Ian Daniel Stewart

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Rich Hippies Talking to Fairies

I’m currently reading Little, Big by John Crowley and I’d like to recommend it to you—but I can’t.

When I’m actually reading the book it’s great. The pages turn and the plot surprises. But when I stop reading it I ask myself, “Why am I reading a book about rich hippies that talk to fairies?” It’s a good question.

It’s a good book though—when I’m reading it and not reflecting on it. And, I mean, to be fair, I’m not even halfway done. I won’t be surprised if it turns out to be a favorite of the year. Plus, any book that throws out a sentence like, “And twenty-five years passed” and still survives, is special.

But really, rich hippies talking to fairies, it’s tough to get over.


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9 responses

  1. Imani Avatar

    You may like the Good Fairies in New York by Martin Millar. That has poorer hippies and shut-in types talking to fairies which can be just as entertaining.

  2. Ian Stewart Avatar

    Anything with politically-middle-of-the-road, eats fried chicken and gravy, graphic designers that blog and talk to fairies?

  3. Elliot Avatar

    I just couldn’t get into Little, Big. Don’t know why.

  4. Ian Stewart Avatar

    Well, it does start off with characters named Smokey Barnable and Daily Alice Drinkwater. That’s practically a crime. Pynchon and Dickens are the only writers that get to make funny names.

    Did you finish it?

  5. Imani Avatar

    Hmmmm. Database search provides no matching results. Sorry. :/

  6. Elliot Avatar

    No, I took it back to the library after reading maybe a third.

  7. Nishan Stepak Avatar

    Pretend they have turned into yuppies and you will do fine. I thought Little Big was very entertaining. They are worse than hippies if you know what they are really… it is a special type of hippie conspiracy.

  8. CircleReader Avatar

    I never got to Little, Big, but I think Crowley’s Engine Summer gets deeper with each re-reading (“The rule of men had not been sufficient, but the world did not die. It got different, is all.”). The main character in that one goes off to become a saint and ends up as a cat…

    Enjoy the rich hippies & other mythological creatures….

  9. Ian Stewart Avatar

    Finished, it. Definitely very entertaining. I’ll likely read more from Crowley.

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