funny how fiction is labelled, I thought I’d aged out of high fantasy but enjoy gothic, ‘weird’ and speculative fiction and well-written rom-coms all of which explore fantasies (of sorts) or horror. So I might have thought I left behind Terry Pratchett (who I still have a soft spot for) but a lot of my tastes are still fantasy-adjacent. E.g. Rachel Ingalls (‘Mrs Caliban’), Claire Oshetsky’s ‘Chouette’, Barbara Comyns, Shirley Jackson, Katherine Dunn - books that would now be labelled ‘Weird’ I think. For some reason all women, having read a truckload of male-authored fantasy and sci fi in my teens. Enjoyed ‘Wise Children’ by Angela Carter recently, which has a fantastical edge but grounded in a very vivid down-to-earth voice. I’ve appreciated other books I read by Angela Carter without loving them, but Wise Children got me. I think I now want the fantasy elements of any story to be quite earthy, embodied and to do with what it feels like to live in the world rather than purely escapist as such, like ‘Chouette’ totally captured what parenting can FEEL like and went to absurdism to get the feeling across.
I thought about you when writing this, Becky, as your own work contains magical realism, and I agree, many of the authors you mention I admire, too. Loved Chouette! Will be following up the examples you’ve mentioned that I don’t already know.
i'm almost finished re-reading Nights at the Circus after a bit of her nonfiction and will next pick up Wise Children! we lost so much when we lost Carter.
I like reading fantasy as well as lots of other stuff and don’t really understand the snobbery around it. A well written book is a well written book. If you don’t mind going back to children’s books, Katherine Rundell’s Impossible Creatures and its sequel will take you right back there. The first book is worth reading just for the extra short story at the end. She’s also done a lovely podcast for the BBC all about. Children’s fiction and how important it is.
Only recently I was thinking about how much fantasy and sci-fi I used to read in my teens and when and why that changed. There are some authors that are not full-on in the genre but that I do love: Susanna Clarke, Emily St John Mandel...I'm sure there are a few more I'm not thinking of. It's so good when done well.
I was also in love with Davy Jones in the 196Os! And a big fan of fantasy fiction, Alice in Wonderland, The Hobbit, Titus Groan etc. Not as keen on Narnia for some reason. My dad used to tell me stories of London during The Blitz, he was 10 when war started and had a paper round that took in Chessington Zoo, where American troops were stationed towards the end of the war. The soldiers used to give him a breakfast every morning, which he much appreciated during rationing and because his family was poor, so he actually ate better during that part of the war. I also watched the BBC 2 Children of the Blitz programme and was struck by how affected they all still were by events. Desperately sad. A book I'm currently reading, which combines the Blitz and fairytales, is The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly. It's a bit of a retelling of fairy stories, not quite Angela Carter but probably worth a read if you're into that sort of thing. I'd also recommend the Not Just The Tudors podcasts on BBC Sounds, especially the one entitled Enchanted Realms: Fairies in the 16th Century. Fantasy literature is a bit of a guilty pleasure for me, nobody in my book club is a fan but my stepson is in a "Weird Literature" book club and has just read Lost in the Garden by Adam S. Leslie, which he gave me to try. Not started it yet but it's described as "dazzlingly intricate folk horror phantasmagoria. Creepy, dreamlike, unsettling and unforgettable". Sounds promising!
Judging by the responses, we could start a posthumous Davy Jones fan club, Rachael! Though now, when I look back at The Monkees, I don’t quite see it… But then, I was about six at the time. We move on. Mostly. (I still like the look of Adam West as he was back then. And Julie Newmar!)
Yes, the buried trauma for those Children of the Blitz was very noticable. Two of them mentioned literally losing their ability to speak for years afterwards.
Thanks for sharing your dad’s reminiscences of that time.
I’ve added The Book of Lost Things to my Kindle – I think you mentioned it previously – or someone else did! Anyway, it’s there and in my TBR list, thank you.
Haven’t heard of the other book you mentioned (Lost in the Garden). I’ll ask Milo if he knows of it.
