Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Tor Books (1991), 247 pages
Description
Award-winning author and radio personality Ellen Kushner's inspired retelling of an ancient legend weaves myth and magic into a vivid contemporary novel about the mysteries of the human heart. Brimming with ballads, riddles, and magical transformations, here is the timeless tale of a charismatic bard whose talents earn him a two-edged otherworldly gift. A minstrel lives by his words, his tunes, and sometimes by his lies. But when the bold and gifted young Thomas the Rhymer awakens the desire of the powerful Queen of Elfland, he finds that words are not enough to keep him from his fate. As the Queen sweeps him far from the people he has known and loved into her realm of magic, opulence--and captivity--he learns at last what it is to be truly human. When he returns to his home with the Queen's parting gift, his great task will be to seek out the girl he loved and wronged, and offer her at last the tongue that cannot lie.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member xicanti
A retelling of the folk ballad in which a harper spends seven years in Elfland.
While I can't say I enjoyed Thomas the Rhymer as much as Kushner's Riverside books, it does have some notable strengths. The author uses an unconventional narrative structure; the book is essentially four longer
On an emotional level, though, I found it difficult to commit to this book. There are some moments of rare beauty, but for the most part I found that Kushner's normally irresistible style faded into the background. I had trouble really sinking into the story. I think that I might have found it a stronger read had the narratives been woven together instead of segmented. I wonder, too, if the book wouldn't have impacted me more if Kushner had stuck to just one or two first person POVs, or perhaps integrated Thomas's first person with everyone else's third person.
But regardless, it was an enjoyable read and is certainly worth your time. I particularly recommend it to those with an interest in old ballads and folk stories.
While I can't say I enjoyed Thomas the Rhymer as much as Kushner's Riverside books, it does have some notable strengths. The author uses an unconventional narrative structure; the book is essentially four longer
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stories/short novels, each narrated by a different character, that come together to tell the tale. Each narrator has their own distinct voice and speaks in a way that fits with their social station. The reader gets a real feel for who these people are and how they view their world. It's an approach that compliments this character-based story very nicely, at least on an intellectual level.On an emotional level, though, I found it difficult to commit to this book. There are some moments of rare beauty, but for the most part I found that Kushner's normally irresistible style faded into the background. I had trouble really sinking into the story. I think that I might have found it a stronger read had the narratives been woven together instead of segmented. I wonder, too, if the book wouldn't have impacted me more if Kushner had stuck to just one or two first person POVs, or perhaps integrated Thomas's first person with everyone else's third person.
But regardless, it was an enjoyable read and is certainly worth your time. I particularly recommend it to those with an interest in old ballads and folk stories.
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LibraryThing member jen.e.moore
A beautiful telling of the ballad, with a wonderfully heartless Queen of Faerie, a convincingly bewildered Thomas, and some really very wonderful ordinary human people who were, really, my favorite part of the book.
LibraryThing member mbg0312
Ellen Kushner justly deserves her reputation as a wonderful, if not particularly prolific writer. This one takes the familiar tale of True Thomas, and tells it from a variety of viewpoints, building on each other nicely. Emotionally real, smartly written, and often funny, highly recommended.
LibraryThing member silentq
I bought a second copy by mistake at the used book store but still read it. :) I like how we get four sections told from four points of view, the farmer couple that Thomas stays with before and after his 7 years in Elfland, Thomas's view on his 7 years, and Elspeth's view of the last years of his
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life. Thomas is probably the least sympathetic, but it's still an enjoyable read. Show Less
LibraryThing member satyridae
I loved this book when I read it years ago. I haven't thought of it in years, but as soon as I saw it sweeping by on my friends list I grinned.
LibraryThing member sageness
More like 2.5 stars. Some of the language was lovely, but the structure was uneven.
glbt interest tag: Queen of Elfland asks Thomas if he's ever lain with a man. He answers, yes, once, when I was young. She asks if he liked it. He says he felt used afterward.
glbt interest tag: Queen of Elfland asks Thomas if he's ever lain with a man. He answers, yes, once, when I was young. She asks if he liked it. He says he felt used afterward.
