However, my feelings on New Year are not the focus of this post...no the focus is Stacey Boden! What? You ask. How is it Stacey Boden, you ponder? Let me tell you: If you read the previous post, I mentioned a friend encouraged me to continue this blog. I expressed to her how occasionally writing this blog makes me self-conscious, which dampens my desire to write it. Long story short, she said well Stacey loves these things so you know at least she'll like it! That was enough for me! I am nothing if not a people pleaser, and one person counts! So thank you to all the Stacey Boden's out there for their love of literature and sightly self-aggrandizing blogs (Have you seen how many books I'm trying to read? I mean, c'mon!)! This one's for you!
Okay, so lets get to the book. As mentioned in the previous post, I am beginning this challenge with a book that makes you nostalgic. At first I took this to mean a book I read as a child, so I thought I'd call the first one in and re-read Harry Potter. But then I learned something dear readers that shocked me to my core. It was as if the book heavens opened up from above and said stop! Put down that copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone! Why? Because there are more books added to the Chrestomanci ("KREST–OH–MAN–SEE") Series by Diana Wynne Jones (RIP)! I gasped! This is fate, I said to myself. A book that makes me nostalgic, but is still new to me! How did I not know this? How has it taken me this long to learn there were 'new' (last book published in 2006) books in the Worlds of Chrestomanci? It was because they were published after I graduated highschool, and assumed that a series (at the time) that had its last book published in 1982, and its latest short story in 2000 was probably done! IT WAS NOT! So dear readers I bring you Conrad's Fate by Diana Wynne Jones!
 |
| Published in 2005 |
Where to start with this book? I guess some backstory is needed, but my personal thought process on this book was, "OMG! OMG! OMG! Another book! I'm so happy!" Unfortunately that isn't helpful for those who do not know this series. So backstory it is!
I read the first book in the "Worlds of Chrestomanci" series, Charmed Life (1977), when I was in grade 8. I picked up this colourful cover at my local Chapters, and was intrigued by the back cover. The books take place in a world where...there are many worlds! Referred to as the "Twelve Related Worlds" they are a series of Earths that started off as one world but split off after possible choices in history, particularly geological history.
Allow me to give a brief explanation:
Within each of the world's there are about 9 series, although it's hinted there could me more, and they are formed when something historically big happens in the that specific world, and two (or more) outcomes are possible. One outcome happens in the original or premier series of that world, and the other happens in a split-off but parallel second series. For example: There are 12 worlds, they are all joined by a great edge. Something big occurs in World 3 Series A. It is so monumental that the alternative outcome splits off and creates World 3 Series B. Now we have 3A and 3B, but 3B is shook from whatever outcome created it and has important possibilities in front of it. They choose to go one way, but the other way is strong enough to create Series C. Because a series is from the same world, they are generally quite similar but with key differences. The related worlds may vary more from each other. The important thing is, everything is still connected. The 12 related worlds are all the branches of the same one world, and for the most part, all believe they are the only version of that original one world. Series of a world are all related to their starting world, and are like grandchildren to the first original world. As with the related worlds, a series may not even know of the existence of other series/worlds and have no reason to believe they are not the only world.
Got it? Great!
So I read Charmed Life a tale of orphaned Eric "Cat" Chant (of 12A), who with his sister Gwendolyn, moves into Chrestomanci Castle. Gwendolyn has a gift for magic, Cat does not. She is thrilled to be fostered by Chrestomanci, because Chrestomanci is the title of the strongest magic user in ALL of the worlds. They are a nine-lifed enchanter/ess who are given the government job/title of Chrestomanci to police magic in the related worlds and prevent it's misuse and abuse. They are chosen because of their nine-lives. This means that all the versions of this individual that should have existed across their series, for whatever reason did not. So they got all the lives and magic and talent that would have been spread across, making them very powerful. I don't want to spoil Charmed Life so I won't say too much, except the first book introduces the concept and the main Chrestomanci throughout the series: Christopher Chant. The books themselves have different protagonists and take place in different worlds or series, but the link is always Christopher in his role as Chrestomanci gets summoned at one point and helps sort out the magical mess. Interestingly enough, not every series of a world has magic, but Chrestomanci still will (born with it).
That's essentially the back story needed to understand Conrad's Fate: Multiple worlds, some with magic, One enchanter/ess to govern them all, main one throughout series is Christopher Chant.
