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נער, דרקון
ג'יי לי אמור להיות בשיקגו, לסיים תיכון ולעבוד במסעדה של משפחתו.
במקום זאת, כחבר מלידה בשבט הדרקון הצהוב - כמו סבתו - הוא נמצא במסע שהוא עצמו אינו מבין. דרכו מובילה אותו לסַנְטוֹ דֶל וָאדוֹ וִייֶחוֹ במדבר אריזונה - עיר הנשלטת על-ידי כנופיות, רדופה על-ידי חברי שבטי חיות אחרים, מבושמת על-ידי מאכלים ערבים לחיך וחיה בקצב של מאלו-מאלו, להקת רוק מקומית שהגיטריסטית המובילה שלה לוכדת את ליבו של ג'יי.
לג'יי לי יש גם סוד עליו הוא שמר במשך שש שנים - דרקון גדול ומוזהב מצויר בפרוטרוט על גבו. זה אינו קעקוע כי אם דוגמה שהופיעה יום אחד על עורו כשהיה בן אחת עשרה וסימנה אותו כממשיך הדרך של סבתו. אלא שבמשך שש השנים שהיא אימנה אותו למלא את ייעודו היא מעולם לא אמרה לו מהו בדיוק אותו ייעוד ואיך בדיוק הוא אמור לנצל את כוחותיו המיוחדים. למען האמת, היא מעולם לא פירטה מהם אותם כוחות.
כעת ג'יי חייב להתמודד עם סדרה של אתגרים מסוכנים - לא טבעיים אך מאוד אנושיים – על מנת להפוך לאיש, ולדרקון, שהוא מתכוון להיות.
במקום זאת, כחבר מלידה בשבט הדרקון הצהוב - כמו סבתו - הוא נמצא במסע שהוא עצמו אינו מבין. דרכו מובילה אותו לסַנְטוֹ דֶל וָאדוֹ וִייֶחוֹ במדבר אריזונה - עיר הנשלטת על-ידי כנופיות, רדופה על-ידי חברי שבטי חיות אחרים, מבושמת על-ידי מאכלים ערבים לחיך וחיה בקצב של מאלו-מאלו, להקת רוק מקומית שהגיטריסטית המובילה שלה לוכדת את ליבו של ג'יי.
לג'יי לי יש גם סוד עליו הוא שמר במשך שש שנים - דרקון גדול ומוזהב מצויר בפרוטרוט על גבו. זה אינו קעקוע כי אם דוגמה שהופיעה יום אחד על עורו כשהיה בן אחת עשרה וסימנה אותו כממשיך הדרך של סבתו. אלא שבמשך שש השנים שהיא אימנה אותו למלא את ייעודו היא מעולם לא אמרה לו מהו בדיוק אותו ייעוד ואיך בדיוק הוא אמור לנצל את כוחותיו המיוחדים. למען האמת, היא מעולם לא פירטה מהם אותם כוחות.
כעת ג'יי חייב להתמודד עם סדרה של אתגרים מסוכנים - לא טבעיים אך מאוד אנושיים – על מנת להפוך לאיש, ולדרקון, שהוא מתכוון להיות.
379 pages, Paperback
First published August 7, 2010
38 people are currently reading
1485 people want to read
About the author
Charles de Lint
446 books3,993 followersCharles de Lint is the much beloved author of more than seventy adult, young adult, and children's books. Renowned as one of the trailblazers of the modern fantasy genre, he is the recipient of the World Fantasy, Aurora, Sunburst, and White Pine awards, among others. Modern Library's Top 100 Books of the 20th Century poll, conducted by Random House and voted on by readers, put eight of de Lint's books among the top 100.
De Lint is a poet, folklorist, artist, songwriter and performer. He has written critical essays, music reviews, opinion columns and entries to encyclopedias, and he's been the main book reviewer for The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction since 1987. De Lint served as Writer-in-residence for two public libraries in Ottawa and has taught creative writing workshops for adults and children in Canada and the United States. He's been a judge for several prominent awards, including the Nebula, World Fantasy, Theodore Sturgeon and Bram Stoker.
Born in the Netherlands in 1951, de Lint immigrated to Canada with his family as an infant. The family moved often during de Lint's childhood because of his father's job with an international surveying company, but by the time Charles was twelve—having lived in Western Canada, Turkey and Lebanon—they had settled in Lucerne, Quebec, not far from where he now resides in Ottawa, Ontario.
In 1980, de Lint married the love of his life, MaryAnn Harris, who works closely with him as his first editor, business manager and creative partner. They share their love and home with a cheery little dog named Johnny Cash.
Charles de Lint is best described as a romantic: a believer in compassion, hope and human potential. His skilled portrayal of character and settings has earned him a loyal readership and glowing praise from peers, reviewers and readers.
Charles de Lint writes like a magician. He draws out the strange inside our own world, weaving stories that feel more real than we are when we read them. He is, simply put, the best.
—Holly Black (bestselling author)
Charles de Lint is the modern master of urban fantasy. Folktale, myth, fairy tale, dreams, urban legend—all of it adds up to pure magic in de Lint's vivid, original world. No one does it better.
—Alice Hoffman (bestselling author)
To read de Lint is to fall under the spell of a master storyteller, to be reminded of the greatness of life, of the beauty and majesty lurking in shadows and empty doorways.
—Quill & Quire
His Newford books, which make up most of de Lint's body of work between 1993 and 2009, confirmed his reputation for bringing a vivid setting and repertory cast of characters to life on the page. Though not a consecutive series, the twenty-five standalone books set in (or connected to) Newford give readers a feeling of visiting a favourite city and seeing old friends.
More recently, his young adult Wildlings trilogy—Under My Skin, Over My Head, and Out of This World—came out from Penguin Canada and Triskell Press in 2012, 2013 and 2014. Under My Skin won 2013 Aurora Award. A novel for middle-grade readers, The Cats of Tanglewood Forest, published by Little Brown in 2013, won the Sunburst Award, earned starred reviews in both Publishers Weekly and Quill & Quire, and was chosen by the New York Times Editors as one of the top six children's books for 2013. His most recent adult novel, The Mystery of Grace (2009), is a fascinating ghost story about love, passion and faith. It was a finalist for both the Sunburst and Evergreen awards.
De Lint is presently writing a new adult novel. His storytelling skills also shine in his original songs. He and MaryAnn (also a musician) recently released companion CDs of their original songs, samples of which can be heard on de Lin
De Lint is a poet, folklorist, artist, songwriter and performer. He has written critical essays, music reviews, opinion columns and entries to encyclopedias, and he's been the main book reviewer for The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction since 1987. De Lint served as Writer-in-residence for two public libraries in Ottawa and has taught creative writing workshops for adults and children in Canada and the United States. He's been a judge for several prominent awards, including the Nebula, World Fantasy, Theodore Sturgeon and Bram Stoker.
Born in the Netherlands in 1951, de Lint immigrated to Canada with his family as an infant. The family moved often during de Lint's childhood because of his father's job with an international surveying company, but by the time Charles was twelve—having lived in Western Canada, Turkey and Lebanon—they had settled in Lucerne, Quebec, not far from where he now resides in Ottawa, Ontario.
In 1980, de Lint married the love of his life, MaryAnn Harris, who works closely with him as his first editor, business manager and creative partner. They share their love and home with a cheery little dog named Johnny Cash.
Charles de Lint is best described as a romantic: a believer in compassion, hope and human potential. His skilled portrayal of character and settings has earned him a loyal readership and glowing praise from peers, reviewers and readers.
Charles de Lint writes like a magician. He draws out the strange inside our own world, weaving stories that feel more real than we are when we read them. He is, simply put, the best.
—Holly Black (bestselling author)
Charles de Lint is the modern master of urban fantasy. Folktale, myth, fairy tale, dreams, urban legend—all of it adds up to pure magic in de Lint's vivid, original world. No one does it better.
—Alice Hoffman (bestselling author)
To read de Lint is to fall under the spell of a master storyteller, to be reminded of the greatness of life, of the beauty and majesty lurking in shadows and empty doorways.
