≡ [PDF] Fire and Hemlock Diana Wynne Jones 8601300008165 Books

Fire and Hemlock Diana Wynne Jones 8601300008165 Books

Download As PDF : Fire and Hemlock Diana Wynne Jones 8601300008165 Books

Fire and Hemlock Diana Wynne Jones 8601300008165 Books

This is my all time favorite book. I have read it at least a dozen times since I was 15 years old and every time I read it I find something new to marvel at. Be warned; if you are looking for a quick read that will make all the sense in the world the first time you read it, this is not the book for you. There are many layers to this fantastic story and every single character is developed in a way you don't see in a lot of writers. I read one review that said the plot had holes in it and I just want to let potential readers know that Diana Wynne Jones does not leave plot holes. Everything is there for you if you have the time, the knowledge, and the persistence to work it out.

The book does start off slowly but once you get a few chapters in it becomes quite a page turner and while the ending is confusing (it took me at least 5 reads to understand what happens) it does leave you with the impression that all the good guys have acted as heroically as possible with the limitations they have been given, after all, every hero has their strengths and weaknesses. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves adventure, drama, fantasy, storytelling, heroic deeds, music, and friendship. It is beautifully written and I hope that people enjoy this book for years to come.

One other thing: This reprinting has a wonderful talk by Diana herself about how she came to write this particular book. In it she explains the mythological elements she used to help her write this masterpiece. Very interesting!


Tags : Fire and Hemlock [Diana Wynne Jones] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. In the mind of a lonely, imaginative girl, who can tell where fiction ends and reality begins? An epic fantasy,Diana Wynne Jones,Fire and Hemlock,Harpercollins Pub Ltd,0006755194,Children's Books,Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)

Fire and Hemlock Diana Wynne Jones 8601300008165 Books Reviews

I love Diana Wynne Jones' work. And this is one of my favorites of her books. I am not at all sure that it's a book for young adults, but I'm about to buy a copy for my granddaughter. As other reviews have told you, this is a modern retelling of Tam Lynn, but the details get twisted by a "fairy queen" with a mean sense of humor.
The protagonist, Polly, has had her memories tampered with. She has to solve the complicated mystery of her own past. At the outset, her only clues are a photograph and a book of fantasy short stories. Gradually, she pulls out her memories, with a lot of peculiar twists, and many difficulties in finding any corroboration. For all the reviewers that say Polly is sappy, for heaven's sake, she's a child, 10 at the beginning, and she grows up very gradually--she's only 19 at the end.
Like a lot of other reviewers, I got very confused at the end. Couldn't tell you exactly what happened, although I'm certain that Polly saved Tam Lynn, and that she was not pregnant, as she is in more traditional versions. My confusion is why I only gave the book a 4, even though I really loved the book. I'd like to know what happened there at the end, but it doesn't matter that much to the quality of the story.
One of my favorite books ever. More than worth rereading, no disappointments. I can't give 5 stars just because VERY VERY FEW can meet ALL my requirements for that. But if I could I would!
I wish there were a way to introduce this book, but it is definitely the type that should jump at you from the shelf at the library or store. It's a mysterious book, and close to home. It gets under your fingernails, and maybe you'll find it in your ears. The important thing to know is that no one can understand it better than you.

I would recommend Fire and Hemlock to children of divorcing or divorced parents, and to frustrated kids / teens in general. It's a great escape, but it's also a great lesson. For individuals learning to be individuals, especially young women, it holds myriad wonders and contemplations.

It is also a perfect first year at college book. Fire and Hemlock helped me my second year, too, when I needed a little familiarity to remind me who I was.

It'll leave you wondering if you read it right, and you will read it again. And again. And maybe, one more time, just to see if it's still the same. Because each time you do read it, it's a little different, isn't it?
I've read many of Diana Wynne Jones books, since childhood. I picked this book up towards the end of my time in medical school. Howl was always my absolutely favorite (and still is). But this book is clearly the most intricate & deliberately-crafted work she has written. There's something epic about it that touches at the basic human experience of character, understanding, loss, love, and sacrifice. I personally thought the ending was well done (although it took me a few reads & a Google search of essays interpreting the events to understand exactly what happened). This book is stated by one of DWJ's sons (who was the inspiration for the character Seb) to have been her best work. I quite agree; it is truly a must read for any fan of hers or any critic of her work. I'd recommend reading the ballads of Tam Lin as well as Thomas the Rhymer beforehand to get the full significance, but it's not absolutely needed. Enjoy!
For the first time in my life I'm rereading the book I just finished. The story line is so rich I find things I missed before in the very first page. It's hard to say what kind of story it is - love, fairy tale, action, modern legend? Like it is said in the introduction of the book, all of it is put together in one story so well, you can not see stiches and don't even think to look for them. It's even hard to say if it is a children book, or for teenagers or for adults. And I doubt it is enough to read it only once. What I loved most is a feeling I had from the very begining that something is happening in some other dimension than the storyline, which, for quite far in a book, tels you a usual story of a usual child with rich imagination. That mystical feeling grows and grows until you start to see a reason for it.
To be short, just read it or try it at least if you read as far as comments.
This is my all time favorite book. I have read it at least a dozen times since I was 15 years old and every time I read it I find something new to marvel at. Be warned; if you are looking for a quick read that will make all the sense in the world the first time you read it, this is not the book for you. There are many layers to this fantastic story and every single character is developed in a way you don't see in a lot of writers. I read one review that said the plot had holes in it and I just want to let potential readers know that Diana Wynne Jones does not leave plot holes. Everything is there for you if you have the time, the knowledge, and the persistence to work it out.

The book does start off slowly but once you get a few chapters in it becomes quite a page turner and while the ending is confusing (it took me at least 5 reads to understand what happens) it does leave you with the impression that all the good guys have acted as heroically as possible with the limitations they have been given, after all, every hero has their strengths and weaknesses. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves adventure, drama, fantasy, storytelling, heroic deeds, music, and friendship. It is beautifully written and I hope that people enjoy this book for years to come.

One other thing This reprinting has a wonderful talk by Diana herself about how she came to write this particular book. In it she explains the mythological elements she used to help her write this masterpiece. Very interesting!