Diana Wynne Jones, rest in peace

[xparrot]

2011 is not shaping up to be a good year for creators I love. DWJ's passing isn't unexpected, but it's still sad. I didn't actually discover her until I was an adult, which is a shame because I know I would have adored her as a child. And all the same, the first of hers I read, Howl's Moving Castle, was the first book I'd read in years that upon finishing it, I wanted to do nothing more than flip to the beginning and read it all over again.

But she was writing up until the end, and produced a fabulous body of work (much of which I still have waiting for me to read) and was beloved by folks who know good fantasy everywhere - there are worse epitaphs.

Comments

[tasabian.livejournal.com]

My hometown library only had one DWJ book "Fire & Hemlock" which I read repeatedly. I was very excited to learn that she'd written more than one book! I read the rest as an adult and still re-read them now.

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

I really need to go get more of hers, I've enjoyed all I read...

[gruskek.livejournal.com]

That's so sad... I knew about her illness but somehow I hoped she would be alright.

I became her fan very late too. Thanks to Miyazaki's film. I've read very few of her books so far, but am planning to read them all when I get the chance.

Well, at least she seems to have had a good life and will be remembered very fondly. That's not much of a consolation but still something.

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I read HMC because I knew the movie was coming - and then ended up not liking the movie very much, because it wasn't like the book ^^; Everything I've read by her has been worth it. And yeah, it's not much consolation to her loved ones - but as a writer, a life and works as fulfilling as hers is what I aspire to!

[gruskek.livejournal.com]

She really is a great role model.

I watched the film first and I liked it (the animation was gorgeous, the characters interesting) but I found the plot confusing (not in a good was) and at times haphazard. Then I read the book and the plot was much better. I'm not saying that you have to be 100% true to the original in an adaptation, but changing things so randomly can't possibly work well.

[serrende.livejournal.com]

Here (http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2011/03/being-alive.html) is Neil Gaiman's post about her, if you haven't seen it already. *sniffle*

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

I just saw that - must be hard on those who knew her, to lose her. But she left a wonderful legacy behind.

[gruskek.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the link :)

That's a really touching thing to read.

[captainsblog.livejournal.com]

Well, shite.

I got to Neil Gaiman's in memoriam (http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2011/03/being-alive.html) of her before yours, but his tribute managed not to mention that very close-to-home reference to one of her works. The animation of Howl's Moving Castle was one of the seminal works that got our daughter Emily motivated to make that her academic path. I'm sad to now know of this, and thank you for making the connection for me.

A loss of magic ...

[beautifuljoe.livejournal.com]

... and the way she let it enhance a story rather than drive it! I just reviewed Enchanted Glass for Audiofile magazine (the audio version slightly delayed as is sometimes the case) and so have had heard her words in my head very recently. That book is about how the passing of an older generation who maintained a magical "field of care" calls upon a younger generation to carry on.

in this world I guess that's you. Write on! Best legacy.

Re: A loss of magic ...

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Haven't read that one, must check it out - yes, she had a wonderful sense of magic, of making it part of the world she created, maybe not realistic, but convincing...

[werewolfling.livejournal.com]

I am so going to miss the chance of more stories from her. She was an author that I almost didn't read. There was a summer reading program at my local library and if you read enough, you would win free books (YAY) the last year before I was too old to participate, I earned a book, but didn't have a chance to pick it out myself, Mom beat me to it and picked out Dogsbody for me. I was so mad, I refused to read it for YEARS . . . Dang, do I ever love that book now. Whenever I have money, I buy another of her books.

I guess now I may actually catch up? *sighs*

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

I haven't read Dogsbody, but it seems to have been the first for several people, want to check it out...I'm almost glad I haven't read much of her work, because it means I've got a lot to look forward to, but knowing there won't be any more (or any more sequels to Howl's...) is sad...