Chrestomanci, Grownups, and Cobol?

[flying_ford_anglia]

Original Yahoo! HPFG Header:
No: HPFGUIDX C2576
From: flying_ford_anglia
Subject: Re: Chrestomanci, Grownups, and Cobol?
Reply To: [Yahoo! #2512] Chrestomanci, Grownups, and Cobol?
Date: 6/22/00 2:11 am  (ET)

"Neil, I am extremely grateful to you. I have seeking the name and
author of that book for over 20 years now, since I left the caring arms
of the branch library where I borrowed it." [Ref: "Witch Week" by Diana
Wynne Jones]

You're welcome Dee. I'm looking forward to reading other books by Diana
Wynne Jones.

My original intention [posted aeons ago] was to explore fantasy/magic
literature beyond HP, Lewis and Tolkien, and I'd bought "The Magicians of
Caprona" by DWJ, "The Iron Man" by Ted Hughes and "The Colour of Magic"
by Terry Pratchett.

The Ted Hughes book was a sort of allegorical fable, which was
interesting, but not compelling. I read it in one sitting, but it was
only 62 pages long, so it was like a snack.

"The Magicians of Caprona" is one of four in the Chrestomanci series by
DWJ. It concerns two warring spellmaking families in an 'alternative'
Italy. I loved it: Lots of wry humour and invention, if housed in somewhat
transparent plot.
The Terry Pratchett book I'm struggling with (sorry Simon!), but I *will*
read it. I'm told his later books are more gripping, so perhaps I'll
skip to one of those.

I think I prefer books where 'magic' and normal life are thrown together
(HP, Narnia etc) rather than complete fantasy (Terry Pratchett, Tolkien
et al).

Neil