Elizabeth Hand
Paperback | Pages: 497 pages Rating: 3.86 | 1987 Users | 193 Reviews
Itemize Containing Books Waking the Moon
| Title | : | Waking the Moon |
| Author | : | Elizabeth Hand |
| Book Format | : | Paperback |
| Book Edition | : | Special Edition |
| Pages | : | Pages: 497 pages |
| Published | : | April 1st 1996 by Eos (first published 1994) |
| Categories | : | Fantasy. Fiction. Horror. Urban Fantasy. Mystery. Speculative Fiction |
Narration Supposing Books Waking the Moon
During her first week as a student at The University of the Archangels and St. John The Divine, Sweeney Cassady becomes friends with Angela and Oliver, a pair of charismatic and beautiful young people who have been chosen for great things by the Goddess, and soon her destiny reveals itself to be mysteriously bound up with theirs. Opposing the Great Mother is an ancient brotherhood of mages known as the Benandanti, who have watched throughout the centuries for signs of a new advent of the ancient Goddess, and at last the signs have appeared. Soon the battle begins, and Sweeney remains at the heart of the conflict for decades.
"Waking the Moon" (1994) is a fantasy/horror tale inspired by the reemergence of The Goddess in the late 20th Century: first in the 60's and '70's as a source of energy and an object of worship, and later--unfortunately--in the '80's and '90's as a pop icon and a self-help exemplar. What each of these cultural enthusiasms failed to recall--and what Camille Paglia, for one, helped us remember--is that the Goddess has always been linked to chaos and destruction. It is not only her male consorts who are in danger (Adonis, Actaeon, Attis) but also the world in general, and civilization in particular.
Don't worry, though, this is no anti-feminist screed, but an artfully crafted novel by a woman who knows not only her myths but also the darkness that those myths may release within us.
The last third of the book surprised me, but it also pleased me, particularly the conclusion. Consider the story of Attis and Cebele: this ending strikes exactly the right note.
Identify Books During Waking the Moon
| Original Title: | Waking the Moon |
| ISBN: | 0061054437 (ISBN13: 9780061054433) |
| Edition Language: | English |
| Literary Awards: | World Fantasy Award Nominee for Best Novel (1995), Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Adult Literature (1996), James Tiptree Jr. Award (1995) |
Rating Containing Books Waking the Moon
Ratings: 3.86 From 1987 Users | 193 ReviewsComment On Containing Books Waking the Moon
I don't normally go back and write reviews of books I read years before, but upon seeing a reference to Elizabeth Hand, I realized that "Waking the Moon" is one of those books that hovers in my mind, for years afterwards. Which doesn't necessarily mean that I loved it, but it does mean it deserves a review.The basic plot can be summarized as:1) young lady (Sweeney Cassidy) goes to college2) ...and discovers a new group of friends, one or two of whom (Angelica, Oliver) are especially enchantingA novel that is as messy as the Goddess it portrays. It's the end of the world, as we know it. Patriarchy has been in the driver's seat for over 3,000 years. The Benandanti, an ancient order of dudes, have been suppressing the goddess ever since. But now the Goddess is back with a vengeance and Kate Sweeney Cassidy is in the middle of a mystic triangle between the two chosen ones who have been bred to combat the coming threat: Oliver Wilde Crawford (an eccentrically brilliant pretty boy) and
I had such an uneven relationship with this book. I wouldn't call it love/hate, because my feelings towards weren't necessarily that strong, but I'll try to articulate why it both irritated me while being exceptionally easy to read. 1. The writing itself is uneven. You will read the phrase "sandalwood and oranges" many, many times and you will know what every character smells like. When Hand is describing archaeology digs and spiritual rituals, her writing is specific, visual, and suspenseful.
I am partial to coming of age stories involving college students and supernatural/magical professors! For this reason this book reminds me a little of Tam Lin and Memory and DreamAll three books take place in the 70s and start with the protagonist as a university freshman. I am struck in particular by the similarities with Memory and Dream. Although De Lint's book has a different kind of magic, the fantastic element in both books is somehow inspired by Greek mythology. However the most obvious
This had been my favorite book for years. Despite, or maybe because of, the dark adventures our heroine, Sweeney, witnesses and partakes of, this book really spoke to me and reminded me very strongly of my own younger adventures. Also, this book introduced me to C.P. Kavafy, and I'm forever indebted to that. Even sitting here writing this review, some of that magic comes rolling back into me, reminding me of that time of my life. And Oliver, god, Oliver. Haven't read the book in about four
It was my first book by Elizabeth Hand and I can say that she's the author worth keeping my eye on. Though I didn't like everything in this novel there was a lot of things that captivated me. Firstly, I think it had an amazing atmosphere of dread and danger that kept lurking from the shadows and made me sometimes feel afraid. I also liked the theme of cults and god and goddessess.But a plot was in places too weird even for me. Also I somehow couldn't relate to characters. I didn't care about
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