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27th out of 36 books
—
247 voters
The Ogre Downstairs
Chemical Warfare?Casper, Johnny, and Gwinny are sure they'll never be happy again when their mother marries Jack, who is as mean as an ogre. To make matters worse, two obnoxious stepbrothers, Malcolm and Douglas, move in as well. No one -- except the parents -- seems happy. But when Jack gives a chemistry set to each group of kids, bigger problems take over. These are, it...more
Paperback, 234 pages
Published
2003
by HarperCollins
(first published 1974)
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One of the earliest Wynne-Jones books I've read so far, this one is still brilliant. Like all of her works, it involves a different take on magic than all the others. This one details a sort of accidental alchemy. The story is a bit of a cross between "The Brady Bunch" (by way of the UK) and a madcap Disney live action movie from the twentieth century ("Flubber," "Herbie," or "Bedknobs and Broomsticks," for example). The set-up is that two single parents have married (one is a divorcee, the othe...more
I was a bit disappointed by the book. Another author mentioned this book on her blog as one of the funniest things she'd ever read and an old favourite - so I gave it a go. Unfortunately, I didn't find it that funny.
It's quite a sweet story about a group of children and a magical chemistry set. A mum of three has recently remarried to a man her children think of as the Ogre, who has two children of his own. The children hate each other and all hate the Ogre. The Ogre, in an attempt to be nice,...more
It's quite a sweet story about a group of children and a magical chemistry set. A mum of three has recently remarried to a man her children think of as the Ogre, who has two children of his own. The children hate each other and all hate the Ogre. The Ogre, in an attempt to be nice,...more
This riff on "Jack and the Beanstalk" is one of Diana Wynne Jones' best standalone fantasy titles. The twists come from the fact that the character of the giant (here nicknamed the Ogre) is "downstairs" and not up the sky as in the fairytale, and that it's the Ogre whose name is Jack and not the hero of the tale. All the DWJ features are there: the fun with words (the compounds in the magic chemistry sets have abbreviations similar to homeopathic rememdies), the sly Arthurian allusions (the most...more
The story of a gaggle of youngsters who can't stand their overbearing step-father and new step-brothers. They're given a chemistry set to bribe them into good behavior, but quickly discover that it can actually be used to make magic potions. The potions get them into ever more convoluted schemes and increasing amounts of trouble, until their dysfunctional household finally reaches a crisis point.
This is a really charming story, filled with little touches of 1970s Britain that I found quaint and...more
This is a really charming story, filled with little touches of 1970s Britain that I found quaint and...more
Casper, Johnny, and Gwinny are quite unhappy when their mother marries Jack, whose dour nature and heavy handed approach to discipline lead them to dub him The Ogre. Adding to their unhappiness are their two new stepbrothers, Malcolm and Douglas, who are every bit as unappealing as The Ogre, albeit in different ways. When Jack gives each group of children a chemistry set, everyone is surprised, but no one expects magical results. However, they soon discover that some combinations of ingredients...more
I read this book when I was little and I remember being disappointed that the Ogre is not really an ogre. However, the book is good despite that. The characters are fun, and it's nice to watch everyone's relationships evolve throughout the story. The chemistry set antics are by far the most entertaining and creative part of the book. But as other reviewers have mentioned, the parental actions are a little disturbing. (view spoiler)...more
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I thought that this story was something like Shrek because of the ogre title~ haha, I was mistaken. He just seemed to be called ogre because of his character. I read this book because it was from Diana Wynne Jones, who was one of my favorite authors.
It was an okay story. Two families were merged after remarrying and created a complete household chaos especially when the ogre brought them the magical chemistry set (unknown to him that it is indeed magical!). It was like some of the movies I have...more
It was an okay story. Two families were merged after remarrying and created a complete household chaos especially when the ogre brought them the magical chemistry set (unknown to him that it is indeed magical!). It was like some of the movies I have...more
A very nice story about the coming together of a mixed family. Also an ogre.
It actually seems about like how a child whose mom (or dad) gets married may view their family. Except, of course, Diana likes to add some magic in, in this case in the form of a chemistry set. It's one of those smooth stories that reads quite nicely and you always cringe a little when they get mad at each other but you're also like, I probably would have done that too (except for trying to kill the ogre - I don't think...more
It actually seems about like how a child whose mom (or dad) gets married may view their family. Except, of course, Diana likes to add some magic in, in this case in the form of a chemistry set. It's one of those smooth stories that reads quite nicely and you always cringe a little when they get mad at each other but you're also like, I probably would have done that too (except for trying to kill the ogre - I don't think...more
I just re-read this book for The Big DWJ Read hosted by the DWJ email list (dwj@suberic.net). It's Diana Wynne Jones's third novel and second juvenile fantasy, but you'd think it was the work of a much more seasoned writer--complex characters, a spot-on portrayal of how kids interact with adults, and some hilarious and memorable mixups arising from a bunch of kids fumbling around with magical chemistry sets. A living pipe that enjoys being smoked; literal dustbunnies; giant animated feral toffee...more
Just when I thought I knew exactly what to expect from Diana Wynne Jones, I pick up The Ogre Downstairs, and realize that I can't predict anything about her books.
That's a good thing, even if I'm not the intended audience.