—Quill & Quire
His Newford books, which make up most of de Lint's body of work between 1993 and 2009, confirmed his reputation for bringing a vivid setting and repertory cast of characters to life on the page. Though not a consecutive series, the twenty-five standalone books set in (or connected to) Newford give readers a feeling of visiting a favourite city and seeing old friends.
More recently, his young adult Wildlings trilogy—Under My Skin, Over My Head, and Out of This World—came out from Penguin Canada and Triskell Press in 2012, 2013 and 2014. Under My Skin won 2013 Aurora Award. A novel for middle-grade readers, The Cats of Tanglewood Forest, published by Little Brown in 2013, won the Sunburst Award, earned starred reviews in both Publishers Weekly and Quill & Quire, and was chosen by the New York Times Editors as one of the top six children's books for 2013. His most recent adult novel, The Mystery of Grace (2009), is a fascinating ghost story about love, passion and faith. It was a finalist for both the Sunburst and Evergreen awards.
De Lint is presently writing a new adult novel. His storytelling skills also shine in his original songs. He and MaryAnn (also a musician) recently released companion CDs of their original songs, samples of which can be heard on de Lin
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 165 reviews
August 25, 2014
2.5
Charles de Lint is one of those names that I hear time and time again, often with lots of praise, but I've just never been entirely enthralled with any of his books I've tried to read - and this is no exception.
And it's a shame, because there's a lot of potential for a great story here.
There were things I liked about it. The idea of the story, and the mixture of cultures is really interesting. It was cool to see non-Anglo-Saxon cultures presented for a change in a story set in America, and the way the Medicine and Chinese philosophies and magics were discussed and how they were different and how they overlapped was interesting.
But the characters were fairly one-dimensional and just really unrealistic. Jay was marginally developed, being the main protagonist and all - but all of the others were just who they were on the surface and there's nothing else really there. But there were also kind of annoying. I mean, we'll have them believe that Jay is a dragon, but they won't believe 'Cause, yeah, that's the unrealistic part of his story...
And that's a big problem with the story in general. And so help me, if someone says, "Oh, yeah, 'cause a story in which a boy is part dragon is *so* realistic," I might have to smack someone. Because that's not the problem, obviously. THe program is that the human characters don't act or sound like real people. Part of it is that there's just too much telling, but the biggest issue is the dialogue. The dialogue is just terrible.
There was a stretch of narration where I was starting to get into the story, and then we got to several pages of dialogue where everything just fell apart.
And, honestly, how does someone who has as many books as de Lint has under his belt end up writing such bad dialogue? The mind boggles, it truly does.
***
So, anyway, condensed version:
There are some really good ideas in this story, and the story, itself, is interesting. The magic seems to be explored well - (I don't want to say "developed", since we are using real cultural systems) - but the execution just ended up taking me out of the story more often than not.
3.5 for the story
1.5 for the writing
Charles de Lint is one of those names that I hear time and time again, often with lots of praise, but I've just never been entirely enthralled with any of his books I've tried to read - and this is no exception.
And it's a shame, because there's a lot of potential for a great story here.
There were things I liked about it. The idea of the story, and the mixture of cultures is really interesting. It was cool to see non-Anglo-Saxon cultures presented for a change in a story set in America, and the way the Medicine and Chinese philosophies and magics were discussed and how they were different and how they overlapped was interesting.
But the characters were fairly one-dimensional and just really unrealistic. Jay was marginally developed, being the main protagonist and all - but all of the others were just who they were on the surface and there's nothing else really there. But there were also kind of annoying. I mean, we'll have them believe that Jay is a dragon, but they won't believe 'Cause, yeah, that's the unrealistic part of his story...
And that's a big problem with the story in general. And so help me, if someone says, "Oh, yeah, 'cause a story in which a boy is part dragon is *so* realistic," I might have to smack someone. Because that's not the problem, obviously. THe program is that the human characters don't act or sound like real people. Part of it is that there's just too much telling, but the biggest issue is the dialogue. The dialogue is just terrible.
There was a stretch of narration where I was starting to get into the story, and then we got to several pages of dialogue where everything just fell apart.
And, honestly, how does someone who has as many books as de Lint has under his belt end up writing such bad dialogue? The mind boggles, it truly does.
***
So, anyway, condensed version:
There are some really good ideas in this story, and the story, itself, is interesting. The magic seems to be explored well - (I don't want to say "developed", since we are using real cultural systems) - but the execution just ended up taking me out of the story more often than not.
3.5 for the story
1.5 for the writing
June 27, 2012
Last night when I finished this book, my boyfriend asked how it was and I shrugged and said "it was okay." Thus...two stars.
It really wasn't a BAD book, but if I were to ask parallel-universe me (who has read every book ever and, being me, obviously knows my taste) if I should read The Painted Boy, she would probably tell me to skip it.
The only interesting characters were Paupau and Maria, and they really just don't have very big roles. :\ Everyone else is really one-dimensional, melodramatic, kind of dim... and what is with the all the "playful" punching all the freakin' time? The dialogue was kind of flat... like another reviewer said, tons of telling, not much showing. The author was unable to elicit any kind of emotion from me. Things that should have been sad just weren't, things that should have been sweet or funny left me scratching my head...
That said, the premise is awesome. I really like the idea behind it all--the dragon clan, the magic, the cousins, Aztlan, etc... I liked that it was set in the desert, I like that it dealt with gang violence... It could have been really awesome but I don't really feel like it delivered. I wish the writing had been, I don't know...better? Because I really liked the story.
It really wasn't a BAD book, but if I were to ask parallel-universe me (who has read every book ever and, being me, obviously knows my taste) if I should read The Painted Boy, she would probably tell me to skip it.
The only interesting characters were Paupau and Maria, and they really just don't have very big roles. :\ Everyone else is really one-dimensional, melodramatic, kind of dim... and what is with the all the "playful" punching all the freakin' time? The dialogue was kind of flat... like another reviewer said, tons of telling, not much showing. The author was unable to elicit any kind of emotion from me. Things that should have been sad just weren't, things that should have been sweet or funny left me scratching my head...
That said, the premise is awesome. I really like the idea behind it all--the dragon clan, the magic, the cousins, Aztlan, etc... I liked that it was set in the desert, I like that it dealt with gang violence... It could have been really awesome but I don't really feel like it delivered. I wish the writing had been, I don't know...better? Because I really liked the story.
March 21, 2016
Jay is a 17 year old from Chicago who's only ever worked at his parents’ Chinese restaurant. He randomly points his finger at a place on a map: Santo del Vado Viejo, AZ and goes there with his grandmother’s blessing. She’s been training him since he was eleven, when a giant picture of a dragon appeared on his back. Now he speaks any language fluently, animals react strangely to him, and he has no idea why. His grandmother taught him much more of the esoteric rather than realistic: he is of the Yellow Dragon Clan, he knows that, but little else.
As soon as he arrives in Arizona, the Presidio Kings gang and their leader El Tigre are out to get him. But he first meets Rosalie whose uncle was in the gang and left and he has a Mexican restaurant, where Jay gets a job. Rosalie’s cousin Anna and her boyfriend Ramon play in a barrio rock band Malo Malo, and Jay starts falling for Anna. Also in Santo del Vado Viejo are Cousins, animal/ human spirits who more concretely teach Jay how to be what he is. And they teach him to access the spirit world.
One of the best parts of any de Lint book is how the characters through fighting the gangs, playing their music, cooking great food, and working together to create community where there was none before. Because of the gangs, poverty and drugs few of Jay’s new friends have two parents, or any parents, so this creating of family is especially important.
“This is like some Chinese version of a spirit quest for you, isn’t it? To see if you’re actually worth the mantle of your clan.
What did she expect, that he’d put El Tigre in prison and clean up the barrio? That some kid could accomplish what the police department couldn’t, just because he had a dragon on his back and his grandmother told him stories about these heroic men and women who were both human and dragon and went around standing up to injustice?
