tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4950999049789394042.post5992483633787191199..comments2024-03-27T06:42:26.250-07:00Comments on Seven Miles of Steel Thistles: Magical Classics: ‘The Crock of Gold’ by James Stephens Katherine Langrishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12529700103932422873noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4950999049789394042.post-14238575942342201002020-07-05T11:02:43.504-07:002020-07-05T11:02:43.504-07:00Splendid! There must be quite a few of us! Splendid! There must be quite a few of us! Katherine Langrishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12529700103932422873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4950999049789394042.post-2420598268787932562020-07-04T05:33:10.068-07:002020-07-04T05:33:10.068-07:00Another person here who thought she was the only o...Another person here who thought she was the only one to know this mad and lovely book :)Janehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16059206058590350418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4950999049789394042.post-53806060135007687012016-07-17T15:42:33.790-07:002016-07-17T15:42:33.790-07:00PS Forgot to mention this is the best write up and...PS Forgot to mention this is the best write up and provision of the illustrations that I've ever found! Am sending it to all my friends and posting on FB. Thank whoever the wonderful person was who did this.SantaFePraxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18299022263091816961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4950999049789394042.post-83685013872865673282016-07-17T15:40:59.611-07:002016-07-17T15:40:59.611-07:00My mother, Clare Turlay Newberry, wrote 18 childre...My mother, Clare Turlay Newberry, wrote 18 children's books. She and her editor, Ursula Nordstrom, appreciated the deep impact of a good fairy tale in the evolving minds of children--and adults.<br /><br />So this is my all-time favorite fairy tale, although I am writing about quite a few written at that time. There was a movement among these authors--like C. S. Lewis, George MacDonald,and others to embed real mystical thinking into books for children at that time.<br /><br />If folks want to follow my next book, my mother's group page on FB is CLARE TURLAY NEWBERRY. Her site keeps getting 'affected' by the host, but it is listed below. Felicia N. Trujillohttp://www.newberrycats.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4950999049789394042.post-25665384936913762522013-05-22T01:05:21.479-07:002013-05-22T01:05:21.479-07:00Don't worry, we all do it! I'm very pleas...Don't worry, we all do it! I'm very pleased to find your comment and to meet another Crock of Gold enthusiast! I'd love to read that introduction by de la Mare.Katherine Langrishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12529700103932422873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4950999049789394042.post-44644476549056439512013-05-21T08:34:14.130-07:002013-05-21T08:34:14.130-07:00I was called away in the midst of writing my comme...I was called away in the midst of writing my comment and having just looked back on it, must apologise for the dreadful spelling and mistakes in my third sentence.John Ashtonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4950999049789394042.post-82526886527220749952013-05-21T06:28:16.527-07:002013-05-21T06:28:16.527-07:00Like Mr Pond I always thought I was one of the few...Like Mr Pond I always thought I was one of the few who not only knew this book, but loved it too. I own an old paperback with an introdution by Walter De La Mare. I agree with you Katherine,waht make sit such a delight is mix of knowingness, magic, comedy and myth. I usually re-read it every five years or so and your review has prompted me to do so again.<br />I have recommended a few friends to read it, but all have returned it saying that " they could'nt get into it". In my opinion that don't know what they are missing, one of my personal all time favouritesJohn Ashtonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4950999049789394042.post-54694249294247313872013-05-19T03:34:55.011-07:002013-05-19T03:34:55.011-07:00Interesting that you felt that - we must agree to ...Interesting that you felt that - we must agree to disagree on this one. It's certainly not flawless, but for me, the exuberant delight of the book excuses most of its faults.Katherine Langrishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12529700103932422873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4950999049789394042.post-70572074559463373262013-05-17T12:41:15.287-07:002013-05-17T12:41:15.287-07:00It is a lunatic book, but then it's based on C...It is a lunatic book, but then it's based on Celtic myth and folk-tale, which often makes you wonder what they were on.<br />For a book a bit like it, try Flann O Brien's 'The Third Policeman', 'The Dalkey Archive' or 'The Poor Mouth' - all of which solemnly and exactly narrate pure madness.<br />I've always loved O'Brien's description of a man returning to his lodgings late at night and wishing to creep upstairs in his socks - 'He removed his shoes with a swift crouching upon either foot.'Susan Pricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07738737493756183909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4950999049789394042.post-49286750965007177802013-05-17T12:37:25.575-07:002013-05-17T12:37:25.575-07:00It's been a few years since I read it to be ho...It's been a few years since I read it to be honest, and your post definitely persuaded me to pull it down and read it again. I'd forgotten most of the good bits, which is never a good sign. It definitely has its moments of brilliance.<br /><br />I don't mind the mish-mash at all--that's the best part of the book, I thought! I guess my complaint is akin to Tolkien's criticism of Lang--too much winking over the heads of the audience to the grown-ups who know better. Or putting it another way, I think Stephens has a Joycean tendency to be too aware of his own cleverness; he seems to be writing to hear the sound of his own voice and admire his own opinions.<br /><br />The result is that a story one can sit and admire, but not fall into. If that makes sense. And I thought the sequence with Pan didn't work on any level. <br /><br />So, IIRC, the book is glittering and lovely, but ultimately flat and hollow--fairy gold indeed, turning back to tears in the morning.<br /><br />But you've convinced me to reread it, so that's a good thing!Mr Pondhttp://mrpond47.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4950999049789394042.post-61883069748902871302013-05-17T10:45:22.537-07:002013-05-17T10:45:22.537-07:00I'm glad you know it! In what way do you feel ...I'm glad you know it! In what way do you feel it's flawed? It mixes up everything in one steaming magical cauldron,of course, but for me that's all part of the charm! Katherine Langrishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12529700103932422873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4950999049789394042.post-91303847497942254082013-05-17T05:26:38.971-07:002013-05-17T05:26:38.971-07:00Thanks for writing about this. I had no idea anyon...Thanks for writing about this. I had no idea anyone else knew about this book, let alone remembered it with fondness. An enjoyable if deeply flawed work. <br /><br />I own a much mangled paperback edition, which seems to have donated the better part of its binding to build homes for a mouse.Mr Pondhttp://mrpond47.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.com