Comments on: Review: Fire and Hemlock

By: Upcoming Meetings - FACT SF/F Reading Group

Upcoming Meetings - FACT SF/F Reading Group — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 05:07:31 +0000

[...] Fire and Hemlock by Diana Wynne Jones [...]

By: Liz B

Liz B — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 01:19:23 +0000

Cheryl, I know — if I had free time I’d put a challenge together.

tanita, my next DWJ will be something new. haven’t figured out what yet…

Maureen, thanks! And yes: the dream yet clear.

Eliza, let us know what you think!

By: Eliza

Eliza — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 19:17:10 +0000

Elizabeth, your comment could have been written by me! To remedy this gap, I’d picked up a copy* of Fire and Hemlock from the library a couple of days ago. After reading your review, Liz, it’s moved up in the stack to 3rd – right after my current book and after Mare’s War. Will report back after I’ve read it.

*alas without the cool new cover and Garth Nix intro

By: Maureen E

Maureen E — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 13:16:21 +0000

Lovely review for one of my favorite books! I have a thing for Tam Lin retellings anyway, and Diana Wynne Jones is (as we know) pure genius. I love the eeriness of it, and the way the whole thing feels like a dream and at the same time almost sharply clear. And Polly–Colleen hit it right on the nose.

By: tanita

tanita — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 10:06:04 +0000

“All that matters for this story is told, and that is enough.”

WORD.

I carried around this book last night, in paperback form, and received many envious glances over the new cover. I am hoping to do an entire DWJ reread – in order – this summer… but this one is tempting me and calling me to read it first. I loved it the first time, for sure!

By: Cheryl @ Tales of the Marvelous

Cheryl @ Tales of the Marvelous — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 02:47:19 +0000

OH–I never figured that out, about the parallel between the Fairy Queen and the other women in Polly’s life! !!! Thanks, that’s fascinating!

And I love the idea of a Fire and Hemlock reading challenge. If I didn’t have so many other reading I wanted to do right now, I’d be all over that…

By: Colleen

Colleen — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 23:59:58 +0000

Seconded on the reread – it exceeded my expectations (yet again!)

By: Liz B

Liz B — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 23:12:20 +0000

Brandy, thank you so much.

Jess, as terrific as it was the first time around, it’s even better the second.

By: Jess

Jess — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 20:16:42 +0000

Elizabeth, I only recently got introducted to DWJ and Fire and Hemlock was the first one I tried. I counted myself as a fan from that day on, so I’d say it’s a fine place to start!

Liz, I had a feeling this would make a great reread – I can’t wait to give it another go.

By: Brandy

Brandy — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 19:58:21 +0000

“Some things the reader never truly learns. I wish other authors would have so much faith in their audience: every. little. thing. does not have to be told, explained, shared. It’s enough to know, as here, that a full world exist: the entire wikipedia entry for such a world does not have to be shared. All that matters for this story is told, and that is enough.”

YES!!!! This pretty much sums up all that I love about the way DWJ writes and it stands out so clear in this book. I loved this review. You did a wonderful job highlighting a truly complex book.