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    Charmed Life
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    Charmed Life
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    Charmed Life
    Audiobook (abridged)3 hours

    Charmed Life

    Written by Diana Wynne Jones

    Narrated by Tom Baker

    4/5

    ()

    Unavailable in your country

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    About this audiobook

    The first of the Chrestomanci novels – full of magical adventure! Read by Tom Baker.

    Everybody says that Gwendolyn Chant is a gifted witch with astonishing powers, so it suits her enormously when she is taken to live in Chrestomanci Castle. Her brother Eric (better known as Cat) is not so keen, for he has no talent for magic at all.

    However, life with the great enchanter is not what either of them expects and sparks begin to fly!

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins
    Release dateDec 6, 2012
    ISBN9780007508464
    Unavailable
    Charmed Life
    Author

    Diana Wynne Jones

    DIANA WYNNE JONES was born in August 1934 in London, where she had a chaotic and unsettled childhood against the background of World War II. The family moved around a lot, finally settling in rural Essex. As children, Diana and her two sisters were deprived of a good, steady supply of books by a father, ‘who could beat Scrooge in a meanness contest’. So, armed with a vivid imagination and an insatiable quest for good books to read, she decided that she would have to write them herself.

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    Reviews for Charmed Life

    4/5

    802 ratings29 reviews

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    • 5/5
      Cat and his sister Gwendolyn go to live with their wealthy cousin the Chrestomanci after their parents are killed in an accident. Gwendolyn is a witch and very full of herself and her powers. She behaves badly and is flagrantly rude and insufferable. Cat has an entirely different personality. He is quiet, respectful, truthful and shows real concern for other people, even his awful sister. As the story progresses Gwendolyn's thoughtlessness and selfishness bring another version of herself from a parallel universe to take her place as Gwendolyn moves to another world to get more of what she wants. This new girl's name is Janet and she is much more like Cat, definitely not the sister he's used to. Janet and Cat try to keep it a secret from the Chrestomanci that this switch has happened and Cat and Janet must try very hard to solve the problems that Gwendolyn set in motion. An excellent book. I look forward to the others in the series.
    • 3/5
      The first of a series of novels featuring the Worlds of Chrestomanci, a series of worlds where witches, wizards and all sorts of other magical folk abound. In this one, siblings Cat (Eric) and Gwendolen Chant are orphaned and end up living with the mysterious Chrestomanci in his luxurious castle. Larks abound. A nice, quick read, although not as imaginative or compelling as I had hoped. (It would make a great film, though!)
    • 1/5
      The audio is broken and it is unlistenable. Pity, I’m sure it’s a good story.
    • 3/5
      I didn't hate this but honestly I think Diana Wynne Jones is just not the author for me.
    • 4/5
      Great fantasy story. Love Diana Wynne Jones! Just as entertaining for adults as for kids.
    • 3/5
      I read this book as a kid, I know, but I'm not sure how much of the series I read -- my library had an awful tendency to have incomplete series. So I'm revisiting them now, in the reading order suggested on wikipedia (that fount of all inaccurate knowledge, I know). I do love Diana Wynne Jones books for just being fun and easy to read, though I did kind of notice reading this that Chrestomanci reminds me of Howl in some ways. In fact, in some ways, a lot of it did. There's something about the narration that never quite seems to change. Still, definitely fun.

      I'd probably rate it higher if it weren't for two things:

      a) How slow Cat is to understand how awful his sister is. The answers are all right there in front of him.

      b) I don't like when people don't seem to get what's right in front of their eyes. This is a personal peeve, since in this book there's a reason for it, but it's still something I really don't like very much. Probably the same reason I dislike romantic comedies -- I don't find the sequence of misunderstandings that fun to watch/read about/whatever.

      There is a lot I do like about this book, though. The pet dragon is sweet, and the idea of a cat turned into a violin, and Janet Chant is such a practical, nice character...

