Customer Reviews

The Chrestomanci Series 1 Charmed Life

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Excellent book. I had never heard of Diana Wynne Jones before but stumbled upon Charmed Life after reading a comment by Neil Gaiman on how significant a writer Jonwa has been for the past 30 years. I have to say of all the books I've read of hers, this has been by far the best; captivating from the beginning, with just enough of Roald Dahl & Charles Dickins as reference points but more than enough invention to keep me interested. The complicated sibling relationship and use of other worlds this book foreshadows everything from J.K. Rowling to Philip Pullman while providing a great introduction to full on fantasy. I highly recommend this book.

Older than and superior to Harry Potter is: Chrestomanci, the tales of the world's most powerful enchanter, and the magical worlds that he goes through. This particular tale starts off very slow, but rapidly turns into a magical adventure at Chrestomanci's castle.

Gwendolen and Cat Chant lose their parents in a tragic paddleboat accident, and end up having to live with a mildly talented local witch. But it soon becomes evident that though Cat has no magical powers, Gwendolen has enough for several people. She's so powerful and skilled, in fact, that she attracts the interest of Chrestomanci, who has her and Cat brought to his castle. But then things start to deteriorate. Gwendolen is an arrogant, spoiled girl who seems to think that since she has magic, she isn't restricted by the same rules as the others. She isn't allowed to do magic, pick the plants, mouth off to Chrestomanci's kids or the teachers, she has to do math and ordinary lessons. Gwendolen finds that Chrestomanci, not her, is the ruler of the castle -- and she doesn't like that at all. (Oh yeah -- she also wants to rule the world) Cat likes being at the castle, is intimidated by Chrestomanci, and likes hanging out with Chrestomanci's two kids.

So she starts off on a one-witch campaign to make Chrestomanci notice and respect her: She infests the lawn with moles, causes apparitions in the windows, giant earthworms, fighting stained glass windows -- and then propels herself into another world, leaving her double with Cat. Cat must learn more about himself, his hidden power, and gain Chrestomanci's help before things get even worse.

This book starts off slowly -- the first twenty pages are pretty dull, chronicling the background of Cat and Gwendolen and how they came to live with Mrs. Sharp. Not very magical. But things pick up as soon as Chrestomanci comes into the picture, and the magical goings-on are sprightly and delightful.

As always, Jones shows great insight into kids' minds: Though Cat seems a little too passive at first, kids will like him, as they will the calm Roger and Julia. People who've read "Lives of Christopher Chant" will also see a familiar face in Chrestomanci's wife Milly. Chrestomanci is, as always, dapper and intelligent and cool-headed and thoroughly enjoyable.

Though this book is compared to Harry Potter, it's superior in every way. Jones never tries to dazzle us with wow-isn't-that-amazing? magic, and her jokes never descend to low humor -- for example, the dueling stained glass windows, and the earrings that scream "I BELONG TO CAROLINE CHANT!" so they'll never get lost. As this is another world where magic is prevalent over science (due to different events long ago), the magic is more casual. There is also respect for authority figures (Chrestomanci); kids who don't save the world entirely on their own, but do play a pivotal part in it; and her villains aren't bad just because they ARE: Gwendolen is merely a brat with magical powers.

This is a delightful fantasy book for all ages, especially for kids who feel oppressed by their siblings. (Read the rest of the series too!)