LibraryThing member pwaites
On the plus side, the writing quality was good. On the bad side, there was no drive to the plot (if there was a plot).
From the blurb, I’d assumed that it’d mainly be about Thomas after fairy land dealing with only being able to speak the truth, but turns out that the majority of the book is set
The “back in the mortal earth” was the last two sections, of which the third is the one dealing with the adjustment of only being able to speak the truth. Not much is done with that, and we don’t see that many difficulties being presented there.
I did not like Thomas at all in the beginning – he was a womanizer who never really seemed to care about other people. Yes, he got better in the end as a result of the stint in fairyland, but I think the truth telling should have been more of a force of change for him. What happens to a character who’s constantly lying when he’s forced to speak only the truth? Nothing significant, according to this book.
I don’t think the entire last section should have been there. The end of section three seems to be the basic happily ever after, story’s done… and then there’s another section? It does do something with a detail from earlier in the book, but it still wasn’t reason enough to have an entire new section.
Besides the lack of plot, it was well written, but it just wasn’t very satisfying. I wouldn’t recommend this one, unless maybe you’re a big fan of the ballad it’s based on. Otherwise, don’t bother. Pick up one of her Riverside novels instead.
From the blurb, I’d assumed that it’d mainly be about Thomas after fairy land dealing with only being able to speak the truth, but turns out that the majority of the book is set
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before and during fairy land. Overall, I think Thomas the Rhymer need an injection of some conflict. There just wasn’t enough happening.The “back in the mortal earth” was the last two sections, of which the third is the one dealing with the adjustment of only being able to speak the truth. Not much is done with that, and we don’t see that many difficulties being presented there.
I did not like Thomas at all in the beginning – he was a womanizer who never really seemed to care about other people. Yes, he got better in the end as a result of the stint in fairyland, but I think the truth telling should have been more of a force of change for him. What happens to a character who’s constantly lying when he’s forced to speak only the truth? Nothing significant, according to this book.
I don’t think the entire last section should have been there. The end of section three seems to be the basic happily ever after, story’s done… and then there’s another section? It does do something with a detail from earlier in the book, but it still wasn’t reason enough to have an entire new section.
Besides the lack of plot, it was well written, but it just wasn’t very satisfying. I wouldn’t recommend this one, unless maybe you’re a big fan of the ballad it’s based on. Otherwise, don’t bother. Pick up one of her Riverside novels instead.
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LibraryThing member AltheaAnn
I love novels like this; that flesh out a traditional tale while remaining true and faithful to the source material. (Like Robin McKinley's 'Beauty', Donna Jo Napoli's 'Zel', etc). This book retells the legend of Thomas the Rhymer, a minstrel taken under the hill for seven years of service to the
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faerie queen, who returns with the 'gift' of being unable to tell a lie. It brings to life Thomas and those who know and love him, letting a reader feel not that what they'd heard previously of the tale was wrong, but that they have been given a privileged glimpse of heretofore unknown details and truths of the past. It's not really an exciting or action-packed book, but it is a lovely and magical one. Show Less
LibraryThing member JudithProctor
Thomas the Rhymer is a character who exists in ballads and folklore. He is taken by the Queen of the Elves to Elfinland and lives there for seven years.
Kushner has taken the traditional tale and given it her own twist and it works really well.
I loved this novel for many reasons. Firstly, I love the
Secondly, I love the old couple who give Thomas shelter from the storm at the start of the novel. They are very much individual characters and very believable. They have no children of their own, and Thomas develops the habit of dropping by at irregular intervals, using them as a stable point in his wandering life. They welcome him, give him his share of the work to do, listen to his songs and stories and give him affection that has no conditions set upon it. (for a travelling harpist/singer, life is lived on the edge - people always want his music, but the rich in no way consider him an equal) They aren't fooled by his tall stories (Thomas has a habit of exaggerating his importance), nor do they fail to be aware of his womanising habits, but they also see his strengths.
