Review - House of Many Ways

[wilderthan]

House of Many Ways (Diana Wynne Jones)

I finished this so much sooner than I wanted to! Diana Wynne Jones' tone is lovely, funny and matter of fact and magical all at once. Charmain is a decent sort of main character -- not too goody-goody, not too narcissistic, not too capable and not too stupid. And I identified with her always having her nose in a book! I approve very much.

Diana Wynne Jones' books often seem to me just the slightest bit rushed, in some parts. Either I'm used to her style, or this is simply better on the pacing front.

It's fun to have Calcifer and Howl and Sophie around, and good to see all the other recurring characters, too. I liked this better than Castle in the Air, though I'm not sure why, just a gut feeling. It wasn't too complicated, either: straight-forward, easy to read fun. Which is exactly what I wanted/needed.

Comments

[sweet_sparrow]

Mmm... I read in another review that the hallmark chaos in the books doesn't come in until the end. (I didn't even realise that about the chaos, but now it's mentioned I can see it. *such a dim thing*) Maybe that's why her books feel rushed and this one doesn't so much?

And I liked this better than Castle in the Air as well. ^-^ Not sure I can explain why either. ^-^