Diana Wynne Jones did not capitalize on Potter (was Re: Interesting Fact)

[feetmadeofclay]

No: HPFGUIDX 81095

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "jdr0918" <jdr0918 at h...> wrote:
> <<<"erinellii" wrote:...Dianna Wynne Jones would be that 
> author...That's not to say that her books aren't very good.  They 
> are.>>>
> 
> The Sergeant Majorette says
> 
> Better than the top fanfics? Worth buying or just a trip to the 
> library? Did you read them before or after Harry Potter?

Golly: OK FIRST! Diana Wynne Jones has been writing books for 40 
years. She has 30 books to her name. The only book she has published 
since HP is The Merlin Conspriacy.


I read a few them after HP and I have to say her work is FAR AND AWAY 
better than Rowling.  I know I am noted for being hard on Rowling, 
but I really think that Wynne Jones has more skill with prose.  That 
being said she's had fourty years and 30 books to develop it.  I 
think in some ways Charmed Life isn't as good as Prisoner, but I like 
it better PS which is more of a straight off fairy tale.  Nothing is 
ever straight off with Jones.  But she doesn't have the stunning 
revalations of Rowling either.  It is more like constantly shifting 
ground.  

I note also that Diana Wynne Jones did not wait until Eric Chant was 
15 to have him be angry about his fate and have his mentor to make 
mistakes and hide things from him for his own good.

Diana Wynne Jones did NOT capitalize on the HP wave.  The only one to 
capitalize was Harper Collins who noted similarities and bought her 
stock. Good for Diana Wynne Jones and the rest of us.

For me it is not the plot similarties.  It is the tone and the 
approach to magic. There are definite similarties in the way they 
view magic.

And no it is not exactly the same.  Diana Wynne Jones does not have 
wands and quidditch and such...  I don't think any of those who note 
the similarities 

> 
> Anybody read both the Chrestomanci series and the Books of Magic? 
How 
> would you rate them alongside JKR?

Golly: I read Books of Magic before.  I noted the physical 
similarties to Harry right away.  They should have gotten the artist 
who drew the illustrations to be HP's illustrator.  I like it but 
remember it is something different than HP.

Though I love Diana Wynne Jones, I didn't love Charmed Life.  But I 
did like a lot. I would definitely recommend the stuff.  I would 
advise anything by DWJ.  

I particularly loved Howl's Moving Castle.  

The best Chrestomanci books IMHO are The Lives of Christopher Chant 
and Witch Week.  Both are packed full of charming characters and 
Diana Wynne Jones never waits to remind you everyone has flaws. The 
Living Goddess blows both Hermione and Ginny out of the water.   

If you're looking for something more in line with the darker aspects 
of OOTP. I would recommend The Dark Lord of Derkholm or Fire and 
Hemlock. 

Golly