House of Many Ways by Diana Wynne Jones
Thursday, January 8, 2009
The popular Wynne Jones hardly needs my review or any reviewer's approval. She's a perennial favorite, and the film version of Howl's Moving Castle, to which this is a sequel (to the book that is, not the film), is never in at the local library. The book does far better than average too, as do most of Wynne Jones' 
offerings. However, I enjoyed this book so much, I just wanted to write about it.
For those expecting a direct pick up from where we left Howl and Sophie, it is not quite that kind of sequel. Instead we are initially introduced to Charmain Baker, an overprotected girl who has never done anything interesting in her life, but who is now taking care of her Great-Uncle's house while he has surgery.
The house itself is weird enough -- the doors don't always open to same places, and there are dishes and dirt everywhere -- then the apprentice wizard who suddenly shows up on the doorstep is even weirder. Weirdest of all are the blue creatures and the evil lubbock that Charmain encounters outside.
Charmain also secures some minor employment at the local castle, and ends up smack in the middle of the royal family's hunt for the "Elfgift," which is supposed to help solve their monetary problems. Called in to help with this issue is our old friend Sophie, with her son and crazy husband in tow. See! It is a sequel after all.
As with Howl's Moving Castle, I love the delightful chaos of this story, as well as the heroine's charmingly practical reactions to the chaos around her. In this respect, Charmain is much like Sophie, although Charmain has a bit of a journey to get to the caliber of a Sophie, it's true. The apprentice who shows up on Great-Uncle William's doorstep, on the other hand, is definitely not a couterpart to Howl. However, his bumblng ways are almost endearing, and watching his growing friendship with Charmain is fun.
The whole book is marked by the good humor and fun that is the trademark of Wynne Jones and ought to have good appeal for both boys and girls ages 10-13.
offerings. However, I enjoyed this book so much, I just wanted to write about it.For those expecting a direct pick up from where we left Howl and Sophie, it is not quite that kind of sequel. Instead we are initially introduced to Charmain Baker, an overprotected girl who has never done anything interesting in her life, but who is now taking care of her Great-Uncle's house while he has surgery.
The house itself is weird enough -- the doors don't always open to same places, and there are dishes and dirt everywhere -- then the apprentice wizard who suddenly shows up on the doorstep is even weirder. Weirdest of all are the blue creatures and the evil lubbock that Charmain encounters outside.
Charmain also secures some minor employment at the local castle, and ends up smack in the middle of the royal family's hunt for the "Elfgift," which is supposed to help solve their monetary problems. Called in to help with this issue is our old friend Sophie, with her son and crazy husband in tow. See! It is a sequel after all.
As with Howl's Moving Castle, I love the delightful chaos of this story, as well as the heroine's charmingly practical reactions to the chaos around her. In this respect, Charmain is much like Sophie, although Charmain has a bit of a journey to get to the caliber of a Sophie, it's true. The apprentice who shows up on Great-Uncle William's doorstep, on the other hand, is definitely not a couterpart to Howl. However, his bumblng ways are almost endearing, and watching his growing friendship with Charmain is fun.
The whole book is marked by the good humor and fun that is the trademark of Wynne Jones and ought to have good appeal for both boys and girls ages 10-13.
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