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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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 524)

All ratings | 5 stars (72) | 4 stars (132) | 3 stars (72) | 2 stars (20) | 1 star (2) | avg 3.89

all | this edition

Nic

Nic rated it:

06/14/08

Read in June, 2008

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

First of all, I should note that Diana Wynne Jones is my favorite author. You're unlikely to find any of her books getting fewer than four stars from me.

That said, I loved this book less than a number of her others. (That, ladies and gentlemen, is the closest I come to criticizing DWJ.) To be fair, it was billed as "The sequel to Howl's Moving Castle," which is my favorite book in the world, so my hopes and, to an extent, my expectations, were high. And in all of the usu...more

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4 comments

Becky

Becky rated it:

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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1 comments

Genevieve

Genevieve rated it:

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:

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 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 reread as I did with Jones’ other books. The story is complex, but not as intricately laid out as the first two. There were certainly plenty of things going on and creative magic, but still I felt like something was missing.

The best part of this book was the reappearance of Howl and Sophie. On its own, this book was a decent enough read, but not anything too special. I didn’t feel that connected or interested in Charmain. Howl on the other hand is amazingly hilarious. I was constantly giggling. Now, it’s spoiler time. Like the last book, Howl is not himself, but unlike Castle in the Air, the reader knows this as soon as he appears on the page. But, still, a bit of spoiler space before I talk about how amazing he is. After this point, the spoiler will be mentioned more than once. As soon as we see Howl’s other shape, we do find out it is him (well, within a few paragraphs), but since this happens about a fourth of the way through the book, I figured spoiler space was called for.

—Spoiler Space—

So, again, the best part of the book was Howl, Calcifer, and Sophie. Why? Because Howl decides he’s going to relive his childhood and spends most of the book running around as a five-year-old "angelic" boy. This of course drives Sophie crazy, who not only has to take care of their toddler son Morgan, but deal with Howl’s shenanigans. The baby was supposed to be left with Howl and Calcifer while she went to help one of their princess friends from Castle in the Air, but about ten minutes after Sophie arrives at the castle, little Howl (calling himself Twinkle) and Calcifer arrive with Morgan, pleading that babysitting was far too hard.

In some ways, I really felt like this book was just an excuse to write more about Howl, Sophie, and Calcifer. Nothing wrong with that, but then the plot and new characters that were added in didn’t really stand on their own . I think the difficulty I had just writing up a summary for the book says something about the lack of focus of the novel. I’d rather that Jones’ would have dropped the pretend of a different main character and just let the good ones glow. If she returns to this world, I’d really like to see a book about Morgan, all grown up.

Read the rest of my review at <a href="http://yafantasy.com/house-of-...
http://yafantasy.com/house-of-......less

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Emma

Emma rated it:

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 “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 particular story starts in High Norland with Charmain Baker. Born to lovely parents determined to make their daughter respectable, Charmain is ill equipped for almost everything besides eating and reading—a fact that has escaped the notice of her parents and doesn’t much bother Charmain.

The only problem with her tame existence is that Charmain is unable to do the one thing she has always, desperately, wanted to do: work in the royal library with the elderly Princess Hilda and her even more elderly father, the king of High Norland.

As part of her plan to gain entry to the library, Charmain agrees to watch the royal wizard’s house while he undergoes treatment from elves for a mysterious illness. Upon her arrival at the house, it becomes clear that this house-sitting venture will be more than Charmain had expected what with the angry kobolds and the sudden arrival of the wizard’s new apprentice, Peter. It may, however, also be exactly what she needs.

There are a lot of reasons that I like this book and its predecessors in the series. Diana Wynne Jones has a particularly charming writing style that is both cozy and engaging. There is something decidedly old fashioned about the prose, ranging from the chapter titles reminiscent of those found in E. M. Forster’s “A Room With a View” to the swift and casual narration so similar to the voice Jane Austen favored in her novels. At the same time, amazingly, Jones integrates elements of the fantastic like magic and wizards and elves without ever seeming outlandish or contrived.

“House of Many Ways” is a particularly appealing title, by an already well-liked artist. First and foremost, for obvious reasons, I like that Charmain is a bookish character who wants to work in a library. The other characters that populate this novel, including some from both “Howl’s Moving Castle” and “Castle in the Air,” are original and appealing though not by any means perfect.

Even Charmain, the novel’s heroine, has moments where she is quite mistaken about a variety of things. Happily, never long enough to become problematic for readers. At the same time, it is refreshing that Charmain is utterly useless despite her being so well read. When she arrives at the wizard’s house she cannot cook, wash clothes, or do many other things that most people take for granted.

This story is about magic and a fair bit of adventure. But it is also about what every college senior has to think about sooner or later: being an adult. As the novel progresses, Charmain learns about more than books and magic, she learns how to grow up and take care of herself, even when that means admitting she might need some help.

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Zen

Zen rated it:

(review of isbn 0007275692)

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:

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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3 comments

Edie

Edie rated it:

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:

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:

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

Penny-anna rated it:

(review of isbn 0007275668)

09/06/08

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:

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:

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:

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 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 his house proves daunting: Bags of laundry multiply overnight. There are stacks of dirty dishes but no taps on the sink. And depending on whether you turn left or right on your way through the kitchen door, you end up in a completely different wing. After a run-in with a threatening lubbock—a seven-foot-tall purple insect with a penchant for laying its eggs in doomed human hosts—Charmain realizes her nice, safe upbringing is useless in the real, magical world.

Soon, Charmain is dealing with angry kobold gardeners, William's hapless apprentice, a disheveled little dog named Waif with mysterious powers and an insatiable appetite, and the plight of poor King Adolphus, searching centuries of books and papers for a clue to where his missing gold is hidden—and where the taxes keep disappearing to. Along the way, she leaves respectability far behind, but finds out a few spells come in handy.

This is the third book in the series which began with "Howl's Moving Castle" in 1986 (adapted into a movie in 2004 by anime genius Hayao Miyazaki); the wizard Howl (disguised as a hilariously saccharine moppet named Twinkle) appears here, too, along with his wife, Sophie, their son, Morgan, and Calcifer the fire demon. "House of Many Ways" is a first-rate work of fantasy, mixing humor and danger—the lubbock is downright chilling—and a plot as complicated as Great-Uncle William's house that runs full tilt to a satisfying conclusion without feeling pat. And in a twist on the traditional bookish heroine—who usually saves the day with just her smarts—Charmain must first learn the practical business of looking after herself and other people: a gentle nudge for the young reader to get off the couch sometimes and help with the laundry....less

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fairrosa

fairrosa rated it:

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:

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

Yati rated it:

(review of isbn 0007275692)

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:

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:

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

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