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Charmed Life (Collins Modern Classics)
 
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Charmed Life (Collins Modern Classics) [Illustrated] (Paperback)

by Diana Wynne Jones (Author)
4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Paperback: 272 pages
  • Publisher: Collins; New edition edition (3 Dec 2001)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0007124074
  • ISBN-13: 978-0007124077
  • Product Dimensions: 19.2 x 12.8 x 1.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 365,092 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in this category:

    #55 in  Books > Children's Books > Authors & Illustrators > J > Jones, Diana Wynne

Product Description

Amazon.co.uk Review

Every saga has a beginning. Every journey has a first step...And so it is with the magical "Worlds of Chrestomanci" which English fantasy author Diana Wynne Jones began so many years ago with her own episode one--Charmed Life.

Winner of the Guardian Award for Children's Books, Charmed Life has been a favourite escape to parallel fantastical worlds since 1977, and remains refreshingly captivating and reassuringly addictive in its latest paperback edition with a wonderful new jacket illustration.

The adventure begins in a strange and not-quite contemporary England that is still peppered with paddle steamers, horse-drawn carriages and girls wearing petticoats. Orphans Eric Chant (nicknamed Cat) and his sister Gwendolen, a gifted witch, are whisked away to live in a castle with Chrestromanci, a much-revered man of magic, wealth and mysterious ways. Their new life is full of the surreal and unexpected, and there are several crazy new rules to master--not least by Gwendolen who must learn to channel her astonishing powers for good instead of mischief as she forever seems determined to do!

Chrestomanci is a truly original creation, and Charmed Life introduces this dandy nine-lived enchanter--the king of the regal dressing gown--and his associated colourful characters in a story of pace and substance, twists and turns, treachery and bravado. There's also humour amid the author's very immediate writing, and enough puzzles and mystery to keep an inquisitive mind captivated until the very end.

Charmed Life is followed by three more full-length Chrestromanci novels--The Magicians of Caprona, Witch Week, The Lives of Christopher Chant and by a collection of short stories, Mixed Magics. All are equally inventive. (Ages 10 and over) --John McLay --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.



Review

"!Her hallmarks include laugh-aloud humour, plenty of magic and imaginative array of alternate worlds. Yet, at the same time, a great seriousness is present in all of her novels, a sense of urgency that links Jones's most outrageous plots to her readers' hopes and fears!" Publishers Weekly

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Customer Reviews

30 Reviews
5 star:
 (24)
4 star:
 (4)
3 star:
 (1)
2 star:
 (1)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.7 out of 5 stars (30 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A Classic, 8 May 2000
By A Customer
Don't judge this book by its ugly new cover. I first read CHARMED LIFE when I was a mere 7 years old, 18 years ago. I have been rereading it every two or three years since, and rediscovering bits to it I hadn't remembered from the last time around. This is a brilliant, witty, unexpected, endearing, interesting, fun, exciting, scary, fascinating, hilarious book, and once you've finished reading it, you'll want to rush off and read everything else ever written by Diana Wynne Jones. Don't just stick to Chrestomanci. Try ARCHER'S GOON. Or THE HOMEWARD BOUNDERS. Or HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE. Do yourself a favor - stop wasting time reading my review and hurry up and get yourself a copy of this book.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Scarey,mysterious and unpredictable all in one, amazing!, 10 Dec 2000
By A Customer
Diana Wynne Jones obviosly writes fantastic books,Charmed life the best of them all. Why read Harry Potter and Narnia when you can read about Cat and Gwendolynn's adventures in Chrestomanci Castle? This book should win all the major book awards in my opinion and alot of other peoples opinion.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant addictive book!!!, 23 Jul 2003
By Lizzy Daws (Lincolnshire, United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
I first started reading this book because I had read 'Witch Week' and started to get addicted to it. When I got 'Charmed Life' I couldn't put it down it is brilliant!
I've read it so much the pages are going black and falling out!
Great book for Harry Potter, Hobbit and magical-fanasty fans!!
I got sort of stumped when there weren't any more books in the 'Chrestomanci Chronicles'!
But don't stop (I didn't) I read others by Diana there just as good and addictive.

Diana's books keep you reading because of the brilliance of it and make you wish there is more of it when you get to the end.

This book is my fav of the lot I've read (and I've read alot)!!!
So BUY IT NOW!!!

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Read.
I bought this book about 5 years ago (genrally because I had 'Witch Week' and I wanted the whole series, although I hadn't read it. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Blue Shoes

4.0 out of 5 stars Charmed Life - what a great book !!
hey y'all- CHarmed life is a reeeaaallly good book. I like it alot cause it kinda welcomes me into the world of magic myself. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Hillary Duffy

5.0 out of 5 stars a wonderful read
some books just have magic. I loved this one- far more exciting than Harry Potter which just seems repetitive! Read more
Published on 6 Nov 2006 by tiggycat

5.0 out of 5 stars Charmed Life by Diana Wynne Jones
This book has to be my faviourite of all time! I read it as a child, and although i had a rough idea of what was going to happen, Diana kept me guessing right up to the end! Read more
Published on 1 Mar 2004

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant addictive book!!!
I first started reading this book because I had read 'Witch Week' and started to get addicted to it. When I got 'Charmed Life' I couldn't put it down it is brilliant! Read more
Published on 23 Jul 2003 by Lizzy Daws

4.0 out of 5 stars A children's book that adults will enjoy
As one of Diana Wynne Jones' Chrestomanci books, Charmed Life is merely very good - by other standards it is excellent. Read more
Published on 9 Jun 2002

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best books ever written
This book is the first in a series of four, and personally, I think this one is the best. With an amazing and clever storyline, you never know what will quite happen next! Read more
Published on 23 Mar 2002

4.0 out of 5 stars Very nearly brilliant
Excellent book but suffers in comparison to the Great Harry Potter but still a fantastic read full of interesting happenings and strange characters. Read more
Published on 19 Jul 2001 by polly

5.0 out of 5 stars Better than Harry Potter
I love this book so much! Cat Chant is loveable and Gwendolen is a strong hateable character. I swear this book has glue on the edges cos once you pick it up you don't put it down... Read more
Published on 23 Jun 2001

5.0 out of 5 stars I WANT TO MARRY CHRESTOMANCI! (OR HOWL)
This is a really, really good book - read it now! Gwendolen is so hateable and Chrestomanci is so wonderful! The castle is amazing - pink marble stairs! A fabulous, wonderous book!
Published on 9 Jun 2001

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