{"id":2529,"date":"2013-03-10T00:26:55","date_gmt":"2013-03-10T06:26:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=2529"},"modified":"2013-03-10T00:26:55","modified_gmt":"2013-03-10T06:26:55","slug":"7-imp%e2%80%99s-7-kicks-321-featuring-charles-vess","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=2529","title":{"rendered":"7-Imp\u2019s 7 Kicks #321: Featuring Charles Vess"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n

“…The other cats gathered in their circle, only this time, instead of calling up cat dreams, they had a dying girl in the middle of them. Lillian wasn’t aware of any of this. She was falling up into a bright tunnel of light, which was an odd experience,
because she’d never fallen up before. She hadn’t even known it was possible.”<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n

I admit I’m not thoroughly familiar with his work (I’m primarily familiar with his picture book collaborations with Neil Gaiman<\/a><\/strong>), but every time I see a book illustrated by Charles Vess<\/a><\/strong>, I remember how I’d like to showcase some of his art here at 7-Imp. Well, better late than never. I finally am today. <\/p>\n

Vess has illustrated the latest from Charles de Lint<\/a><\/strong>, The Cats of Tanglewood Forest<\/a><\/em><\/strong>, a novel for children released by Little, Brown this past week. A beautifully designed book, it tells the story of Lillian Kindred, a young girl who lives with her aunt near Tanglewood Forest, filled with wild cats, and who wakes from a forest nap one day to discover she’s been turned into a kitten. The magical cats of the forest have performed this feat, all in lieu of Lillian dying of a snakebite. Lillian is returned to human form, thanks to the magical Old Mother Possum, and then discovers that, as a result, her aunt has perished. Thus begins Lillian’s journey to right things, a complicated journey that involves meeting a whole cast of mysterious characters from the forest and tons of twists and turns (a rather “twisty story,” Kirkus<\/em> calls it). All of this is wrapped up in classic folktale motifs, giving the story a very traditional feel, and includes Native American characters and motifs as well. <\/p>\n

Vess’ illustrations are lithe, lavish, and detailed, some positively glowing from the page. (His use of light is striking.) His landscapes are nearly breathtaking, and he captures tension between characters well, with elegant lines and deep earth tones all throughout. <\/p>\n

Here are some more illustrations from the novel. I’ll let the art speak for itself. Enjoy. <\/p>\n


\n

“Lillian dug her claws deeper into the branch.
‘Come on now, kitty,’ he went on. ‘Why are you hiding up there?’
‘I–I’m not a cat,’ Lillian finally managed. ‘I’m a girl.’
‘Sure you are.'”<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n


\n

“She’d crossed by these stepping-stones a hundred times—but that was always in her human form, with her longer legs. Even with her agile cat body, she slipped on the last rock and would have fallen into the creek if T.H. hadn’t snapped her up by the nape of her neck. She shivered for a moment, imagining the worst as she hung from his teeth, but he only set her down on the ground, safe and dry.”<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n


\n

“‘I’m not going to be eaten by a bear,’ Lillian said, feigning a courage that she didn’t feel. ‘Seems like it to me,’ Davy said, ‘which makes me wonder why Aunt Nancy’s sending you to them. I used to think she had a soft spot for you and your aunt.'”<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n


\n

“She set off again, following the ridge, picking her way around the stone outcrops and tree roots. And while it made little sense, she kept catching glimpses of
the red fox sneaking along behind her.”<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n

THE CATS OF TANGLEWOOD FOREST. Copyright \u00a9 2013 by Charles de Lint. Illustrations copyright \u00a9 2013 by Charles Vess. Little, Brown and Company, New York. Illustrations used with permission of the publisher.<\/em> <\/p>\n

* * * * * * *<\/center><\/p>\n

Note for any new readers: 7-Imp\u2019s 7 Kicks is a weekly meeting ground for taking some time to reflect on Seven(ish) Exceptionally Fabulous, Beautiful, Interesting, Hilarious, or Otherwise Positive Noteworthy Things from the past week, whether book-related or not, that happened to you. New kickers are always welcome. <\/p>\n

* * * Jules’ Kicks * * *<\/strong><\/font>
<\/center><\/p>\n

I’m going to keep it brief this week (if you haven’t noticed already from my short write-up above). Lordhavemercy, I probably sound like a hypochondriac at this point, but I got sick again this week (round two) and have been fighting this nonsense all. week. long. Still am, in fact. <\/p>\n

Two happy things:<\/p>\n

This made me laugh …<\/p>\n