First things first. I love fantasy. I read everything fantasy that I can get my hands on. I search libraries high and low for good fantasy novels. I discovered Diana Wynne Jones long before Harry Potter came out and was entranced by the world of Chrestomanci. Then the Harry Potter books came out and I read them. I enjoyed them very much, but they are not in any way comparable to the Chrestomanci or Dalemark quartets by Diana Wynne Jones. I have read articles in newspapers saying that Diana's books are good to read while waiting for thhe next Harry Potter book to come out or that her books are ALMOST as good as Harry Potter. Diana is not getting the credit she deserves. Maybe I am biased because I am annoyed with Harry Potter Mania, but I have read Diana's books over and over, enjoying them every time, and that is more than I can say about Harry Potter. No offense to J.K. Rowlings. Anyway, Charmed Life is a spectacular book. It is not my favorite in the series(I'm not sure what the best book in the series is),but it is a wonderful example of Diana's spectacular writing skills. Cat's parent's died in a tragic boating accident when he was very young and his older sister Gwendolen and he are given into the care of a witch named Mrs. Sharp. Then a mysterious and elegant man called Chrestomanci who may or may not be an enchanter takes them to live with him and his children, Julia and Roger. Cat looks up enormously Gwendolen and is extremely loyal to her, so when she takes dislike to Chrestomanci after he forbids her to do witchcraft and begins plotting nasty things to do to him, Cat just watches. Cat feels betrayed and is devastated when Gwendolen leaves his world in a fit of rage and drags a girl from another world to replace her. What happens then is for you to find out when you read the book.

The two novels in this volume are easily the most complex and interesting stories in the Chrestomanci series, and really the ones that the rest hang upon, because they really explain who and what the "Chrestomanci" is, and the role he plays in the fascinating universe Diana Wynne Jones has created. This is fantasy at its best, well written and very inventive, with characters that seem both familiar and bizarrely unique. It is, I suppose, not life-changing fiction but it keeps you there and makes you care and gives an opportunity to wonder. (It is no accident that Hayao Miyazaki based his latest film - Howl's Moving Castle -- on one of Jones' novels: they seem to have imaginations that operate on the same wavelength; like him, she is endlessly inventive and capable of a sublime blending of the supernatural and the ordinary, and loves finding magic in machines, and has an obsession with cats.)

The basic premise of the "Chrestomanci multiverse" is that every time there is a major event that "changes" the world, the world actually divides into two alternate realities, one in which the event occurs and one in which it doesn't. Somehow, though, while the possibilities might seem infinite there are a limited number of possibilities that resemble the one Chrestomanci inhabits enough to warrant his general attention and concern. Within each major world variation, there are nine alternates (don't ask why just nine) that are apparently unified because they have the "same" people doing different things in them. It sometimes happens, though, that an individual within one of those realities has no parallel in the others, and so the "lives" that would belong to the other realities actually belong to him or her. Such a nine-lived individual has powerful magic and becomes a likely candidate for taking over the position of the British-hired Chrestomanci (think a mixture of Rowling's Minister of Magic for an indication of his range of responsibilities, with Head of Hogwarts for his overall competency).

Speaking of Rowling, some have compared Jones to Rowling and there are some interesting parallels -- so many that it is hard not to think that Rowling had at least read some of Diane Wynne Jones' stories. Still, I don't agree with others who say Jones is a better writer than Rowling. There is a way in which she is: for her elegance of prose, her compactness of style, for the overall simplicity and completeness of her stories. Still, I think that Rowling is superior because what Jones doesn't try to do Rowling does very well. Jones creates another world whose basic features are similar to ours, but is different in specifiable ways. In that sense it is pure fantasy, a work of the imagination that she can tinker with and alter in various stories but is basically self-contained and organized in such a way that each story can be really complete. Rowling fits her story of another world into THIS world and sets herself with what seems to me a much more difficult task of accommodating her fantasy to the unknown and improbable and strange and unfinished character of any story set in this real world. The edges in any such story are unwieldy and it is a real tribute to Rowling (though in no way a criticism of Jones who has other aims) that she can wield them so well.

If you do not know the Chrestomanci series yet, this is the book to begin with, according to the author, and it is also the first that was written, although some written later take place earlier in the chronology of the story.

The Chrestomanci Series will please those who like "Howl's Moving Castle" and the books that follow it, as this series has more of less the same kind of humour and adventure.

This first book I like especially, as I find the characters and situations particularly touching.

This was a nice little book and I would suggest it for parents to read to their children; for 8-12yr olds to read themselves; or for 20-odd somthings who like reading children's fantasy. It has interesting characters, just enough little plot twists, and sequels -- what more could you ask for.

