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17th out of 36 books
—
240 voters
The Pinhoe Egg (Chrestomanci #6)
Cat Chant and Marianne Pinhoe have discovered something exciting--something truly precious, very strange, and valuable. An egg.
An egg that has been hidden away in an attic for who-knows-how-many years. An egg protected by some strong "Don't Notice" spells. An egg that Marianne gives to Cat, even though he lives at nearby Chrestomanci Castle. Chrestomanci himself, the stron...more
An egg that has been hidden away in an attic for who-knows-how-many years. An egg protected by some strong "Don't Notice" spells. An egg that Marianne gives to Cat, even though he lives at nearby Chrestomanci Castle. Chrestomanci himself, the stron...more
Hardcover, 515 pages
Published
October 3rd 2006
by Greenwillow Books
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Saddened by the passing of Diana Wynne Jones, I thought it appropriate to commemorate her by dipping into her vast bibliography of books. She can be a charming writer, with interesting characters, gentle humor, pointed social commentary, and creative plotting and world-building. An unplanned stop at an unfamiliar library turned up The Pinhoe Egg, described as "Book 6 in the Chrestomanci Chronicles." As I had read two or three of the Crestomanci books in the past, I thought I could get by in the...more
Apr 26, 2013
Kaethe
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Shelves:
age-middle-grade,
adventure,
fiction,
fantasy,
friendship,
horses,
house-as-character,
kids,
magic,
cats,
domesticity,
feminism,
flight,
humor,
strong-smart-female-protagonist,
uk,
technology,
witches
2011 December 30
Kids let loose in an Edwardian setting to have adventures and get into trouble. Feuding clans in neighboring villages (not murderously, though). And magic everywhere. Such a fun read.
***
2013 April 24
I picked it up again because it was there on the library shelf, tempting me. And then I picked it up yesterday when reading Red Scarf Girl got to be too much.
Veronica asked what it was about, and when I told her, she said "It sounds like The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters,...more
Kids let loose in an Edwardian setting to have adventures and get into trouble. Feuding clans in neighboring villages (not murderously, though). And magic everywhere. Such a fun read.
***
2013 April 24
I picked it up again because it was there on the library shelf, tempting me. And then I picked it up yesterday when reading Red Scarf Girl got to be too much.
Veronica asked what it was about, and when I told her, she said "It sounds like The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters,...more
So it works like this: I think the Chrestomanci books that are about Chrestomanci (Charmed Life, The Nine Lives of Christopher Chant) are better books, but I think that the books that just feature Chrestomanci are often more interesting (Witch Week, Magicians of Caprona). And I didn't care for Conrad's Fate at all, which is odd considering that it's the only one I own in hardback.
BUT ANYWAY. My point being: this Chrestomanci book is the best of all of them, because it's about Cat Chant and Jane...more
BUT ANYWAY. My point being: this Chrestomanci book is the best of all of them, because it's about Cat Chant and Jane...more
The newest Chrestomanci novel. This is now one of my favorite Diana Wynne Jones books. I love her so, so madly, she is just so creative and clever. Which makes me sound like a prig, but seriously, her books are always totally original. I always either ADORE her books, or find them just a little oddly flat---and this one was just brilliant. I loved all the children, especially Marianne, and her family was convincingly family-like yet also sort of sinister...like, she really captured the betrayal...more
Apr 14, 2012
Joan
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
fantasy lovers
Recommended to Joan by:
June Krell
Jones, like many of the best fantasy or sci fi writers, uses her medium to tell a social message. But she does it with a really fun story and great characters. This is one of the Chrestomancy books, and I need to check if there are more I haven't read. Social change happens through 2 kids (mostly. There are other kids and of course, good guys, around) when Marianne gives an old egg to a student of Chrestomanci, Cat. (name of kid, not a feline student). It turns out the egg is that of a griffen,...more
Jan 07, 2012
Shoshana
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
DWJ novices, plus also her fans
Shelves:
fantasy
I had read a couple of Chrestomanci books about a decade ago (Charmed Life and The Nine Lives of Christopher Chant, I believe) and enjoyed them, but remembered very little about them. Fortunately, this book stands on its own, although it has backstory I know I'm missing.