I am currently reading Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, which is about magic, magicians and the world of Faerie. Not my usual thing, it was passed on to me by friend. It's wonderful. I am completely sold. At over 1000 pages, I am reading 100 pages a day.
Your work, as a family archivist, weaves a quilted collage. I particularly enjoyed your father's piece here, especially that he notes he wouldn't tell his mother. Milo too -what a man! What a family! Thank you Wendy for role modelling 'connectedness'.
I’d be lost at Comic Con, too, Linda. I’m a tad old for Catwoman!
Interesting you read me as American. Still a slight Yorkshire twang in real life. Rarely get around to doing my own narration here (hard to get enough peace and quiet), and picked very neutral English “Victoria” as the auto read-aloud voice.
Loved this Wendy. I so enjoyed reading Narnia to my little one - bedtime reading. I remember being sad when we reached the end. I also adored anything Batman and Davy Jones, one of my boy crushes too. BUT, he didn't secure a place on my bedroom wall, where a dark haired, to die for, handsome baseball player, named Sandy Kofax reigned. I had a newspaper cover with him on it, soaking his elbow injury, tendinitis. It must have been a massive crush to recall this after all these years. Hee hee. and, my goodness, he was way too old for me! Lastly, my mum stayed in London throughout almost the entire war. She was an evacuee for only a few short months, then came back. She basically grew up under the sound of Hitler's war planes. Many stories, much loss for both of our mums. xoxo
I’m looking up Sandy Koufax and can see the appeal. Cute!
I remember comparing our mums’ timelines. Seem to remember they were similar ages? Mine was born June 1930 and I’ve written about her evacuee years in Wales, of course. And she had a near-miss when she returned home briefly to Merseyside the first summer.
It must have been so unnerving remaining in London for most of the war for your mum, though.
My dad was 3 years older and was far enough away from Sheffield that I don’t think the question of being evacuated ever came up. But the thought of him staying put in the cinema when the air raid warnings went, because he wanted to see the end of the movie; and of him cycling to the city centre and witnessing the devastation - a lot for a 12-year old.
Oh yes - the family tease me that any book with a dragon in it and I’m away. Sarah Maas is very readable. Romantasy is a whole popular genre. Romance and dragons and magic. Not maybe classic fiction that you would read again and again but escapist reading. Actually, I have read too much light escapist fiction recently so am rereading Barbara Pymm for a shot of beautiful observation and thoughtful writing. Will go back to dragons in a while !!!
I'd not heard of Yesteryear. But from the extract you shared, I think I'll pass. It's given me a new rule of thumb: any novel that uses and italicises 'literally' in that way can be safely ignored. I enjoyed your Dad's memories of the Blitz, though!
Thanks, Jeffrey. I expect BBCiplayer is unavailable in Japan, but I do recommend the Children of the Blitz documentary if/when you visit the UK.
Coming from farming origins, I don’t think you’d learn much from Yesteryear! I probably confused things by quoting Katie’s enjoyable review of the book first. I think many female readers wonder whether they will identify with the novel’s protagonist. Not among my favourite novels, but it did get me thinking.
Oh, so that was a review? Apologies! I recall that my father went through a phase of reading farming novels and other books by AG Street, who was also a farmer. His books are now mostly out of print.
Live fantasy novels, particularly if they are uplifting. Andy Weir, Martha Wells, Becky Chambers. Also love ComicCon - possibly the most civilised and accepting bunch of people you could ever hope to meet.
I have a couple of steampunk outfits, which I have worn a few times, but last time P and I went as characters from The Prisoner. Haven't been since we moved house but one of my children can now offer a place to stay so we hope to go back again. It really is fun, though very tiring. Not enough chairs for oldies LOL
Love the sheriff costume. I bet all the children where jealous thinking how cool it is to be picked up at school by your cool uncle who shows up like that.
And funny how I too didn’t consider myself a big fantasy reader and yet I loved Harry Potter. Recently I ‘ve discovered the Rivers of London series by Ben Aaronovitch, which is a mix of detective novel set in modern London and magic and the supernatural world. Somehow the mix has worked for me.
I should add to my previous comments that I DO enjoy Magical realism, -how not to love Borges?- but I consider it a different genre from Fantasy itself.
