Faery Tale
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Review
Her discoveries are heartwarming and spellbinding. With a distinctive voice and elegant prose, Faery Tale captures the hopefulness of childhood and the magic of believing. (Harper's Bazaar )
Pike went looking for enchantment; well, she found it, and she left its light and gracious footprints across every page of this delightful book. (Jeanine Cummins, bestselling author of A Rip in Heaven )
Pike's enchanting journey into the land of the faeries is more than a memoir; it's an earnest search for what is real in a world that is filled with illusion, and what is true in a world that is filled with falsehood. It makes you smile, and it makes you think.... (Marianne Williamson )
Pike went looking for enchantment; well, she found it, and she left its light and gracious footprints across every page of this delightful book. (Jeanine Cummins, bestselling author of A Rip in Heaven )
Pike's enchanting journey into the land of the faeries is more than a memoir; it's an earnest search for what is real in a world that is filled with illusion, and what is true in a world that is filled with falsehood. It makes you smile, and it makes you think.... (Marianne Williamson )
Product Description
In search of something to believe in once more, Signe Pike left behind a career in Manhattan to undertake a magical journey - literally. In a sweeping tour of Mexico, England, Ireland, Scotland and beyond, she takes readers to dark glens and abandoned forests, ancient sacred sites and local pubs, seeking people who might still believe in the elusive beings we call faeries. As Pike attempts to connect with the spirit world - and reconnect with her sense of wonder and purpose - she comes to view both herself and the world around her in a profoundly new light.
Captivating, full of heart and unabashedly whimsical, Faery Tale is more than a memoir - it's the story of rekindling that spark of belief that makes even the most sceptical among us feel like a child again.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
The author of this interesting book had always felt there were faeries if you only knew how to see them. The idea of going somewhere which was well known for faery and otherworldly sightings began to take over her life and she gave up her job and organised a trip to the UK and other countries to see if she would be lucky enough to become aware of them.
Whether or not you believe in faeries or in magic doesn't really matter because this book can be enjoyed as a travelogue and a voyage of exploration. The author writes well and is constantly aware that to many her quest might seem ridiculous. At times it seems ridiculous to her and there are always touches of humour which stop this book taking itself too seriously.
I enjoyed the background information about such places as the Isle of Man - about which I knew very little. Naturally the author visited Glastonbury - that quintessential home of anything supernatural or religious as well as Ireland and Scotland where Celtic myths and legends lurk just below the surface of modern civilisation and culture. I found the people she met along the way interesting as it seems the right person appeared just when she needed help and advice. Coincidence? Or otherworldly influence? Who knows?
Whether or not you believe in faeries or in magic doesn't really matter because this book can be enjoyed as a travelogue and a voyage of exploration. The author writes well and is constantly aware that to many her quest might seem ridiculous. At times it seems ridiculous to her and there are always touches of humour which stop this book taking itself too seriously.
I enjoyed the background information about such places as the Isle of Man - about which I knew very little. Naturally the author visited Glastonbury - that quintessential home of anything supernatural or religious as well as Ireland and Scotland where Celtic myths and legends lurk just below the surface of modern civilisation and culture. I found the people she met along the way interesting as it seems the right person appeared just when she needed help and advice. Coincidence? Or otherworldly influence? Who knows?
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
Yeeees. A little tenuous I think. Let me explain.
Not sure why a someone would give up a (seemingly) good job at a young age - "quality me time" I expect the Americans would call it. HOWEVER. This was a good read and she has an easy, warm style that's very pleasing. I did admire her get up and go to get up and come to Europe - and Mexico - alone, to research and investigate something that is obviously dear to her. Having travelled alone as a young female, it can be daunting and sometimes a little scary, so full marks for that.
I agree with others that she has a pre-conceived idea about us Brits, but then I suppose we do about other nations - the comment about Brits driving fast, very fast made me laugh as I've always thought Americans must find that puzzling about us! I'm just not convinced by her so-called evidence; if you really believe in something, or want to believe, you'll interpret all sorts of things in your favour (I was out walking yesterday and saw three black feathers too, but I didn't think they were a sign...) A colleague of mine obsessed with Charlotte Bronte was convinced she "felt" her presence in the Haworth parsonage for example.
I think Signe was very influenced by those around her, the power of suggestion and perhaps the whole experience in finding yourself in some of those - truly - magical places in the England, Scotland and Ireland. I'm not really sure about little lights, supposed sightings of little hairy people, house gnomes (too much Harry Potter maybe) and voices in the head, but it was an interesting idea and a good read. She came over as likeable and friendly and it genuinely did make me want to visit some of the places, so perhaps we all want to believe a little bit. Good for her for following her beliefs and if it helped her to resolve some of her feelings for her father, then so much the better.
