Literature and Law

I'm trying to work on my annotated bibliography for my Literature and Law class. I'm using texts with an authoritative and legal infection, to discuss the nature of fantasy within children’s fiction, however all I seem able to do is look up essays by and about Diana Wynne Jones, the goddess of children’s fantasy, and who I want to grow up to be.
I also wrote a letter to her.


Dear Diana,
I have written once before, to tell you how brilliant I think you are (which you probably hear a lot and so don’t remember).
This evening I was working on an annotated bibliography for my Literature and Law class, and found myself sidetracked looking up academic articles by you (I’ll do the assignment tomorrow). I found your essay “Birthing a Book”. As always I found it funny insightful, and right on the nose, but I was particularly stuck with your description of the three gardens you put in most your stories.
In reading your description I saw quite clearly elements from many of your books (and not just Time of the Ghost). The one the shone most clear was the description of the hallowed orchard with the bees and the gazebo. The minute I read about it I had one of those “Ah ha!” moments, and I felt like you showed me a place I have seen glimpses of from all different sides, but never quite put together before.
The gravel garden where life and death coincides was also an image that struck home. I find that when describing your books at work (because I work in a book shop) I always end up trying clumsily to say
“Well, everything will start off perfectly ordinary and comfortable, and then suddenly there is magic and dreadful danger, and everything is out of control, yet it all seems perfectly common, and you have no idea where everything changed”
And I think that what I am trying to express is that gravel area which is crazy and insane, but also has life and death.
You also talk about seasons, and the minute I read that I thought “Aunt Maria is the end of winter, where the frost is so dreadful, but everyone is telling you it’s warmer” which is around the time of year you placed it.
I feel a particular affinity for Mig, because even though my grandmother has never turned anyone I know into any animals, she has this amazing repressive air in her house that makes you feel dreadfully plain and embarrassed so you behave well, when actually you’d like to paint your face with gravy and smash all the china, and talk for an hour loudly nonstop. My uncle always behaves particularly badly, and when dad and mum were married he always did his best to annoy her. Whenever I have to explain why I don’t like my grandmothers I give people Aunt Maria to read.
Finally my friend Rhiannon, who edits all my essays, and stories, wanted me to tell you that she holds you responsible for my dreadful habit of using far too many commas. She also loves your books (which I made her read)
That’s all,
Regards
Chelsea

But now my assignment is two days overdue, so I should really start putting things together, rather than writing a rambling blog post...
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I saw a lecture by Margo Lanagan today, and she was brilliant. Funny and cleaver, and she poked fun of herself, and at the reviewers being so appalled over her novel Tender Morsels. It made me want to read it even more, so I got Bec to put the audio book on my IPod, and I will make Teneal (my sister) buy me a copy for my birthday.