Blogversary Giveaway #2.

This week is my two-year blogversary here at A Literary Odyssey, so I am taking the opportunity to pass along some wonderful reads to my readers.

Now, while I am currently only focusing on the classics, I have soft spots for a lot of different things. Growing up, I loved a lot of the traditional children's books. As a teen, I explored science-fiction and fantasy, as well as Young Adult novels. A lot of those titles have stuck with me, even through this process of reading Dickens and Faulkner.

I want to share two books with this giveaway's winner that I absolutely adore. Earlier this year, the author of these, Diana Wynne Jones, passed away. And I think that someone else out there needs to discover the amazing worlds she has created.



Pictured above are volumes 1 and 2 of the Chrestomanci Chronicles. Each volume contains two smaller novels, so really, you're getting four books here. :) They are fun, inventive, and highly addicting. And I sincerely hope that you'll love them as much as I do.

Here are the rules:

• The giveaway ENDS Wednesday, August 31st at 11:59 EST.
  
• You must be 13 or older to enter.
• You must live in the U.S. (see above internationals!)
• You can only enter once.
• You do not have to "follow" or subscribe (but do if you so feel the desire)
• You must leave your e-mail in your comment so I can contact you if you win.
• If you win, you have 24 hours to respond or I will choose a new winner.
• In your comment/entry below, answer the following question: What was your favorite book or series as a child? Why?
  
• Winner will be chose randomly using random.org
  

Good luck!

Diana Wynne Jones: 1934-2011.

I was shocked this morning to see tweets discussing the death of the wonderful and inspiring Diana Wynne Jones. After looking around the internet, it looks as if the rumors are true and the literary world has a lost a great talent.

I read my first book by Jones when I was a high schooler. Her titles jumped at me off the shelf, and I quickly read my way through a number of her fantasy novels, loving each and every one of them. She had a talent for making her stories inventive, fun, and heart-warming. I loved every one of them. I even featured Howl's Moving Castle here on the blog as a Thursday Treat (a feature I have since put on hold).

I am sad to know that someone who I loved so much when I was younger is gone. I am sad that I won't get to read new works by her, since she had plans for two more novels before her death. Instead, I can reread some of her novels from my childhood, find copies of the ones that are out of print, and savor the few novels by her I haven't managed to read yet. I will remember all the things she taught me through her writing.

And one day, I'll pass on her books to my own children-so they can be as inspired as I am. That is the great thing about literature. Even though the writer is gone, their presence lives on in their worlds. And I am aim to keep rediscovering them.

Thursday Treat #26: Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones.

I discovered Diana Wynne Jones when I was in high school. At the time, there really wasn't a huge YA section in the book store, so choices were pretty limited. Nowadays, YA is booming and it takes up far more space than it used to.

I sometimes had a hard time finding something wonderful in the YA section at the time, which is why I turned to a lot of adult fantasy and science fiction. But one day my eyes caught on the collection of work by Jones, and I began picking up titles off the shelf. I believe, that on that day, I picked up not only Howl's Moving Castle, but also the first two books in The Dalemark Quartet, and some of The Chronicles of Chrestomanci. I ended up loving them all and went back for more.

Howl's Moving Castle, however, is fantastic. It has been a bit since I have read it, but I reminded of how wonderful it is because of the film. The glorious Miyazaki had a hand in directing it (other films include "Spirited Away" and "Princess Mononoke") and I loved every minute of it, even if it was different than the book.

Sophie is a girl who believes that she is unattractive and plain. She worked in a hat shop until the Witch of the Waste came in to purchase a hat. Unhappy with her service, the witch turned Sophie into an old woman. Sophie leaves and finds her way out to where the wizard Howl has his castle. In a series of events, Sophie moves into the castle and finds her way as a part of Howl's craziness.

During all of this, Sophie has to learn how to overturn her own curse...as well as fix Howl and the others living in the castle.

The first time I read this, I fell in love. I mean, it had all the elements I loved in a fantasy-originality, a wizard, a fire demon who is pretty funny, and a little romance. It was a story that was perfect for my age and one that I cherish. I am so glad I read it when I did, and that I discovered Jones at a young age. I had the opportunity to love her and cherish her as a young adult. I think that had I read this when I was older, I just wouldn't have loved it the same way.

I will say that I also loved the film, even with the story being slightly different. It was similar enough to the book in the right ways that I could love it as well. The beautiful animation and soundtrack didn't hurt either. They made a beautiful story pop from the screen.

This is probably one of those novels that solidified my love for the gentler tones of YA fantasy and science fiction, and one that reminds me that when I can, I am going to return to that world.