Yes, I think fantasy and magical realism are related, though they tend to inhabit different genres. I need to check out Borges’ short stories. Thanks for mentioning him.
I loved your Dad's memoir about the Blitz, as WWII is so historically fascinating. And ineffably horrific, needless to say! As for fantasy... it is absolutely NOT my cup of tea, excluding the Chronicles of Narnia and all H.C Andersen's stories. However, thank you for telling us about Milo's preferences. I might just look a few of those stories up and get hooked on them. Always good to get recommendations like these. 👍 thanks, Wendy.
I like to at least get a feel for what my children (and now grandchildren) are reading, even if don’t think it’s my cup of tea. And sometimes I’m nicely surprised.
I was so moved by this programme. These people at the end of long, capable lives who had never stopped being frightened children. And the man whose dad was killed 2 weeks before the end of the war broke my heart.
So well-put, Linda. You could see it in their faces and hear it in their voices as the memories rose to the surface. And a couple of them had literally lost their voices as children, unable to speak for ages afterwards.
funny how fiction is labelled, I thought I’d aged out of high fantasy but enjoy gothic, ‘weird’ and speculative fiction and well-written rom-coms all of which explore fantasies (of sorts) or horror. So I might have thought I left behind Terry Pratchett (who I still have a soft spot for) but a lot of my tastes are still fantasy-adjacent. E.g. Rachel Ingalls (‘Mrs Caliban’), Claire Oshetsky’s ‘Chouette’, Barbara Comyns, Shirley Jackson, Katherine Dunn - books that would now be labelled ‘Weird’ I think. For some reason all women, having read a truckload of male-authored fantasy and sci fi in my teens. Enjoyed ‘Wise Children’ by Angela Carter recently, which has a fantastical edge but grounded in a very vivid down-to-earth voice. I’ve appreciated other books I read by Angela Carter without loving them, but Wise Children got me. I think I now want the fantasy elements of any story to be quite earthy, embodied and to do with what it feels like to live in the world rather than purely escapist as such, like ‘Chouette’ totally captured what parenting can FEEL like and went to absurdism to get the feeling across.
I thought about you when writing this, Becky, as your own work contains magical realism, and I agree, many of the authors you mention I admire, too. Loved Chouette! Will be following up the examples you’ve mentioned that I don’t already know.
I love Weird as a description, that's what I'm looking for, and trying to articulate in my own comment!
I shall seek out all of the authors you mention now (except Shirley Jackson who was already very much on my list).
i'm almost finished re-reading Nights at the Circus after a bit of her nonfiction and will next pick up Wise Children! we lost so much when we lost Carter.
I read Angela Carter, too. Time to revisit!
If you like Carter you should check out Camilla Grudova who writes really vivid horror / weird fiction (and is also on substack)
I second that. Wonderful writer.
excellent, looking up now! thank you both!!
I like reading fantasy as well as lots of other stuff and don’t really understand the snobbery around it. A well written book is a well written book. If you don’t mind going back to children’s books, Katherine Rundell’s Impossible Creatures and its sequel will take you right back there. The first book is worth reading just for the extra short story at the end. She’s also done a lovely podcast for the BBC all about. Children’s fiction and how important it is.
Loved Impossible Creatures too, and the sequel.
Thanks for flagging it up!
I’ll look up Impossible Creatures, thanks, Rosemary. Haven’t read it yet.
Only recently I was thinking about how much fantasy and sci-fi I used to read in my teens and when and why that changed. There are some authors that are not full-on in the genre but that I do love: Susanna Clarke, Emily St John Mandel...I'm sure there are a few more I'm not thinking of. It's so good when done well.
Oh, thanks for these recommendations. Both new to me, so I will check them out.