Not sure why a someone would give up a (seemingly) good job at a young age - "quality me time" I expect the Americans would call it. HOWEVER. This was a good read and she has an easy, warm style that's very pleasing. I did admire her get up and go to get up and come to Europe - and Mexico - alone, to research and investigate something that is obviously dear to her. Having travelled alone as a young female, it can be daunting and sometimes a little scary, so full marks for that.
I agree with others that she has a pre-conceived idea about us Brits, but then I suppose we do about other nations - the comment about Brits driving fast, very fast made me laugh as I've always thought Americans must find that puzzling about us! I'm just not convinced by her so-called evidence; if you really believe in something, or want to believe, you'll interpret all sorts of things in your favour (I was out walking yesterday and saw three black feathers too, but I didn't think they were a sign...) A colleague of mine obsessed with Charlotte Bronte was convinced she "felt" her presence in the Haworth parsonage for example.
I think Signe was very influenced by those around her, the power of suggestion and perhaps the whole experience in finding yourself in some of those - truly - magical places in the England, Scotland and Ireland. I'm not really sure about little lights, supposed sightings of little hairy people, house gnomes (too much Harry Potter maybe) and voices in the head, but it was an interesting idea and a good read. She came over as likeable and friendly and it genuinely did make me want to visit some of the places, so perhaps we all want to believe a little bit. Good for her for following her beliefs and if it helped her to resolve some of her feelings for her father, then so much the better.
13 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
I have to agree with a few of the other reviews which say that while this book is a pleasant read, there is something jarring about it. Perhaps it's the hint of self-indulgence apparent in someone giving up a good job and leaving a wonderful fiance behind in order to prance around Britain looking for fairies. Perhaps it's the way Signe manages to take the most tenuous whisper of something strange and turn it into proof positive that fairies are now running her life. It all just feels like she, and therefore we, keep missing the point.
To me, it seemed the journey was more about working out Signe's issues over her dead father, and the fairy search is simply a vehicle for that rather than an end in itself, but neither her father or the fairies are given enough prominence to make any strong impression on the reader. Sure, she visits some lovely places which make you think you'd quite like to go there yourself, but I was very much left with the impression that rather than finding the magic of childhood in the modern world, this comfortably living yuppie-type had had a pleasant meander around Britain then gone back to her life with a new career plan as a writer, and nothing more mystical or magical than that. A pleasant enough read, but it won't change your life or even affect you in any profound way.
To me, it seemed the journey was more about working out Signe's issues over her dead father, and the fairy search is simply a vehicle for that rather than an end in itself, but neither her father or the fairies are given enough prominence to make any strong impression on the reader. Sure, she visits some lovely places which make you think you'd quite like to go there yourself, but I was very much left with the impression that rather than finding the magic of childhood in the modern world, this comfortably living yuppie-type had had a pleasant meander around Britain then gone back to her life with a new career plan as a writer, and nothing more mystical or magical than that. A pleasant enough read, but it won't change your life or even affect you in any profound way.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Enchanting
Do you believe in Fairies? Signe Pike does. Faery Tale is a memoir and travel book recounting Signe's travels through Britain and Ireland looking for the magic which is everywhere... Read more
Published 11 days ago by Lisa Redmond
Light and Enjoyable...
Signe Pike, a young American woman in her twenties packs in her job and heads off to Britain in search of fairies. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Lizzie
I do, I do, I do believe in faeries.
Whether you are ready to believe or not is neither here nor there. Signe Pike's book is simply an exploration of a world dipped in magic that seems to have been pushed out of our... Read more
Published 1 month ago by P. Stokes
Do you believe...?
It has taken me a while to come round to reading and reviewing this book for Vine. When I saw it on the programme, I pounced on it, thinking it would be right up my street. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Brida
Travel as therapy
As a reason to give up your job and go travelling, a search for fairies is as good a reason as any. This is a good description of our historical sites and the narrator has an... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Constant Reader
Better to travel hopefully than to arrive.
Signe's search for fayries took her to a lot of ancient British sites and her description of these sites and their history made this book worth reading to the end. Read more
Published 3 months ago by John Williams
Entertaining, enjoyable and entrancing
I found the theme of this book highly intriguing. Once I started I found it utterly entrancing. Signe writes with warmth, humour and detail. Read more
Published 4 months ago by S. Lumley
Enjoyable and informative
This is non-fiction, and follow's Signe Pike's journey to Mexico and then around the British Isles in search of evidence of fairies and hoping to encounter them. Read more
Published 4 months ago by N. Gratton
Loved this Enchanting Book
Yes this is an autobiography but it doesn't reduce its appeal.
I love reading about people's lives and Signe doesn't disappoint in giving you everything that went... Read more
I love reading about people's lives and Signe doesn't disappoint in giving you everything that went... Read more
Published 4 months ago by M. English
A pleasant read
An enchanting book that is well written and inspiring. Once picked up, I literally could not put the book down, its easy to follow and spurred my own curiosity to investigate... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Null Unit
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