Diana Wynne Jones (1934–2011)

I am haunted by Diana Wynne Jones' The Time of the Ghost which is quite fitting since the book is about ghost haunting her sisters and trying to figure out her identity.

The book starts with an unusual beginning: the confused wanderings of a panicked ghost who doesn’t know who she is or what exactly has happened. The unnamed, bodiless narrator knows only two things: that she is one of four sisters, and that there's been a terrible accident. This creates quite a fascinating mystery for the reader. Abd yet, for what seems like a long while, we simply follow the ghost around, perceiving the memories that awaken (in a sort of time slip) as she stumbles across the people and places that she knows once had so much meaning to her. Early on it could be frustrating to read, because a ghost doesn’t have much agency when she can’t talk to anyone or move any objects. However, our ghost learns a few tricks that get her noticed by her sisters and their friends, and the plot rolls along, especially when worship games and blood sacrifices give way to an ancient, evil spirit with a mortal grasp on the living. And this spirits name is Monigan.

The Worship of Monigan is a game that the four sisters made up, in which an old rag doll supposedly represents the goddess Monigan. Throughout the story, the sisters vary from treating the Worship of Monigan as a game to believing in it quite seriously. Could Monigan been the cause of the accident of our unnamed, bodiless narrator? Well, you'll have to read The Time of the Ghost to find out.

This was an unsettling, supernatural English novel for young adults, one that combines elements of mystery literature, time-travel, and the horror genre to create a story about the perils of messing with the unknown, the horrors of abuse, and the struggle between familiar bonds. The bonds between the sisters are portrayed realistically. And the goddess Monigan (which is a creepy doll) was horrifically rendered as well as some of the pagan rites attached to conjuring Monigan. Some have claimed that the abusive nature of the parents and the boyfriend is not becoming of children's/young adult literature but children and teens are quite aware of the evils within this world and it is not necessarily creepy dolls and goddesses that freak them out. It's those they are close to: parents, friends, lovers abusing them that causes nightmares. I know personally this horror.

As with many of DWJ's novels, the ending is complex and satisfying, and actually has a nice twist that I did not see coming. I was literally shocked at the last few sentences (as well as satisfied). The solution to the problem of Monigan's hold over the ghost is brilliant.

I plan to re-read this one. I may need to purchase my own copy because according to WorldCat, The Time of the Ghost is not among the twenty works by Jones that are most widely held in participating libraries, and this is a shame.… (mais)

The Spellcoats (#3 in the Dalemark Quartet) acts as a prequel of sorts to the previous entries in the quartet although it is the third book in the series. This takes place in prehistoric Dalemark, whose later history Jones dealt with in Cart and Cwidder (1977) and Drowned Ammet (1978); but there is no evident connection except that the characters of The Spellcoats have become legendary figures in the other novels. The story, all 280 pages, is purportedly being woven, as it happens, into the coats created by young narrator Tanaqui--at first, it seems, she weaves only to record her family's adventures, but later for the inherent magic power of the woven symbols. Orphaned by a war against blond, invading Heathens, Tanaqui and her siblings (who look like the Heathens) are expelled from their village and embark on a long journey down river to an encounter with an evil enchanter out to capture their souls. The children carry with them three ancestral figures called the Undying. (For a while they also carry an ailing older brother, magically transformed into a clay figure.) They learn en route that The One, the most revered of the three figures, is the supreme river god and their own grandfather, and that their dead mother is also the river--and like Grandfather, a god and one of the figures (the Lady).

As usual with DWJ, siblings are at the center. They're not a perfect family--this would not be a book by DWJ if they were. Tanaqui gets impatient with her siblings, especially her sister Robin; Hern is a rationalist who doesn't believe in magic (unfortunate, because it seems to surround them) and Duck gets all vague whenever trouble threatens. But this is exactly what makes the story work, because it's the conflicts between them that create the conflict that drives the story. Their encounter with the evil Kankredin (a stealer of souls and weaver) is perfect because the children have to learn to overcome their conflicts if they are to survive. Tanaqui fights with her brothers and wants to shake her sister, but they all still love each other and support one another.

The main conceit of this book, as mentioned above, is that Tanaqui, a master weaver, is telling the story through weaving it into a giant "rugcoat"; those who know how can read it. DWJ's skill makes this conceit hold together, as Tanaqui tells the story as if it's all already happened (which it has) and the "coats" end and begin in places where Tanaqui would have the ability to weave. This acts as interesting yet initially confusing storytelling device but about half through the novel things start to fall in place.