      Looking forward to re/reading the rest of the books.
    • 5/5
      I read this first many years ago. It was my introduction to Diana Wynne Jones. I love Chrestomanci's world where magic works and technology lags behind our world. I love the growth of Cat as a character. The ebook has a series of short notes about the universe that are well worth reading. If you like the Harry Potter series, the Narnia series, or Lloyd Alexander, I think you'll like this series.
    • 3/5
      Fanciful tale of two orphans, the elder a witch, in a Victorianesque world of magic. It went quite well until Gwendolyn left then dragged until the final action. I'm not a fan of villain driven plots as this turned out to be.
    • 5/5
      I really love this series so I'm rereading it for what's gotta be the 5th time at least. Changing this from 4 to 5 stars because I really do love it and Janet is one of my favorite characters in the series.
    • 4/5
      I read Howl's Moving Castle before this, so I noticed a similarity in the plot.
      At first I thought Cat is actually a...cat.
      I have to find out if they have similar universe to Howl's Moving Castle.
      Looking forward to read the sequels.
    • 4/5
      This book was both funnier and darker than I remembered it. I think there is a lesson, which is that if you're a child in bad trouble, telling the powerful adult what's going on might be the wisest course. In "The Pinhoe Egg" which is the next in chronological order, Cat seems to have figured this out. Another lesson is that a habit of subservience is a bad one, and this theme also shows up in "The Pinhoe Egg".
    • 3/5
      This was a memorial re-read, as Diana Wynne Jones has recently passed away. It's a kids' book, but a very enjoyable one. The first entry in her Chrestomanci series, it does a good job setting up the world and characters.
      It's also particularly remarkable as a kids' book about two siblings which has one of them turn out to be just absolutely horrible! As a reader, you think that the character in question is just bratty and spoiled and will learn to mend her ways. But nope. Just plain evil. I love it!
    • 4/5
      It's a good read, a story of a boy who lives in the shadow of his sister and whose life changes when they end up in the Castle of Chrestomanci and then he discovers the truth about his sister and her ambitions.It's an interesting read, something on that borderline between fantasy and reality with characters who work well and things that would have resolved quicker if everyone would have just talked to each other! And characters who point this out too.Great read, love the story, there are layers here that would reward re-reading.
    • 5/5
      Read it if you like Harry Potter, Narnia, King Arthur, or any other fantastical stories enjoyed by adults and children alike.
    • 5/5
      What a lovely read! DWJ never ceases to amaze me with her convoluted plots. It’s a coming of age story for a little boy who thinks he possesses no magical skills, but all I’ll say is beware of older sisters! And just when you think you’ve got the plot figured out, something completely unexpected happens that throws all your suppositions out the window—or out the doorway into one of DWJ’s other worlds. She is definitely the master of the Twisty Plot. This is the first in her Chrestomanci series, and I am so looking forward to reading the other books.
    • 5/5
      Good heavens, did I enjoy this. One of THE most aggravating baddies I've ever encountered, a plucky young anti-heroine, and Cat. Who wouldn't feel sorry for Cat? This is, more than anything, the story of how Cat decides to reclaim his power - literally - and be in charge of his own life. It's a grand thing for a young person to be able to do, and Diana Wynne Jones writes it beautifully. This is good YA fantasy that I'm happy to have discovered, and I can't wait to read more.
    • 3/5
      Gwendolen is the worst, nastiest child, and Cat is a bit doormatty for my taste. And the real action arrived all bundled up in the last 50 pages.
    • 3/5
      I can't be too harsh. It is a children's book and not the type of children's book that can entertain adult readers as well. I'm thinking of the Harry Potter series and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. It was an easy listen, interesting enough to keep my brain mostly engaged while doing chores around the house. But the characters seemed flat and mostly unsympathetic. Most of them seemed frustratingly passive and/or stupid as well. Still, it was a fairly clever and complete alternate world, and kept me just interested enough to want to find out what happened next. I won't be reading the rest of the series.
    • 3/5
      An exciting page-turner of the orphans/magic/witch/wizardry/parallel worlds variety. It's a little more cynical than I'm used to in a children's book, and I also expected to like the main characters a little more than I did, but the story is really good. There was a bit too much explainin' at the very end though, which got a little cumbersome. Overall, a solid book with a few weak spots; I might check out #2 in this series.

