This is the only book by Diana Wynne Jones that I've read that I didn't like.

I was rather creeped out by Thomas and Polly's friendship, especially as this book has a sort of realist feel to it and I know that in the real world an adult man being that friendly with a little girl would not be normal. Not that I think Thomas meant anything sinister by it, but it set off my squick radar. That might just be my personal sensibilities, though, so on to the rest of the book:

At times, the story was interesting, but at other times it was just plain confusing - in fact, I'd still be hard pressed to tell you what actually happened at the end, because I read it a good three times and still don't get it. I vividly remember realizing that I'd just read ten pages and had absolutely no idea what had just gone on. I think it was meant to be a very dramatic, climactic confrontation, but instead of being on the edge of my seat I was just confused. I've got no issue with complicated narratives or things where all the information isn't laid out with perfect neatness, but here I just don't feel like I got enough information to understand it sufficiently. ( )

Polly Whittaker is getting ready to go back to college when something triggers a memory she didn’t realize she had. This starts her on a search to discover what had happened to her in the past that she no longer remembers.

Diana Wynne Jones has crafted an exciting and mysterious fantasy novel using the legends of Tam Lin and Thomas the Rhymer as the basis of her story. Polly discovers her past has many layers and a best friend that she doesn’t remember. The riddle of the past must be solved before she can go onto the future. Although this is a YA book, readers of any age who love of good fantasy tales will enjoy this book. 3 ½ stars ( )

Polly has been looking at the picture above her bed. With its dark figures, smoky flames and sense of foreboding, it has always fascinated her. And its name, 'Fire and Hemlock' that seems to link to a story in the book she is holding.

But why is the story not there? As she searches her memory for the answer, other things suddenly pop out at her, events that don't fit with what she remembers, with the path her life has seemed to travel.

And then, the memories begin to fall into place. Thomas Lynn, her best friend that has been erased from her mind; the adventures they went on that seemed to always be coming true; that house. The house where it started with a funeral.

This was a spine tingling, dark and mysterious fantasy that has truly shown this writer at the top of her game. With multi-layered characters, events that don't quite make sense, and the Leroys that keep coming back, I couldn't help but read this into the early hours of the morning.

Every part of the plot is stunningly constructed, with Polly's various sections of her life all vividly real, and as they are revealed, you cannot help being drawn in. This held the kind of darkness that many fantasy writers can only dream of. That doesn't need to involve graphic violence or gratuitous death, but that sucks you in and leaves you holding your breath as the characters become more and more tangled in the vast web.

I started this at 8.30pm, and finished at 4am. Surely there can be no better recommendation than the inability to put a book down to sleep.

A spine chilling fantasy with twists and turns that suck you in ( )

Loved this when Janet lent it to me, and the kind ceb-fairy bought it for me for my birthday, so happy to read it again. Wonderful fantasy novel of the best sort, mixing old myth and fairy tale with modern life and young people. Recommended to all. ( )

I had to buy this because I lost my original copy. One of my favourite books as a teen was Pamela Dean's Tam Lin, so this story always suffered by comparison. But it is still a wonderfully crafted tale of growing up, of memory, and the ways reality can be shaped.
I'd give this to fans of magical realism/urban fantasy. ( )

Nineteen year old Polly is packing to for her return to university when she discovers that she has a second set of memories of the past nine years. It starts at funeral which she gatecrashed and where she met Thomas Lynn. She and Tom write letters to each other, detailing the adventures of their heroic alter-egos, adventures which seem to have a habit of coming true. But now, nine years later, Polly is remembering that she did something awful, but what?
This is my favourite book and I reread it every year. I love Tam Lin retellings and this is the best, but I love it for Polly herself besides. Each time I reread it I hope that maybe this time I will understand the ending, but then again if I do I might want to read it less.

From the cover, the title and what I have read of other Diana Wynne Jones novels, I expected a blantantly magical world - different, confusing and not my own. What I found was reality, and somehow I have to say that's the book's greatest strength.

To quote Amazon: A photograph called "Fire and Hemlock" that has been on the wall since her childhood. A story in a book of supernatural stories - had Polly read it before under a different title? Polly, packing to return to college, is distracted by picture and story, clues from the past stirring memories. But why should she suddenly have memories that do not seem to correspond to the facts?
Polly's 'flash-back' memories start at age 10, when she accidentally crashes a funeral and meets cellist Thomas Lynn. Together they make up stories in which they are heroes, Tan Coul and his assistant Hero. However, their stories have a strange way of coming true, and Tom's ex-wife and her family appear to have sinister designs on Tom - and Polly, when she refuses to give Tom's friendship up.

