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Help[Facts] Ronja the robbers daughter
in reply to a message by Carrie
Simply a great book written by the scandinavian author Astrid Lindgren. Simply a must read!
In that book you sure will meet a great girl wearing thr name of Ronja and since one hears that name all to seldom I vote for Ronja :)
"On the night that Ronj was born a thunderstorm was raging over the mountains, such a storm that all the goblinfolk in Mattis' Forest crept back in terror to their holes and hiding places. Only the fierce harpies preferred stormy weather to any other and flew, shrieking and hooting, around the robbers' stronghold on Mattis' mountain. Their noise disturbed Lovis, who was lying within, preparing to give birth, and she said to Mattis, 'Drive the hell-harpies away and let me have some quiet. Otherwise I can't hear what I'm singing!' The fact was that Lovis liked to sing while she was having her baby. It made things easier, she insisted, and the baby would probably be all the jollier if it arrived on earth to the sound of a song. Mattis took his crossbow and shot off a few arrows through one of the arrow slits of the fort. 'Be off with you, harpies!' he shouted. 'I'm going to have a baby tonight -- get that into your heads, you hags!' 'Ho, ho, he's going to have a baby tonight,' hooted the harpies. 'A thunder-and-lightning baby, small and ugly it'll be, ho, ho!' Then Mattis shot again, straight into the flock, but they simply jeered at him and flew off across the treetops, hooting angrily. While Lovis lay there, giving birth and singing, and while Mattis quelled the wild harpies as best as he could, his robbers were sitting by the fire down in the great stone hall, eating and drinking and behaving as rowdily as the harpies themselves. After all, they had to do something while they waited, and all twelve of them were waiting for what was about to happen up there in the tower room. No child had ever been born in Mattis' Fort in all their robber days there. Noddle-Pete was waiting most of all. 'That robber baby had better come soon,' he said. 'I'm old and rickety, and my robbing days will soon be over. It would be fine to see a new robber chief here before I'm finished.' He had scarcely stopped speaking when the door opened and Mattis rushed in, quite witless with delight. He raced all the way around the hall, leaping high with joy and shrieking like a madman. 'I've got a child! Do you hear me -- I've got a child!"
(Astrid Lindgren, Ronja the robbers daughter, Chapter I)
In that book you sure will meet a great girl wearing thr name of Ronja and since one hears that name all to seldom I vote for Ronja :)
"On the night that Ronj was born a thunderstorm was raging over the mountains, such a storm that all the goblinfolk in Mattis' Forest crept back in terror to their holes and hiding places. Only the fierce harpies preferred stormy weather to any other and flew, shrieking and hooting, around the robbers' stronghold on Mattis' mountain. Their noise disturbed Lovis, who was lying within, preparing to give birth, and she said to Mattis, 'Drive the hell-harpies away and let me have some quiet. Otherwise I can't hear what I'm singing!' The fact was that Lovis liked to sing while she was having her baby. It made things easier, she insisted, and the baby would probably be all the jollier if it arrived on earth to the sound of a song. Mattis took his crossbow and shot off a few arrows through one of the arrow slits of the fort. 'Be off with you, harpies!' he shouted. 'I'm going to have a baby tonight -- get that into your heads, you hags!' 'Ho, ho, he's going to have a baby tonight,' hooted the harpies. 'A thunder-and-lightning baby, small and ugly it'll be, ho, ho!' Then Mattis shot again, straight into the flock, but they simply jeered at him and flew off across the treetops, hooting angrily. While Lovis lay there, giving birth and singing, and while Mattis quelled the wild harpies as best as he could, his robbers were sitting by the fire down in the great stone hall, eating and drinking and behaving as rowdily as the harpies themselves. After all, they had to do something while they waited, and all twelve of them were waiting for what was about to happen up there in the tower room. No child had ever been born in Mattis' Fort in all their robber days there. Noddle-Pete was waiting most of all. 'That robber baby had better come soon,' he said. 'I'm old and rickety, and my robbing days will soon be over. It would be fine to see a new robber chief here before I'm finished.' He had scarcely stopped speaking when the door opened and Mattis rushed in, quite witless with delight. He raced all the way around the hall, leaping high with joy and shrieking like a madman. 'I've got a child! Do you hear me -- I've got a child!"
