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Charmed Life
- The Chrestomanci Series
- Narrated by: Tom Baker
- Length: 3 hrs and 10 mins
- Categories: Children's Audiobooks, Literature & Fiction
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Excellent Story well narrated.
- By Jenifer on 07-04-20
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Shame it's abridged
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Conrad is young, good at heart, and yet is apparently suffering from the effects of such bad karma that there is nothing in his future but terrible things. Unless he can alter his circumstances – well, quite frankly, he is DOOMED. Conrad is sent in disguise to Stallery Mansion, to infiltrate the magical fortress that has power over the whole town of Stallchester, and to discover the identity of the person who is affecting his Fate so badly. Then he has to kill that person. But can any plan really be that simple and straightforward?
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Fantastic
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Wonderful!
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Discovering that he has nine lives and is destined to be the next ‘Chrestomanci’ is not part of Christopher’s plans for the future: he’d much rather play cricket and wander around his secret dream worlds. But he soon finds that destiny is difficult to avoid, and that having more than the usual number of lives is pretty inconvenient - especially when you lose them as easily as he does!
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Excellent Story well narrated.
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Glorious new rejacket of a Diana Wynne Jones favourite, featuring Chrestomanci – now a book with extra bits! SOMEONE IN THIS CLASS IS A WITCH. When the note, written in ordinary ballpoint, turns up in the homework books Mr Crossley is marking, he is very upset. For this is Larwood House, a school for witch-orphans, where witchcraft is utterly forbidden. And yet magic keeps breaking out all over the place - like measles! The last thing they need is a visit from the Divisional Inquisitor.
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Shame it's abridged
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Performance
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Classic fantasy novels for children and adults.
- By Katheryn on 22-07-15
Summary
Everybody says that Gwendolyn Chant is a gifted witch with astonishing powers, so it suits her enormously when she is taken to live in Chrestomanci Castle. Her brother Eric (better known as Cat) is not so keen, for he has no talent for magic at all.However, life with the great enchanter is not what either of them expects and sparks begin to fly!Winner of the Guardian Award.
What listeners say about Charmed Life
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Ashley
- 19-04-20
Not the best in the series
I love this series of books - but Charmed Life is bottom of my list, I’m afraid. The abridgement is pretty good and the performance from the legendary Tom Baker really enjoyable.
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- Taiga
- 23-10-19
From My Favourite Childhood Author
A very Enchanting Read :) went through this pretty quickly as the story was so very exciting.
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- Penelope Bower
- 15-12-18
A pleasant listen for any age
Very enjoyable. Would much prefer it unabridged for the full Diana Wynne Jones charm. Tom Baker is a very good, engaging reader, although I had imagined a smoother Chrestomanci voice, but very well done in any case.
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- Mike K.
- 04-10-17
Good story
I read this book years ago and enjoyed hearing it again. The music playing over the story was annoying.
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- Kindle Customer
- 25-07-17
captivating
enjoyed this story, starts slow but it soon gets interesting, fun, magical when unexpected twists
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- Kindle Customer
- 20-07-15
Great Story, well read
Where does Charmed Life rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
top half
What other book might you compare Charmed Life to, and why?
Elidor - a well woven plot
What about Tom Baker’s performance did you like?
Good variety of voicesYes
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
Yes
Any additional comments?
I enjoy Diane Wynn Jones writing; coupled with Tom Baker's Narration it is a winner.
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- M
- 22-11-13
Deserves 6 stars for performance. No, 10.
Would you consider the audio edition of Charmed Life to be better than the print version?
No. It is abridged. Hence the loss of one star.
Who was your favorite character and why?
All of them. My least favourite was Chrestomanci. He sounded too old. I picture Hugh Jackman as Chrestomanci (in fancy dressing gowns).
Which scene was your favorite?
Ginger bread man was missing!
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
No. But I will listen to it multiple times.
Any additional comments?
Pleeeease get him to do the entire book.How about Howl's moving castle?
1 person found this helpful