The Lives of Christopher Chant

By: Diana Wynne Jones

Narrated by: Gerard Doyle

Horn Book Fanfare

ALA Notable Children’s Book

Nebula Award

His father and uncles are enchanters, his mother a powerful sorceress, yet nothing seems magical about Christopher Chant except his dreams. Night after night, he climbs through the formless Place Between and visits marvelous lands he calls the Almost Anywheres. Then Christopher discovers that he can bring real, solid things back from his dreams. Others begin to recognize the extent of his powers, and they issue an order that turns Christopher's life upside down: Go to Chrestomanci Castle to train to be the controller of all the world's magic.

©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.

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!

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.

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!