#18

[sageandsea]

Tam Lin, Pamela Dean, 468 pages.

I know this is a favorite of a number of people...and I really wanted to like it. Unfortunately, I found myself waiting and waiting for the story, which didn't unfold until the last 50 or so pages; the rest was taken up with a lyrical description of college life. Since I never went to college, and I'm woefully unread of Classics, I felt my lack keenly here.

Comments

[cissa.livejournal.com]

I didn't like it, either, and I did go to college. I think Dean lost track of what she was writing, and/or desperately needed an editor. But then, the other couple of her books that I've read I also felt she lost track of the story in the first draft, and didn't bother to pull it together after the initial writing.

[maida-mac.livejournal.com]

Finally, someone else who was left wondering WTF?!?

I still don't get why this book is so popular.

[dangerdean.livejournal.com]

I agree that it went on for far too long with nothing happening, but it is based on the ballad Tam Lin and, well...have you looked at the song? It's really, really, really long. :)

[malinaldarose.livejournal.com]

I was never all that impressed with it. I've only read it once and do plan to read it again, figuring that the whole you might appreciate it more when you're older thing would kick in.

[lizardling.livejournal.com]

Yeah -- While I love the Tam Lin story, that book I got through with sheer stubbornness until it *finally* picked up. I wouldn't call it an easy read at all.

I've read better adaptations.