Further book musings....

Interesting, but since I last posted I've had some further thoughts, prompted by a really interesting conversation with a friend tonight. She pointed out that those characteristics of "specialness" I talked about in my last post are also peculiarly related to really good children's literature - and reading over the list of books I noted, almost all of them were intended for children. And I missed a few: The Little White Horse (Elizabeth Goudge), The Chronicles of the Cheysuli (Jennifer Roberson - especially Shapechangers, the first one) etc.

Maybe it's because authors writing for children recognise that everyone needs hope, joy, courage, to live well. And children love happy endings, which is why they give them to us. Maybe it's that characteristic innocence of childhood that is the thing I love and look for in my favourite books (but then, I do read Tom Clancy too!). I do I know that I like good writing for children, particularly books aimed at teenagers (eg CS Lewis, Tolkien, JK Rowling, Susan Cooper etc) and I'm regularly found browsing in this area of bookshops rather than the general book section. Maybe it's coming-of-age stories I like (trying to pick up some hints, perhaps?!) - the learning that goes with growing up. I don't know. All I know is that if it's a good story, I will read it. If it's a superb story, I will read it over and over again.

Pachyderm