Charles de Lint, if you'll believe his website, "is widely credited with having pioneered the contemporary fantasy genre." I've not personally heard those accolades before, but I was aware that he's an immensely popular writer, that he's Canadian, and that I haven't read anything by him yet.But seeing as it's December, and seeing as I was able to find this Christmas story by de Lint and his wife MaryAnn Harris, I figured there was no time like the present.
"A Crow Girls Christmas" is, I suppose, aimed at children. It revolves around two girls, the Crow Girls, named Maida and Zia. They've just gotten jobs as elves, helping out a mall Santa.
The age of Maida and Zia is never told, but then there seems to be an assumption that we know a lot about them already. In the opening sentence they drop by the professor's house. Why, we're never told. We are told that the two are a bit disrespectable. We quickly see that they talk a lot. And I think we're supposed to find them funny or amusing. Wow, do de Lint and Harris miss the mark on that one. The Crow Girls giggle, they say things like veryvery, and golly gee they eat all Santa's candy canes. Who cares? Most kids don't really like candy canes anyway.
"Merry Christmas to you!" they both cried.
Zia looked at Maida. "Why did you say, 'Merry Christmas toot toot'?"
"I didn't say 'toot toot'."
"I think maybe you did."
"Didn't."
Zia grinned. "Toot toot!"
"Toot toot!"
What the heck is this nonsense? Bah-humbug. That's what.
(Did you write a post for Short Story Monday? If so, please leave a link in the comments below.)
8 comments:
Yuck!! I reran a post from last year on "A Christmas Memory" by Truman Capote. Was planning on The Virago Book of Christmas this month, but it hasn't arrived yet. Hopefully next week...
Ewwww! I'll give that one a wide pass.
I'll second that yuck. Does not sound like a story I'd read, even to pass the time at work. But now I want a candy cane. Thanks.
I'll pass as well.
I've reviewed "The Luncheon" by Maugham and I am also pleading for inspiration (the post clarifies what kind of inspiration).
http://emeire.wordpress.com/2010/12/06/the-luncheon-b…merset-maugham/
Em
That was a silly story but the Crow Girls themselves are more fun in his other books. Usually they're a background bit woven in his tales and this story he might have been highlighting them by popular request, but not exactly doing them or him justice.
I will pass on the de Lint story. Though perhaps we can find a better one, as I haven't read anything by him either. Mostly because I don't really read the fantasy genre.
Here's mine:
http://teddyrose.blogspot.com/2010/12/xingu-by-edith-wharton.html
I have to say that I really enjoy Charles de Lint's books. I have read several and keep going back to the first one I read. Have recommended him numerous times. Now why haven't I read any of his books for The Canadian Book Challenge?
I too really enjoy Charles de Lint's books. You have to have read some of his other books to know who the Crow Girls are. They usually just get small parts in his books but that is totally who they are.... silly.
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