The Ogre Downstairs is written for a middle grade audience, for kids 8 and up. I rarely felt self-conscious reading it, though, because Diana Wynne Jones never wrote down to her audience. She doesn't dumb down the plots or simplify the writing; she simply has realistic people,...more
That's a good thing, even if I'm not the intended audience.
The Ogre Downstairs is written for a middle grade audience, for kids 8 and up. I rarely felt self-conscious reading it, though, because Diana Wynne Jones never wrote down to her audience. She doesn't dumb down the plots or simplify the writing; she simply has realistic people,...more
When The Ogre - Malcolm and Douglas' father and Caspar, Johnny and Gwinny's not-at-all-shiny new stepfather - buys Johnny and Malcolm identical chemistry sets, they're fairly sure it's a bribery attempt. The chemicals, though, prove to have rather more interesting effects than any of the children were expecting.
This was a reread. The first time I read it, I thought this book was rather charming. The second time, I thought it was rather awesome. The more time passes, the more I love it, until at...more
This was a reread. The first time I read it, I thought this book was rather charming. The second time, I thought it was rather awesome. The more time passes, the more I love it, until at...more
This isn't the first time I'm reading this - I last read this a few years back, and it was a delightful tale, the kind you read before bedtime and won't fall asleep listening to. On the second read, I still found it charming, but of course nothing compared to the first time. Still highly recommended to those who like simple stories about family and magic. It's no Harry Potter, and it's certainly not dark at all, yet Diana Wynne Jones has a way of telling stories that's captivating.
Trouble is brewing indeed... Two magical chemistry sets, two families brought together through a marriage, five children let loose with powders with special properties, and an ogre downstairs. This was funny, moving, and loads of fun to read. I liked how the characters were allowed to develop and move in their behaviour - and the parents not minding crazy chemical experiments going on in the kids bedrooms...
Fun read, as usual, but not as good as many of her later books. Also, I was rather disconcerted by the kids and the stepfather all realizing that they weren't trying to understand each other, really, and yay we'll all be a happy family now, when to my mind the stepfather's behavior often rose to abusive levels. Mild abuse, I suppose, but abuse is abuse.
I can't wait to read this with my kids when they are old enough. It was imaginative and fresh. I enjoyed the story and felt the characters stayed true to themselves throughout. The story centers around a family that is adjusting to being family and their exploits with a chemistry set. I wish I had thought of it.
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The Ogre Downstairs didn't captivate me like the Chrestimanci books did. The middle section with the living inanimates (especially the toffy) drags on and on. I really had to force myself through the taffy chapters. While I'm glad to see the Ogre revealed as a good egg the ending seems tacked on.
A good story which I don't remember reading as a child. I think maybe my parents wisely kept it from me because they knew that if I read it I would probably end up tasting all the substances in my chemistry set. Or hitting people -- the characters in this story seem to hit each other a lot.
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Oct 04, 2007
Lady Ozma
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
EVERYONE!!!!!!!!
Shelves:
children-s,
youngadult
I read this book so many times as a child that the library probably thought I purchased it from them. I have since gotten that same library book at a sale they had. Talk about a score! I've shared this book with my children. I plan to share it with my future grandchildren!
Words cannot begin to describe the fun of step-siblings with dueling chemistry sets that contain some items not normally found on the periodic table. From things being brought to life to flying to the disco, this book looks at...more
Words cannot begin to describe the fun of step-siblings with dueling chemistry sets that contain some items not normally found on the periodic table. From things being brought to life to flying to the disco, this book looks at...more
I liked it the first time I read it when I was a teenager. Rereading it in my 20s left me wondering why I liked it. But it's fun and easy to read, really light fiction, unlike most magic-fantasy books.
Less fantastic than everything else I've read by DWJ, comparatively little magic overall, but kind of a nice story about the difficulties of blended families while they're blending, and what magic there is is very enjoyable and funny!
I love the premise of a magical chemistry set - and the bits of Greek and Latin are pretty neat too. The ending is a bit flat, but the rest of the book is great.
Every time I pick up one of Jones' novels I am transorted and enthralled by the imaginitive worlds that she creates for her readers. This novel is set is a more realistic and modern time that many of her other classics, but it is noless fantastic. Jones ignoes a spark of magic through the most mundane of objects (a children's chemistry kit) and ignotes every little boys' fantasy with the ensuing highjinx. These include animated toffee, flying, and invisibility mixed in wth all the typical domest...more
One of my all-time childhood favorites. This book was so inventive. To this day, I can see those mushroom caps growing into motorcycle-helmeted men.......
A charming, timeless children's book about a seemingly orge-ish stepfather and how magical mayhem with a chemistry set brings an uneasily blended family together.
This is one of the BEST books I've read of all time. I love her writing way better than the money-maker Harry Potter series. Very, very good!!
In the 70s there was a vogue for 'issues' novels for children. Happily Diana Wynne Jones drags this rather dull genre into life, with extravagantly fun chemistry sets, incorporating everything from the (rather rude) borrowers, to fool's Gold, body swapping, flying and large doses of the magician's apprentice. The initial couple of chapters can't help but be held back a little by the step-families and shouting, but there are no problems that can't be solved by large wads of gold and a bigger hous...more
Typical DWJ with kids learning about how confusing telling good from bad can be and not for a minute questioning the existence of magic.
Love this story, funny and heartwarming, like the simplicity of Diana Wynn Jones storytelling.
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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...