      Before I end this review, the 14 year old boy in me is dying to share this with you:As they all pushed past a witch in a high green hat, the witch said, "That's right, dear. We must all hunt for the pussy." She turned to the crowd with a witch's piercing scream. "Hunt for pussy, everyone!"Sorry, but I couldn't resist (who could?). Of course, they are referring to an innocent little cat here.
    • 5/5
      I really really like Diana Wynne Jones and this was the first one of hers I read so I'm sure some of the love for this particular book is from the excitement I felt at the time, when I realised a) this is really good! and b) there are a lot more!! But its still a really good book with a strong flavor of that elusive quality of dreams and tales, where it all makes emotional sense though clearly not working within the logic of the everyday world.
    • 5/5
      This edition has a celebratory foreword by Neil Gaiman, and an author interview and discussion questions after the story. I'm enjoying a frisson of suspense - whose life is the charmed life of the title? Is it accomplished witch Gwendolen Chant or her modest brother Cat, or someone else?
      In a magical world is a charmed life a blessing or a curse?
      content spoiler: corporal punishment.
    • 5/5
      The story of Cat, who thinks he has no magic, and his truly evil sister, Gwendolen, and how their lives change when they're brought to live at Chrestomanci Castle – the Chrestomanci at this time being Christopher Chant. A true classic.
    • 4/5
      Cat and Gwendolen Chant are orphans who are taken in at the castle of the powerful Chrestomanci. Cat's sister Gwendolen has powerful gifts as a witch and great ambitions to rule the world. Gwendolen, an unpleasant girl at the best of times, reacts to the edict that no magic must be performed without supervision by playing the dirtiest and most unpleasant tricks on everyone. Meanwhile, Cat wants to be the perfect little brother though he is uncomfortable with magic, sits back and watches helplessly. But is he really that helpless? A charming little book which I read in a day in which the forces of right and wrong aren't so very black and white, but must nevertheless do battle.
    • 4/5
      Eric (Cat) Chant and his sister Gwendolyn were orphaned young. For Gwendolyn the loss was a slight bump in the road, but aspiring witch that she is, she settles in to learn her craft and reach her ultimate goal - ruling the world. Eric, with no magical talent what-so-ever, muddles along clinging to his sister and missing his parents. But when Gwendolyn rights to Chrestomanci, and Important Personage, the gentleman himself arrives and things take a dramatic turn.The orphans make a sudden move up in the world - but all is not quite as it seems. Cat is in deadly danger.... if only he had the slightest clue!Not up to Howl's Moving Castle par, and Cat is a bit wet, but Janet makes up for it somewhat.
    • 4/5
      Cat and his sister Gwendolen (who is a powerful witch) go live with Chrestomanci after their parents die. Cat does his best to stay out of trouble while Gwendolen does the opposite.I love this book from start to finish. The characters are interesting, the setting is fantastic, and the story is thoroughly enjoyable. Even the minor characters are well-formed with recognizable personalities.
    • 3/5
      I thought this book would be more action, using lots of magic in this, but it turns out kind of different than I expect it to be. It has just a little bit of action, kind of mysterious when Gwendolen and Cat started to move into the Chrestomanci’s castle.As far as I read, it’s not actually bad, but I don’t really like it (I usually like mysterious but not this one!). This would be a very good idea for someone who likes fiction magic and adventure. “Charmed life” was written by Diana Wynne Jones.It starts with Gwendolen who is a witch with her younger brother, Cat who isn’t a witch, they both were adopted because their parents were died in an accident and found a letter of their parents with a mystery person, Chrestomanci…
    • 5/5
      This was pretty fluffy. Cat's mother and father die in a boat accident, so he and his sister are raised by their lower-class landlady (who is constantly called greedy, but I found her sad and sympathetic), until "Chrestomancy", someone they found out about in some mysterious letters of their parents', shows up to take them with him. Gwendolin is frustrated by Chrestomancy and how he ignores her, so she harasses him until he takes her magic. Then she flees the house into another universe, displacing a different version of her.
    • 5/5
      I am so envious of people who are yet to discover the Chrestomanci books - they are far and away the best children's books (aalso appealing to adults) dealing with magic and sorcery I've ever read - it's a travesty that DWJ hasn't received the acclaim of JP Rowling, but in a selfish way I am pleased that they haven't been mass marketed in the same was as the HP books, which seems sacriligious, somehow.
    • 5/5
      My first DWJ and therefore my favourite. The book which lead me to so many delights. I'd give it five and a half stars if I could.