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About Reflections: On The Magic Of Writing
Product Description This collection of more than twenty-five critical essays, speeches, and biographical pieces chosen by Diana Wynne Jones before her death in 2011 is essential reading for the author's many fans and for students and teachers of the fantasy genre and creative writing in general. The volume includes insightful literary criticism alongside autobiographical anecdotes, revelations about the origins of the author's books, and reflections about the life of an author and the value of writing for young people. Reflections features the author's final interview, a foreword by award-winning author Neil Gaiman, and an introduction by Charlie Butler, a senior lecturer in English at the University of West England in Bristol. From School Library Journal Putting her papers together in the face of her impending death, Jones chose and arranged these lectures, articles, and reviews written between 1978 and 2008 to encapsulate her beliefs about writing, writing for children, and fantasy. Ranging from literary criticism to autobiography, the 28 pieces illustrate her insight, her humor, and the mastery of her craft. She describes how magic and humor work, discusses the nature of heroes, the uses of mythology, and the value of learning Anglo-Saxon. Other selections reflect on the magic of the "Narnia" books, the nature of "Real Books," and the orchestration of a narrative. Because this volume is a gathering of pieces written over many years, topics and episodes are repeated, like recurring melodies in a long piece of music. One of the most important themes is that humans-children and adults-need fantasy. In some ways, her entire oeuvre is a reaction to a childhood in which fantasy literature was denied, as revealed in the long essay she wrote for Something About the Author and included here. An interview with the book's editor, Charlie Butler, and reminiscences by two of her sons wrap up the collection. Readers who have known and loved the author's vast body of work will nod and laugh, rejoice that they can return to works like the "Chrestomanci" series, and mourn the fact that there will be no more.-Kathleen Isaacs, Children's Literature Specialist, Pasadena, MDα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. From Booklist When Jones learned she had only a few months to live, she and her agent, Laura Cecil, began gathering together a sampling of her essays. They run the gamut: an interview with Charles Butler (author of Four British Fantasists, 2006); her own fascinating Something about the Author entry; a succinct day in the life of an author making school visits (educators take note—she is not complimentary!); and her son’s eulogy at her funeral. With an introductory explanation of why it was chosen, each selection reveals Jones in one of her charming guises—much-loved children’s fantasy author, cuddling mum reading bedtime stories, unlucky traveler, reluctant author of adult books, and perceptive philosopher on writing, especially fantasy, and especially for children. It’s a collection that belongs in every children’s literature and writing course and on every library shelf. A serious, sometimes humorous, always perceptive tutorial on how to write, why to write, and most importantly how and why to write fantasy for children, the book achieves Jones’ self-effacing and understated goal: “It is my hope that some of these items will be of use to people.” HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Jones’ career spanned four decades and, in that time, she wrote more than 40 fantasy books for young people. Fans of the legendary author, who passed away in 2011, will be eager to glean her advice. Grades 8-12. --Frances Bradburn About the Author In a career spanning four decades, award-winning author Diana Wynne Jones (1934‒2011) wrote more than forty books of fantasy for young readers. Characterized by magic, multiple universes, witches and wizards—and a charismatic nine-
