tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28103455.post3761646530500790280..comments2024-03-09T05:53:59.542-05:00Comments on Oz and Ends: Jones Conference in BristolUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28103455.post-19376434825526742962008-11-11T14:56:00.000-05:002008-11-11T14:56:00.000-05:00(you do, however, have a friend who might lend you...(you do, however, have a friend who might lend you a copy)Mordenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13093713858505944734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28103455.post-51064839928416113202008-11-11T13:30:00.000-05:002008-11-11T13:30:00.000-05:00I own twenty-seven Diana Wynne Jones books, but no...I own twenty-seven Diana Wynne Jones books, but not <I>Fire and Hemlock</I>. <BR/><BR/>(Ah, because it's not in print.)J. L. Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15405157000473731801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28103455.post-50065618991524239662008-11-11T13:12:00.000-05:002008-11-11T13:12:00.000-05:00Fire and Hemlock is a marvelous book where things ...Fire and Hemlock is a marvelous book where things start in the "real" world, and magical events can usually be interpreted in non-magical ways.<BR/>I'm just saying.Mordenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13093713858505944734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28103455.post-83283887454349171892008-11-11T12:49:00.000-05:002008-11-11T12:49:00.000-05:00I knew I'd catch hell for admitting I haven't read...I knew I'd catch hell for admitting I haven't read <I>Howl's Moving Castle</I> yet. I got bogged down in <I>Dogsbody</I>, and came away feeling fonder of the Jones books rooted in a "real," non-magical life, at least at the start. <BR/><BR/><I>Archer's Goon</I>, <I>A Tale of Time City</I>, <I>Eight Days of Luke</I>, <I>The Ogre Downstairs</I>, others: they start in a landscape of council estates and semi-detached houses, where magic is something other people do (if any).J. L. Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15405157000473731801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28103455.post-64105450252261129192008-11-11T10:18:00.000-05:002008-11-11T10:18:00.000-05:00John, seriously -- you haven't read Howl yet? Or ...John, seriously -- you haven't read Howl yet? Or Fire and Hemlock? How about the Dalemark books? What the heck ARE you reading??Mordenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13093713858505944734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28103455.post-8031553427812562872008-11-11T02:26:00.000-05:002008-11-11T02:26:00.000-05:00I second your comments about where to begin with J...I second your comments about where to begin with Jones -- <I>Charmed Life</I> is where I started too, and it certainly turned me into a devotee!<BR/><BR/>Just wanted to add that Chris Bell is a terrifically generous person who went out of her way to befriend and help me (an almost complete stranger) several years ago despite my having done nothing to deserve such generosity, and I know she's also a longtime friend and helper of DWJ. If she's involved with organizing this conference, it will be good.Richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01714171897239398438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28103455.post-28670573177809223882008-11-10T14:24:00.000-05:002008-11-10T14:24:00.000-05:00Yes, one can also start Chrestomanci series with T...Yes, one can also start Chrestomanci series with <I>The Lives of Christopher Chant</I> or <I>Witch Week</I>. But I think the other titles depend on knowing certain facts about the characters from the start.<BR/><BR/><I>The Pinhoe Egg</I> in particular strikes me as being written to fit into a beloved series. It returns to several established characters, but it doesn't change their situations. Instead, the book adds more young characters to the Chrestomanci community, like more children getting to move to the Emerald City.J. L. Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15405157000473731801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28103455.post-41549657228807110482008-11-10T14:13:00.000-05:002008-11-10T14:13:00.000-05:00Howl's Moving Castle is terrific--very different f...<I>Howl's Moving Castle</I> is terrific--very different from the Miyazaki movie based on it, though I like both. I also think her version of <I>Tam Lin</I> is a good one--it's called <I>Fire and Hemlock</I>. And you can start the Chrestomanci books anywhere, really, which is a nice thing in a series.Libbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09406720496767981522noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28103455.post-27508972148693859952008-11-10T13:04:00.000-05:002008-11-10T13:04:00.000-05:00I got into her work through Charmed Life, the firs...I got into her work through <I>Charmed Life</I>, the first of the Chrestomanci books. I think <I>Homeward Bounders</I> and <I>Archer's Goon</I>, both standalone books, are other good starting-points.<BR/><BR/>Other fans adore <I>Howl's Moving Castle</I>, which started its own series, and I confess I haven't read that one yet.J. L. Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15405157000473731801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28103455.post-38239685640987586252008-11-10T12:57:00.000-05:002008-11-10T12:57:00.000-05:00I've never read anything by Ms. Jones, but I've be...I've never read anything by Ms. Jones, but I've been meaning to. Are there any particular works of hers that are good starting points?Nathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17838510995365876113noreply@blogger.com