The Lives of Christopher Chant

By: Diana Wynne Jones

Narrated by: Gerard Doyle

Length: 9 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's summary

Christopher Chant has no real power. He can't perform spells or do anything magical. However, he does possess something that most humans do not. Christopher has nine lives. Gerard Doyle's spellbinding narration is sure to capture every listener's attention.

©2005 Diana Wynne Jones (P)2005 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"Here's a perfect choice for the Harry Potter/Philip Pullman crowd." (AudioFile)
"Gerard Doyle's rich voice and English accent suit the story perfectly. His excellent expression and conviction draw listeners into the tale and help them follow the complex plot, giving each character's voice just enough distinction." (School Library Journal)

Fun Family Fantasy

I have listened to this audiobook twice because I really loved the story. I think it's the best on in the series. Gerard Doyle is a great narrator and makes the stories very amusing.

Fascinating!

I listened to this with my 7 and 10 year-olds, after enjoying the "A Charmed Life". The characters are interesting and distinct, the plot complicated, and the climax had all three of us huddled around the speakers. Highly recommended!

Between the two books, I don't think it matters what order one reads them in. Both are great. There's plenty of witchcraft, magic, and humor to entertain, but there's more than mere entertainment here.

One of my favorites!

I absolutely love this book, Diana Wynne Jones's books have such a charming whimsy and engaging characters. I also love Gerard Doyle as a narrator, particularly in his narration of Jones's books - he captures each character's personality and the emotion of every scene so well and so naturally. Together Jones and Doyle make a perfect combination!

Absolutely amazing story

First time revisiting this book since childhood, and it's just so smartly written. The revelations that the characters have throughout the book were deeply touching to realize and ponder as an adult. Diana Wynne Jones was a treasure.

TERRIFIC.

That's all I can say. Jones takes it away with this installment of the The Worlds of Chrestomanci series, and Gerard Doyle is as good as ever.

I love Chrestomanci!

I love listening to these books while exercising. This is one of the best of them all!

Enchanted story

I had read this as a kid and absolutely loved it. I was worried that 30 yrs would be too long to revisit this little tale. It was even better than I remember. This is pre-Harry Potter magic and is awesome. It was such a treat to take a trip down memory lane for a few hours a day this week

A long time favorite.

I'm a big Diana Wynne Jones fan and I am pleased to say that the Chrestomanci series is just as enjoyable in audio as it is in print, perhaps even more so. Gerard Doyle does a fantastic job with the narration, the norm for all his performances in my opinion.

My favorite of the series so far

Loved the world Diana built. I’m also a sucker for happy endings. Can’t wait to read the rest of her books.

"Lives" is well read

I am a fan of Diana Wynne Jones, and I like most of her books. This is vintage Jones at her peak, a charming child/young adult book that I have liked in the print version for a long time. The voice reading in this strikes me as just right- a nice plummy British voice that pronounces things correctly and does not read too slow or too fast for my taste. I am hooked; I want to get more of her books read by Gerard Doyle. (I only hope that they add others that are not in the Chrestomanci series, such as "Howl's Moving Castle," which is my absolute favorite Jones book.)