Day 9: A book you thought you wouldn't like but ended up loving.

Diana Wynne Jones. She shaped my love and thirst for adventure more than any other author has. I spent many happy days holed up reading about magic and mystery, time travel and so many other themes that grew on me. I progressed from series to series and ended up reading pretty much all of her books. Howl's Moving Castle and Sophie Hatter are my dear favourites, but of course, I started with the Chrestomanci series.

It's only fitting that her books find a place somewhere in this series of posts.

The first book I ever read by her:

Charmed Life (Chrestomanci series)
by Diana Wynne Jones

We have Eric "Cat" Chant. Timid and shy and forever living in the shadow of his manipulative and much talented older sister, Gwendolen. We have the enigmatic and handsome Chrestomanci (is that a name or title?). We have a whole host of animated background characterse, interesting in their individuality.

I didn't think I'd like the book, especially since at 7 I deemed the cover uninteresting and certainly uninspiring. I forced myself past the first page and then I got lost.

For the next several years, I bought books just because they had her name on it and I never regretted the decision. I remember coming home from college to the news of her death, utterly shocked. I don't know why, I just feel like I assumed she'd live forever.

Diana Wynne Jones will live on forever in my reading habits and imagination. Her books introduced me to magic and fantasy and that kind of thing can never be forgotten.

(Chrestomanci's sass, though)

“Chrestomanci smiled and swept out of the room like a very long procession of one person.”

 “Then watch out. I warn you!"  

"That is very considerate of you," said Chrestomanci. "I like to be warned.”