The first of McKillip

I just got around to typing these up--I've had them written out for a couple years.

I adore the writing of Patricia A. McKillip. This isn't even my favorite book of hers, but I still love the language. Her stories are more like poetry than prose. Reading her novels (and not all of them are in this style) made me realize the importance of each word. I can only hope to write as half as beautifully as her. (Patricia A. McKillip has shown me how to form language, especially description. Peter S. Beagle, among others, showed me the importance of capturing the reader's emotions, though I am still struggling to learn how. A.S. Byatt showed me how to write stories within stories.) One day, I shall get around to writing more letters to authors.

I've said this isn't my favorite book, but there are still parts of it that I love. One of my favorites is how the prince wears glasses and is always losing or breaking them. (Finally! A character in a fantasy novel with glasses!) He's also learning how to be a mage, and at one point accidentally breaks every mirror in the castle.

Quotes from The Book of Atrix Wolfe
By Patricia A. McKillip

( And there are lots of delicious descriptions of food )

I would love to be able to make icons using quotes from her books. Many of the covers are done by Kinuko Y. Craft, whose art is amazing.

Several other McKillip books written in this style:
--The Tower at Stony Wood (My favorite, and the first one I read.)
--Ombria in Shadow
--Harrowing the Dragon (collection of short stories)
--Song for the Basilisk
--In the Forests of Serre (Baba Yaga wears green sunglasses!)