Thomas comes to love a girl who lives not far from the old couple, but when offered the chance of sex with an elven queen, Thomas hesitates not. She takes him back with her and a curious relationship develops.
This is elfinland the way I feel it should be (I was reminded a little of Jonathan Strange and Mr Norell - though, of course, Thomas is the older book). Time is out of joint and humans can become very tired and drained. It can be beautiful and yet distorted. Nothing is as it seems and elven politics are complex and superficial all at once.
Kushner weaves another Child ballad into her narrative and it's likely that when you reach the end of the book you will be hitting You Tube to listen to Martin Carthy singing the song that Thomas writes in the book after encountering a human ghost in Elfinland.
Of course, being the teller of tall stories that he is, Thomas has real trouble getting anyone to believe him when he finally returns to human lands. He also has a gift from the Queen that is a bit of a mixed blessing...
This is a book that I will definitely be reading again.
Kushner has taken the traditional tale and given it her own twist and it works really well.
I loved this novel for many reasons. Firstly, I love the
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use of language. The language is not obviously archaic, nor is in rhyme or anything like that. Yet, there is a flavour to it that feels slightly apart from everyday English and part of a folk tale - without me being able to put a finger on how the writer has achieved this.Secondly, I love the old couple who give Thomas shelter from the storm at the start of the novel. They are very much individual characters and very believable. They have no children of their own, and Thomas develops the habit of dropping by at irregular intervals, using them as a stable point in his wandering life. They welcome him, give him his share of the work to do, listen to his songs and stories and give him affection that has no conditions set upon it. (for a travelling harpist/singer, life is lived on the edge - people always want his music, but the rich in no way consider him an equal) They aren't fooled by his tall stories (Thomas has a habit of exaggerating his importance), nor do they fail to be aware of his womanising habits, but they also see his strengths.
Thomas comes to love a girl who lives not far from the old couple, but when offered the chance of sex with an elven queen, Thomas hesitates not. She takes him back with her and a curious relationship develops.
This is elfinland the way I feel it should be (I was reminded a little of Jonathan Strange and Mr Norell - though, of course, Thomas is the older book). Time is out of joint and humans can become very tired and drained. It can be beautiful and yet distorted. Nothing is as it seems and elven politics are complex and superficial all at once.
Kushner weaves another Child ballad into her narrative and it's likely that when you reach the end of the book you will be hitting You Tube to listen to Martin Carthy singing the song that Thomas writes in the book after encountering a human ghost in Elfinland.
Of course, being the teller of tall stories that he is, Thomas has real trouble getting anyone to believe him when he finally returns to human lands. He also has a gift from the Queen that is a bit of a mixed blessing...
This is a book that I will definitely be reading again.
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LibraryThing member juniperSun
How did I miss this book, and then leave it unread on my shelf for so long? I absolutely loved it. If I had read the Acknowledgements right away, I would have been on it in a flash for I have loved everything Terri Windling has written and edited. And, yes, I know the ballad this is based on.
The
Turns out, Thomas gets his own section to tell the continuing story, as does Elspeth, and we get a full view of the consequences of one's actions.
The
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first section of the book is written from the point of view of one of the elder couple who take Thomas in. I thought that would make a curious approach to a story--seeing a life through a minor character's eyes--but Gavin & Meg were such great characters: grumpy and wise, and their bedtime talk made me grin.Turns out, Thomas gets his own section to tell the continuing story, as does Elspeth, and we get a full view of the consequences of one's actions.
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LibraryThing member Isana
I loved this book so much! the characters are all great. I loved Meg a lot and Thomas, of course. I even liked the fairy queen with her strange fae-ness.
Ellen Kushner writes like a dream. I love the Riverside series and I had been meaning to read this book for a long time. Likely, it was in the
Really do read it. It's a wonderful tale. And it very much is a tale. It's not one of those intense universe books, but it's still something great.
Ellen Kushner writes like a dream. I love the Riverside series and I had been meaning to read this book for a long time. Likely, it was in the
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library. I am so happy I picked it up because it really was so beautiful. A tale from old songs come to life, beautifully.Really do read it. It's a wonderful tale. And it very much is a tale. It's not one of those intense universe books, but it's still something great.
