Which book would be best to encourage my girlfriend to read DWJ?

[Jonathan]

Not in a "I must force my reading onto you"! But sometimes she does run out of her own books and I could have one ready to lend...

DWJ has two strikes against it, being fantasy (this is a fairly large crime except in the case of Harry Potter), and being Juvenile (this a moderate crime). She tends to like Sagas and more grown up fare and Austen.

Maybe Fire and Hemlock, being more romantic than most and having Schooling (just like HP). This is no doubt a pointless quest, praps I would do better with George R R Martin (just like the Wars of the Roses, which is just like the Tudors, which is on TV). There is a kind of logic in there somewhere.

[Jonathan]

I have re-read Cart & Cwidder to remind myself. One thing that I loved and at the same time appalled me, was the way in which certain characters from earlier books are portrayed in later books from different points of view in a much less sympathetic light. I was kind of aghast that DWJ had done this, thinking 'No! What have you done, that's not right at all', but I admire that she was brave enough to do it :)

[Elliott]

I would recommend either Archer's Goon or Eight Days of Luke.

[Lindsay]

I really enjoyed Howl's Moving Castle and Sophie's strength of character so that could be a good one to start with. I myself was introduced to her through the Chrestomanci books and really enjoyed Volume II so that would be my suggestion.

[Susie]

The ones that are the most "epic" and the least juvenile (IMO) are the Dalemark Quartet, the Darklord of Derkhelm (but not its sequel, Year of the Griffin), Deep Secret/Merlin Conspiracy, and A Sudden Wild Magic (but hide the cover! :-D ). Fire and Hemlock is good, but can be confusing - same with Hexwood, even though it's one of my favorites.

If your girlfriend loved Harry Potter, I think she'll at least like most of Diana Wynne Jones' books.

[Andrea]

In the US, DEEP SECRET was marketed as an adult book at first (now I see it's shelved with YA), and it's a very strong DWJ book. As I've mentioned elsewhere, I love DOGSBODY the best and recommend it to anyone, no matter what their favorite genre might be. My daughter loves THE HOMEWARD BOUNDERS best. Other wonderful intros would be THE EIGHT DAYS OF LUKE and THE OGRE DOWNSTAIRS. Good luck!

[Mir]

I think Howl's Moving Castle might be good since it has a somewhat older protagonist and you say she doesn't like juveniles. And it is a short read, not a big commitment for her if she's leery of trying it. And it's one of my favorites! Hexwood I didn't love quite as much, but it might be good in terms of being written in a somewhat more adult style (I know I didn't like it much when it first came, but then enjoyed when I reread it at an older age).

[Kaion]

Did you ever succeed?

My two cents: Howl's Moving Castle could be appealing in the Austen way- it's very small and local and deals with the very unique characters interacting and Sophie's idea of social mores (and involves lots of talking and not much action). And the "banter" is biting (bordering on caustic). And the hilarity of Howl dyeing his hair is classic, even if you're more into the strong silent Austen type. (I can see Sophie as an Anne Elliot type whose transformation makes her embrace her inner awesome of Catherine de Bourgh? Which makes Howl... an Emma or Frank Churchill? Heh.) Personally, HMC is not one of my favorites, but I do think it's one of the more accessible works (fantasy-wise, everyone knows fairy tales) and least objectionable.

Witch Week, if your girlfriend is interested, can be read hilariously as a proto-anti-Harry Potter. Very juvenile, but in that remembering-those-horrible-in-between-years way, not saccharine dumbed-down wish-fulfillment stuff. (You know, dystopian quasi-Lord of the Flies witch boarding school... but funny.)

I think for most "adult", Fire and Hemlock is the ticket, although one of my least favorites.

Dark Lord of Derkholm has the strongest Harry Potter-esque tones (and straightforward explanations and explanations of the fantastic/magic). But as commentary on epic fantasy novels, the humor and the point of the whole thing can be lost on someone who's not a fantasy fan. (Though it could be arguable you don't really need to be more knowledgeable than seeing Lord of the Rings.) And it's my favorite.

I wouldn't recommend Deep Secret, as I think it requires an even greater knowledge of fantasy (having entered the realm of the meta of fantasy/sci-fi happenings at a fantasy/sci-fi convention.)