It’s also easy to not realize that The Spellcoats is part of a quartet. Of the four books, it’s by far the most independent. It’s set centuries (maybe millennia) prior to the first two books in the series, and connects only in an epilogue (until the fourth book ties things together more).


I believe this book deserves multiple rereads to be fully appreciated. I plan to revisit it one day soon.… (mais)

Drowned Ammet is a challenging, interesting, disturbing, and very subversive children's book (which I heartily approve of). As the second book in The Dalemark Quartet, its story is jarring - especially if you didn't realize that each book focuses on a different character - and especially if you thought you were gonna read a cute children's story. DWJ isn't afraid to craft a dark tale about revenge, self-imposed exile, and the sins of our fore-bearers.

For Drowned Ammet, we are focused on Mitt. Born and bred in Holand, one of the South Dales, in the world of Dalemark. Mitt grows up with a mission (encouraged by his mother) to assassinate the cruel Earl Hadd, and implicate the Free Holanders who he believes caused his father’s death ( It’s an interesting story in the way it details a group rebelling against a tyrannical overlord–a device which has certainly been overused, especially in fantasy–but in an unconventional way). When the attempt goes awry, he ends up on the run, eventually stowing away aboard the Wind’s Road. There he meets Ynen and Hildy, Earl Hadd’s grandchildren, who have their own reasons for fleeing. It all gets more engaging when they cross paths with a stranger named Al AND super mystical when the ship comes under the protection of the local deities, Old Ammet and Libby Beer.

The book itself was a bit of a slog at times but the ending was shocking, mystical, and dark! But also very powerful. While violent, I loved the ending. Mitt is a character who is a product of his upbringing, his environment, and his time, one that happened to be a violent time. He needed for this connection to be destroyed. DJW message is about nature vs. nurture and the influence that parents have on their kids. It is also about free will. She shows that kids do not have to follow the direction they may be heading towards. If their parents are bad, they can be good. She shows that people can change; that they aren't destined to repeat the sins of their fathers (this is especially evident when Mitt finally admits to the error of ways regarding the attempted assassination). DJW also shows that parents must allow children to be responsible for their own lives, instead of telling them what they must become. Parents can either sow evil or peace into the hearts of their young but ultimately, it is also up to the child who they become.

"Again Old Ammet's young face laughed. "We are not the stuff of enemies or friends, Alhammit. Shall I ask this way: Will you come as conqueror or in peace?"

Will you be a conqueror or a peace maker? It's up to you to decide.








… (mais)

A fun fantasy romp from DWJ. We get all the standard Aladdin-esque trappings, a magic carpet, a genie in a bottle, evil djinns, bandits, sultans, camels...(the plot is based on stories from the Arabian Nights) and for a while you think you know roughly where it's all heading. And while it might be standard storytelling, its fun. DWJ is an amazing writer. You're rooting for our protagonist, Abdullah, as he tries to find and rescue the beauteous Flower-in-the-Night from a wicked djinn, Hasruel (who is being forced to kidnap princesses from all over the world by his brother, Dalzel). Then things fall into a familiar place (the land of Ingary) and you find yourself anticipating the reappearance of the Wizard Howl and Sophie. You soon realize: "oh, I get why this is part of a trilogy about Howl's Moving Castle! Now, this makes sense!"

The ending was where things fell apart a little for me. DWJ ties everything up in a frantic rush - like the Scooby Doo mask-pulling finale ... Abdullah teaming up with Sophie Pendragon orders the magic carpet to take them to Sophie's child, Morgan (stolen by the djinn). The carpet does so, taking them far into the sky, to the castle in the air, which is merely Wizard Howl's castle, having been greatly enlarged. There they meet the stolen princesses and plot with them to escape the castle. Led by Abdullah, they overpower the two Djinn, freeing Hasruel who banishes his brother, Dalzel). Flower-of-the-Night had by then wished the genie free, who turned out to be Sophie's husband, the Wizard Howl! The DJinn Hasruel is then redeemed!

While the ending rushes to conclude the story and ties it up in a nice little bow, I did find Castle in the Air to be a highly enjoyable read and it was fun being back in the land of Ingary. It was also fun visiting the city of Zanzib for the first time.… (mais)