Reviews

First Light: A celebration of Alan Garner by Erica Wagner

mat_tobin's review

5.0

I had waited over a year for this book so to finally get it might have raised my review rating a little higher than it should possibly get: emphasis on 'little'. The first thing to note is that this is not a purchase for anyone who has yet to read much of Garner's work but it is a wonderful series of reflections on his life, stories and love of the land.

A series of chapters from various people, from writers, physicists, professors of literature, archaeology and poets to name but a few - this collection of memories from people who have been moved by Alan's work and understand the magic and music in which he sees the world both the darkness and the light was both captivating and highly entertaining.

There were some chapters in which I thought that the contributers did not really share their thoughts on Alan and his work but then, there were others which ran so close to my own discoveries when reading that I found myself reading them again. If anything, these chapters have made me go back to the landscape and renew the love, care and inquisitiveness I held so tightly too when I was younger.

ohnoflora's review

4.0

For the most part an illuminating collection of essays, poems and other miscellania inspired by Alan Garner. Gregory Maguire's contribution was dreadful, but that was the only low point.