Tam Lin by Pamela Dean Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Tam Lin
Book Review: Magic firmly rooted in the mundane world
Summary: 5 Stars
I think one of the reasons I so love this book is because her world is so utterly real. Of course, it is very like the world Pamela Dean herself lived in; a college environment that draws deeply on her own experiences, and a heroine who bears much resemblance to the author. I particularly appreciate the pace of the book; the fact that Janet's first year in college actually takes up almost half of the book, and the following three years seem to pass in a greater and greater frenzy, time whirling by until she's staring her senior year in the face and wondering where the time went. It just rings so true. And although I did not go to college with such an astoundingly literate crowd, I find myself wishing that I had, and that I could quote the classics with such ease and familiarity.Book Review: No stars. Can I actually give minus stars?
Summary: 1 Stars
This is the WORST bit of fantasy I've ever read. The characters are wooden. The diologue is painful. And even as you get more than half way through the book, NOTHING HAPPENS. Nothing. No really. I love Terry Windling but I am surprised at her putting her name on this rubbish.Book Review: One of my favorite novels ever
Summary: 5 Stars
If you never went to college or never wished your college was like Blackstock, I guess you won't like this book. I am amazed, however, that anyone could possibly say that is is poorly written! The writing is close to perfect and as for the plot. . . if you don't get it, you're one of the people in my English classes who think Virgina Woolf should just "say what she means." <sigh>
I honestly adore this book and read it annually. But I do agree that plenty of people will not get it. If you don't, you don't. <shrug>
Book Review: Outdated Fairy Tale Retelling at a Liberal Arts College
Summary: 2 Stars
I feel like this is one of those books that you either lovelovelove or hatehatehate. Those who love it do so because of Pamela Dean's skillful descriptions of life at a liberal arts college in the mid-70s. Those who hate it complain about the fake, pretentious characters, the slow pace, and the too-detailed descriptions and dialogue.
Me, I guess I'm in the second camp. I heard such good things about this book and so ordered it with high hopes. However, I found the characters annoying and unrealistic. I'm attending a liberal arts college now, but no one I know speaks in such a high-fallutin', quote-filled manner. I found myself irritated at the overexuberant descriptions of the campus; must NOTHING be left for me to imagine? Must I know the location of every building, bridge, rock, and tree on Blackstone's campus?
TAM LIN is more a detailed sketch of college life rather than a retelling of a fairy tale. I was disappointed that there was not more fantasy in it--guess I was expecting some. I have a feeling that those who love this book are those who can relate to the liberal arts college student life back in the 70s. It's the 21st century, college is so much different, and I just couldn't get into this book.
Book Review: Poetic Snoozefest
Summary: 3 Stars
This book is very peaceful, dreamy, and slow paced with a lot of exposition. It is really a work of literary fiction with a magical subtext running through; not a genre fantasy. While there were many successful elements, such as literary allusions and the evocation of 70s college life, I thought it was extremely boring with minimal plot development and the characters were such geeks they made me want to scream.