Thaliad "swept me into another world"

After reading Thaliad twice, Finnish-Canadian artist Marja-Leena Rathje has posted about it on her well-read blog.

Saying that Marly Youmans' magical writing "swept her into another world," she quoted some favorite lines that reminded her of waves repeatedly washing ashore. "That repetition and rhythm made me think of The Kalevala, a 19th-century work of epic poetry compiled by Elias Lönnrot from Finnish and Karelian oral folklore and mythology."

Marja-Leena is a printmaker and lifelong professional artist; in addition to her remarks on the text, she commented on Clive Hicks-Jenkins' illustrations and the book design by Elizabeth Adams, saying that Thaliad was actually "a collaboration between three artists."

She concludes:
"There's something about [Marly's] writing that I enjoy reading most during the night hours (2 a.m.?) perhaps when the magic feels strongest."

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