House of Many Ways

by Diana Wynne Jones
House of Many Ways
published
June 1st 2008 by Greenwillow
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binding
Hardcover, 416 pages

isbn
0061477958   (isbn13: 9780061477959)

description

Charmain Baker is in over her head. Looking after Great-Uncle William's tiny cottage while he's ill should have been easy. But Great-Uncle William...more






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Nic
Nic rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
06/14/08

Read in June, 2008
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
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  4 comments

Becky
Becky rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
07/12/08

Read in July, 2008
I really enjoyed reading this book. The writing was excellent, and it was certainly almost a sequel to Howl's Moving Castle, although calling it the sequel is perhaps unfair to Castle in the Sky.

Vague spoilers follow:

It did rather fail as a traditional novel for two reasons. First, there was nothing much holding it together thematically. Charmain's character development was interesting and coherent, but it had no real bearing on the endgame of the plot, beyond the fact that...more
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Genevieve
Genevieve rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
09/07/08

bookshelves: fiction, sff, ya-childrens
Read in September, 2008
To me this reads rather like Diana Wynne Jones trying to write a book that would translate perfectly into a Hayao Miyazaki movie. This sets it apart from Howl's Moving Castle, which was mutlilated in the process of being turned into a Miyazaki film. The hyperkinetic, overstuffed and underexplained action of the latter third or so; the surreal, dreamlike beauty of certain scenes; some bizarrely cute flourishes (like Waif); the frilly Anglo touches (Afternoon Tea, crumpets); the out-of-th...more
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Cassie
Cassie rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
06/10/08

recommends it for: fans of Howl's Moving Castle
In this sequel to Howl’s Moving Castle, we once again move to a new continent, but we see the return of old favorites like Howl, Sophie, and Calcifer, as well as a few characters from Castle in the Air, namely Jamal and Princess Hilda.

When this book showed up in my mailbox, I excitedly pulled out all my Howl world books and reread them in anticipation of House of Many Ways. I probably need to reread it before truly judging it, but upon finishing it I didnt’ feel as much of a need to rere...more
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Emma
Emma rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
05/01/08

Read in February, 2008
“House of Many Ways” is Jones’ third novel featuring Howl and Sophie, following “Howl’s Moving Castle” from 1986 (also a movie adaptation made by Hayao Miyazaki in 2004) and “Castle in the Air” from 1990. Although all of these novels stand alone very nicely, certain nuances of the story will make more sense if you read the novels in sequence. Certain characters’ cameo appearances will also be more satisfying with the background afforded by reading all three novels.

This part...more
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Zen
07/13/08

bookshelves: kidslit, sff
Yay! The paperback didn't take very long at all to come out, did it?

It is DWJ so of course I enjoyed, but agreed with whoever it was -- on LJ flist, or on GR? -- who said that it was unfortunate that Howl, Sophie et al were in it, because the old characters were obviously more interesting than the new ones. Charmain was all right. I got quite irritated with her, because -- I can identify with her just wanting to read books all the time and getting irritated when people won't let her do that, a...more
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June
June rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
09/15/08

bookshelves: fantasy
Read in September, 2008
recommended to June by: Elissa
recommends it for: Fantasy and Jones fans
I loved Howl's Moving Castle and I am an avid Diana Wynne Jones fan. (Though I have to admit that I love the film of Howl even more than the book - one of three where that is the case.) A great adventure which made it a very quick read for me. A strong female character who does not consider herself likeable.
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Edie
Edie rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
03/10/08

Read in March, 2008
While this is billed as a sequel to Howl's Moving Castle it can really stand alone. The main character is a young girl who gradually discovers her magical capabilities. There are many charming characters including a very lovable dog and a young boy with a great lipth and a devilish nature. The plot meanders at times but the characters are so much fun that it doesn't really matter.
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piraterie
piraterie rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
09/24/08

bookshelves: fantasy, read2008, young-adult
Read in September, 2008
Hmm. I wanted to like this so much more than I actually did. I suspect it might improve after another reading; I wouldn't be expecting Charmain to become more interesting and, therefore, wouldn't be so disappointed when she doesn't.

I think that the problem that Diana Wynne Jones has in writing other stories set in the same world as Howl's Moving Castle is that she really just wants to write more books about Howl and Sophie. ...more
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Jennifer
Jennifer rated it: 2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars
10/23/08

bookshelves: fantasy
Read in October, 2008
recommends it for: HMC fans, DWJ fans (maybe)
I'm a die-hard DWJ fan, but this one fell a little flat. Granted, I put it down mid-way through and didn't come back to it for over a month... but the fact I didn't feel compelled to finish the book doesn't exactly inspire a glowing recommendation.

