Wood Nymph Seeks Centaur: A Mythological Dating Guide [Hardcover]

Francesca Lia Block (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 29, 2009

From bestselling author Francesca Lia Block, an imaginative new guide to dating based on the timeless wisdom of myth, folklore, and fairy tales.

Navigating the world of dating can be like wandering an enchanted forest, full of creatures with peculiar habits and baffling behavior. In Wood Nymph Seeks Centaur, Francesca Lia Block provides a guide to this often-treacherous terrain, classifying all those mystifying men and women into various types of mythical forest fauna—Fauns and Werewolves, Mermaids and Banshees.

After answering questions to determine your own type, you can learn to identify others—with the help of illustrations from artist Fumi Nakamura. By reading up on the various types’ favorite activities, likely professions, sexual preferences, and parenting styles, you’ll gain insight into compatible creatures. If you’re a Wood Nymph (like Block), you could get your heart broken by a fickle Satyr, but if you can track down the strong, soulful Centaurs of the forest, you just might be on the path to true love. Clever and insightful, Wood Nymph Seeks Centaur is an invaluable guide for any dating creature.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Block’s fiction is famous for its fascination with magic, mythology, and love in all its myriad aspects. So it comes as no surprise that this self-styled 'love obsessive'... should have created the first 'mythological dating guide.' Her intriguing premise is that peoples’ romantic personalities can be classified and described as mythological creatures... Charming and inventive...” — Booklist

About the Author

Francesca Lia Block is a bestselling author of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry for all ages—from the groundbreaking Weetzie Bat young adult series to a collection of magic-realist erotica. Her numerous awards include the Margaret A. Edwards lifetime achievement award, and her work has been published around the world. Born in Los Angeles, she lives there still with her two children.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Bloomsbury USA (September 29, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1596916222
• ISBN-13: 978-1596916227
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #933,587 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Francesca Lia Block, recipient of the prestigious Margaret A. Edwards Lifetime Achievement Award. has been publishing novels, short stories, essays, memoirs and poetry since 1989. Her work has been translated into many languages. Ms. Block lives in Los Angeles where she teaches writing workshops that are also available online.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars maybe it's because i live in a small town..., November 17, 2010

By 

Savannah Brooks "The girl with the most cake" (Wausau) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Wood Nymph Seeks Centaur: A Mythological Dating Guide (Hardcover)

maybe it's because i live in a small town and the amount of young people with a lot of money is different here, but i had a lot of trouble relating this book to people i know... there were some people who jumped out at me immediately, such as my ex-boyfriend (classic werewolf!) but i couldn't find my boyfriend in here, and although there were a couple types that seemed like me, none of her types or mixed types felt completely right to me. the quizzes weren't much help, since they're full of references to stuff that's either too expensive or too city oriented to touch my current life, stuff that doesn't translate well.

the thing that bothered me most was how many descriptions of types, especially men, who seem un-dateable for most people, where the author basically says they may grow as a person later. i'm not talking "you and this person probably won't work out because you're so different." i'm talking "this male-type is pretty much only capable of hurting women until he matures and becomes a different type." while i do know some people who're like that, my experience has always been that they're not a majority.

it also bugs me how sex-negative this book comes off, which is weird, because most of block's work doesn't read that way. most of the male types either seem to read "bad in bed, but really nice" or "good in bed, likes sex, is a jerk." maybe i'm naive, but i've always believed that, while there are jerks out there who're good at sex because they practice, people who genuinely want to make the people they love happy and enjoy being with them are better in bed... because they listen to what you like. because they'll be happy to kiss you for hours. so that just bothered me.

i wouldn't say it's a waste of money, but i was really looking forward to a dating book by the person who writes the most wonderful love stories i've ever read, and this kind of fell flat for me.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Find Your Perfect Match!, October 30, 2010

By 

Larissa (Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wood Nymph Seeks Centaur: A Mythological Dating Guide (Hardcover)

The dating forest can seem at times a magical place filled with happiness and love, and at other times a place to be feared, where hearts are stolen or left broken. It is not always easy to find your way, especially when the scenery keeps changing. Just who are all these creatures roaming the forests of love and heartbreak? For that matter, what type of creature am I that I dare to enter such a perilous yet hopeful place?

In this forest the first thing you must do is not to discover what creatures are about you, but what creature are you. If you can first see who you are, then you can see who you want, and who you want to avoid. There are many dangers; some more easily avoided then others as attraction can easily lead you down a stray path. But if the right path can be found, one that leads to your own handsome prince, or beautiful princess, then there is no reason why one cannot live happily ever after.

Wood Nymph Seeks Centaur is an eerily accurate, at least in my case, guide to love, life and friendships. This is no ordinary story but a cautionary guide filled with all the wisdom and enchantment that comes with blending myths, fairy tales and astrology. If you ever find yourself lost in these woods, and you will if you haven't already, then this invaluable book will be able to assist you, if not entertain you, as you make your way blindly through this world.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastical, March 31, 2010

By 

Valentine (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Wood Nymph Seeks Centaur: A Mythological Dating Guide (Hardcover)

I am happily paired, but purchased this book because I am a huge fan of Block's. I always found it fun to read astrology books, but was never all that into it. This book really captures a lot that I felt was missing in astrology. The "types" are very very very well done, and as another reviewer said, you will start to "see" them all around you immediately! I think this may be because astrology forces you into one category whereas Block takes into consideration the make-up of the whole individual, including physicality, drive, sexual appetite, passions, style, and everything else you may find important when you're trying to find your match! There is even a section for mixed types and pairings of the same sex!
Not only do I think this book will help my writing (it is so imaginative and I think that the "types" will help me to round out my characters,) but I think I discovered why I crave attention so much. My mother is clearly a Banshee, and yes, her marriage to my "Hob" father is definitely a strange match! Block hits it on the nose every time. I completely recommend this book!
Another plus: the awesomely beautiful illustrations by Fumi Nakamura!