The yellow dragons – isn’t your whole thing about making places safe, fixing what’s wrong?”(p. 71)
Newford, the southwest, wherever the setting is for de Lint's novels and short stories, I'll be there. And this one may be as good as some of the best of them!
As soon as he arrives in Arizona, the Presidio Kings gang and their leader El Tigre are out to get him. But he first meets Rosalie whose uncle was in the gang and left and he has a Mexican restaurant, where Jay gets a job. Rosalie’s cousin Anna and her boyfriend Ramon play in a barrio rock band Malo Malo, and Jay starts falling for Anna. Also in Santo del Vado Viejo are Cousins, animal/ human spirits who more concretely teach Jay how to be what he is. And they teach him to access the spirit world.
One of the best parts of any de Lint book is how the characters through fighting the gangs, playing their music, cooking great food, and working together to create community where there was none before. Because of the gangs, poverty and drugs few of Jay’s new friends have two parents, or any parents, so this creating of family is especially important.
“This is like some Chinese version of a spirit quest for you, isn’t it? To see if you’re actually worth the mantle of your clan.
What did she expect, that he’d put El Tigre in prison and clean up the barrio? That some kid could accomplish what the police department couldn’t, just because he had a dragon on his back and his grandmother told him stories about these heroic men and women who were both human and dragon and went around standing up to injustice?
The yellow dragons – isn’t your whole thing about making places safe, fixing what’s wrong?”(p. 71)
Newford, the southwest, wherever the setting is for de Lint's novels and short stories, I'll be there. And this one may be as good as some of the best of them!
January 8, 2019
This is definitely one of my favorites. The location is different, American southwest desert rather than his usual cool, green northern settings, but his lyrical writing evokes the desert as well as it does his familiar northern forests. As always, excellent characterization and seamless blend of people and "not-people".
February 19, 2011
The Painted Boy is a standalone novel by Charles de Lint, following a young Chinese-American teenager, Jay Li. When he was 11 years old, a painted dragon appeared on his back, signaling that in the future he may wield the power of his inner dragon. When Jay turns 17, he travels from Chicago’s Chinatown to Santo del Vado Viejo, Arizona as part of his spiritual journey. Upon arrival, he immediately has to escape angry gang members who believe Jay to be a Triad spy.
Jay does find some friends in town, including Rosalie, who works at the local restaurant, and Anna, who is the guitarist for the local band, Malo Malo. But the gangs have ruined life in Santo del Vado Viejo, and it’s up to Jay to cultivate his inner dragon so that he can fulfill his destiny and clean up the town.
Diverse mythologies and cultures
It isn’t every day that I find fantasy books based on Chinese, Native American, and Latino mythologies and cultures. It is even rarer to find a book such as The Painted Boy that identifies strong common ground among these mythologies and cultures. As a Chinese-American who in part grew up in a largely Latino neighborhood (though the gangs were not nearly as out of control as in The Painted Boy), I appreciated this point of view. As for the Chinese cultural part, Jay’s strained relationship with his Paupau (grandmother) portrays familial and generational tensions quite realistically. As for the Chinese mythology part, I’ve always been partial to tales where animals become humans, as in Legend of the White Snake or the myth of the huli jing. The Painted Boy delivers on these grounds.
An origin story
Jay spends the majority of the book learning to wield his powers, which, while entirely understandable and plausible, would have been more satisfying if this were the first book in a series. As a standalone book, I was disappointed to only get a glimpse of what Jay is capable of. The Painted Boy is not a superhero story, and a “let me use my superpowers a ton” phase would not necessarily be appropriate, but nevertheless I found myself yearning for more.
Not as engaging as I had hoped
The good guys are all likeable enough, and Jay is unassuming and charming, but overall the characters lack any real depth and none of them ever become fully engaging.
The story itself is extremely straightforward, perhaps predictable (though I don’t use the word “predictable” in a pejorative sense). But, in its straightforwardness, the story lacked the substance that I would expect to accompany such rich mythological and cultural material. For example, what ultimately helps Jay control his power is something I found to be somewhat of a cop-out.
The book’s messages are also honorable but a bit hollow (don’t use your power for bad, don’t join a gang, don’t judge a book by its cover, go to school, etc.) because, as presented, I’m not certain it would get through to the target audience. It’s not this book’s job to offer any solutions for gang violence, but the platitudes given in the context of the characters’ situations seem so unhelpful as to be depressing. I would, however, still recommend this book to teenagers. If anything, the interracial friendships are encouraging.
Why should you read this book?
Despite my suspicion that The Painted Boy aims to do more than tell a story (and fails), it’s still a great source for getting a fix of mythologies you may not encounter very frequently in the fantasy genre.
http://www.rantingdragon.com/the-pain...
Jay does find some friends in town, including Rosalie, who works at the local restaurant, and Anna, who is the guitarist for the local band, Malo Malo. But the gangs have ruined life in Santo del Vado Viejo, and it’s up to Jay to cultivate his inner dragon so that he can fulfill his destiny and clean up the town.
Diverse mythologies and cultures
It isn’t every day that I find fantasy books based on Chinese, Native American, and Latino mythologies and cultures. It is even rarer to find a book such as The Painted Boy that identifies strong common ground among these mythologies and cultures. As a Chinese-American who in part grew up in a largely Latino neighborhood (though the gangs were not nearly as out of control as in The Painted Boy), I appreciated this point of view. As for the Chinese cultural part, Jay’s strained relationship with his Paupau (grandmother) portrays familial and generational tensions quite realistically. As for the Chinese mythology part, I’ve always been partial to tales where animals become humans, as in Legend of the White Snake or the myth of the huli jing. The Painted Boy delivers on these grounds.
An origin story
Jay spends the majority of the book learning to wield his powers, which, while entirely understandable and plausible, would have been more satisfying if this were the first book in a series. As a standalone book, I was disappointed to only get a glimpse of what Jay is capable of. The Painted Boy is not a superhero story, and a “let me use my superpowers a ton” phase would not necessarily be appropriate, but nevertheless I found myself yearning for more.
Not as engaging as I had hoped
The good guys are all likeable enough, and Jay is unassuming and charming, but overall the characters lack any real depth and none of them ever become fully engaging.
The story itself is extremely straightforward, perhaps predictable (though I don’t use the word “predictable” in a pejorative sense). But, in its straightforwardness, the story lacked the substance that I would expect to accompany such rich mythological and cultural material. For example, what ultimately helps Jay control his power is something I found to be somewhat of a cop-out.
The book’s messages are also honorable but a bit hollow (don’t use your power for bad, don’t join a gang, don’t judge a book by its cover, go to school, etc.) because, as presented, I’m not certain it would get through to the target audience. It’s not this book’s job to offer any solutions for gang violence, but the platitudes given in the context of the characters’ situations seem so unhelpful as to be depressing. I would, however, still recommend this book to teenagers. If anything, the interracial friendships are encouraging.
Why should you read this book?
Despite my suspicion that The Painted Boy aims to do more than tell a story (and fails), it’s still a great source for getting a fix of mythologies you may not encounter very frequently in the fantasy genre.
http://www.rantingdragon.com/the-pain...
June 6, 2011
I didn't know anything about this book or the author. After reading a few pages I really liked the opening of the book and I was hoping it would develop into a good story.
I think the plot was original. There are many characters that are interesting at first but eventually they are not engaging, and at times I mixed up the names of some of them.
The supernatural powers seem unbalanced and I didn't feel that the weaknesses and confrontations of the main characters were believable. The Painted Boy had some material and potential to become better, but ultimately I felt the good parts weren't tied together in an engaging way so for me it ends up being an OK and decent book but not more.
I think the plot was original. There are many characters that are interesting at first but eventually they are not engaging, and at times I mixed up the names of some of them.
The supernatural powers seem unbalanced and I didn't feel that the weaknesses and confrontations of the main characters were believable. The Painted Boy had some material and potential to become better, but ultimately I felt the good parts weren't tied together in an engaging way so for me it ends up being an OK and decent book but not more.