Anyway, it is darling. It starts a little less slowly than the other books of hers I've read (Howl's Moving Castle [still my favorite], Castle in the Air, House of Many Ways, Fire and Hemlock, The Dark Lord of Derkholm), and it a...more
Anyway, it is darling. It starts a little less slowly than the other books of hers I've read (Howl's Moving Castle [still my favorite], Castle in the Air, House of Many Ways, Fire and Hemlock, The Dark Lord of Derkholm), and it a...more
This is a new Chrestomanci story, and it’s a good one.
Near Chrestomanci Castle, there are several villages inhabited by clans of witches. They’ve worked hard for generations to avoid the notice of the current Chrestomanci and his predecessors, so that the “Big Man” won’t interfere in their traditional practices and their traditional obligation of containing the abominations confined long ago by their ancestors. It’s worked well since well before living memory, but now the witches have a problem...more
Near Chrestomanci Castle, there are several villages inhabited by clans of witches. They’ve worked hard for generations to avoid the notice of the current Chrestomanci and his predecessors, so that the “Big Man” won’t interfere in their traditional practices and their traditional obligation of containing the abominations confined long ago by their ancestors. It’s worked well since well before living memory, but now the witches have a problem...more
Jan 30, 2011
Josie
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
five-stars,
childrens-fiction
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Awwh man, this was definitely my favourite of the Chrestomanci series - such a shame it was the last one! It's another one set in the castle during Christopher Chant's reign as Chrestomanci, with Cat as his apprentice. I do love me some Chrestomanci in his dressing gowns XD
Initially I didnt really know where the Pinhoe/Farleigh storyline was going, and I spent many a page wanting to stab Gammer and all the Pinhoes. But all tied up wonderfully in the end, especially with the stories of the hidde...more
Initially I didnt really know where the Pinhoe/Farleigh storyline was going, and I spent many a page wanting to stab Gammer and all the Pinhoes. But all tied up wonderfully in the end, especially with the stories of the hidde...more
The Pinhoe Egg makes magic feel so fun. I loved the two main characters Cat and Marianne. The theme is mainly about the Pinhoe family and how they are trying to keep their magic or as they call it dwimmer a secret. However, Cat's father, Chrestomanci, who oversees everything, eventually still finds out. The other themes are how Marianne and Cat should believe in themselves and their magic grows even stronger! Things come to a forefront when only Marianne realizes Gammer has been putting spells o...more
This is part of a longer review originally posted here.
There is a lot going on in this book, but it is never too much. I adored all the new characters and the antics of the Pinhoes and Farlieghs were hilarious. Christopher manages to be just as splendid as ever and fires off some of his best sarcastic comments yet. Millie, again, is the perfect foil for Christopher and is impressive in her abilities to manage him, take care of the Castle and supervise the education and care of four active childr...more
There is a lot going on in this book, but it is never too much. I adored all the new characters and the antics of the Pinhoes and Farlieghs were hilarious. Christopher manages to be just as splendid as ever and fires off some of his best sarcastic comments yet. Millie, again, is the perfect foil for Christopher and is impressive in her abilities to manage him, take care of the Castle and supervise the education and care of four active childr...more
This was the Newbery winner that first led me to Jones' fine Chrestomanci series, but I put off reading it to the end. I'm glad I didn't read it first, though I'm sure it would have stood on its own well enough. Having the rest of the series under my belt, I think, brought an added richness and understanding to my reading of this book. The story was fun and intriguing, and though it included many of my favorite characters (Cat plays a large role here), the new characters are equally interesting....more
This has the usual strengths and weaknesses of a Diana Wynne Jones book: the narrative is clever, witty and endearing; the characters are amusing but not terribly well-drawn; and the ending is a confused muddle. This is a Chrestomanci book, so don't read it unless you've read at least the first one (
Charmed Life
).
Diana Wynne Jones on kirjoittanut kaksi suurta suosikkikirjaani: Noidan veli ja Liikkuva linna. Taikuuden taakka on itsenäinen päätösosa sarjasta, jonka aloitti Noidan veli ja jatkoi Tietäjän lapsuus. Taikuuden taakkaa verrattaessa 70-luvulla kirjoitettuun Noidan veljeen, huomaa selkeästi, kuinka kirjailijan tyyli on vuosien saatossa muuttunut niin, että Taikuuden taakka ei viehätä enää samalla tavalla kuin Noidan veli. Taikuuden taakassa todellisena taakkana on jatkuva häly ja älyttömyyksiin me...more
I guess the obvious comparison is with Harry Potter, but these Chrestomanci books really make HP seem pedestrian in comparison, both in terms of the prose and the inventiveness of the world created.
