Recently I went to a lecture held by Brian and Wendy Froud. It was amazing to see these two people, who have created the creatures that live in my dreams and imagination, for real. Something Brian said really impressed me. He was telling about what it was like to sign books. He had noticed that most people came up with The Faeries, a book that he and Alan Lee made together with lots of pictures. People always held the books close to them, over their hearts. And when he asked, there was always a very personal story connected to that book. The picture- and storybook that he and Alan Lee created appearantly meant a lot to people and took on a little life of its own with the people that bought or got it.
Now this impressed me because I know the book means a lot to me, and in a very personal way. It seems I am not the only one. It makes me curious about how many other people there are that feel the same about this particular book, and also what it means to them.
If you've read the book, please let me know and also tell your story about it, even when it is short and totally boring. Thank you for the effort!

Tarhian

Here is my story.

I already "read" the book when I was about six years old and not so much interested in the words and stories, but much more in the pictures. I remember that as a beautiful and terrifying journey, especially when the creepy faeries came up. But at the flower faeries I usually was a bit relieved, they didn?t seem so very nasty and mean. I played a game of faeries then: we all were a flower faery and had to appraoch the witch. The witch did of course not exist, but for us she was real.
I kept on being fascinated by the pictures and later on the stories as well. Each time I found a part of the book which had my interest for a while, and that still goes on. The part about the Tuatha De Danann had its time as well, and I was digging out the library to find more stories about them. It took me years to find out the Tuatha De Danann were a mythical race from Irish legend and faerytales. I read all stories I could find about them and was drawn in to the magical world of those tales.
So when I finished secondary school, I decided to go and see the wonderful country where all those tales had come from, and I went a year to Ireland. I did visit many of the places that were connected with stories, and found it magical to be there. Apart from that I had a wonderful year as an au pair in a lovely family in Dublin. I got to make new friends and we had lots of fun together in pubs and parks and wherever.
After coming back I started living on my own and left lots of stuff with my mother for a while. Until she decided to clear out my room and sent me the things that were still in it, to sort them out. Along with it came this book. I really wanted to keep it with me, but was a bit afraid to ask, so I said nothing. But when we went to see Brian and Wendy Froud together, we got to talk about it anyway, and as it turned out she had meant to give it to me (thanks mom!), and here it is with me again.
When you travel about my island you will find a lot of my fascinations that have part of their origin in this book: The Faeries. I have it at home and still look in it once in a while, though at the moment I prefer the ugly leprechauns and goblins over the pretty faeries. I wonder now, where will they take me?

Tarhian tarhian@yahoo.com