Belle & Sebastian/ Diana Wynne Jones/Alan Garner

[Neil Ward]

Storm said, re the album title "Fold Your Hands Child, You Walk Like A
Peasant":

> Fold your hands child ... I don't have the derivation for it but it does
have
> an echo (don't ya hate that!) I think it comes from a children's book in
which
> the child is also always being admonished not to 'swing her ankles" by her
> governess.

I gathered that too, on a general level.  I had some vague idea it was a
direct quote, possibly from "Anne of Green Gables" or something American
[looks towards the Kindred Spirits on the list].

I used to watch "Belle & Sebastian" (the TV programme) and talk of that
remind me of two other, similar, dubbed shows: "White Horses" and "Robinson
Crusoe" - both of which had fantastic theme tunes.  I only have to hear the
themes to these shows to be transported back to my childhood (and that takes
some doing).  There was also a programme called "The Singing, Ringing Tree"
that was in the same style - black and white, mainland European, slightly
sinister and 'arthouse'.  Is anyone else old enough to recall these???

Storm also said:

> Also Dianne Wynne Jones - I've just found her courtesy of the "if you
liked
> this read this" list in the HP4GU file (plug for those who don't know
about
> it!) and have read (and loved) Fire and Hemlock. I've not been able to
find out
> if there is a squeal so do you know if there is? Please say yes

I've plugged DWJ before and I'm glad the recommendation was taken up!   I
still have a stack of her books to get through.  "Fire and Hemlock" is
really superb, IMO.  I don't think there is a sequel to it, as it was a
reworking (and entangling) of two old folk stories, "Tam Lin" and "Thomas
The Rhymer".

DWJ's books cover various genres, ranging from magical tales that are
similar to HP (e.g. the Chrestomanci series), through time-bending science
fiction (such as "A Tale of Time City" and "Hexwood") and into
legends/fantasy stuff (Dalemark quartet etc.).  Most of it is aimed at
children or young adults, but some of it is quite adult, and she has also
written books for very young children.  "F&H" is one aimed at slightly older
readers.   Of the Chrestomanci books, "Charmed Life" is often named by DWJ
fans as a favourite - I love it.

If anyone had a case for suing JK Rowling I think it would be Diana Wynne
Jones, not Nancy Stouffer, as there are a great many moments in her books
that could easily have influenced JKR: - witch children at a boarding
school, kids not realising their own latent magical powers, spells
backfiring, enchanted chess sets, magical cats that aren't really cats,
time-turning, an orphaned boy staying with cruel relatives...  However, DWJ
makes no such claims because she has the common sense to realise that all
fantasy/magic writers draw from very similar ideas, and has said so in
interviews.

The success of the Harry Potter books has played a part in the renewed
interest in DWJ's work, with the vast majority of her books having been
reprinted over the last 12 months.  This is great for me, because they are
now easier to find!

********

I've just finished reading another 'juvenile lit' book based on an old
legend: "The Owl Service" by Alan Garner.  The author describes this as a
ghost story and recounts some rather scary real life parallels with the
legend, that led him to write it.  It was a touch difficult to read in
places, where the characters either speak in rather upper class 'not in
front of the servants' style or in Welsh English (or a transcription
thereof).  The author also uses some strange devices, creating a bizarre
tone, such as describing the same period of time from different characters'
POV in successive chapters and seemingly missing out whole scenes that would
have been quite informative.  It's awkwardly written, but strangely poetic.
Here's a small clip:

<<
The wood lay still.  The air throbbed with insects, and flies hovered and
disappeared and hovered.  Meadowsweet grew in a mist of flowers, and the sun
glinted on the threads of caterpillars which hung from the trees as thick as
rain.

"By," said Gwyn, "there's axiomatic."
>>

Neil
________________________________________

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"Krum, his red robes shining with blood from his nose,
was rising gently into the air, his fist held high, a glint
of gold in his hand." ["The Quidditch World Cup", GoF]

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