(Astrid Lindgren, Ronja the robbers daughter, Chapter I)
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Replies
You know, you could be writing book reviews for your local public library, Selwyn. Would the librarian at your local public library be interested, do you think? You should ask -- your enthusiasm could get others interested in these books very easily! :)
I see you've read a lot of fantasy literature. Have your tried Diana Wynne Jones?
-- Nanaea
I see you've read a lot of fantasy literature. Have your tried Diana Wynne Jones?
-- Nanaea
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Perhaps not a bad suggestion (txt)
I could ask them and see what they say :)
About Diana Wynne Jones then I must admit I have never read anything written by her. Can she be compared to someone else?
It seems she has written something about a certain Christopher who is somehow connected to magic of some kind. Is it a kind of like Harry Potter?
I could ask them and see what they say :)
About Diana Wynne Jones then I must admit I have never read anything written by her. Can she be compared to someone else?
It seems she has written something about a certain Christopher who is somehow connected to magic of some kind. Is it a kind of like Harry Potter?
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Actually, you guessed it when you mentioned Harry Potter. :) Diana Wynne Jones is a British fantasy novelist who was writing better stuff more than a *decade* before Harry Potter was born. :)
I'm always mentioning Diana Wynne Jones to young readers as an alternative to Harry Potter.
Start with her wonderful book *Dogsbody* if you can find it. It's very touching -- as well as wonderfully imaginative.
And, of course, I'll bet you've read all of C.S. Lewis, too, right? Another great alternative to Harry Potter. Not to mention Alexander Lloyd's novels.
It's not that I'm down on Harry Potter -- those books are entertaining as well. It's just that there is so much BETTER stuff out there that never got all the publicity that the Potter books have gotten.
-- Nanaea
I'm always mentioning Diana Wynne Jones to young readers as an alternative to Harry Potter.
Start with her wonderful book *Dogsbody* if you can find it. It's very touching -- as well as wonderfully imaginative.
And, of course, I'll bet you've read all of C.S. Lewis, too, right? Another great alternative to Harry Potter. Not to mention Alexander Lloyd's novels.
It's not that I'm down on Harry Potter -- those books are entertaining as well. It's just that there is so much BETTER stuff out there that never got all the publicity that the Potter books have gotten.
-- Nanaea
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Of course!
I have read C.S. Lewis and enjoyed him very much indeed.
I will try to look for Diana Wynne Jones and see what happens.
Alexander Lloyd rings a bell somewhere but I cannot remember in which connection right now hmm...
*smiles* I understand what you are saying about Harry Potter. I have not read all the books myself, but what I know of them they are nice.
But one tends to get a little tired of how one book gets to steal the whole picture at times, leaving other good things overshaded.
I have read C.S. Lewis and enjoyed him very much indeed.
I will try to look for Diana Wynne Jones and see what happens.
Alexander Lloyd rings a bell somewhere but I cannot remember in which connection right now hmm...
*smiles* I understand what you are saying about Harry Potter. I have not read all the books myself, but what I know of them they are nice.
But one tends to get a little tired of how one book gets to steal the whole picture at times, leaving other good things overshaded.
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Nanaea
What's your opinion of Jane Yolen and Anne McCaffrey? Do you think that Selwin might like these authors if he can find something by them?
Phyllis (aka Sidhe Uaine or Gaia Euphoria)
Aside to Selwin: Have you seen either of these authors in Denmark?
What's your opinion of Jane Yolen and Anne McCaffrey? Do you think that Selwin might like these authors if he can find something by them?
Phyllis (aka Sidhe Uaine or Gaia Euphoria)
Aside to Selwin: Have you seen either of these authors in Denmark?
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*Feels transparent*
Denmark?
*sheepish grin*
Please explain further
Denmark?
*sheepish grin*
Please explain further
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Selwyn, I believe you told us you were in Denmark, when you first started posting here. You never did tell us if you were a he or a she, though. We've since decided that you're a he. :)
-- Nanaea
-- Nanaea
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*whew wipes the sweath off his brow* I am sorry Phyllis
For a moment there I thought that Phyllis could read my mind as an open book! You never know what the Sidhe (Fairies) are capable of.
Well it is true that I live in Denmark and it is also true that I am a he.
I am sorry Phyllis about that silly answer to a good question.
I have not seen Jane Yolen and Anne McCaffrey in Denmark, but on the other hand I have not looked for them either in the bookshops where english litterature is sold. I simply did not know that I should be looking for them, yet I would try to take a look now.