[OTOH, they are probably at a disadvantage when it comes to hysterical fandom/multi-billion dollar movie franchise/theme parks, because each one is really a stand-alone story with a different central character. I think the reason so many fan obsessions are series—Harry Potter, Twilight, Star Trek, Sta...more
[OTOH, they are probably at a disadvantage when it comes to hysterical fandom/multi-billion dollar movie franchise/theme parks, because each one is really a stand-alone story with a different central character. I think the reason so many fan obsessions are series—Harry Potter, Twilight, Star Trek, Sta...more
Very Chrestomanci, and as a lot of others have noted quite a lot like The Magicians of Caprona mixed with Charmed Life.
I can never dislike her stories. They will always speak volumes to me.
The magic of the land and its history, the woods, the small folk, the nature of things, these are her forté, and she makes them sing. Much like Hexwood, which is my touchstone for such things these days. The story about Englishmen getting lost in a strip of wood no wider than a road comes through in many of...more
I can never dislike her stories. They will always speak volumes to me.
The magic of the land and its history, the woods, the small folk, the nature of things, these are her forté, and she makes them sing. Much like Hexwood, which is my touchstone for such things these days. The story about Englishmen getting lost in a strip of wood no wider than a road comes through in many of...more
I first discovered Diana Wynne Jones when I was twelve and shelving books in our middle school library. There I found Witch Week which I love. Since then I’ve read and reread all of the Chrestomanci books, and several of her other books, and always loved them. She’s a fantastic author.
The Pinhoe egg is very good. It explores more of Chrestomanci and Cat’s worlds, it has griffins and magical creatures… but honestly? After the others, it is a bit of a let down. The action takes a long while to bui...more
The Pinhoe egg is very good. It explores more of Chrestomanci and Cat’s worlds, it has griffins and magical creatures… but honestly? After the others, it is a bit of a let down. The action takes a long while to bui...more
I've just finished my third listen to Diana Wynne Jones' Chrestomanci stories, produced by Recorded Books and narrated by Gerard Doyle. I have no doubt I'll listen to them all again one day, because I enjoy them so much. I question why I have not by now bought hardbound copies of these books, because they are treasures.
If you will read other Goodreads 4 and 5 star reviews of The Pinhoe Egg, you will discover the many reasons why I like this story. There is a moral message, there are well-portray...more
If you will read other Goodreads 4 and 5 star reviews of The Pinhoe Egg, you will discover the many reasons why I like this story. There is a moral message, there are well-portray...more
The Pinhoe Egg, or, DWJ Learns to Write Endings.
I don't mean that in a snarky way; I speak with genuine delight. Cat was totally adorable in this book, and I loved getting to hang with Chrestomanci again.
I don't mean that in a snarky way; I speak with genuine delight. Cat was totally adorable in this book, and I loved getting to hang with Chrestomanci again.
This book is the best of DWJ's Chrestomanci series. It's a brilliant book. I almost wish I'd had this when I was a child as a 10 or 11 year old me would have adored this book possibly even more than I already do.
It has everything - mystery, intrigue, supernatural, magic, infighting, evil, oh... everything you could want in a YA book.
The characterisation was brilliant. I HATED some of the characters, they were so evil and spiteful and brilliantly realised. I'm annoyed now, as I know there isn't...more
It has everything - mystery, intrigue, supernatural, magic, infighting, evil, oh... everything you could want in a YA book.
The characterisation was brilliant. I HATED some of the characters, they were so evil and spiteful and brilliantly realised. I'm annoyed now, as I know there isn't...more
As is usual for DWJ, this is an engaging book that will suck you enjoyably right in. Only after, when (as it were) the spell is broken will you pick a few nits.
This is a late work in her oeuvre. I do feel it would have benefited from one more rethink and rewrite, to smooth out some of the odd plot bumps and make it hang together better. How many totally new magical systems can there be? Is it reasonable, to overlook an entire batch of fairly major stuff right in your own back yard? Unreasoning...more
This is a late work in her oeuvre. I do feel it would have benefited from one more rethink and rewrite, to smooth out some of the odd plot bumps and make it hang together better. How many totally new magical systems can there be? Is it reasonable, to overlook an entire batch of fairly major stuff right in your own back yard? Unreasoning...more
Giving this book a 3 cause it was my first read from the other Chrestomanci books..