A brief summary: A boy named Cat Chant and his sister -- who is a witch -- move to Chrestomanci Castle after an unfortunate accident leaves them orphans. While his sister is a talented up-an-coming little witch, Cat himself seems to have no magical gift whatsoever. Things start to get interesting when Chrestomanci, one of the most powerful enchanters in the Related Worlds, offers to have them educated at his castle. Only Cat doesn't seem to realize that his sister's motivations might not have his best intentions in mind... Not giving anything away, this is a good starting point for the whole Chrestomanci series (though it's not the chronological start).

If you enjoy light fantasy with some new ideas and a world that resembles ours (but not too closely), I'd reccommend you give it a try!

Mrs. Jones is an amazing writer! In this book you will be appaled, entranced, and amazed by her use of words and her swiftness,cleverness, and wit. Be ready to meet new faces, places, and things in the Christomanci Novels. Enjoy them as well as i did!
P.S. THEY MAKE GREAT CHRISTMAS PRESENTS/ BIRTHDAY ALSO!

Since I bought this book, I haven't been able to put it down. I have probably read it at least thirty times since last July. The book is made up of two previously published novels featuring the nine-lived enchanter Chrestomanci, who controls the use of magic in his alternate fantasy world.

The first book tells of Cat Chant and his sister Gwendolen. They were sent to live with Chrestomanci after their parents died in a boating accident. Gwendolen is a witch, and figures that Chrestomanci admires her talent. But when it turns out he doesn't, Gwendolen wants to take revenge. When her schemes fail, she resorts to running away to a differant fantasy world, leaving Cat to deal with the double that she left behind and a tangle of other problems. This book is so complicated and full of surprising twists and turns, you have to read it for yourself. There is a lot more to it than I said here.

The second book takes you back to tell about Chrestomanci's childhood, when he was just plain old Christopher Chant. He has the power to travel to alternate worlds, and can even bring back objects from them. When his Uncle Ralph finds out, he begins to exploit Christopher, and gets him involved with a ring of inter-world thieves. Then things get even more tricky when it is discovered that Christopher is a nine-lived enchanter who must become the next Chrestomanci. Add trying to save a foreign Goddess from being killed so she can go to boarding school, defeating his Uncle, and adjusting to living in Chrestomanci castle, and you get some, but not all, of this fascinating book.

Both of these books are highly reccommended. I think they are really good books for advanced readers who can understand all the interconnected elements and complicated plots. Both of these books are impossible to describe and praise at a level they deserve, so you have to read them for yourself and see. They are classics. Everybody should read them!

please please read this book is so good it got two parts. the 2nd part is 20 or somtin years befor the other and its realy fun to be able to read and guess whats wrong or what will happen. but it doesnt rrealy give it away it just makes it fun please please read this book its so good i know i say this alot but i guess luck is with me and i read all the good books or some of them. i cant wiat till the next one come out i dont think its out this is fialy new as fare as i can tell.cat has a big clue that i just gave u about him just 18 words away from now! this book is so extreamly cleaver and has so many pieces to put together dont worry if ur alittle slow with clues they all piece together by themselve in the end. in a way is like the book "Holes"
ps if u like magic this is a realy good book
hope i didn't exceed my 1000 words ;)

I liked this book much better than Harry Potter, there were so many twist, turns, and surprises. I could not put this book down for a second without being forced.

The first part of the book is about Cat and his sister Gwendolen. Gwendolen is a very powerful witch, while Cat can't turn buttons into gold. His cunniving sister writes a letter to the most powerful enchanter, the Chestomani to take them in after their parents die in a boating accident. After being denied to practice witchcraft, Gwendolen declares war on the Chrestomanci unleashing horrible pranks. After Gwendolen can't stand living there any more she decides to jump into another world, forcing a replacement to take her place from another world. Cat has to fix the mess she left behind, while finding out some secrets of his own.

The second book which was my favorite is about Chritopher, a boy who can travel to different worlds. He is know as a sprit traveler, as his greedy uncle soon finds out and use him to collect illegal merchandise from the other worlds. Throught his journey he meets a goddess, finds his weaknesses, and dies several times.