For a moment there I thought that Phyllis could read my mind as an open book! You never know what the Sidhe (Fairies) are capable of.
Well it is true that I live in Denmark and it is also true that I am a he.
I am sorry Phyllis about that silly answer to a good question.
I have not seen Jane Yolen and Anne McCaffrey in Denmark, but on the other hand I have not looked for them either in the bookshops where english litterature is sold. I simply did not know that I should be looking for them, yet I would try to take a look now.
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Selwyn
That's okay. I was going against the late Benny Hill's rule about assuming anything: "Don't ass ume because it makes an ass out of you and me." (ass/u/me).
If you want, I could print out a short list of the books I can locate on the Worldcat and post it next week when I get back. :)
Phyllis (aka Sidhe Uaine or Gaia Euphoria)
PS. Nanaea and I are sometimes psy-chicks. ;)
That's okay. I was going against the late Benny Hill's rule about assuming anything: "Don't ass ume because it makes an ass out of you and me." (ass/u/me).
If you want, I could print out a short list of the books I can locate on the Worldcat and post it next week when I get back. :)
Phyllis (aka Sidhe Uaine or Gaia Euphoria)
PS. Nanaea and I are sometimes psy-chicks. ;)
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Both absolutely cool recommendations! :)
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Nan,
Just curious. Have you read any Charles De Lint? What's your opinion of his work?
Just curious. Have you read any Charles De Lint? What's your opinion of his work?
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No, I've never read any of his stuff, but John says he's read one of de Lint's novels -- *The Harp of the Grey Rose*. John says he found it "so-so".
I was pretty much listing authors of young adult fantasy literature for Selwyn. There are a number of adult fantasy writers I've enjoyed, but the names don't come too quickly to mind this late in the evening when I'm just about to pack in for the day. :) I'll have to look through my bookshelf sometime, and mention what's there.
Still remember your Gore Vidal *Justinian* recommendation. I keep meaning to see if I have it in my public library, but then I get sidetracked.
-- Nanaea
I was pretty much listing authors of young adult fantasy literature for Selwyn. There are a number of adult fantasy writers I've enjoyed, but the names don't come too quickly to mind this late in the evening when I'm just about to pack in for the day. :) I'll have to look through my bookshelf sometime, and mention what's there.
Still remember your Gore Vidal *Justinian* recommendation. I keep meaning to see if I have it in my public library, but then I get sidetracked.
-- Nanaea
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The Gore Vidal book is "Julian". Check it out (library pun!).
John's assessment of "The Harp of the Grey Rose" is correct. But that was straight swords-and-dragons, whereas De Lint's usual genre is "urban fantasy". He skillfully blends Native American and Celtic myth and magic in urban settings such as Ottawa (his early novels) or a synthesized larger city that I've always assumed resembled an alternate Toronto.
His lead characters are mostly female, artsy-punky-spunky streetwise free spirits who sometimes get a bit tedious when the character type is repeated from story to story or novel to novel. However, his better work, like the story collection "Dreams Underfoot", is definitely worth checking out.
In addition to being a writer, De Lint is a Celtic musician and that aspect shows up in his novels and stories a lot as well.
John's assessment of "The Harp of the Grey Rose" is correct. But that was straight swords-and-dragons, whereas De Lint's usual genre is "urban fantasy". He skillfully blends Native American and Celtic myth and magic in urban settings such as Ottawa (his early novels) or a synthesized larger city that I've always assumed resembled an alternate Toronto.
His lead characters are mostly female, artsy-punky-spunky streetwise free spirits who sometimes get a bit tedious when the character type is repeated from story to story or novel to novel. However, his better work, like the story collection "Dreams Underfoot", is definitely worth checking out.
In addition to being a writer, De Lint is a Celtic musician and that aspect shows up in his novels and stories a lot as well.
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"The Gore Vidal book is 'Julian'."
I told you it was late and the ol' brain wasn't functioning properly right now. :) Okay, I'll "check it out" (hoo-hoo!) tomorrow. :)
De Lint sounds interesting. I'm more into Andrew Vachss, though. :)
-- Nanaea
I told you it was late and the ol' brain wasn't functioning properly right now. :) Okay, I'll "check it out" (hoo-hoo!) tomorrow. :)
De Lint sounds interesting. I'm more into Andrew Vachss, though. :)
-- Nanaea
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