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If I loved Diana Wynne Jones

27 replies

MsIngaFewmarbles · 16/02/2014 17:07

Who else should I read? I have recently read the Crestomanci, Derkholm, Dalemark series and A Sudden Wild Magic. In the past I have loved the Mything and Time Scout Series by Robert Asprin and Lynn somebody.

I am on the lookout for more :)

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TerrariaMum · 16/02/2014 17:13

Have you read Howl's Moving Castle yet? There are more Diana Wynne Jones than you have listed so if you like her, you're not out of options.

I also like Tim Powers if that helps.

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WhatAFeline · 16/02/2014 17:15

Watching with interest, I also love DWJ.

Possibly Fire & Hemlock is my favourite, but I'm not sure.

It's quite different, but I recently enjoyed The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin.

Also the Charlie Bone series by Jenny Nimmo.

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MsIngaFewmarbles · 16/02/2014 17:43

Ooh thank you, keep them coming :)

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MsIngaFewmarbles · 16/02/2014 17:56

Ok Howl, Hemlock and Charlie Bone are on my wish list. Not sure about the look of Tim Powers, are there any in particular you would recommend?

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MsIngaFewmarbles · 16/02/2014 18:01

And The Westing Game. The problem with kindles is that you can buy with a click and it's immediately there. Really bad for series of books as I spent £££ one month on Jack Reacher, I kept buying them When I finished the previous book in the middle of the night Blush

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TerrariaMum · 16/02/2014 18:06

It depends. I suggested Tim Powers because I also like DWJ. DH says start with Last Call, but I would say start with The Anubis Gates.

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MsIngaFewmarbles · 16/02/2014 18:21

I like the look of both of those, is Last Call part of the Lines Trilogy?

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TerrariaMum · 16/02/2014 19:11

I'm not sure. I liked Last Call, but I was more invested in The Anubis Gates and also The Stress of her Regard (vampires, romantic poets, and eldritch horror Smile.

Ah, DH has just told me that Last Call is indeed part of the Lines trilogy. He also says he thinks the other two are less accessible than Last Call.

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TerrariaMum · 16/02/2014 19:14

The other two parts of the Lines trilogy, I mean,not Anubis Gates or Stress of her Regard.

In fact, DH says if you like DWJ, best start with Anubis Gates. I mention what DH says often because he is the one who got me into both DWJ and Tim Powers.

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MsIngaFewmarbles · 16/02/2014 20:35

Righto, Anubis added to wish list too.

I've just realised that I bought HOwl for DD2 so I can steal that as soon as she has finished it.

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TerrariaMum · 16/02/2014 20:57

Oh, I hope you like it. It is one of my favourites. Also, if you have read all the Chrestomanci, I trust you have read The Lives of Christopher Chant featuring one of the best literary felines in Throgmorton? Wink

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pointythings · 17/02/2014 18:36

If you're going to read Howl's Moving Castle, you should also read Castle in the Air - a direct sequel - and The House of Many Ways. Then there's more DWJ - The Homeward Bounders, Hexwood (joint favourite with Fire and Hemlock), Time of the Ghost, Deep Secret and The Merlin Conspiracy (in that order, the one is sequel to the other), The Pinhoe Egg and Conrad's Fate.

There are more Grin

I second The Anubis Gates, it's superb, and I would also recommend On Stranger Tides - Disney bought the rights but only used the title, the book is a whole different kettle of fish. And if you can get hold of it there's my favourite Powers - The Drawing of the Dark - but it's very out of print and I'm not sure there is a Kindle edition.

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TerrariaMum · 17/02/2014 18:54

pointythings is absolutely correct with everything she says. Listen to her.

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MsIngaFewmarbles · 17/02/2014 19:22

I downloaded Hemlock at 2am last night and didn't sleep until 4, loving it so far. Thanks Pointy I'll add those to the list and check I have read ALL DWJ :)

Throgmorton is a god among felines :)

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ShadowFall · 17/02/2014 19:35

I liked Deep Secret and The Merlin Conspiracy a lot (also by DWJ).

Also, leaving out the Chrestomanci ones, some of my other favourite DWJ books include Moving Castle, The Ogre Downstairs and A Tale of Time City.

Have you tried any of Neil Gaiman's books? I also like them a lot. Neverwhere and American Gods are particular favourites.

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mimiasovitch · 17/02/2014 19:45

Mumsnet is very bad for my bank balance. Though I do find it hard to consider books bad spending.

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TerrariaMum · 17/02/2014 19:49

Oooh, yes, Shadowfall is right. Neil Gaiman is a good idea. Anansi Boys is fun too and Good Omens written with Terry Pratchett though that one is a bit dated.

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WhatAFeline · 17/02/2014 22:02

Neil Gaiman was close friends with DWJ and thought she was one of best writers ever, rightly.

Groooowwwwwwl. ( Throgmorton)

Just remembered, Enchanted Glass was the first DWJ I read, it is a good one!

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TheRaniOfYawn · 17/02/2014 22:07

Sara Rees Brennan woes young adult fantasy which isn't as witty as DWJ but has some that same sense of proper Englishness.

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TheRaniOfYawn · 17/02/2014 22:08

Writes, not woes. I was lucky as my phone usually autocorrects it to "whores".

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UptoapointLordCopper · 17/02/2014 22:11

I love the three Howl books. I found the Homeward Bounders very good but very very sad... Pinhoe Egg is another favourite. So full of insights. But ALL DWJ books are good. Smile I read Neil Garmain's Graveyard book and cried at the end. Blush

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Selendra · 17/02/2014 22:28

Caroline Stevenrmer.
Spindle's End by Robin McKinley
Enchantress Under The Stars by Sylvia Engdahl
Tooth and Claw by Jo Walton
Poison by Chris Wooding
Monica Hughes possibly, but she is mostly out of print now

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TabbyM · 18/02/2014 11:55

Robin McKinley and Patricia McKillip ;)

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DoctorGilbertson · 18/02/2014 20:05

I love Diana Wynne Jones and also like Connie Willis and Jon rosenberg

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MsIngaFewmarbles · 18/02/2014 21:46

Wow great lists of authors. I'll be checking them out as soon as I can tear myself away from Hemlock

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