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LibraryThing member threadnsong
This idea for a re-read came about on a drive, when DH revealed that a niece loved the Tam Lin story. It's been a while since I read any of these books, and Wikipedia does mention Winter Rose as Patricia McKillip's re-telling of that story. And when we began to discuss the storylines of Thomas the
So Thomas the Rhymer. It becomes an amazing story as told by this masterful storyteller. There is more than just Tam Lin being taken by The Queen of the Fairies: there are Gavin and Meg, an older farm couple who keep sheep and chickens and bake oat cakes for a weary wanderer who comes in rain sodden one night. Oh, and he plays the harp, and he is trying to get into the King's court, or at least an Earl's, as that is the "career path" of itinerant harpers.
While he lives with Gavin and Meg, he meets young Elspeth who has turned into a lively young woman, and their teasing and insults form into young love over the course of years while the initial part of the book takes place. And this look at real people with Kushner's pen makes Thomas the Rhymer less a figment of mythology and more a person who might have lived, when times were less technology-driven and more magical.
Thomas has his own section when he takes a moment of repose under the Eildon Tree, when he and Elspeth have become closer than friends, and Thomas has had his enjoyments of the Court and several ladies have become entranced by him. The Queen of the Elves finds him, offers him a choice, and he chooses to be her lover for the next seven years. And she lays an aegis on him that colors his time in Elfland. It is a very sensuous, sensual, and definitely not a YA level novel with its descriptions of the bedroom. But it is not only the bedroom: it is the Court of Elfland, it is an invisible servant, it is a dove who cries blood tears, and it is ever-changing.
And then we get to Elspeth's story, who has languished for seven years without her love, married out of necessity, and retained her spirit. And yes, she does find herself re-united with her love, and the necessity of time passing, in all its poignancy, becomes the final phase of this book. And brings love and life to what is a simple Scottish Ballad re-told in Tor's Fairytale series.
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Rhymer and Tam (Thomas) Lin, they seemed to be similar in origin and the distance in clans and distance and an oral tradition could so to have made Tam Lin a derivative of Thomas the Rhymer. But that is a subject for a dissertation and would involve much academic argument.So Thomas the Rhymer. It becomes an amazing story as told by this masterful storyteller. There is more than just Tam Lin being taken by The Queen of the Fairies: there are Gavin and Meg, an older farm couple who keep sheep and chickens and bake oat cakes for a weary wanderer who comes in rain sodden one night. Oh, and he plays the harp, and he is trying to get into the King's court, or at least an Earl's, as that is the "career path" of itinerant harpers.
While he lives with Gavin and Meg, he meets young Elspeth who has turned into a lively young woman, and their teasing and insults form into young love over the course of years while the initial part of the book takes place. And this look at real people with Kushner's pen makes Thomas the Rhymer less a figment of mythology and more a person who might have lived, when times were less technology-driven and more magical.
Thomas has his own section when he takes a moment of repose under the Eildon Tree, when he and Elspeth have become closer than friends, and Thomas has had his enjoyments of the Court and several ladies have become entranced by him. The Queen of the Elves finds him, offers him a choice, and he chooses to be her lover for the next seven years. And she lays an aegis on him that colors his time in Elfland. It is a very sensuous, sensual, and definitely not a YA level novel with its descriptions of the bedroom. But it is not only the bedroom: it is the Court of Elfland, it is an invisible servant, it is a dove who cries blood tears, and it is ever-changing.
And then we get to Elspeth's story, who has languished for seven years without her love, married out of necessity, and retained her spirit. And yes, she does find herself re-united with her love, and the necessity of time passing, in all its poignancy, becomes the final phase of this book. And brings love and life to what is a simple Scottish Ballad re-told in Tor's Fairytale series.
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Subjects
Awards
Mythopoeic Awards (Finalist — 1991)
World Fantasy Award (Nominee — Novel — 1991)
Tähtifantasia Award (Winner — 2009)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1990
1990-12
ISBN
0812514459 / 9780812514452