June 17, 2012
This book started out great for me; there was just enough mystery within its opening pages that got my attention right away. Unfortunately, books heady with folklore and myths tend to be heavy on the narrative as well and The Painted Boy suffered from the same symptoms and quickly lost its initial appeal. I finished the book but it took me quite a bit longer. Sadly, it couldn't maintain the interesting beginning. It lagged and dragged until the seemingly rushed and convenient ending.
The Painted Boy is the story of James Li and his quest to find his purpose and stake on life. The dragon that mysteriously appeared on his back when he was eleven years old held the key to his destiny. Some say that the dragon and James Li were one in the same; but he needed to understand just how vast the spectrum of his power was. When he ended up in Santo del Vado Viejo, he was comforted by the fact that for the first time in a long time, he felt like he belonged. Never having any life to speak of when he lived in Chicago, the desert town offered him friends, a job, and talks of destinies and training did not exist.
It didn't take long however, until the violence of living in a barrio, overrun by gangbangers, soon bled into a life he wanted to build for himself. After witnessing a senseless killing of a girl in the hands of a gang banger, the dragon in him woke up, incinerating the murderer and decimating a building in a fit of uncontrollable rage. Suddenly, he didn't have a choice but to continue on with the quest on finding himself and controlling the great power within him before it destroyed everything in its path.
My major problem with this book is the switching styles of narration; diarized entries is something that I haven't been able to enjoy and this book has that along with first and third POVs. There were also several point of views but that didn't bother me as much as the former.
With the lack of lead Asian characters in YA nowadays, reading about James Li was refreshing. But it was a bit disappointing because I read so little about his Oriental heritage. He was a character in a town populated by Mexican-Americans and aside from mentions of his Paupau (grandmother), don't expect much mention of his culture. I was looking forward to reading about that element of his character but sadly, it was pretty much nonexistent.
He was also a bit tame, in my opinion. I mean, the primary reason why I picked this book off my Mt. TBR was that I'd expected a bad-ass, kick-ass, defender of the oppressed, hero. He eventually assumed the character, but it took him awhile. Because this is a stand-alone book and James' wasn't able to undestand and harness his powers until close to the end, The Painted Boy left me a bit unsatisfied. I'd have loved to read more about this boy and how he'd utilize his powers. The ending was sort of, kind of, open ended but apparently, there'll be no sequel.
There was also an awkward, out-of-place romance that I felt was forced. This book could've gone without it, in my opinion. There was a first meeting and the matter-of-fact description of how pretty the girl was and then it suddenly went into details about how much James was pining for her. I understand boys will be boys but I expected a slow development of attraction not a whiplash. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't an instant-love syndrome; James's attraction just happened way too fast for me. But in the end, the romance didn't really go anywhere so I guess my point is...well, what the hell is the point?
The best thing about this book is the myth that we're all related to animals somehow. I love how Charles spun it in the most believable way possible. Arizona, once again, proved to be the source of the Earth's teeming life. I've read some books regarding the mystical power of the desert and the land and I'm more convinced of its magic.
VERDICT: This book fell a bit flat for me. I'm not that familiar with Charles de Lint's work but I'm willing to read more of him. I think he's got a great talent for story telling based on this book's original plot alone. If you're interested in a novel rich with environmental and social issues, give this book a go.
The Painted Boy is the story of James Li and his quest to find his purpose and stake on life. The dragon that mysteriously appeared on his back when he was eleven years old held the key to his destiny. Some say that the dragon and James Li were one in the same; but he needed to understand just how vast the spectrum of his power was. When he ended up in Santo del Vado Viejo, he was comforted by the fact that for the first time in a long time, he felt like he belonged. Never having any life to speak of when he lived in Chicago, the desert town offered him friends, a job, and talks of destinies and training did not exist.
It didn't take long however, until the violence of living in a barrio, overrun by gangbangers, soon bled into a life he wanted to build for himself. After witnessing a senseless killing of a girl in the hands of a gang banger, the dragon in him woke up, incinerating the murderer and decimating a building in a fit of uncontrollable rage. Suddenly, he didn't have a choice but to continue on with the quest on finding himself and controlling the great power within him before it destroyed everything in its path.
My major problem with this book is the switching styles of narration; diarized entries is something that I haven't been able to enjoy and this book has that along with first and third POVs. There were also several point of views but that didn't bother me as much as the former.
With the lack of lead Asian characters in YA nowadays, reading about James Li was refreshing. But it was a bit disappointing because I read so little about his Oriental heritage. He was a character in a town populated by Mexican-Americans and aside from mentions of his Paupau (grandmother), don't expect much mention of his culture. I was looking forward to reading about that element of his character but sadly, it was pretty much nonexistent.
He was also a bit tame, in my opinion. I mean, the primary reason why I picked this book off my Mt. TBR was that I'd expected a bad-ass, kick-ass, defender of the oppressed, hero. He eventually assumed the character, but it took him awhile. Because this is a stand-alone book and James' wasn't able to undestand and harness his powers until close to the end, The Painted Boy left me a bit unsatisfied. I'd have loved to read more about this boy and how he'd utilize his powers. The ending was sort of, kind of, open ended but apparently, there'll be no sequel.
There was also an awkward, out-of-place romance that I felt was forced. This book could've gone without it, in my opinion. There was a first meeting and the matter-of-fact description of how pretty the girl was and then it suddenly went into details about how much James was pining for her. I understand boys will be boys but I expected a slow development of attraction not a whiplash. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't an instant-love syndrome; James's attraction just happened way too fast for me. But in the end, the romance didn't really go anywhere so I guess my point is...well, what the hell is the point?
The best thing about this book is the myth that we're all related to animals somehow. I love how Charles spun it in the most believable way possible. Arizona, once again, proved to be the source of the Earth's teeming life. I've read some books regarding the mystical power of the desert and the land and I'm more convinced of its magic.
VERDICT: This book fell a bit flat for me. I'm not that familiar with Charles de Lint's work but I'm willing to read more of him. I think he's got a great talent for story telling based on this book's original plot alone. If you're interested in a novel rich with environmental and social issues, give this book a go.
December 18, 2010
charles is back!
i've enjoyed charles de lint's urban fantasies for years and when he announced a while back that he would be abandoning his fictional city of newford, home base of most of his fiction for 20 years, i figured he was over. and his next couple of books, while not terrible, were not particularly great either -- it seemed he'd lost his mojo without a place to center his stories.
now with this book, it would seem he has one again -- or, if not a place, at least a good mythological base that could yield any number of stories. this book takes place in a fictional city of the southwest, along the border, an area he has written about before with good effect. this time he brings in a character with a different cultural base, though he doesn't explore it beyond a few stereotypes about the asian grandmother. but i can see him further exploring the other "dragons" and their home bases in future stories, as well as continuing his exploration of regional mythologies.
de lint's books have always been more of a cozy read for me than anything else -- as much as i like them, i wouldn't consider them the highest form of the genre. other writers write better and their stories have greater depth. but when de lint is in his best form, he creates very accessible, homey places tinged with magic that are easy to visit over and over; you feel like you know the place and could get an apartment there. newford was like that. i don't know that santo del vado viejo will get like that; perhaps rather than develop a place, he'll instead develop a farther flung cast of characters and explore their places in turn like i suggested above. but with this book it feels like he's settled onto another story set that he can work with, which i'm relieved to see after the random casting around of his last few books.
i look forward to see what he does with it next.
i've enjoyed charles de lint's urban fantasies for years and when he announced a while back that he would be abandoning his fictional city of newford, home base of most of his fiction for 20 years, i figured he was over. and his next couple of books, while not terrible, were not particularly great either -- it seemed he'd lost his mojo without a place to center his stories.
now with this book, it would seem he has one again -- or, if not a place, at least a good mythological base that could yield any number of stories. this book takes place in a fictional city of the southwest, along the border, an area he has written about before with good effect. this time he brings in a character with a different cultural base, though he doesn't explore it beyond a few stereotypes about the asian grandmother. but i can see him further exploring the other "dragons" and their home bases in future stories, as well as continuing his exploration of regional mythologies.
de lint's books have always been more of a cozy read for me than anything else -- as much as i like them, i wouldn't consider them the highest form of the genre. other writers write better and their stories have greater depth. but when de lint is in his best form, he creates very accessible, homey places tinged with magic that are easy to visit over and over; you feel like you know the place and could get an apartment there. newford was like that. i don't know that santo del vado viejo will get like that; perhaps rather than develop a place, he'll instead develop a farther flung cast of characters and explore their places in turn like i suggested above. but with this book it feels like he's settled onto another story set that he can work with, which i'm relieved to see after the random casting around of his last few books.
i look forward to see what he does with it next.