Hexwood... is definitely a sink or swim novel. Only if your girlfriend loves twists and mind-fucks.

The Dalemark quartet has some lovely dense mythology (and is the least "funny"- but some people like srs business, I'm not judging). The Spellcoats is my favorite for its lyrical unfolding qualities. (I think Crown of Dalemark is the most juvenile, though it's really been forever since I read them all.)

[Molihua]

yep, definitely not Hexwood unless your girlfriend likes complicated plots and i wouldn't really recommend Fire and Hemlock either, because even though its one of the more 'adult' titles it has a lot of fantasy and folklore undercurrents. (though, i dunno, she could appreciate the book without it, but for me that was always the winning point...)

i'd go with either HMC or Deep Secret because they both have really strong female protagonists (maree!<3)and i'd disagree with Kaion on that she'd need to know more of fantasy and cons to appreciate it, since the characters in the book approached the con as bewildered new-comers too, it's not like there're any inside jokes on cons or anything in the book.

so, what'd you end up giving her to read? hope she enjoyed it :).

[Hannah]

I'd go with Witch Week if we're going for HP like. When I finally read the first Harry Potter I thought "oh, this is just a dumbed down witch week."

I can see the likeness to lord of the flies if I try, but it's so far away on the gore scale that I'd never make the comparison.

[Paula]

I have to re read Witch Week. Sadly I don't remember most of the story.

***********spoiler, maybe*****************

I know that the Chrestomanci made a witch saving appearance. DWJ wrote the Witch Week universe very well. From the very beginning I felt like something was off. The world just wasn't as it should be. The cruelty and injustice directed towards anyone who happened to be a witch (though no fault of their own) was upsetting.

I didn't see a correlation between HP and WW, but I think I read WW before HP. Pretty sure.

[Hannah]

****Spoiler alert******

It's been a few years since I've re-read Witch Week but I remember it fairly clearly. The world was off. That was sort of the point. It was because it was broken that C. was hauled in to fix it. The epiphany fix would probably been more satisfying if I'd know who Guy Fawkes was before hand. But the reason I really enjoyed it I think was because identified with several of the kids when I first read it. Especially the very angry boy and the girl who describes things. And it seemed like a much more accurate description of what a boarding school would be like than most of the ones where everyone is so thrilled to be there.

But thinking again, it doesn't have much parallel to HP. I suppose my first reaction to HP was 'this is dumbed down Patricia Wrede or Diana Wynne Jones' and it hooked to WW as a book because it was the only book actually relating to a boarding school that I can recall.

So ya. In retrospect maybe not the story to start someone with. Hmm... ...especially as it's hard to find anymore.

Lets see. Hmm... to go with a different angle, if she likes Austen then she might enjoy the Marilon the Magician and The Magician's Ward for the romantic angle. The first was my introduction to DWJ and I loved it. The second was written much later and I was so thrilled to see the story continue.

[Mir]

Mairelon the Magician is a fabulous book, but it is by Wrede, not DWJ.

if I'd know who Guy Fawkes was before hand
I learned that from this book! Helped me follow V for Vendetta. I think all British readers would know him, though.

[Hannah]

Oops. =) I get their books mixed together if I'm not thinking clearly. But if you get hooked on one then the transition to the other should be simpler yes? =)

I suspect it was clearer for British readers. Not faulting the author, nor do I mind. It's just that it's sometimes harder to transition to a British book than others.

[Paula]

Patricia Wrede is, up until now, unknown to me. I'll be looking her up in amazon.com soon!

[Paula]

Back from amazon.com. I have read Patricia Wrede. I read her The Enchanted Forest Chronicles: Dealing with Dragons / Searching for Dragons / Calling on Dragons / Talking to Dragons books. I like them. I like DWJ more.

[Kaion]

I loved Dealing with Dragons (the next two were much diminished followed by the slight return by Talking to). Clever at times, and funny. Not labyrinthine like DWJ at all though.

I learned about Guy Fawkes day from Witch Week but I never found it a confusing plot point. I think anyone should be able to relate to the protagonists (unless you LOVED school and got along with everyone in it, in which case, POD PERSON). It is a purposefully unpleasant place though*, if filled with many many a hilarious incident.

*But how can you not love a character who calls his nemesis porridge? Or immediately goes for punny spell on discovering his magic powers?