de Corbin
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The Demi-Gods, by James Stephens
If you've never read anything by Irish author James Stephens before, I envy you, because you get to discover him brand new, for the first time.
My Stephens collection is filed on my bookshelf in the section devoted to great authors who are one of a kind. I don't think he's ever been imitated, and I'm not sure such a thing would even be possible.
As I said, Stephens is an Irish author, and he uses Irish/Celtic folklore, myth, and legend as the basis for his work. While he did write several novelized versions of Irish legends, my favorite books are those where the ancient irish heroes show up in what was, for Stephens, modern Ireland (1920's).
In The Demi-Gods, a group of the ancient heroes show up one night in the camp of the wandering Mac Canns (Patsy and his daughter Mary) - in the form of angels. Together the little group wanders around rural Ireland, doing this & that, and telling stories.
And that's all of the plot I'm gonna give away  .
However, I will tell you that Stephens is hilarious. But, like all good comedy, there's sadness, longing, and meaning - the whole absurd human condition.
Stephens' books can be read for the pure pleasure of the story telling, but, if the reader can avoid becoming seduced by the tale-telling, there is also a deeper level that is well worth exploring.
As Stephens wrote: "A good story teller can tell the best story a person ever heard, even if it's nothing but the story of how a black hen came to lay a white egg."
Think how much better it is when the story is meaningful as well!
If you are more inclined toward leprechauns, banshees and fairies, you might want to start with Stephens' The Crock of Gold where you'll find the astonishing story of what happens when Pan shows up in Ireland, what Angus Ogg (Aonghus) does about it, and what becomes of the Daughter of Murrachu who gets caught in between them.
Plus other fun sutff.
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10/9/2008, 5:48 pm
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Saijen SilverWolf
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Re: The Demi-Gods, by James Stephens
Those both sound like books I might enjoy!
My favorite type of books are steeped in Celtic myth/legend or metaphysical type stuff, or like the ones I'm reading now...a Trilogy by Nora Roberts..The Circle Trilogy
'Morrigan's Cross'--'Dance of the Gods'--'Valley of Silence'. I also have her 'Three Sisters' Trilogy.
and, I really enjoy some of the more comedic type metaphysical stuff. So..sounds like something I may enjoy!
--- Blessed Be,
~*~ Saijen ~*~
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10/10/2008, 3:31 am
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Saijen SilverWolf
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Re: The Demi-Gods, by James Stephens
I've not yet had the pleasure of reading those 3 books by Walton. I may be abl to find them at the used book store where I got Morrigan's Cross and Dance of the Gods. I already had Valley of Silence...which is the third book in that trilogy.
I'm gonna have to build another book shelf just to hold the books I have coming out my ears...LOL. DH and I have a book shelf that we made a few years ago. It's about 4' wide, 5.5" deep and 6' tall. It's so full of books there's no room for any more..lol. and..I only have books on one shelf and about 1/4 of another. All the rest are DH's....a total of 8 shelves, and he has 7 and 3/4 of them! He's also an avid reader, but of Westerns (Louis L'Amour, Ralph Cotton, William Johnstone, Zane Grey), and he has most of the entire Tarzan series by Edgar Rice Burroughs. So..needless to say, I have books laying here there and yon around the house.
--- Blessed Be,
~*~ Saijen ~*~
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10/11/2008, 4:33 pm
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