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4.23 AVERAGE
4.23 AVERAGE
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
I obsess over reading order (should it follow the internal chronology, or the publication date, or some other order), ever since The Chronicles of Narnia ... the Chrestomanci series are particularly tricky because, depending where you are, Chrestomanci (which is a title) might not be the same Chrestomanci as the last time you read one of "his" books.
That said, I'd come to this one later. This is the first one chronologically, but it's infinitely more rewarding (and moving) if you arrive here late. At the very least, read Charmed Life first, and then you can do the rest chronologically if you must, beginning with a sort of flashback.
And (in case it doesn't go without saying) it's wonderful.
(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s). I feel a lot of readers automatically render any book they enjoy 5, I'm a bit more ruthless.
That said, I'd come to this one later. This is the first one chronologically, but it's infinitely more rewarding (and moving) if you arrive here late. At the very least, read Charmed Life first, and then you can do the rest chronologically if you must, beginning with a sort of flashback.
And (in case it doesn't go without saying) it's wonderful.
(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s). I feel a lot of readers automatically render any book they enjoy 5, I'm a bit more ruthless.
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
Probably one of my favourites from the series, because it is just so compelling and imaginative. Well, of course, they all are quite fantastic and totally out of this world, but I liked seeing young Christopher. Plus, I totally have this thing for the name Christopher.
I think I tried shamelessly imitating it when I was in Grade Seven--or at least tried to. I had a dream where a kid kept dying over and over but had however many lives left over in him, and he'd go to different worlds through at night (SHAMELESS ripoff, though I did, you know, change the names? That should be worth something) because this book totally infected my brain in youth, and still does now.
Basically, I wish I were [author: Diana Wynne Jones]. She writes the best male characters ever, making them charming and prissy and vain and dashing and, in the end, always proving to be more selfless than they want people to think.
Additionally, I love the way that Diana works magic. Her characters are so often magical without ever realising it, and the reader doesn't always notice it right away either.
Diana's books are choice, really. I'd pick her over Rowling any day.
I think I tried shamelessly imitating it when I was in Grade Seven--or at least tried to. I had a dream where a kid kept dying over and over but had however many lives left over in him, and he'd go to different worlds through at night (SHAMELESS ripoff, though I did, you know, change the names? That should be worth something) because this book totally infected my brain in youth, and still does now.
Basically, I wish I were [author: Diana Wynne Jones]. She writes the best male characters ever, making them charming and prissy and vain and dashing and, in the end, always proving to be more selfless than they want people to think.
Additionally, I love the way that Diana works magic. Her characters are so often magical without ever realising it, and the reader doesn't always notice it right away either.
Diana's books are choice, really. I'd pick her over Rowling any day.
My 10 and 12yo and I had such a ball reading this that we immediately returned to re-read Charmed Life, for which this is a prequel. There is so much here that is echoed in the Harry Potter series, like magical ring trains and a cranky magical ginger cat.
I really loved this book. It was wonderfully written, beautifully executed, and thoroughly enjoyable. It was really fun, the children were believable, and I adore the cat. I love the sense of morality and and draw to kindness present throughout the novel, as well as the desire to preserve the lives of those who only have one. I would highly recommend this book. To anyone, really.