What an interesting comparison. McKinley and Ibbotson are both in that group of writers that I imprinted on pretty heavily in junior/high school, but I hadn’t thought to pair them.
I didn't come to Ibbotson until a couple of years ago, possibly a year ago. I read BEAUTY when it first came out, so there's a big gap in the impression they made -- but reading the Ibbotson had that distinct charm, the slightly odd characters, and the obvious affection for both place & people that I like in McKinley.
But their protagonists do, now that I think of it, have the same sort of quiet bravery. When they’re hurt, they don’t wallow in pain and pine theatrically but tend to go on with their busy lives. And I remember jonquil (hmm, or maybe oracne) pointing out that one of the appeals of Ibbotson is the value she gives to work. Industriousness is an odd thing to value in a heroine, but you see it in Aeryn with her burn ointment and Beauty with her roses and Harriet with her dancing.
Now this is something that I wouldn't have noticed -- but you're absolutely right. It's something I also like about Tanya Huff's novels: that she values work. Pratchett does as well. This bears further thinking on.
Someone gave me Magic Flutes to read because I have some difficulty connecting to romances, and she thought I'd love the writing -- and I really loved it. There seems to be some argument as to whether or not Ibbotson is a romance writer, though; some people say yes, and some say she's more like Heyer -- a writer romance readers love to read. And the difference is? Who knows? <wry g>.
I first stumbled across those in high school, since Magic Flutes was shelved in the YA hardback section. The local library also had A Company of Swans. Perhaps because I read them first, those remain my favorites. Though I own A Countess Below Stairs, so that’s probably the most-often read. Really, the only one that’s disappointed was A Song in Summer, with which I have issues. (It felt in some ways like she wanted to break certain genre tropes but wasn’t going quite far enough. Or something.)
I read Magic Flutes first, and like it possible the best, because all of the elements work for me. I read Company of Swans next, and I liked it, but not quite as much; I liked Countess better (but really, it's a shade of difference; I can reread them all). I read Morning Gift after that, and I adored it -- but the romance is stupid. It's the World War Two immigrant details that I loved -- there's sentiment there, but there's so much loss, fear and determination, and it's evoked in a quiet, Ibbotson way. I think, of the books, the first several chapters of that one are overall my favourites.
I found Song disappointing only in that it was very disjoint; the separation of the two at the end seemed either too short or too long for me -- i.e. it should have been more of an element, and earlier, or it wasn't necessary. I think. It's hard to say. I still really liked the novel, because Ibbotson always writes with enough affection & quiet hope that the words are still worth reading. Oh -- I also really liked Madensky Square which was out of the mould for a romance (married man, affair).
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branchandroot
Re: Eva Ibbotson
Date: 2004-10-27 09:31 am (UTC)I didn't come to Ibbotson until a couple of years ago, possibly a year ago. I read BEAUTY when it first came out, so there's a big gap in the impression they made -- but reading the Ibbotson had that distinct charm, the slightly odd characters, and the obvious affection for both place & people that I like in McKinley.
But their protagonists do, now that I think of it, have the same sort of quiet bravery. When they’re hurt, they don’t wallow in pain and pine theatrically but tend to go on with their busy lives. And I remember jonquil (hmm, or maybe oracne) pointing out that one of the appeals of Ibbotson is the value she gives to work. Industriousness is an odd thing to value in a heroine, but you see it in Aeryn with her burn ointment and Beauty with her roses and Harriet with her dancing.
Now this is something that I wouldn't have noticed -- but you're absolutely right. It's something I also like about Tanya Huff's novels: that she values work. Pratchett does as well. This bears further thinking on.
Someone gave me Magic Flutes to read because I have some difficulty connecting to romances, and she thought I'd love the writing -- and I really loved it. There seems to be some argument as to whether or not Ibbotson is a romance writer, though; some people say yes, and some say she's more like Heyer -- a writer romance readers love to read. And the difference is? Who knows? <wry g>.
I first stumbled across those in high school, since Magic Flutes was shelved in the YA hardback section. The local library also had A Company of Swans. Perhaps because I read them first, those remain my favorites. Though I own A Countess Below Stairs, so that’s probably the most-often read. Really, the only one that’s disappointed was A Song in Summer, with which I have issues. (It felt in some ways like she wanted to break certain genre tropes but wasn’t going quite far enough. Or something.)
I read Magic Flutes first, and like it possible the best, because all of the elements work for me. I read Company of Swans next, and I liked it, but not quite as much; I liked Countess better (but really, it's a shade of difference; I can reread them all). I read Morning Gift after that, and I adored it -- but the romance is stupid. It's the World War Two immigrant details that I loved -- there's sentiment there, but there's so much loss, fear and determination, and it's evoked in a quiet, Ibbotson way. I think, of the books, the first several chapters of that one are overall my favourites.
I found Song disappointing only in that it was very disjoint; the separation of the two at the end seemed either too short or too long for me -- i.e. it should have been more of an element, and earlier, or it wasn't necessary. I think. It's hard to say. I still really liked the novel, because Ibbotson always writes with enough affection & quiet hope that the words are still worth reading. Oh -- I also really liked Madensky Square which was out of the mould for a romance (married man, affair).