Ogre's Eyeballs

When I was 10 I fell truly madly deeply in love with the work of my favourite writer. And, while it's true I may have.....flirted.....with other writers since then, I have pretty much been faithful for the last 30 years.

I love Diana Wynne Jones's books - every singel one of them - with every fibre of my being. And this isn't a quiet passion - it's one I sing from the roof tops. I genuinely adore her work. The sheer inventiveness of her books - and the incredible longevity of her career - are amazing in themselves. She is also a lovely lovely person, which is obviously a bit of a bonus. I was lucky enough to meet her several times in the 80s, at conventions and literary events, and when I was in hospital in 1986 she was kind enough to send me signed first editions of all her then published works, just to cheer me up!! I mean - how lovely is that?I feel very lucky to have 'known' her.

DWJ has written shedloads of books, some of them astonishing, some of them merely very very good. My plan, for now (and it may of course change) is to write about my favourites first, one by one (or perhaps by series, where appropriate) and then maybe fill in the gaps down the line. This will take some time, but there you go. It's not like I have anything better to do!

The Ogre Downstairs is NOT my favourite DWJ book. It probably scrapes into the top 10, just, but that's about it. However it is the book that started it all, for me. Courtesy of Jackanory, as it happens. I must confess - a little embarrasedly - I thought that the Ogre really was a, you know, ogre, when I first read the book. I was little. I didn't know what metaphor was. I mean - this is a book where:
people fly
dustballs and meccano and pencils and dolls house dolls come to life
body swapping happens
people become invisible
hells angels sprout from the ground
the secret of invisibility is discovered

....so why wouldn't someone who was constantly referred to as an ogre be an actual ogre?????

TOD is a straightforward book, by DWJ's standards, about the modern family dynamic and how magical chemistry sets and a good sturdy bucket and mop can solve any problem. Its strengths are that it doesn't talk down to children at all - it's perfectly accessible for readers of all ages, it's genuinely funny, and it is written in a gorgeously relaxed and fluent style - nothing is forced, nothing is clunky. It totally blew my world away the first time I encountered it, and the repercussions are still going on to this day. I can't envisage a time when I don't reach for DWJs books on a regular basis. I can't see them ever being relegated from pride of place in my library. TOD started a lifelong love affair and there is no sign of it ending. Which is nice.