first i read, “Moonheart”. I WANT TO LIVE IN TAMSIN HOUSE!!!! I was good and skipped your spoiler section on “The Mystery of Grace” since i’m intending to read and give you my honest opinion. I’ve also got Dingo to read. In my book even a bad DeLint is a good book. ^_^
SG: I feel the same way, despite my disappointment there was still some really strong writing here. I just expected more.
Mariel: I don’t blame you skipping the spoilers, I hate to know what is going to happen before I read a book or see a film.
Marineko: I’ll be interested in what you think once you read it, having read the spoilers. I just ordered Promises to Keep yesterday since Subterranean Press put it on sale.
Rhinoa: I don’t blame you. I love owning this book because of the cover alone!
Darla D.: Make sure you link to your review because I’ll definitely want to see what you think.
Chris: I definitely need to read all of those that you mention at some point. I want to finish Little Grrl Lost and I just ordered the Subterranean Press version of Promises to Keep yesterday when they put it on sale for half off. I have The Wild Wood that I still haven’t read and even though I’ve read Widdershins I would like to go back and read The Onion Girl at some point.
Daphne: No. I checked it out from the library once but never got to it. I love the cover on that one and would love to snag a nice copy at Half Price Books sometime.
Well, I’ve read The Onion Girl, The Blue Girl, and now Dingo. They were all good. I have Little (grrl) Lost on my hold list for the library and then I will probably read either Widdershins or finish Spirits on the Wires.
It’s too bad the last third was disappointing, but it still sounds like a worthwhile read. I’d like to read it someday, but there are other De Lints I want to get to first.
I really, really wanted to read the spoiler section, but somehow managed to stop myself. With just the one short story I read of over the weekend, I found myself in love. And barring a change in attitude would like to read this someday.
I loved what you said about not being a book reviewer, but being a book reader who likes to share his opinions. Because that is EXACTLY how I feel! In fact, I would love to just quote you every time I write about a book in the future. 🙂 I almost hate writing about books, because I don’t want to give anyone the impression that I think I know what I’m talking about beyond my own personal experience with a book.
Anyway, I’m sorry the book let you down in the end.
Hi!
I am doing your Once Upon A Time reading challenge. I posted and linked back to you. I also have my list of books posted. I will be doing the Quest the First level. My 5 books are all Fantasy. Have a great day!!
Sherrie
Nice review. I truely appreciate your honest opinions. I really hope to read my first DeLint book during the challenge. I have a few on my TBR pile already to go ( The Onion Girl and Winndershins ). I also LOVE the cover.
hmmm… i totally get where you’re coming from with this. its horrid to grumble when there is much to like about a book, but when a book takes such a bizarre turn at a key moment then one can’t help how one feels. i’d feel exactly the same way. such a pity!
i have yet to venture into de lint territory – what would you recommend as being a good one to start with?
JP: Others could probably answer better than I could. I started with Widdershins, knowing that in its way it was both a stand alone novel and a sequel to Onion Girl. What appealed to me about starting with it is that I knew de Lint wrote it after much fan request to actually bring two characters from Onion Girl together and give them a satisfying conclusion to their relationship. In reading it I met many wonderful new characters and the story was fantastic. So that is still what I would recommend. His short story collections are amazing as well.
Jeff: It not hard to be honest but it was hard to want to do a review at all to give myself the chance to be honest because I consider myself a fan of his work and because I know that others will read and love this. But I had to bite the bullet and do it. There is still a lot to love about this book and I felt it deserved my saying that as well as expressing my frustrations and disappointments. Perhaps it is because I am too much the hopeless romantic.
Sherrie: I’ll make sure to get your name and link added to the list. Thanks for joining in!
Debi: Glad you were able to resist. De Lint is certainly worth picking up. He has so many books out there that people love. I wanted to be honest because I didn’t want anyone simply picking this up to start their de Lint reading simply because it is the latest book. I think there are much better places to start. I don’t think you or anyone else should ever let feelings of inadequacy stop you from writing about books if that is what you want to do. The majority of the blogging community doesn’t expect everyone to be professional writers. They just expect an honest assessment of one’s experience with the book.
Nymeth: I know you too are a big fan and I certainly would expect you to read this at some point. Would I drop everything else to get right to it? Definitely not.
Kailana: If you enjoyed Onion Girl at all I would certainly highly recommend Widdershins as your next de Lint read. So very good!
OK Carl. For a man that has such a love for art, you MUST read Memory and Dream. It’s a Newford book too, although it’s actually the only one I’ve ever read. This book blew me away! I read it last year for this challenge, and I still think about it!!
de Lint is awesome! I’ll put this one farther down my list of books to read, but I’m sure I’ll get to it one day. The cover is gorgeous, by the way!
