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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Cat and Gwendolyn, recently orphaned are sent to live with the great Chrestomanci! Magical antics ensue!
This gets 4 stars for childhood nostalgia, it holds up pretty well! Narrator was also quite good
This gets 4 stars for childhood nostalgia, it holds up pretty well! Narrator was also quite good
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Parallel worlds, some with magic, and a very special one where the Chant siblings move from place to place after being orphaned.
Eric Chant, better known as Cat is a very reluctant hero who remains passive for most part of the story though he redeems his lack of action at the end when he gets to understand what has been happening around him. Without him knowing.
Diana Wynne Jones will always be among my favorite writers.
Eric Chant, better known as Cat is a very reluctant hero who remains passive for most part of the story though he redeems his lack of action at the end when he gets to understand what has been happening around him. Without him knowing.
Diana Wynne Jones will always be among my favorite writers.
adventurous
funny
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:
Yes
I read a couple of the Chrestomanci books as a child (I think it was probably #3 and #4), and loved them dearly so I figured I'd re-read the series in full when I was older. Theyre just as wonderful and lush as I remember, and Diana Wynne Jones paints a beautiful and intriguing picture of these multiple magic-filled worlds. She's able to create great fictional characters that incite intense feelings in the reader, whether it be total hatred or total empathy.
A great example of this was Cat/Eric's sister Gwendolen. I hated her with a passion, and at times I was literally sitting there and fuming as I read about her despicable activities. At first she just annoyed the hell out of me for being an obnoxious, spoiled brat, but then as the extent of her evil antics was gradually revealed, I found my hatred for her growing to the point where I found myself wanting to stab a fictional character. She wasn't just obnoxious, she was truly fricken repulsive. The way she preyed on her brother was horrific >=| *stabs*
But with that being sad, the way Cat/Eric constantly submitted to his sister was annoying as well. In the end he got her back and he finally grew a bit stronger, but it was painful to see him being such a submissive little child along the way. I just wanted to poke him and yell "MAN UP", and I was behind Janet all the way when she yelled at him to stop defending his manipulative sister.
Overall, another great book from Diana Wynne Jones, and I cant wait to dive into the next one. She creates wonderful characters that I cant help but get attached to - even if I utterly hate them - and her worlds are figuratively and literally magical. They're great childrens books, but they have an element to them that makes them also readable for adults.
A great example of this was Cat/Eric's sister Gwendolen. I hated her with a passion, and at times I was literally sitting there and fuming as I read about her despicable activities. At first she just annoyed the hell out of me for being an obnoxious, spoiled brat, but then as the extent of her evil antics was gradually revealed, I found my hatred for her growing to the point where I found myself wanting to stab a fictional character. She wasn't just obnoxious, she was truly fricken repulsive. The way she preyed on her brother was horrific >=| *stabs*
But with that being sad, the way Cat/Eric constantly submitted to his sister was annoying as well. In the end he got her back and he finally grew a bit stronger, but it was painful to see him being such a submissive little child along the way. I just wanted to poke him and yell "MAN UP", and I was behind Janet all the way when she yelled at him to stop defending his manipulative sister.
Overall, another great book from Diana Wynne Jones, and I cant wait to dive into the next one. She creates wonderful characters that I cant help but get attached to - even if I utterly hate them - and her worlds are figuratively and literally magical. They're great childrens books, but they have an element to them that makes them also readable for adults.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A very charming little book, definitely captures the whimsical fantasy vibes i was looking for. Chrestomanci is a very memorable character who steals any scene he is in, and the protagonist Cat grew on me a lot over the course of the story.
My biggest problems come down to some 1970s isms, such as the depiction of physical punishments to children and a few fatphobic comments, and one out-of-nowehere line that was pretty racist and so out of fashion i am surprised it was in my edition from the 2000s.
However, overall, its a lovely little story and i will definitely carry on with the Chrestomanci books, and Jones' work overall.
My biggest problems come down to some 1970s isms, such as the depiction of physical punishments to children and a few fatphobic comments, and one out-of-nowehere line that was pretty racist and so out of fashion i am surprised it was in my edition from the 2000s.
However, overall, its a lovely little story and i will definitely carry on with the Chrestomanci books, and Jones' work overall.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Fatphobia
Minor: Racism