Now that that's covered, I'm going to go back to the nostalgia factor. I devoured these books, after reading and loving Charmed Life. It didn't hurt that I was born after the last one was published, so could burn through them. I remember finding the series in a smaller Indigo Books and my older cousin who was with me, bought me the next book. It was a gift and I felt special. This book series remind me of that moment, as well as the excitement of being a kid discovering a new book series. Discovering a new series is always a rush for me. It's like finding the key to a secret room, but no one else has it. I can decide to lend deserving people that key, or I can not. It's mine.
Reading Conrad's Fate brought back all that excitement from when I was 13, as I revisited the Worlds of Chrestomanci, that I had fell in love with. There we have it, now nowhere left to go but onto the book so...onto the book.
Conrad's Fate by Diana Wynne Jones
What to say about this book? You all know it was read through a nostalgic lens, so there is going to be some positive bias for sure. Overall, I really enjoyed it! I read it in a single day, as it is a quick, easy read. This is true of all the books in the series, and I don't think I took more than a day or two to read any of them. What struck me right away about this book was the point of view change. The novels and short stories had been Third-Person narratives, but Conrad's Fate uses First-Person. It is also the only tale that is narrated as a past story, that catches up to the present in the end. It was a nice change, and brought a different intimacy with the protagonist as we are told his thoughts at the time and current opinions of what happened. We are witness to his reflections and how he grew throughout the time period he discusses.
The story takes place at a stately manor, and there is a lot of Upstairs Downstairs or Downton Abbey that comes to mind. Conrad, who has grown up with a "bad fate" is told by his uncle to get a job at Stallery Mansion. His uncle, a magician, has discovered that Conrad's bad fate is due to him not stopping a bad person in a past life. He informs Conrad that he has divined that the person has been reborn, and is at Stallery mansion, and if Conrad finishes the job, his fate will be cleared. Conrad is given some tools to help him and away he goes, making his way to the mansion. He's not particularly impressed because he wants to go away to a magical university, and not murder anyone, but his uncle says his fortune shows he'll die in the year if he doesn't rectify his past life mistake. So what do you do? After passing an interview/examination, he is selected to be an 'improver', or a valet-in-training.
He's not the only one though, selected along with him is an undercover, teenaged Christopher Chant, otherwise known as the future Chrestomanci.
Which leads me to my favourite part of the book: The relationship between these two characters. It was nice to see Christopher as a teenager, but even nicer to see how he quickly bonded with and respected Conrad. Christopher has a quality of not learning names if the person they belong to is not important to him. Conrad is told this quality by Millie, (the reason Christopher is at the mansion is to find her) and realizes Christopher has never forgot his name. There is some nice banter between the two, and Conrad is a likeable character. His descriptions and impressions of Christopher fill out the other's character very well!
Diana Wynne Jones has two great skills in writing this series (and presumably all her other books and stories): One is writing a series of behind the scenes sub-plots that are hinted at enough to notice them, but not enough to make them distracting or side-tracking. They always come together in a way that wraps up with the main conflict. This book is no exception; there are secret romances, and hidden identities galore.
The second skill is ALL THE TWIST ENDINGS! There is always some stray piece of information that comes out of nowhere at the conclusions, but, when you reflect back...the clues were always sort of there. There are some twists I see coming, but there are others I'm left shocked at. This is very hard to do to me. If you were to ask my sister, there is no twist ending I haven't predicted half-way through the book. Sometimes before that! As was the case with Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. She read it before me, and told me I wouldn't like it. My response, hmm...(16 years ago spoiler alert) Sirius dies eh? "How did you guess that?" "It's the only thing that makes sense at this point in the tale." While DWJ can be predictable, something does always surprise me to some degree.
What I noticed this time around though, is how badly she writes female characters! There seems to be the same stereotypes she utilizes over again: Beautiful ingenue, Beautiful harpy, Fat, plain, kindly woman, Fat, plain, horrible woman. She then adds a quirk or extra element to one of those cookie cutters, and voila! A female character is created! That being said, Mille is absolutely interesting in every book she appears in, and this one is no exception. It's like all the dimension she could write in a secondary protagonist/side character who is female, was put into Millie. Although to be fair, Witch Week she builds some developed girls, but one is also the co-protagonist. She should be interesting!