May 8, 2011
I’ve been thinking about The Painted Boy for a few weeks without knowing exactly what to say. After all, it’s Charles de Lint, my idol author since the mid 1980s. What could I write that doesn’t come across as super fan-geeky?
Because really, the book is classic de Lint at his best. There’s a great mix of points of view and narrative styles without any head-hopping going on. There are real life problems mixed with mythic themes. There’s wonder combined with cynicism. And there’s coming of age and learning new lessons at any age.
He even managed to avoid the self-absorption that some of his Newford short stories have. By leaving Newford and throwing together Asian and desert American cultures he’s created something new while still playing with the same themes he always does, without falling into the trap of retelling the same story over and over (as other contemporary authors like Sherri S. Tepper and Orson Scott Card have fallen into doing a time or two).
But what I really loved about the book was that it didn’t end after the big showdown. In most novels, the good guy has problems until he (or she) fights the bad guy with the help of the people he’s collected along the way and then everything wraps up quickly. I was surprised therefore to see that I wasn’t anywhere near finished the novel when the big climax scene came.
At first I was confused as well, but then it made total sense. The book isn’t actually your typical good vs bad novel. It’s a coming of age story about the main character in which the main confrontation is only a step along the way, not the end of the growth arch.
So, yeah, de Lint did it again. After twenty-five years of reading his books, he gave me something unexpected and new.
No wonder I’m such a fanboy…
Because really, the book is classic de Lint at his best. There’s a great mix of points of view and narrative styles without any head-hopping going on. There are real life problems mixed with mythic themes. There’s wonder combined with cynicism. And there’s coming of age and learning new lessons at any age.
He even managed to avoid the self-absorption that some of his Newford short stories have. By leaving Newford and throwing together Asian and desert American cultures he’s created something new while still playing with the same themes he always does, without falling into the trap of retelling the same story over and over (as other contemporary authors like Sherri S. Tepper and Orson Scott Card have fallen into doing a time or two).
But what I really loved about the book was that it didn’t end after the big showdown. In most novels, the good guy has problems until he (or she) fights the bad guy with the help of the people he’s collected along the way and then everything wraps up quickly. I was surprised therefore to see that I wasn’t anywhere near finished the novel when the big climax scene came.
At first I was confused as well, but then it made total sense. The book isn’t actually your typical good vs bad novel. It’s a coming of age story about the main character in which the main confrontation is only a step along the way, not the end of the growth arch.
So, yeah, de Lint did it again. After twenty-five years of reading his books, he gave me something unexpected and new.
No wonder I’m such a fanboy…
June 15, 2011
Before picking this book up, I had heard of Charles de Lint, but had never gotten around to giving any of his books a try yet. Well, I will now. I loved this book from the first couple of pages and it never lost my interest. The story is original, the characters likable and the plot well-paced. Charles de Lint, if this book is representative, is a master storyteller and I cannot wait to read more of his books. I may have just found a new favorite!
The only thing that I disliked about this book was some unevenness in the point of view, which may have been sorted out in the finalized copy of the book. Most of the story is told in third person and follows various characters. Occasionally though, a section will be given the heading "Jay" and will be told from Jay's perspective. While this is clear, it does feel a bit like cheating. Either do the whole book from Jay's perspective or do it all in third person. This might not have bothered me had it felt like there was any reason for these four or so sections to be from his point of view; I really do not think that these windows to his thoughts added anything that could not have been done with the third person narration.
Jay has a major task to accomplish and a bad guy to take down, which is typical for a fantasy novel, but that is not the real focus of the novel. The Painted Boy is first and foremost a Bildungsroman, a coming of age story for Jay. The focus is placed on his inner development and not on the external struggle. Do not think that this means the book lacks plot or excitement because of this.
Highly recommended!
The only thing that I disliked about this book was some unevenness in the point of view, which may have been sorted out in the finalized copy of the book. Most of the story is told in third person and follows various characters. Occasionally though, a section will be given the heading "Jay" and will be told from Jay's perspective. While this is clear, it does feel a bit like cheating. Either do the whole book from Jay's perspective or do it all in third person. This might not have bothered me had it felt like there was any reason for these four or so sections to be from his point of view; I really do not think that these windows to his thoughts added anything that could not have been done with the third person narration.
Jay has a major task to accomplish and a bad guy to take down, which is typical for a fantasy novel, but that is not the real focus of the novel. The Painted Boy is first and foremost a Bildungsroman, a coming of age story for Jay. The focus is placed on his inner development and not on the external struggle. Do not think that this means the book lacks plot or excitement because of this.
Highly recommended!
July 28, 2011
I enjoyed the first fifty pages of this and anticipated great things from it. For one: Asian protagonist. Finally. Thank you. Second: the mythology and lore that was showing up really intrigued me. Unfortunately by the end, I had to decide this was not the book for me. I found the pacing slow: it went in fits and bursts of speed that quickly petered out. The characters never really congealed in my mind as full-fledged human beings, they only felt like half-constructed, pale imitations of real people. Particularly Anna: I never understood Jay's infatuation with her, and I nearly laughed out loud when one of the other characters calls her 'empathic' when all I saw was an emotionally immature, temperamental brat. She had her moments, but I certainly didn't see much long-lasting appeal. The most genuine character makes three brief appearances before dying in the last scene, in the second act to make her the most selfless, brave person in the entire series. Frankly, I might have preferred the story if it had been written from her perspective. The characters were just not complicated enough to draw me in, and the pacing of the plot itself left a lot to be desired. I somewhat enjoyed reading it, hence the three stars, but it left a very sour aftertaste in my mouth.
February 23, 2013
Charles de Lint often takes his readers into the hidden parts of the world and brings attention to the things that people ignore in the world around them, whether that be the fantastic side of the world and the potential for a magical viewpoint or attention to those within our society that are often ignored such as the homeless, or those on the social fringes. In The Painted Boy, de Lint takes on gangs, a part of our society that most people prefer to ignore and pretend doesn’t exist outside of the media excitement over violent attacks (and then they are only noted at a distance). De Lint reminds readers that they do exist and that kids in gangs have a reason for being in them that can’t be gotten rid of just by punitive actions – rather, we need to look at the social issues that give rise to gangs: poverty, feelings of hopelessness, powerlessness, racism, exclusion, social ideas of masculinity, a society that celebrates violence.
To explore a more in depth copy of my review, you can visit my Speculating Canada website at http://speculatingcanada.wordpress.co...
To explore a more in depth copy of my review, you can visit my Speculating Canada website at http://speculatingcanada.wordpress.co...
February 17, 2013
This was genuinely moving and magical.
Jay Li is a yellow dragon : that is, he's a 17 year-old boy, who happens to be a dragon. He moves from his home in Chicago to a small town in Arizona, which is pretty much overrun by gangs. How does the dragon with Jay react when 1 of his friends is killed...?
Charles de Lint is, for me, the best urban fantasy writer currently working. Not only does he tell an engaging tale- & tell it very well- he makes his characters seem real, 3-dimensional, with flaws & nuances . This is a book about love , about loss, about facing up to your responsibilities , & about the consequences of actions: when Jay becomes the town's protector, what effect does it have on him? How can 1 person become the protector of hundreds and still be able to care for individuals?
Very well-written, with engaging characters. As ever, music plays a big part in de Lint's work, but it is integral to the plot.
If I could give this 6 stars, I would. Read it.
