Someplace to Be Flying

by Charles de Lint

Book Overview

Lily is a photojournalist in search of the "animal people" who supposedly haunt the city's darkest slums. Hank is a slumdweller who knows the bad streets all too well. One night, in a brutal incident, their two lives collide--uptown Lily and downtown Hank, each with a quest and a role to play in the secret drama of the city's oldest inhabitants.

For the animal people walk among us. Native Americans call them the First People, but they have...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 076530757X
• ISBN13: 9780765307576
• Release Date: August 2005
• Publisher: St. Martins Press-3PL
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 0.82 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.4" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

One of the Best Books I've Ever Read!!!

I'm not sure what book some other reviewers read who posted less than favorable comments, but this book was easily one of the top 5 books I've ever read. Given that I have multiple large containers of books, you will understand that I've read quite a lot. With this book, I never wanted to set it down, but I started reading on a business trip and unfortunately work kept interfering with my reading! I did; however, recommend it to some of the people I was working with while only part way through the book. I was ready to read it again as soon as I finished! The characters De Lint develops are extremely engaging as is the storyline he pursues. As someone who is interested in Native American folklore, as well as mythology and folklore in general, the ideas presented in this book were very intriguing. I found this book genuine enough, and realistic enough, that I was ready to start looking for animal people around me. The story may have shifted to different viewpoints throughout, but I had no trouble keeping up and had no confusion as to view or place while reading. My only disappointment is that I do not believe that there are any additional books with these characters as I would love to read more about their lives and their adventures. As it is, I went out and bought 4 or 5 more De Lint books to read. Enjoy!

My Favorite

I've read this book so often that the cover is almost falling off. I've got passages underlined and used to have them memorized. This is by far the best Delint book out there. I love it. The Crow Girls crack me up and at the same time frighten me. They can be sweet as pie and suddenly dangerous. I love how they like to smell the bacon rather than eat it. How they tried to steal a disco ball. I also loved Coyote. he is always one of my favorite characters. Always trying to undo the things he's done. Always causing trouble. It's captivating and beautiful. The end is interesting and sad and happy all at once. Read it. It's lovely.

My favorite De Lint (so far)...

For me, this book has all of the strengths (the great ensemble cast, the mythological background, in this case, Native American, and of course, the power of the story itself), and almost none of the admittedly few weaknesses (dialogue tends to ramble a bit in some tales at times) of Charles De Lint.And then, of course, there are the Crow Girls. Very, very!There's a lot going on in this story (544 pages worth in the paperback edition), and it's all deliciously satisfying for this reader. In particular, Jack Daw walking into the nest of vermin that tortured and killed his beloved is one of the more compelling and unsettling descriptions of raw violence and vengeance that this reader has encountered from this author. One of the very best examples of "urban mythology," and if you like that, or you even think you might like that, check it out.

I want to meet the Crow Girls.

I resisted reading something by Charles de Lint for a long time after one negative review from a friend. Finally, I decided to get a book by him one day just to take a look.I am so glad I did. This was an amazing book, and by far my favorite urban fantasy. I haven't read much in this genre before, but I certaintly plan to now, as well as read more books by de Lint. The characters were great; there's no way you can get through it without loving Zia and Maida (or laughing out loud at their dialogues), and many of the other characters. While at points, especially toward the end, the plot thinned some, and turned just a bit too much into your typical 'let's go save the world from ultimate evil and make everything good' fantasy, the characters and the great background of _Someplace to be Flying's_ world carried it through. All fantasy lovers, even those who normally stick to a less modern type, should read this.

The magic of the Native American legends, the shapechangers,

This book is undoubtedly one of Charles de Lint's best novels. It captures the magic and mythos of the Native American legends of the shapechangers and the animal people. He brings to life the ancient legends of Raven, Coyote, Fox, and Crow, through the characters of the mystical corbae; Raven, the engimatic keeper; Coyote, the Trickster who always tries to do good, but always fails; Fox, the canid who has to decides whether he wants to be Trickster's pawn; and the fun, but dangerous Crow Girls. And in the middle of the corbae, are the people that Coyote brought into this world, and whom the ancient enemies of the corbae will destroy to get what they want. The entire story is set in a city much like yours or mine, and could be unfolding at this very moment.