by Penny
Billington
OBOD, £7.95
(paperback)
Available
from: OBOD
Review
by Chris Hurst
"I was doubtful, but wary of saying so. Most dolls have a blind spot
when it comes to the hubby. He's theirs to belittle, but to the outside world
they invest him with as much gallantry and skill as Pwyll in the land
of Annwn
when he really resembles Mr Bean on a bad day."
Once in a while I come across a book that I simply can't put down - so I do
things like standing in the kitchen with it in one hand, reading as I'm
stirring cheese sauce or gravy. For as long as it takes (at least a couple of
days) I modify my life to snatch as many reading opportunities as possible -
even going to bed early (and it takes a lot to make me do that)!!!!!
Gwion Dubh; Druid Investigator was one such book. I must admit I mainly bought
it out of curiosity in the first place because I don't tend to read fiction
......... so, for it to end up being so damnably ENJOYABLE is obviously a big
point in its favour. Gwion Dubh ("Yep, that's Dubh, pronounced 'Duv',
those Celts have a lot to answer for.....") is a gumshoe who knows how
to spell trouble in the very best calligraphy of Raymond Chandler. He's a great
character, with his robe that's been turned from white to fawn by his many
forest assignments and his shades through which he carefully appraises dolls,
dames and demonic baddies. It's hilariously funny - although try explaining
jokes about Pwyll in Annwn to husbands who think the Mabinogi is a book about
mad moggies - but it's so much more than that too.
Penny Billington (editor of OBOD's Touchstone magazine) obviously has a huge
range of knowledge of all things Druidic combined with a huge love of and
respect for the lands of Albion.
The scintillating humour with which she crafts her stories is hung like fairy
lights across a solid framework of the understanding of someone who has walked
their path with dedication and delight in discovery. It's always good to be
able to laugh at ourselves, provided it's not done in a cynical and
disempowering manner, and this book more than amply provides us with such an
opportunity.
I want more, a sequel ......... but, for now, you can buy this one from the
OBOD bookshop at www.druidry.org.
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