Jay Li is a yellow dragon : that is, he's a 17 year-old boy, who happens to be a dragon. He moves from his home in Chicago to a small town in Arizona, which is pretty much overrun by gangs. How does the dragon with Jay react when 1 of his friends is killed...?
Charles de Lint is, for me, the best urban fantasy writer currently working. Not only does he tell an engaging tale- & tell it very well- he makes his characters seem real, 3-dimensional, with flaws & nuances . This is a book about love , about loss, about facing up to your responsibilities , & about the consequences of actions: when Jay becomes the town's protector, what effect does it have on him? How can 1 person become the protector of hundreds and still be able to care for individuals?
Very well-written, with engaging characters. As ever, music plays a big part in de Lint's work, but it is integral to the plot.
If I could give this 6 stars, I would. Read it.
January 14, 2012
A wonderful book and a book full of wonder. I always enjoy spending time with de Lint's characters. They are so well drawn, and the characters in this book are no exception--each is unique and deeply human, each with flaws, but flaws that you can forgive, more easily than the characters forgive themselves, which makes them that much more likeable. The mythology in the book is rich and deep. But most of all, the book goes far beyond the good-versus-evil confrontation that the initial setup would lead you to expect. The hero and those around him are forced to deal with the aftermath of that confrontation, and the responsibilities that can come with taking a stand. Highly recommended.
January 15, 2011
I was a little unsure going into this book, as YA isn't my favourite. This story, however, took me right back to Someplace to be Flying, one of my favourite books of all time. I didn't find it campy, like some of CdL's other YA and recent releases(I find he tries too hard to incorporate awkward slang and current technology, which distracts from the story and the characters). Instead, it was straight from that place of mystery and magic that captured my heart in the first place.
July 25, 2012
It took me some time to finish this book. The fist couple of pages were really entertained and it had some mystery, I liked the story and the characters were interesting, but as more as I read it was starting to become boring and nothing really surprise me and engage me, and the characters become weak instead of powerful which I thought it would be the opposite, but anyways it is not a bad book its just that it did not surprising.
November 29, 2010
My sister just sent me this book off my Amazon.com wishlist... can't wait to start reading it -- thank goodness I just finished Discord's Apple so I'm between books AND I have tomorrow off!!!
Thank goodness for long weekends. I had lots to do but still read my new book! Classic de Lint. Loved it.
Thank goodness for long weekends. I had lots to do but still read my new book! Classic de Lint. Loved it.
November 7, 2012
A wonderful story, with original, real characters. The blending of Chinese and Mexican (and American) cultures produced something truly special. Not to mention the dragons. And the landscape? Wow. I've friends in New Mexico who have told me it looks like this -- now I really have to see for myself, after reading this book.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
January 10, 2017
When I started to read, I was thinking: "Such a stupid story!" but it isn't. I liked it!
Thanks to the two different narrators, reading, you slowly understand with the main character what he doesn't know about himself and his power, so you learn with him.
The story looked so real that I cloud believe there are people like Jay Li.
Thanks to the two different narrators, reading, you slowly understand with the main character what he doesn't know about himself and his power, so you learn with him.
The story looked so real that I cloud believe there are people like Jay Li.
March 4, 2012
A wonderful and enchanting novel that has just the right amount of action, characterization and fantasy. It gets a star knocked off for the drawn out ending. If it would have been edited down a little bit this book would have been perfect. Recommended for reluctant teen readers.
October 23, 2013
This was published in 2010 and I don't know how it got past me!!!
I'm saying nothing. Read it if you like urban fantasy, de Lint is one of my favorites.
This is perhaps his first YA novel so not quite as uh "dense" as his other books. A fine YA novel.
I'm saying nothing. Read it if you like urban fantasy, de Lint is one of my favorites.
This is perhaps his first YA novel so not quite as uh "dense" as his other books. A fine YA novel.
December 22, 2016
Great YA story by one of my favorite Urban Fantasy writers.
January 27, 2024
The Painted Boy is set in deLint's Newford universe although none of the usual characters appear in it except as generics like the crow boys. It takes place in a border town in Arizona and revolves around a teenager who is also a dragon. Kind of a coming of age story for a magical creature. Like most of the deLint novels the characters are mostly teens and young adults who are artists of some kind or other. DeLint writes gentle stories about mostly nice people/magical creatures who are fighting "bad guys" who are also magical. A variety of gods from native American mythology usually make appearances. I don't know if these qualify as "young adult" literature but they make a nice change of pace even for adult readers.
December 1, 2021
It is rare when I read a YA novel that I include in my Goodreads lists but this book is so different and certainly ticks all the boxes for a high-interest, YA novel. Adults will enjoy it as well and, as expected with this author, the characters are realized and fully formed. A wonderful break and escape-
December 15, 2010
http://www.rantingdragon.com/the-pain...
The Painted Boy is a standalone novel by Charles de Lint, following a young Chinese-American teenager, Jay Li. When he was 11 years old, a painted dragon appeared on his back, signaling that in the future he may wield the power of his inner dragon. When Jay turns 17, he travels from Chicago’s Chinatown to Santo del Vado Viejo, Arizona as part of his spiritual journey. Upon arrival, he immediately has to escape angry gang members who believe Jay to be a Triad spy.
Jay does find some friends in town, including Rosalie, who works at the local restaurant, and Anna, who is the guitarist for the local band, Malo Malo. But the gangs have ruined life in Santo del Vado Viejo, and it’s up to Jay to cultivate his inner dragon so that he can fulfill his destiny and clean up the town.
Diverse mythologies and cultures
It isn’t every day that I find fantasy books based on Chinese, Native American, and Latino mythologies and cultures. It is even rarer to find a book such as The Painted Boy that identifies strong common ground among these mythologies and cultures. As a Chinese-American who in part grew up in a largely Latino neighborhood (though the gangs were not nearly as out of control as in The Painted Boy), I appreciated this point of view. As for the Chinese cultural part, Jay’s strained relationship with his Paupau (grandmother) portrays familial and generational tensions quite realistically. As for the Chinese mythology part, I’ve always been partial to tales where animals become humans, as in Legend of the White Snake or the myth of the huli jing. The Painted Boy delivers on these grounds.
An origin story
Jay spends the majority of the book learning to wield his powers, which, while entirely understandable and plausible, would have been more satisfying if this were the first book in a series. As a standalone book, I was disappointed to only get a glimpse of what Jay is capable of. The Painted Boy is not a superhero story, and a “let me use my superpowers a ton” phase would not necessarily be appropriate, but nevertheless I found myself yearning for more.
Not as engaging as I had hoped
The good guys are all likeable enough, and Jay is unassuming and charming, but overall the characters lack any real depth and none of them ever become fully engaging.
The story itself is extremely straightforward, perhaps predictable (though I don’t use the word “predictable” in a pejorative sense). But, in its straightforwardness, the story lacked the substance that I would expect to accompany such rich mythological and cultural material. For example, what ultimately helps Jay control his power is something I found to be somewhat of a cop-out.
The book’s messages are also honorable but a bit hollow (don’t use your power for bad, don’t join a gang, don’t judge a book by its cover, go to school, etc.) because, as presented, I’m not certain it would get through to the target audience. It’s not this book’s job to offer any solutions for gang violence, but the platitudes given in the context of the characters’ situations seem so unhelpful as to be depressing. I would, however, still recommend this book to teenagers. If anything, the interracial friendships are encouraging.
Why should you read this book?
Despite my suspicion that The Painted Boy aims to do more than tell a story (and fails), it’s still a great source for getting a fix of mythologies you may not encounter very frequently in the fantasy genre.
The Painted Boy is a standalone novel by Charles de Lint, following a young Chinese-American teenager, Jay Li. When he was 11 years old, a painted dragon appeared on his back, signaling that in the future he may wield the power of his inner dragon. When Jay turns 17, he travels from Chicago’s Chinatown to Santo del Vado Viejo, Arizona as part of his spiritual journey. Upon arrival, he immediately has to escape angry gang members who believe Jay to be a Triad spy.