I was also in love with Davy Jones in the 196Os! And a big fan of fantasy fiction, Alice in Wonderland, The Hobbit, Titus Groan etc. Not as keen on Narnia for some reason. My dad used to tell me stories of London during The Blitz, he was 10 when war started and had a paper round that took in Chessington Zoo, where American troops were stationed towards the end of the war. The soldiers used to give him a breakfast every morning, which he much appreciated during rationing and because his family was poor, so he actually ate better during that part of the war. I also watched the BBC 2 Children of the Blitz programme and was struck by how affected they all still were by events. Desperately sad. A book I'm currently reading, which combines the Blitz and fairytales, is The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly. It's a bit of a retelling of fairy stories, not quite Angela Carter but probably worth a read if you're into that sort of thing. I'd also recommend the Not Just The Tudors podcasts on BBC Sounds, especially the one entitled Enchanted Realms: Fairies in the 16th Century. Fantasy literature is a bit of a guilty pleasure for me, nobody in my book club is a fan but my stepson is in a "Weird Literature" book club and has just read Lost in the Garden by Adam S. Leslie, which he gave me to try. Not started it yet but it's described as "dazzlingly intricate folk horror phantasmagoria. Creepy, dreamlike, unsettling and unforgettable". Sounds promising!
Judging by the responses, we could start a posthumous Davy Jones fan club, Rachael! Though now, when I look back at The Monkees, I don’t quite see it… But then, I was about six at the time. We move on. Mostly. (I still like the look of Adam West as he was back then. And Julie Newmar!)
Yes, the buried trauma for those Children of the Blitz was very noticable. Two of them mentioned literally losing their ability to speak for years afterwards.
Thanks for sharing your dad’s reminiscences of that time.
I’ve added The Book of Lost Things to my Kindle – I think you mentioned it previously – or someone else did! Anyway, it’s there and in my TBR list, thank you.
Haven’t heard of the other book you mentioned (Lost in the Garden). I’ll ask Milo if he knows of it.
I am currently reading Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, which is about magic, magicians and the world of Faerie. Not my usual thing, it was passed on to me by friend. It's wonderful. I am completely sold. At over 1000 pages, I am reading 100 pages a day.
I never got round to reading that when it first came out, Maria. I’ll add it to my (ever-growing!) list. Thanks for recommending it.
Your work, as a family archivist, weaves a quilted collage. I particularly enjoyed your father's piece here, especially that he notes he wouldn't tell his mother. Milo too -what a man! What a family! Thank you Wendy for role modelling 'connectedness'.
Thanks, Cherry. Yes, dad’s Blitz memories were another reminder of how childhood was then. Cycling into a bombed city aged 12…
What we used to call spirit ...
Have you seen Children of the Blitz yet, Cherry? It’s so good.
on the list
I used to read a lot of fantasy, but never any comic books. Not snotty, just could never get into superheroes. I’d be lost at a Comic Con.
And I don’t know if this will make any sense at all, but I read you with an American accent! There’s something about the way you write…🤷🏻♀️
I’d be lost at Comic Con, too, Linda. I’m a tad old for Catwoman!
Interesting you read me as American. Still a slight Yorkshire twang in real life. Rarely get around to doing my own narration here (hard to get enough peace and quiet), and picked very neutral English “Victoria” as the auto read-aloud voice.
I noticed this time that I keep being surprised when you make a British reference. Weird, isn’t it??
Loved this Wendy. I so enjoyed reading Narnia to my little one - bedtime reading. I remember being sad when we reached the end. I also adored anything Batman and Davy Jones, one of my boy crushes too. BUT, he didn't secure a place on my bedroom wall, where a dark haired, to die for, handsome baseball player, named Sandy Kofax reigned. I had a newspaper cover with him on it, soaking his elbow injury, tendinitis. It must have been a massive crush to recall this after all these years. Hee hee. and, my goodness, he was way too old for me! Lastly, my mum stayed in London throughout almost the entire war. She was an evacuee for only a few short months, then came back. She basically grew up under the sound of Hitler's war planes. Many stories, much loss for both of our mums. xoxo
I’m looking up Sandy Koufax and can see the appeal. Cute!
I remember comparing our mums’ timelines. Seem to remember they were similar ages? Mine was born June 1930 and I’ve written about her evacuee years in Wales, of course. And she had a near-miss when she returned home briefly to Merseyside the first summer.
It must have been so unnerving remaining in London for most of the war for your mum, though.
