This is a review sort of thingy again.

Title: Noidan Veli (Originally Charmed Life)
Author: Diana Wynne Jones
Started & Finished: October 4th 09
Pages: 262
Where I got it from: an aunt

Reason for reading (a bit of backstory):

The first time I was introduced to the story it was when I was between 8 and should I say 10 years of age. My older cousin wanted to read the book to her younger cousins, me and two others. It was a holiday and we were all at our grandparents' house. She was a good reader and during that time we did nothing but sit and listen to her read. my cousins had to leave before she finished the book, but I stayed and she read it for me.

I have once read the book after this - at least, I intended to, but I can not remember if I ever got to reading it.

Now some days ago I felt the terrible urge to read the book again. I'm not sure where it came from, but it might have been because I watched the Ghibli movie 'Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi' one day. (Thought process, in case it seems strange how a Japanese 200x animation brings me to a British 1977 book:
Spirited Away (the movie)
> Howl's Moving Castle (other movie by Ghibli)
> The book on which the movie was based on
> Diana Wynne Jones , the author of the book
> another of her books, this. Charmed Life.)

I then proceeded to see if my mother had the book in her bookcase, which was not the case. My aunt, however, did, and she lent it for me.

Short Summary: Eric "Cat" Chant's sister is a powerful witch. Then there's a big mansion owned by a strong magician, a violin that got turned into a cat, lots of magic and parallel worlds, a garden you can't get into and nine mysterious matches.
And those dressing gowns.

General Notes, read again, recommend?: Having been read the book to (whoah?) at such a young age it was amazing to read it again now when I'm older. For example I noticed many things that probably have affected me at some un- or subconscious level, like how Michael Saunders had too small clothes (I myself can not bear to have my wrists and ankles seen). I also noe see where my particular belief in parallel worlds and the way they work might come from.
I will read the book again, as soon as I get the original english version from the library. I would also love to got the book as my own.
I also totally recommend this to anyone who likes fantasy. Though a bit short (I read it in a couple of hours) the book, in my opinion, is at least as good as the Wizard of Earthsea and the first Harry Potter.

Liked & Didn't like:
The book was , in a way, almost like a detective story. Just like in the best Christie books there were clues scattered throughout the book and then in the end they all came together and everything seemed so obvious.
Though clearly written from the POV of Cat, my perfectionist senses were a bit disturbed as sometimes the feelings of Gwendolen and other characters were there too, when Cat could never have known.

Favourite bits:
Well. I just loved both Saunders and Chrestomanci. I don't know why, but they both were that kind of strong, intelligent, a bit mysterious and scary male characters I've always loved. The big showdown in the garden was good too and the whole book was just a big nostalgiabomb for me.

All in all, a good read after all these years. Now just waitnig for the next part in the series to come to the library.

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