Jay does find some friends in town, including Rosalie, who works at the local restaurant, and Anna, who is the guitarist for the local band, Malo Malo. But the gangs have ruined life in Santo del Vado Viejo, and it’s up to Jay to cultivate his inner dragon so that he can fulfill his destiny and clean up the town.
Diverse mythologies and cultures
It isn’t every day that I find fantasy books based on Chinese, Native American, and Latino mythologies and cultures. It is even rarer to find a book such as The Painted Boy that identifies strong common ground among these mythologies and cultures. As a Chinese-American who in part grew up in a largely Latino neighborhood (though the gangs were not nearly as out of control as in The Painted Boy), I appreciated this point of view. As for the Chinese cultural part, Jay’s strained relationship with his Paupau (grandmother) portrays familial and generational tensions quite realistically. As for the Chinese mythology part, I’ve always been partial to tales where animals become humans, as in Legend of the White Snake or the myth of the huli jing. The Painted Boy delivers on these grounds.
An origin story
Jay spends the majority of the book learning to wield his powers, which, while entirely understandable and plausible, would have been more satisfying if this were the first book in a series. As a standalone book, I was disappointed to only get a glimpse of what Jay is capable of. The Painted Boy is not a superhero story, and a “let me use my superpowers a ton” phase would not necessarily be appropriate, but nevertheless I found myself yearning for more.
Not as engaging as I had hoped
The good guys are all likeable enough, and Jay is unassuming and charming, but overall the characters lack any real depth and none of them ever become fully engaging.
The story itself is extremely straightforward, perhaps predictable (though I don’t use the word “predictable” in a pejorative sense). But, in its straightforwardness, the story lacked the substance that I would expect to accompany such rich mythological and cultural material. For example, what ultimately helps Jay control his power is something I found to be somewhat of a cop-out.
The book’s messages are also honorable but a bit hollow (don’t use your power for bad, don’t join a gang, don’t judge a book by its cover, go to school, etc.) because, as presented, I’m not certain it would get through to the target audience. It’s not this book’s job to offer any solutions for gang violence, but the platitudes given in the context of the characters’ situations seem so unhelpful as to be depressing. I would, however, still recommend this book to teenagers. If anything, the interracial friendships are encouraging.
Why should you read this book?
Despite my suspicion that The Painted Boy aims to do more than tell a story (and fails), it’s still a great source for getting a fix of mythologies you may not encounter very frequently in the fantasy genre.
March 19, 2014
Rating: 5/5
This book excels in many ways. There are multiple things that make this book a 5 star for me. One of them being memorable. Though slow at times, DeLint gives us a rich and believable characters to delve into and that more than makes up for the slow pacing. Why 5 stars if it’s slow? It’s slow because the book takes the time to actualy paint the characters. Jay is a troubled teen. Not troubled in the sense of doing bad activities, but trouble with that fact that he’s a part of the yellow dragon clan, a spiritual group of enpowered people. When he was young an image of a dragon appeared on his back – a painful ordeal. His grandmother’s method of teaching and training him involves vague directions and guidance, which furthers annoys Jay and soon he leaves Illinios and finds himself in the deserts of Arizona.
Most YA novels are filled with emotional angst of who and why they love. The Painted Boyis one filled with the picture and image of the self – struggles of who Jay (you) are and what makes him (you) who he (you) is. Because DeLint spends time shuffling through Jay’s everyday life at the restruant to the conversation he has with the supernatural in the deserts, the setting and world becomes rich and very detailed. I can picture the people and understand them. Things are not left to the reader’s imagination, or there aren’t vague lazy gaps. The world in The Painted Boy is clearly defined. The characters all have goals and expectations, those of others and of themselves. The dialogue themselves add character to the characters. Though each dialogue isn’t so different so I can tell who’s speaking… but I can tell that Jay is not in suburbia or in the country sides of Kansas. Where most dialogue in books today are plain and modern with very little details of setting, DeLints dialogue gives readers a reminder of where the book takes place.
The setting is written very well here. There is a constant reminder of setting the desert. From visual description, to feeling the heat, to the names of the spirit animals. Everything flows and weaves together creating a well placed and well written sense of place. The novel itself evokes a feel of magic mixed with modern turmoil and in my opinion very well done.
Overall, I felt the slow pacing helped the book create the world and the characters, making them full and complete – human. DeLint doesn’t rush nor does he invade the story with his own personal thoughts. Everything that was read belonged to the characters in the story. It’s sad to see so very little reviews of this book and it’s been out for almost two years now. That implies, to me, it hasn’t been read as much. I encourage you to read this.
Verdict: Definately one to own. (sidenote: I think the cover is so very cool. Clean. Simple. But oh so very awesome.)
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This book excels in many ways. There are multiple things that make this book a 5 star for me. One of them being memorable. Though slow at times, DeLint gives us a rich and believable characters to delve into and that more than makes up for the slow pacing. Why 5 stars if it’s slow? It’s slow because the book takes the time to actualy paint the characters. Jay is a troubled teen. Not troubled in the sense of doing bad activities, but trouble with that fact that he’s a part of the yellow dragon clan, a spiritual group of enpowered people. When he was young an image of a dragon appeared on his back – a painful ordeal. His grandmother’s method of teaching and training him involves vague directions and guidance, which furthers annoys Jay and soon he leaves Illinios and finds himself in the deserts of Arizona.
Most YA novels are filled with emotional angst of who and why they love. The Painted Boyis one filled with the picture and image of the self – struggles of who Jay (you) are and what makes him (you) who he (you) is. Because DeLint spends time shuffling through Jay’s everyday life at the restruant to the conversation he has with the supernatural in the deserts, the setting and world becomes rich and very detailed. I can picture the people and understand them. Things are not left to the reader’s imagination, or there aren’t vague lazy gaps. The world in The Painted Boy is clearly defined. The characters all have goals and expectations, those of others and of themselves. The dialogue themselves add character to the characters. Though each dialogue isn’t so different so I can tell who’s speaking… but I can tell that Jay is not in suburbia or in the country sides of Kansas. Where most dialogue in books today are plain and modern with very little details of setting, DeLints dialogue gives readers a reminder of where the book takes place.
The setting is written very well here. There is a constant reminder of setting the desert. From visual description, to feeling the heat, to the names of the spirit animals. Everything flows and weaves together creating a well placed and well written sense of place. The novel itself evokes a feel of magic mixed with modern turmoil and in my opinion very well done.
Overall, I felt the slow pacing helped the book create the world and the characters, making them full and complete – human. DeLint doesn’t rush nor does he invade the story with his own personal thoughts. Everything that was read belonged to the characters in the story. It’s sad to see so very little reviews of this book and it’s been out for almost two years now. That implies, to me, it hasn’t been read as much. I encourage you to read this.
Verdict: Definately one to own. (sidenote: I think the cover is so very cool. Clean. Simple. But oh so very awesome.)
Visit my book review blog at The Young Adult Book Guide
June 11, 2013
This book by successful and personal favorite author Charles Delint takes the reader through a journey and is filled with eye catching moments and question filled scenarios. This book was recommended to me by a librarian who knew me very well and my personal interests, he specifically told me that once I start reading this book that my eyes will not leave it and he was right. I finished the book in 3 days and considering how big it is,3 days doesn't sound possible. Charles Delint takes you to a whole new dimension literally!! However I didn't really like how Charles put a whole bunch of events together one after another another and then only explain about some of them, instead I think that he should put a reasonable amount of events all at once and then come back to all of them and make them sound like they go together. His organization and story line overall is at a really good level but it can getting confusing at times. If you are good at remembering previous events in a large book, this will not bother you however I don't have the greatest memory and that definitely took its toll.
The main motifs in this book were exile and isolation. These two might sound similar but in this book, they are different. Because Jake is supposed to be the Savior, he can transport himself to both worlds and doing so means he is being exiled to a place where he is alone and must train for the towns sake. He is isolated because he knows that he must train alone and not having his friends there to guide him, that makes the situation even worse.