Another key theme that seems to wind through the series, is how adults can let you down, particularly your own family. Conrad has a neglectful mom, and doesn't realize it until the end. Cat Chant was manipulated and used by his sister (Charmed Life). Christopher Chant was manipulated and used by his uncle (The Lives of Christopher Chant). She writes those careless micro-aggressions parents might inflict on their children without realizing it, very well. It's a good reminder that everything we do is being noticed and picked up. That what we think are throwaway comments or minor criticism can be internalized and build into something more. As a teacher this is something I'm always thinking about and I try to be as specific and intentional with my words as possible.
All in all, it was a fun book and a great trip down nostalgia lane. I do recommend this series to anyone who wants to go on a fun, magical journey. If you've, dear reader, read a nostalgic book please tell me about it in the comments, or tell me what book you think would make you nostalgic to read now and why! I'd love to hear your thoughts and add some new books to the list!
Until next time, when I'll be reading a book with a two-word title!
He's not the only one though, selected along with him is an undercover, teenaged Christopher Chant, otherwise known as the future Chrestomanci.
Which leads me to my favourite part of the book: The relationship between these two characters. It was nice to see Christopher as a teenager, but even nicer to see how he quickly bonded with and respected Conrad. Christopher has a quality of not learning names if the person they belong to is not important to him. Conrad is told this quality by Millie, (the reason Christopher is at the mansion is to find her) and realizes Christopher has never forgot his name. There is some nice banter between the two, and Conrad is a likeable character. His descriptions and impressions of Christopher fill out the other's character very well!
Diana Wynne Jones has two great skills in writing this series (and presumably all her other books and stories): One is writing a series of behind the scenes sub-plots that are hinted at enough to notice them, but not enough to make them distracting or side-tracking. They always come together in a way that wraps up with the main conflict. This book is no exception; there are secret romances, and hidden identities galore.
The second skill is ALL THE TWIST ENDINGS! There is always some stray piece of information that comes out of nowhere at the conclusions, but, when you reflect back...the clues were always sort of there. There are some twists I see coming, but there are others I'm left shocked at. This is very hard to do to me. If you were to ask my sister, there is no twist ending I haven't predicted half-way through the book. Sometimes before that! As was the case with Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. She read it before me, and told me I wouldn't like it. My response, hmm...(16 years ago spoiler alert) Sirius dies eh? "How did you guess that?" "It's the only thing that makes sense at this point in the tale." While DWJ can be predictable, something does always surprise me to some degree.
What I noticed this time around though, is how badly she writes female characters! There seems to be the same stereotypes she utilizes over again: Beautiful ingenue, Beautiful harpy, Fat, plain, kindly woman, Fat, plain, horrible woman. She then adds a quirk or extra element to one of those cookie cutters, and voila! A female character is created! That being said, Mille is absolutely interesting in every book she appears in, and this one is no exception. It's like all the dimension she could write in a secondary protagonist/side character who is female, was put into Millie. Although to be fair, Witch Week she builds some developed girls, but one is also the co-protagonist. She should be interesting!
Another key theme that seems to wind through the series, is how adults can let you down, particularly your own family. Conrad has a neglectful mom, and doesn't realize it until the end. Cat Chant was manipulated and used by his sister (Charmed Life). Christopher Chant was manipulated and used by his uncle (The Lives of Christopher Chant). She writes those careless micro-aggressions parents might inflict on their children without realizing it, very well. It's a good reminder that everything we do is being noticed and picked up. That what we think are throwaway comments or minor criticism can be internalized and build into something more. As a teacher this is something I'm always thinking about and I try to be as specific and intentional with my words as possible.
All in all, it was a fun book and a great trip down nostalgia lane. I do recommend this series to anyone who wants to go on a fun, magical journey. If you've, dear reader, read a nostalgic book please tell me about it in the comments, or tell me what book you think would make you nostalgic to read now and why! I'd love to hear your thoughts and add some new books to the list!
Until next time, when I'll be reading a book with a two-word title!
Jass
PS. One last shout out to S. Boden: I think those wee ladies of yours would enjoy this series! And thanks for being a fellow book lover!
PS. One last shout out to S. Boden: I think those wee ladies of yours would enjoy this series! And thanks for being a fellow book lover!
I loooooooove Diana Wynne Jones! I am so excited that your nostalgic read is one of hers. When Nova was born a friend gifted us this series and I read it then, intending to come back to it when she was older to read through it together! Thank you for the reminder that now is a great time to get started! ��
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for posting this! Looking forward to the next one. ��
Amazing! What a serendipitous book post to dedicate to you then! Happy reading :)
ReplyDelete