Stephanie: Sounds great! One of the reasons I do enjoy de Lint’s work so much is that he references art, artists, music and musicians so much. I recently saw a version of Memory and Dream with a cover that I thought was fantastic.
I am a huge Charles de Lint fan. IN fact he’s the first writer in my 32 years that I ever sent a fan letter to. The fact that he answered me both times blew me away! But, in spite of my near obsession, I am able to keep my eyes open in the case of some books I felt were not as good as others. You sound like you’re apologizing for being disappointed. You said, “I am not a book reviewer. I am a book reader who likes to share his opinions about the stories he reads.” I feel that these type of people are much better book reviewers than the people paid to review books! I will still read this (because I HAVE TO hehehe) but I will be thinking of your review and I believe that’s a good thing!
de Lint is a God of literature..I’ve yet to find anyone else who comes anywhere close..
I’m sure any reader wants nothing but an honest opinion. I’m anxious to try one of his, but I’ll start with something else.
I had the same disappointments that you did. I’ve only read one other De Lint (which I can’t remember the title, but I enjoyed it) so I didn’t have many expectations going into this one. I absolutely loved Grace as a character. But the last part with the heavy religious bit just ruined it for me, and the abrupt departure from the love story was very disappointing. Makes me wary of De Lint now.
I was so disappointed by this one. I really didn’t want to be. I didn’t read this review, because I saw your rating before and wanted to just read it without knowing. But then we pretty much had the same feelings. I was shocked at how quickly and completely John left the story. I wasn’t put off much by the religion because it was plausible, at least, for the character. The first 100 pages were great, the last 120 were a huge letdown. I kept waiting for it to improve and it never did.
Oh well, De Lint hasn’t let me down much before, so I’ll keep reading his work, of course!
Lu: I’m sorry to hear that. De Lint has not let me down before this either, so I trust that I’ll be pleased with future stories. I wasn’t put off by the religion either, I share at least some similar beliefs, but I was put off by what I felt was just a poor ending and an unraveling of the direction of the story as it approached the later part.
Cafeshree: I loved Grace as a character as well. She was wonderful. But I’m right there with you on the disappointment over the ‘abrupt departure from the love story’.
Shelley: Thanks, I appreciate that.
Eoz: He certainly is talented, I’m just sorry, for myself anyway, that I didn’t find this one to be one of his better efforts.
Tonya: Thanks, I feel the same way. I’d much rather read an honest opinion from a non-reviewer.
I finished the book thirty minutes ago. I agree with practically all of what you said, but differ in terms of how intensely I feel it.
Yes, the book did take a severe turn at a key-point abandoning one story for another one. As did you, I was less interested in this story than the original one. I think DeLint could have avoided this by introducing the second thread earlier so it would have been on our minds and part of our emotional involvement. He could have done this through third person narrative so he could still keep Glory unaware of what was happening. He also should have kept the first story going right up until almost the end and perhaps given us a better hint of what to expect for Glory.
Wading through the heaviness of Catholic mysticism (I am referring to how it is in the book, not Catholicism itself) was somewhat of a chore – particularly since it raised too many more questions than it answered. The same kind of questions like why doesn’t Superman leave big footprints when he leaps in the air and how does he change direction in the air without doing major damage? These are questions the reader doesn’t want to be asking, whether they are about Superman, Gods, or Saints, unless he thinks he’s going to be getting a good answer. DeLint gives no answers, so I found myself distracted by all those questions bubbling around and through the last third of the story.
But, in the end, there was still a resolution, still a wet-eye moment, still a sense of satisfaction for someone, just — unfortunately — not the character that had been on my mind through most of the book.
Maybe there will be a sequel? How about a short story resolving our questions when John and Glory take advantage of the Halloween Rule to visit some old friends and answer the questions they must have — after all they were in the middle of it did, giving their love and blessing; so they deserve a visit as much as we do.
I like that you separate fate from destiny. There is something to be said for trying to account for the idea that we can sometimes fail to fulfill our destiny.
i get what you mean about the last third of the book, but he hints at the end that they get back together once she goes through the mist. if the ending didn’t say anything about john, then i would’ve been unhappy with the ending, but it did, & since this book isn’t just a romance book i think he did a good job of putting everything together. but that’s just my opinion.
& also! i think that in a way, leaving things kind of hanging, but hinting at what happens, is more realistic since no one actually knows what happens after death.
Kaitlin: I don’t disagree with any of what you have to say. I needed more than a hint and I guess I felt like he was trying to do too much with this book. To have such a heavy influence on catholicism and hispanic beliefs of the afterlife and to leave it so open at the end was just a disappointment to me. As if he committed to a part of the story but then was not able to commit further. Had the story not been so beautifully romantic up to the point that John died I would have been less disheartened with the end result. But even a de Lint book that isn’t as good, in my opinion, as some of his others is still a mighty fine read.