I agree on quite a few points of Genevieve's review on here, whoever she is. The book doesn't have DWJ's hallmark plotty and emotional complexity. And Charmaine, who wins points for liking books, is neither a strong heroine, nor did I enjoy the so...more
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Penny-anna
Personally, I didn't like this as much as the previous two books. Howl's Moving Castle is very much based on fairy-tales - the whole idea that the oldest child will never come to anything, and so on. Then The Castle in the Air was based kind of on the Arabian Nights. Even though they're totally distinct books, they're definitely part of a series.

But... House of Many ways wasn't like that. I guess the Lubbockin were kind of like Changelings, but it still wasn't much like the oth...more
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Bayley
Bayley rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
10/11/08

bookshelves: fantasy, young-adult
recommends it for: girls, fantasy readers, Shannon Hale fans, young adult readers
This book was great! I didn't even see it coming. The cover promotes it as a sequel to Howl's Moving Castle, but this is a bit misleading; the central characters are not the same, and Howl, Sophie, and Calcifer don't show up until over halfway through the book. Nevertheless, the new characters are up to par with these first-book favorites: Charmain, stubborn but undeniably "charming" (as she often is mis-called in the book); Peter, the wizard-in-training without a scrap of luck; and of...more
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Jennifer
Jennifer rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
05/05/08

bookshelves: trt-reviews
Reviewed by Elly for TeensReadToo.com

When book lover Charmain Baker has to go and take care of Great Uncle William Norland's (a wizard) house while he is away, she is in for a surprise.

Soon after arriving, she discovers that the letter she sent to the King was answered, and he wants her to work with him in the Royal Library. Then Sophie Pendragon, Wizard Howl, and Morgan arrive, making the palace almost a nursery.

The Wizard Howl and Sophie ask Charmain to help them look for the Kin...more
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Anna
Anna rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
05/04/08

bookshelves: galleys, reviewed-for-watermark
Read in May, 2008
Charmain Baker's mother has brought her up to be "respectable": that means no housework, no pets, and especially no vulgar magic. As for Charmain, her only ambition is to talk her way into the King of High Norland's famous library. When her imperious Aunt Sempronia volunteers Charmain to look after her Great-Uncle William's house while he's ill, Charmain sees it as the chance she's been waiting for. Except Great-Uncle William is a wizard, off being cured by elves, and taking care of hi...more
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fairrosa
fairrosa rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
09/01/08

bookshelves: 2008, 4-6grade, childrensbooks, fantasy
This is a "sequel" to Howl's Moving Castle in the same vein as Castle in the Air was a sequel since the main characters are not Howl, Sophie, or Calcifer and the major events are not centered on the previous characters. It is, however, taking place near Ingary and the beloved characters mentioned above did make their appearances and Calcifer was allowed to flaunt his major fire demon powers!

The tone is breezy and light. The magical elements and plot turns are haphazardly arranged...more
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R.j.
R.j. rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
11/17/08

Read in November, 2008
Definitely more coherent, plot-wise, than some of the other DWJ books I've read. Charmain is engagingly flawed and the clashes between her and Peter make for fun reading; and the Lubbock is plenty creepy. Not a book I'll be likely to read again (didn't love it THAT much) but nothing I can really complain about.
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Yati
05/13/08

bookshelves: fantasy, young-adult
Read in May, 2008
I liked this better than Castle in the Air, but I'll always love Howl's Moving Castle best. Charmain isn't quite the heroine Sophie was (she doesn't seem to do much, does she?) though I love it that she's so bookish and gets irritated when she doesn't get time for herself to read. I'm feeling mostly ambivalent about the secondary characters, though -- none of them ca...more
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Beth
Beth added it
08/26/08

Read in August, 2008
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
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Alex
Alex rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
03/28/08

bookshelves: magic
Read in March, 2008
Charmain Baker is a normal girl who loves nothing more than reading and desires a position in the King's Library, but all of the domesticity is lost when her Aunt, who might be a witch, sends Charmain to take of her great uncle William's house. However great uncle William is a wizard, and when the elves take William away, Charmain begins to encounter magic at every turn. Aided by Peter, another wizard apprentice, and the wonderful dog Waif, Charmain finds that despite her protests she is on a p...more
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Celia
Celia rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
10/19/08

bookshelves: fantasy, youngadult
Read in October, 2008
I loved "Howl's Moving Castle" and "Castle in the Air", and while "House of Many Ways" isn't a sequel as such, it is set in the same world, and Howl and Sophie play a part.

Charmain, who has spent most of her life reading and being coddled by her parents, is sent to her Great-Uncle's house to take care of it while he is away. There's a great deal of magic around the house, which she isn't used to at all, a sweet stray dog, and an apprentice who doesn't seem to k...more
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book data (includes all editions)

avg rating (all editions): 3.89 (296 ratings)
avg rating (this edition): 3.87 (287 ratings)
number of reviews: 97







other editions

House of Many Ways (Hardcover)
House of Many Ways (Paperback)
House of Many Ways (Library Binding)