Set in England during the 80s, the story follows Polly's relationship with Tom Lynn (through letters, books and occasional meetings), her struggles with her divorced and negligent parents and the usual complications of adolescence, inter-weaving them with the ballads of Tam Lin and Thomas the Rhymer.
The story is very real - Polly's family issues painfully so, and are countered by the story's vitality, warmth and wonderful characters (Polly's parents and the bad guys excluded, obviously). One of the wonderful aspect of Mr Lynn's relationship with Polly as a child is the way takes her seriously and is honest with her creative endevours. (I also love the way he sends her books.) The reflections and insights into the pains of growing up are honest and acute, and Polly's strength in surviving them admirable.

Fire and Hemlock is captivating and wonderful, vividly described and told in four parts and a coda - with each part cleverly given a music speed (allegro vivace, andante cantabile, allegro con fuoco, presto molto agitato and scherzando). Like an onion (or is it an ogre?) it has many layers. One of its strengths is that for the most part, things aren't explained - the fantasy element is also a mystery one, and in consequence of being vague, is sinister and intriguing. It's not blatantly a romantic story, either - for the most part, things are subtle and refreshingly so.

But, the subtly does cause difficulties with the ending. There is no tidy, clear explanation of what happens, and instead of the reality with hints of fantasy that is most of the book, this is fantasy (with hints of reality). The ending is rushed, vague, and disconcerting - it requires a few readings to get it all straight, along with a lot of guesswork and reading between the lines. Polly rushes in, instinctively knowing rules which are not explained and combined with a few twists and the parallels (or parallels twisted) with the ballads and Faerie Queen, confusion puts it mildly.
However, the ultimate conclusion is necessarily subtle, as it involves a paradox and finding a loophole - and would be counteracted by being more explicit. The story would also lose something by being spelt-out - working things out for yourself is part of the appeal, as is the cryptic manner they are presented in. There is also a reason why Polly knows, mentioned much, much earlier.
Luckily I knew a (very) little bit about Tam Lin, and between that and the quotes preceeding each chapter, had enough of an idea. I suspect knowing more would help.

Which is the long way of saying this mixture of reality and fantasy is wonderful and brilliant, and highly recommended. ( )

A story within a story within a story. The book opens with its main character, Polly, musing over some confusing memories. They began when she was ten years old, dressed up in black for Halloween and accidentally intruded upon a funeral. A kind man named Thomas Lynn helped her sneak out again (but not undetected) and she engaged him in her game of "Let's Pretend"- creating alternative identities for them both as heroes-in-training. Thus began a lifelong friendship. Lynn was a musician and frequently traveled, but for years they wrote letters back and forth full of invented stories about their hero alter egos, and he constantly sent her books. Polly values Lynn's friendship- her own father is often absent- but neither her mum or grandmother approve of him. Now some people from the funeral house are spying on her, and then aspects of the stories she and Lynn have made up begin appearing in the real world. Polly begins to realize something unusual is going on, but she can't figure out what, and when she finally does, it may just be too late...

A large part of this book is about Polly growing up, and how the relationships of the characters change. All of the them are interesting: Polly's stern and wise grandmother, suspicious and unhappy mother, bossy extroverted friend Nina, the dignified kindly Lynn himself, and many many others.But underneath there's another story being told. Knowing the ballad of Tam Lin really helps in understanding it. Even so, the closing scene is very confusing. After reading it several times over I'm still not sure what happened there.

From the Dog Ear Diary ( )

http://geraniumcatsbookshelf.blogspot... ( )

Polly is 19 when she picks up a copy of "Times of out Mind" edited by L Perry which has a cover reminding her of her Fire and Hemlock photograph. Looking through the short stories in the book she feels like it should have a different title and one the stories is missing. When she looks around her room other things seem to be missing too, like the photograph she stole, so she casts her memory back to nearly 9 years ago to the night she first met Tom Lynne at a funeral she accidentally gatecrashed. Since meeting Tom it seems up to the age of 15 she has two sets of memories, one with Tom and one without. She sets off to find out why Tom Lynne has been erased from her memory and the rest of the worlds.

Polly was a great character who really grew during the novel. She starts off quite timid and easily lead by her friend Nina, but later on ends up at Oxford University leading her own life and making her own decisions. I loved how much she read as a child despite people like her mother telling her it is a waste of time and suts her off from real life. I really felt for her during her parents divorce, being turned out by her mother and finding out her father isn't the man she thought he was. I think the reading and divorce struck a big cord with me and made me really associate with Polly as it was so like my own upbringing.

