House of Many Ways
Ratings56
Average rating3.8
15
Ratings56
Average rating3.8
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 is better known as the Royal Wizard Norland, and his house bends space and time. Its single door leads to any number of places—the bedrooms, the kitchen, the caves under the mountains, the past, and the Royal Mansion, to name just a few. By opening that door, Charmain has become responsible for not only the house, but for an extremely magical stray dog, a muddled young apprentice wizard, and a box of the king's most treasured documents. She has encountered a terrifying beast called a lubbock, irritated a clan of small blue creatures, and wound up smack in the middle of an urgent search. The king and his daughter are desperate to find the lost, fabled Elfgift—so desperate that they've even called in an intimidating sorceress named Sophie to help. And where Sophie is, can the Wizard Howl and fire demon Calcifer be far behind? Of course, with that magical family involved, there's bound to be chaos—and unexpected revelations. No one will be more surprised than Charmain by what Howl and Sophie discover.
Reviews with the most likes.
When I started this book, I didn't realize it would be the final book. I thought the author may continue to write more. Turns out she passed away only a few years after this book was published.
There is something so charming about Wynn-jones writing. Unlike Castle in the Air, Sophie and Howl make appearances fairly early. This was a huge improvement. Howl disguises himself as a mischievous child named Twinkle. Every time he made an appearance I could feel myself smiling. Poor Sophie, but oh Howl.
I also loved the magically expanding house. i expected them to expand more on the house. perhaps the author planned to, but ran out of time.
in summary, this wasn't as chaotic as the first two books, but it's charming and a great Sunday read.
I am sad that there won't be more trips back to Ingary, but maybe it's time to visit her other books.
I was delighted to find another variant in the Howl's universe. It had new characters and a new country, but it did tie into the second book, and you do get to see Sophie and Howl.
I liked how each book was a bit different. I was sad to come to the end of my reading in this universe.
This was an engaging enough read. Appropriate for ages 8 & 9 up I'd say. I was interested to discover that it was published 4 years after the release of Miyazaki's Studio Ghibli adaptation of Howl's Moving Castle. I feel like Wynne Jones has definitely taken inspiration from the film in this follow-up to the original 2 books that pre-date (& differ from ) the film. There is a character that is somewhat like Heen, as well as Markl, and visits to the royal palace. Howl also features in disguise at the palace as a cute blonde, curly haired boy, just like in the film. I felt somewhat uncomfortable with the characters of the “kobolds” who seemed to be inspired by the houseelves from Harry Potter but without any riposte to the paternalistic/supremacist undertones of servitude. There was some surprising Alien-esque body-horror in the Lubbock's laying of eggs in bodies. With the lubbock / lubbockins too, I do get a bit antsy with the problematic plot device of characterizing a whole species as evil. And the implications of interspecies offspring as evil. That's a bit sucks teeth for me.
The book is nice and fun to read, but I didn't like the protagonist. I found her a bit too annoying.
Featured Series
3 primary booksHowl's Moving Castle is a 3-book series with 3 primary works first released in 1986 with contributions by Diana Wynne Jones.