I kinda of like the characters here..It`s all unique and fun..From Cat, to nutcase..Though my favourite would be Marianne...The only problem was that, I couldn`t comprehend with the setting of this one..It`s magical..But I couldn`t find the early connection of anything related to that, except for some words that read like spells..And the plot was a bit messy with loops..
But the writing was really good..
All in all,...more
I kinda of like the characters here..It`s all unique and fun..From Cat, to nutcase..Though my favourite would be Marianne...The only problem was that, I couldn`t comprehend with the setting of this one..It`s magical..But I couldn`t find the early connection of anything related to that, except for some words that read like spells..And the plot was a bit messy with loops..
But the writing was really good..
All in all,...more
I read this without knowing that this was part of a series. It was good as a stand alone book. Rich in imagery and creativity, this is worth the read.
Marianne's Gammer (grandma - with a magical bent) has gone batty, her family is holding emergency councils and bickering amongst themselves, she's left chasing a cat named Nutcase who can walk through walls and trying to end a magical feud with another witch clan. Meanwhile the enchanters up at the castle are drawn into the intrigue and all is sat...more
Marianne's Gammer (grandma - with a magical bent) has gone batty, her family is holding emergency councils and bickering amongst themselves, she's left chasing a cat named Nutcase who can walk through walls and trying to end a magical feud with another witch clan. Meanwhile the enchanters up at the castle are drawn into the intrigue and all is sat...more
Diana Wynne Jones is as imaginative as she is knowledgeable about human nature. She infuses her creativity into stories that are magical while they also tell a story about human nature and I love this about her work. This book is part of the Chronicles of Chrestomanci series and deals with two feuding magical clans sending plagues of frogs and lice at one another while attempting to stay unnoticed by the governing official (Chrestomanci). This is a young adult book and the main characters are pe...more
I wish I had read this sooner after Charmed Life, as it is a pretty close sequel. I enjoyed the development of the world, the complicated family dynamic, and what was essentially an environmental message at the heart of the book.
Wish we'd seen more of Janet! She cracked me up in Charmed Life, and was very fun in this one but wasn't a main character. It's refreshing that she's not a magic-user, though.
Also, Chrestomanci's embroidered dressing gown to page ratio was extremely high. I think he may...more
Wish we'd seen more of Janet! She cracked me up in Charmed Life, and was very fun in this one but wasn't a main character. It's refreshing that she's not a magic-user, though.
Also, Chrestomanci's embroidered dressing gown to page ratio was extremely high. I think he may...more
Reading this book makes it crystal clear where J K Rowling got all of her ingredients--the minister of magic, the griffins, quidditch, the magical creatures, the school of magic. It is true that she did something entirely different with the ingredients, so I'm not sure if I'd call it plagierism. Jones herself generously said that probably Rowling just read her books as a child and that could be true. Anyway, this is one of the most entertaining of her books and definitely readers who like Harry...more
Another � another! Did he just pop out of the back of her mind after all these years and start talking to her? � Chrestomanci novel, and a delight from start to finish. Yes, one did wonder why, when the magic-using families were so dedicated to keeping their existence a secret from Chrestomanci Castle, the younger members of the tribe cheerfully told everybody there all about themselves, but, whatever. Also, DWJ gets points for being fixated on griffins, which makes a nice change from bloody dra...more
My only complaint is how jumbled and out of order this series is. But I was excited and surprised to have another book mainly about Cat, whom we first met in Charmed Life. In fact, The Pinhoe Egg as as far as I can tell almost a direct sequel to Charmed Life. Good to know. Cat is as fun as ever. I'm sort of amused how much the Chrestomanci as adult Christopher is like to Wizard Howl in Howl's Moving Castle. Intentional, or just the way Diana thought adult wizards acted? Amusing to say the least....more
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Diana Wynne Jones was the author of more than thirty critically acclaimed fantasy stories, including the Chrestomanci series and the novels Howl's Moving Castle and Dark Lord of Derkholm.
For Diana Wynne Jones's official autobiography, please see http://www.leemac.freeserve.co.uk/aut...
More about Diana Wynne Jones...
For Diana Wynne Jones's official autobiography, please see http://www.leemac.freeserve.co.uk/aut...
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“No I am not all right!” Chrestomanci said, after five minutes of this. “I have worldwide blisters. I need a shave. I’m tired out and I haven’t had anything to eat since breakfast yesterday. Would you feel alright in my position?”
—
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May 22, 2012 04:03am
May 22, 2012 07:29am