Castle in the Air by Dianna Wynne Jones

4 stars
R-0

Okay, first off, this should be labelled "sequel" not "companion novel".  You really should read this one BEFORE House of Many Ways.  Things make more sense.

I enjoyed this book.... but I didn't LOVE it until around Chapter 15.  From there to the end, it's totally 5 stars, but that's only about the last third of the book. :)

Now, don't get me wrong, it's a great book all the way through, but it's slower than the other two and so it was a little harder to get through, since I've had a million other things to do this week.  (Not that I've done them all, mind you.)

Abdullah is the focus of this book, and he's from a country far to the south.  When he falls in love with a princess who is then stolen by a djinn, suddenly he finds himself living his daydreams.... and he's not sure that's a good thing!

Really, I think I need to buy all three of these....

I've read and loved Diana Wynne Jones' Chrestomanci books, also, but I've not read many of her others.  What am I missing??  What other titles do I need to check out?!

Counts for the Support Your Local Library challenge.

House of Many Ways by Diana Wynne Jones

5 stars
R-0
Sequel to Howl's Moving Castle

Charmain is a reader.  In fact, she really does nothing else.

But when Aunt Sempronia bullies talks her mother into Charmain taking care of Uncle William's house, that may change.

Between helping the king with his library, keeping an unexpected apprentice out of trouble, figuring out how to do laundry and cook, and keeping the mysterious dog Waif out of trouble, Charmain isn't sure she's thrilled with what she's gotten herself into.

Then a witch named Sophie shows up to help the king... and soon is followed by a two-year-old, a fire demon and a six-year-old named Twinkle.... or is his name really Howl?

All in all, it's quite the adventure!

I really enjoyed this one!  It's a sequel in the sense that it happens after Howl's Moving Castle, but Sophie and Howl and Calcifer are only minor characters.  The story focuses on Charmain, who's not always likeable... but at least she knows that. ;)

Definitely recommended, but read Howl's Moving Castle first so that things make sense.

:)

Counts for the Support Your Local Library challenge!

Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

5 stars
JF/YF

This was such a fun story! Not what I was expecting, but really really enjoyable.

What was I expecting? Something a little more.... anime. After all, that's what the movie is. (Which I haven't seen yet, but it's around here somewhere.)

Diana Wynne Jones never disappoints, I've decided. She may confuse, but she doesn't disappoint.

I was slightly confused by parts of this book, but that may come more from finishing it at about 2 a.m..... Who knows.

Sophie is the eldest of three sisters, and so naturally everyone knows she can never amount to much. The eldest never does, you know. (Hmm... should I take that personally?)

But when her sisters switch places and a witch turns her into an old woman, it appears Sophie will have no choice but to seek her fortune.

Which leads us to Howl, or Pendragon, or Howell, or Jenkins.... whatever you want to call him. The heartless wizard who lives in a moving castle and, as everyone knows, goes about stealing women's souls and eating their hearts. Or something to that effect.

Add in a fire demon with an attitude and a sweet if sometimes daft apprentice and you have a wonderful story.

AND if that wasn't wonderful enough, there are TWO companion books/sequels!! Castle in the Air and House of Many Ways. Which I now need to get my hands on. :D

(Also fabulous are the Chronicles of Crestomanci by Diana Wynne Jones.)