<i>House of Many Ways</i> (review)
2008; Johns Hopkins University Press; Volume: 62; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1353/bcc.0.0336
ISSN1558-6766
Autores Tópico(s)Themes in Literature Analysis
ResumoReviewed by: House of Many Ways Karen Coats Jones, Diana Wynne; House of Many Ways. Greenwillow, 2008; 404p Library ed. ISBN 978-0-06-147796-6 $18.89 Trade ed. ISBN 978-0-06-147795-9 $17.99 R Gr. 7–10 Charmain Baker has led a sheltered life—she’s never cooked, cleaned, or done a load of laundry—until Aunt Sempronia insists that she look after the messy home of her great-uncle William, a Royal Wizard, while he’s away. What Charmain really wants to do with her life is to help the king and the princess organize the Royal Library, so she is delighted when they respond to her letter of inquiry, offering her the job. By then, though, she has run afoul of a large purple insect-like creature of malevolent intent, angered the little blue creatures who take care of the house, been adopted by a bewitching little dog named Waif, and acquired a roommate in the form of bumbling wizard’s apprentice who has come to study under her great-uncle. At the castle, her life becomes even more interesting as Sophie Pendragon (of Howl’s Moving Castle, BCCB 6/86) has come with her entourage to help the king find out what’s become of the Elfgift that was supposed to protect him, and why his coffers seem to be dwindling at an alarming rate. As usual with Jones, the magical plot threads come together ingeniously amidst a cozy story of quotidian comforts and discomforts and good laughs. Sophie’s character is starchy as ever against Howl’s antics, Calcifer emerges yet again as a reluctant hero, and Charmain holds her own as a new magic user among the veterans. No one bends and stretches domestic space or serves a better tea than Jones at her finest, and she is at her finest here, so grab a cup and a scone and snuggle in for a delightful afternoon’s read. Copyright © 2008 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
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