My dad was 3 years older and was far enough away from Sheffield that I don’t think the question of being evacuated ever came up. But the thought of him staying put in the cinema when the air raid warnings went, because he wanted to see the end of the movie; and of him cycling to the city centre and witnessing the devastation - a lot for a 12-year old.
Oh yes - the family tease me that any book with a dragon in it and I’m away. Sarah Maas is very readable. Romantasy is a whole popular genre. Romance and dragons and magic. Not maybe classic fiction that you would read again and again but escapist reading. Actually, I have read too much light escapist fiction recently so am rereading Barbara Pymm for a shot of beautiful observation and thoughtful writing. Will go back to dragons in a while !!!
Thanks for being the second reader to recommend Sarah Mass, Harriet. Must investigate. And Barbara Pym, too. So often mentioned but I have never read.
I'd not heard of Yesteryear. But from the extract you shared, I think I'll pass. It's given me a new rule of thumb: any novel that uses and italicises 'literally' in that way can be safely ignored. I enjoyed your Dad's memories of the Blitz, though!
Thanks, Jeffrey. I expect BBCiplayer is unavailable in Japan, but I do recommend the Children of the Blitz documentary if/when you visit the UK.
Coming from farming origins, I don’t think you’d learn much from Yesteryear! I probably confused things by quoting Katie’s enjoyable review of the book first. I think many female readers wonder whether they will identify with the novel’s protagonist. Not among my favourite novels, but it did get me thinking.
Oh, so that was a review? Apologies! I recall that my father went through a phase of reading farming novels and other books by AG Street, who was also a farmer. His books are now mostly out of print.
Live fantasy novels, particularly if they are uplifting. Andy Weir, Martha Wells, Becky Chambers. Also love ComicCon - possibly the most civilised and accepting bunch of people you could ever hope to meet.
What did you dress up as, Karen? How long since you’ve been? It does look fun!
Thanks for the author tips. I’ll take a look.
I have a couple of steampunk outfits, which I have worn a few times, but last time P and I went as characters from The Prisoner. Haven't been since we moved house but one of my children can now offer a place to stay so we hope to go back again. It really is fun, though very tiring. Not enough chairs for oldies LOL
I can imagine you rocking a steampunk outfit, Karen. Not enough chairs?! That’s put me off :D
Love the sheriff costume. I bet all the children where jealous thinking how cool it is to be picked up at school by your cool uncle who shows up like that.
And funny how I too didn’t consider myself a big fantasy reader and yet I loved Harry Potter. Recently I ‘ve discovered the Rivers of London series by Ben Aaronovitch, which is a mix of detective novel set in modern London and magic and the supernatural world. Somehow the mix has worked for me.
Yes, a very cool uncle!
Rivers of London sounds intriguing, Cristina. I’ll check that out.
I've only read the first three novels in the series but it's a good balance between reality and fantasy with plenty of London history in between.
I should add to my previous comments that I DO enjoy Magical realism, -how not to love Borges?- but I consider it a different genre from Fantasy itself.
Yes, I think fantasy and magical realism are related, though they tend to inhabit different genres. I need to check out Borges’ short stories. Thanks for mentioning him.
I loved your Dad's memoir about the Blitz, as WWII is so historically fascinating. And ineffably horrific, needless to say! As for fantasy... it is absolutely NOT my cup of tea, excluding the Chronicles of Narnia and all H.C Andersen's stories. However, thank you for telling us about Milo's preferences. I might just look a few of those stories up and get hooked on them. Always good to get recommendations like these. 👍 thanks, Wendy.
Thanks, Christina.
I like to at least get a feel for what my children (and now grandchildren) are reading, even if don’t think it’s my cup of tea. And sometimes I’m nicely surprised.
Exactly, That's why it is so important to stay in touch with younger generations. We discover new things and many times, amazing ones! x
I was so moved by this programme. These people at the end of long, capable lives who had never stopped being frightened children. And the man whose dad was killed 2 weeks before the end of the war broke my heart.
So well-put, Linda. You could see it in their faces and hear it in their voices as the memories rose to the surface. And a couple of them had literally lost their voices as children, unable to speak for ages afterwards.
Julie Newmar as Catwoman — now THAT is Kittenesque 😽❣️
Absolutely!