Diana Wynne Jones (1934–2011)

More than just being an enjoyable read, this collection is a thoughtful read. Every time I have read it I discover at least one or two new layers to think about in at least one or two of the stories. The stories themselves, of course, vary in terms of how much thought they require and inspire.

My favourite story from the collection is 'What the Cat Told Me', definitely, though as a writer 'nad and Dan adn Quaffy' has its own kind of draw to it. . .

The stories are very distinct from each other, and the entire book is a lovely read, which is really no surprise, coming from this author.… (more)

While I like all of her stuff (and this was not exception), I'm pretty disappointed with it. I knew I had read it previously, but when I saw it in the library I had *no idea* what it was about, which suggested to me that I should re-read it. Bah. The first 90% of the book is fabulous - intricate, lots of things happening, lots of mystery about what is going on. And then the ending just kind of wraps it all up, in an untidy pile, and pretends that everything has been sorted out. Almost like she got bored, or she got most of the way through, wrote some notes about how it all worked out, and someone finished it for her.

(update, 2024: and now, a decade and a half after reading, I have zero memory of this book -- I'm transferring reviews from elsewhere, and this one tells me nothing!)… (more)