Customer Reviews

Haunted Mountain (Lions)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Only true bibliophiles will understand when I ask: Do you remember those books that touched you when you were young? Those that simply spurred you to read further and become a genuine book lover? The Haunted Mountain was mine. It was a book that I read and promptly lost, and couldn't for the life of me remember the author's name or the title! It was a labor of love trying to discover this book for the second time! After countless internet searches I have finally found it! Mollie Hunter is amazing! This novel captures the imagination, the spirit of the Celts, their traditions and superstitions, and a land that thrived before the harshness of modernity drove out the sidhe and put an end to the Goodman's Croft. MacAllister is a wonderfully wrought protagonist, and his struggle with the fairies is vivid, full of adventure. There are elements of magic, love, lore, and sacrifice woven expertly throughout Hunter's novel. This book is an absolute jewel!

In the Scottish Highlands, in the glen where MacAllister lives, it has always been the custom to leave a piece of land called the "Goodman's Croft" for the use of the sidhe, the fairy people. But MacAllister has fallen in love with a pretty girl called Peigi-Ann, and decides to plow the Goodman's Croft along with the rest of his land in order to make a good enough living to marry her. He thereby brings on himself the wrath of the proud sidhe, but being a stubborn man, he vows that if he cannot use the land, neither shall they. MacAllister, and later his wife, son and even their faithful hunting dog Colm, must call upon all their wit, courage and humanity if they are to prevail against the various magical attacks of the vengeful sidhe.

The story reads very much like an extended fairy tale, so any child or adult who enjoys reading fairy stories should like this; indeed, it's kind of a treat to read such a long and well-fleshed-out fairy tale. Mollie Hunter is an excellent storyteller; not only does she capture the beautiful and frightening strangeness of the sidhe and their magic, but also makes her loveable human (and animal) characters - stubborn MacAllister, strong Peigi-Ann, the mysterious Skeelie woman, brave Fergus, faithful Colm - come alive for the reader, and their warm human moments of joy and sorrow and triumph and humor and love provide a grounding for all the weird and wonderful happenings. Most of her books seem to have gone out of print, which is a shame, but if you should happen to come across one, do give it a try.

The Haunted Mountain is the book I read. This book is about a man named MacAllister who owns many acres that the "Sid he" kept ruining. MacAllister marries a women named Peggy Anna and has a child name Fergus. Something really bad happens to MacAllister and someone has to save him! Read this book to find out what will happen. I thought this was a very good book. I would highly recommend this book.

The Haunted Mountain is a half-good, half-bad book. Mollie Hunter mixes ideas of Celtic mythology with children's dreams. This fantasy takes place in a small town in the north of Scotland during the Celtic times. This story is filled with mythological characters from fairies to urisks, which are half man half goat. This fantasy is about a stubborn farmer named Mc Allister. He promises himself that he will never give the fairies his traditional piece of land. Throughout the story the fairies have tried several attempts to kill him. They finally capture him and make him their slave. It is up to his brave son Fergus to save him. I was quite disappointed in this book because the reading level was quite low. The characters were unrealistic and it was more a fantasy book than a horror story. Personally I prefer horror stories to fantasies. If you like fantasies, castles, and romance, this is and ideal book. If you're more like me and love horror stories, I don't suggest this book.

Was disappointed with the quality of books available for my kids ages 7 and 9 and looked for books i read as a child that were fun and clean. Was pleased to find Haunted Mountain for them. It has a great mix of adventure, fantasy, mystery, and fright that is perfect for kids. Also found new publications of 'Me and Caleb' and 'Me and Caleb Again', both great books for young boys. Book was as promised as far as condition.

Took me a long time to find this -- couldn't remember the author's name or title. I read this when I was about 10 years old, back in the 70s, and I always remembered it. It was my first introduction to some of the real concepts of Irish Fairies -- particularly the Sidhe.

I don't know whether it will stand the test of time for me now, but I'm looking forward to re-reading it some 30 years later...

(I also read and loved her book The Walking Stones.)

Like one of the previous reviewers, this is a book I read as a child. Read many, many times in fact - it was one of my absolute favourites. Recently, my seven-year-old son started asking about fairy tales, so I dug around and found a copy of this so we could read it together, and we both loved it! It's still every bit as charming as I remember it. This is a true classic, a book which, for me, has stood the test of time.