Each chapter has a small quote from Tam Lin or Thomas the Rhymer and I feel I would have got a lot more from this story if I knew both tales better. I hope to read them both and then give this another read. I liked that Tom wasn't always over indulgent with Polly, at times he sent quite abrupt messages to her pretend ideas which made it more realistic and I liked the blending of the two different myths/fairy tales.

This will appeal to Young Adult readers, Fantasy and Fairy Tale fans as well as anyone who plainly likes a good story. ( )

Before I began to read I was unfamiliar with the Tam Lin legend and had to quickly mug up.

I've read only one other Diana Wynne Jones book, 'Conrad's Fate', which was a much lighter and funnier affair than 'Fire and Hemlock'. The latter begins when Polly is nineteen - which came as a bit of a shock, as the 'voice' was that of a much younger girl and I had to do a quick mental re-adjustment. Polly is confused because nothing seems quite as it should be and she appears to have two sets of memories. She tries to think back to her 10-year-old self, and remembers a funeral she gatecrashed, and her first meeting with Thomas Lynn. Together they make up stories, featuring a hero called Tan Coul, and his assistant Hero.

I must admit, as an adult reader, I wasn't entirely happy about the friendship between a 10-year-old girl and an adult man who is effectively a stranger. I think I could have accepted this better if other parts of the story weren't so realistically grim, e.g. the divorce of Polly's parents, and Polly's Mum being jealous of Polly when her boyfriend lodger, David, seems to be getting on a bit too well with Polly. However, none of the reviewers on either Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com mentioned this aspect of the story, so maybe it's just me.

Polly is pretty much neglected by both parents, who are wrapped up in their own lives and relationships with new partners. Only Granny shows Polly any kind of real care. The setting is clearly 1980s England - the decade is mentioned, and we know that Polly's father lives in Bristol. Having had no contact with Thomas Lynn for several years, 19-year-old Polly is suddenly reminded of him when regarding her 'fire and hemlock' picture.

The story of Polly and Thomas' friendship is touching - but would be more so, for me, if Polly had been older, or Thomas an actual relative, as I would then have found it easier to understand Thomas' interest in a child. My slightly creepy feelings about this relationship were only compounded by the ending.

The ending itself I found over-complicated, over-detailed, confusing, and disappointing. It all works out very neatly according to the legends, but I was left wholly unconvinced. The whole thing just seemed silly by this point. I can see that it was meant to be thrilling, and that Laurel is meant to come across as sinister, but this didn't work for me at all.

Overall, worth reading, but for my money the first half of the book is far more engaging than the second. [July 2006] ( )

I love the atmosphere in this title--my favorite of Jones in many ways--but the rather lame ending ruins it. Not enough to remove it from my collection though! ( )

Thie multilayered work has many rewards for the thoughtful reader, especially on re-reading. It touches on folklore, the English class system, memory, family. ( )

This is one of my all-time favourite books - I first read it when I was about 14 and was obsessed about mythology and magic, and have since re-read it countless times and discovered something new every time. It also struck a chord being the child of divorced parents, and DWJ handles the subject-matter sensitively, but without being obtuse about the loneliness of Polly's childhood. ( )

Seriously, this was the worst book I've ever read. It was very uninteresting to me. ( )

I read this book years ago in middle school and loved it. The shifting of memory and the mix of fantasy with reality really struck a chord with me. ( )

ALA Booklist
“Complex . . . subtle . . . compelling reading.”

I really enjoyed this book. The character development was great and believable. The plot was excellent and led me to read other versions of Tam Lin and Thomas the Rhymer. The ending was entirely unexpected and satifactory. ( )

The most fascinating book I've ever read. ( )

An outstanding children's book which was out of print for many years. Beautifully written, and successfully combines fantasy/mythological elements with a realistic late 20C setting. ( )

One of my favourites. A modern retelling of the Tam Lin myth, full of character and a wonderfully compelling read. Some find it bewildering and hard to follow but it's always made sense to me.

http://www.leemac.freeserve.co.uk/arc... ( )

I. LOVE. THIS. BOOK.

http://www.lonelymountain.net/books/f... ( )

probably my favorite dwj. i first read it at 12 and have re-read countless times since; i find something new each time. ( )

I somehow missed running across this in childhood, but found it now mentioned in lists of books based on the ballad Tam Lin; therefore, I had to read it. Overall I really enjoyed it, but the passage of time and tracking what was flashback and what was present was confusing the first time through. The themes of Tam Lin are evident. The final battle scene continues to perplex me even on rereading the book two years later. I like this book enough to order a hardcover copy for the shelf. My mass-market reading copy already appears quite beat-up considering it's only been read twice by me and once by Kaese. ( )