Charles does a very good job with the character part all of the characters that he introduced played a role in the story line, he never had figures that lasted for a section of the book and then disappeared, but instead the characters were significant throughout the whole story. For example Maria's father used to be part of the Bandas; a dangerous gang and now instead of violence, he is warning Jake of the dangers that may lie ahead. Even though he is only in a section of the book, he is still referred to. Overall I loved this book and I will definitely be reading more of Charles Delints collection of books; he is a great author, his books are very interesting and This book especially is a great read for all who can comprehend high school level pieces.
The main motifs in this book were exile and isolation. These two might sound similar but in this book, they are different. Because Jake is supposed to be the Savior, he can transport himself to both worlds and doing so means he is being exiled to a place where he is alone and must train for the towns sake. He is isolated because he knows that he must train alone and not having his friends there to guide him, that makes the situation even worse.
Charles does a very good job with the character part all of the characters that he introduced played a role in the story line, he never had figures that lasted for a section of the book and then disappeared, but instead the characters were significant throughout the whole story. For example Maria's father used to be part of the Bandas; a dangerous gang and now instead of violence, he is warning Jake of the dangers that may lie ahead. Even though he is only in a section of the book, he is still referred to. Overall I loved this book and I will definitely be reading more of Charles Delints collection of books; he is a great author, his books are very interesting and This book especially is a great read for all who can comprehend high school level pieces.
June 4, 2011
The southwestern US desert seemed like an unusual setting for a de Lint novel at first, but the magic that is characteristic of his stories quickly made itself apparent. Those who have read his work before will recognize the animal spirits before they are explained.
Jay Li is a teenager sent from Chicago to the border town of Santo del Vado Viejo by his grandmother, Paupau. He’s got a picture of a golden dragon on his back- not a tattoo, but a design that rose, painfully, through his skin when he was 11. From that time, Paupau trained him intensely, both mentally and physically for his future destiny. What that destiny is, she never said. She doesn’t explain any of it, in fact, but only tells him that he is a golden dragon, like herself.
No sooner is Jay off the bus when gangbangers come after him. Their leader wants to see him. He escapes, and runs into Rosalie, aka Our Lady of the Barrio, a teen who takes in all strays that come her way- including human ones. She relies on her gut feeling and has her uncle give Jay a job at his restaurant and a room at his house. For a couple of weeks, Jay finally has a near normal life- no grandmother and her drills, just work and friends.
But of course that can’t last. The gangs are ubiquitous and a death occurs. Jay feels responsible and knows he has to find out how to use these powers he’s supposed to have.
Sadly, the author strikes the lessons of the story home with a sledgehammer, something I have never seen de Lint do before. It has the subtlety of an After School Special. I was greatly surprised by this. Also, the characters did not have the depth that I’m used to seeing from de Lint. It was almost like they were just there to serve up the morals of the story. But still, the book is worth reading. The magic that de Lint always weaves is there, making the reader really feel that there is magic in place, in land, in the creatures, in the connections we all share. I don’t like the desert, but the author made me see the beauty in it. I loved the blending of Native American and Chinese myth. If you’re a YA fantasy fan, I’d say give it a try. Just don’t expect it to be a warmer, dryer version of Newford.
Jay Li is a teenager sent from Chicago to the border town of Santo del Vado Viejo by his grandmother, Paupau. He’s got a picture of a golden dragon on his back- not a tattoo, but a design that rose, painfully, through his skin when he was 11. From that time, Paupau trained him intensely, both mentally and physically for his future destiny. What that destiny is, she never said. She doesn’t explain any of it, in fact, but only tells him that he is a golden dragon, like herself.
No sooner is Jay off the bus when gangbangers come after him. Their leader wants to see him. He escapes, and runs into Rosalie, aka Our Lady of the Barrio, a teen who takes in all strays that come her way- including human ones. She relies on her gut feeling and has her uncle give Jay a job at his restaurant and a room at his house. For a couple of weeks, Jay finally has a near normal life- no grandmother and her drills, just work and friends.
But of course that can’t last. The gangs are ubiquitous and a death occurs. Jay feels responsible and knows he has to find out how to use these powers he’s supposed to have.
Sadly, the author strikes the lessons of the story home with a sledgehammer, something I have never seen de Lint do before. It has the subtlety of an After School Special. I was greatly surprised by this. Also, the characters did not have the depth that I’m used to seeing from de Lint. It was almost like they were just there to serve up the morals of the story. But still, the book is worth reading. The magic that de Lint always weaves is there, making the reader really feel that there is magic in place, in land, in the creatures, in the connections we all share. I don’t like the desert, but the author made me see the beauty in it. I loved the blending of Native American and Chinese myth. If you’re a YA fantasy fan, I’d say give it a try. Just don’t expect it to be a warmer, dryer version of Newford.
March 25, 2011
When seventeen-year-old James ("Jay") Li arrives by bus in Santo del Vado Viejo, a (fictional) Arizona border town, from Chicago, he is hoping to finally live a normal life away from his enigmatic and dictatorial grandmother. But the dragon design marking his back is no ordinary "tattoo." It is the mark of the dragon shape and power that he carries inside as a member of the Yellow Dragon Clan. El Tigre, the local gang boss, senses Jay's potential rivalry and sends his bandas after Jay the minute he steps off the bus. Ignorant of his true destiny, Jay desperately clings to building a normal life with his new friends among the teen band members of Malo Malo and "cousins" (animal spirit people of the southwestern land) before circumstances unleash his inner dragon.
Not one of Charles de Lint's strongest works but I appreciate his moving out of his comfort zone and exploring a geographical area and cultures (Asian and Latino) that clearly intrigue him but are new to him. Though gangs and border issues do figure into the storyline, this is not a gritty realistic novel. Like all of Charles de Lint's works, there is an undercurrent of wonder, magic, and hope even in the "real" world he depicts. And this is exactly what I love and appreciate about his work. I can read the newspaper or listen to the radio for the dark, gritty, ugly stories. I also really like the sense of place and especially the spirits of the land that he evokes.
Not one of Charles de Lint's strongest works but I appreciate his moving out of his comfort zone and exploring a geographical area and cultures (Asian and Latino) that clearly intrigue him but are new to him. Though gangs and border issues do figure into the storyline, this is not a gritty realistic novel. Like all of Charles de Lint's works, there is an undercurrent of wonder, magic, and hope even in the "real" world he depicts. And this is exactly what I love and appreciate about his work. I can read the newspaper or listen to the radio for the dark, gritty, ugly stories. I also really like the sense of place and especially the spirits of the land that he evokes.
September 9, 2016
Jay Li left Chicago for a pinpoint on the map he put his finger on when he had his eyes closed. He arrives in Santo del Vado Viejo and isn't even off the bus before gang members are searching for him - people who he doesn't know and doesn't care to know. He meets a girl who helps him hide - and who has her own reasons for hating the gangs - and becomes his first friend in this new town. Jay doesn't want trouble, but his clan aren't meant to be lingering in the background - they are protectors. When another friend is hurt, Jay's protective instincts kick in and he can't hide from himself any longer.
I love Charles de Lint's stories - he has a knack of spinning a tale which grips you, shakes your reality, and ends with you changed for the better. Jay's just trying to figure out who he is and he felt the call to go south, which turns into his version of a vision quest. He's got so much to learn about life, death, love, and the nature of the being inside of him - the dragon. Jay has to grow up quick and learn fast before it's too late for everyone he's come to care about - and himself. He's got help along the way, but in the end, the decision is his and he needs to make it big or not make it at all. Not everyone is what they seem, but that's a staple in the worlds of Charles de Lint. A wonderful and must-have addition to your library!
I love Charles de Lint's stories - he has a knack of spinning a tale which grips you, shakes your reality, and ends with you changed for the better. Jay's just trying to figure out who he is and he felt the call to go south, which turns into his version of a vision quest. He's got so much to learn about life, death, love, and the nature of the being inside of him - the dragon. Jay has to grow up quick and learn fast before it's too late for everyone he's come to care about - and himself. He's got help along the way, but in the end, the decision is his and he needs to make it big or not make it at all. Not everyone is what they seem, but that's a staple in the worlds of Charles de Lint. A wonderful and must-have addition to your library!
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