3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Stop for this "Spell", May 2, 2004
"Stopping for a Spell" will probably never be as well-known as Jones' better works, as the three stories are essentially large-print kid novellas. Nevertheless, they show Jones' particular brand of charm and cuteness, focusing on ordinary everyday things that become infused with magic -- and some very annoying houseguests.
In "Chair Person," the family has just decided to get rid of a hideous old chair when bustling Aunt Christa arrives with a used conjurer's set. Her experiments in magic have an unexpected effect when the chair transforms into Chair Person, who is clumsy, stupid, gluttonous, and who recites commercials constantly. How can Simon and Marcia deal with Chair Person?
"Four Grannies" draws on the attitudes of bossy elderly types. Erg and Emily have four grandmothers, two biological and two stepgrandmothers -- and all of them have ways of making the kids miserable. Erg just wants to be left alone to finish his prayer machine. But when one of the grannies gives him a a chopstick that happens to be magical, the prayer machine causes some unique mayhem...
"Who Got Rid of Angus Filch?" features Angus Filch, the houseguest of your nightmares. His wife threw him out, and now his old college buddy's family can see why: He's controlling, obnoxious, complains constantly, torments the dog, jeers at the furniture, watches raunchy TV shows, never pays, grabs the kids by their hair to punish them, and gets up in the middle of the night to set fire to his supposedly contaminated sheets. But the kids of the family receive unexpected help -- from some very angry furniture.
Diana Wynne Jones is in excellent form here; readers who don't like short stories may still like these. The characters are all delightfully realistic, from the reclusive wannabe inventor to the nightmarish grandmothers who don't want kids in the bathroom too long, lest they become "peculiar." All sorts of hilarious situations arise, such as Emily ("Four Grannies") becoming sickening pious, or Chair Person regaling a church group with the fate of the wildebeest.
As these are all earlier short stories of Jones', ranging from the mid-1970s to late 1980s, they aren't very detailed as some of her current books. But the same absurd, sparkling magic is very present. A delightful little read.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Spell of Domestic Crises, May 12, 2004
Stopping for a Spell is a collection of three fantasy stories, all involving annoying visitors of one kind or another. When the adults in the family are ineffectual, the children spring to the rescue.
In Chair Person, Aunt Crista accidentally causes the old striped armchair in front of the television to come alive. Unfortunately, it is a selfish, greedy boor and overstuffed to boot.
In The Three Grannies, an invention grants prayers, but requires careful wording. A thoughtless request creates the SuperGranny, but a clumsy foot saves the day.
In Who Got Rid of Angus Flint?, another selfish, greedy boor moves into the house and says unkind things about the furniture. It doesn't pay to get a baby grand irritated.
These three stories depict strange and uncomfortable happenings in the home. They will give you a new perspective on your own troubles. But don't read them before bed if you are prone to bad dreams!
Recommended for the younger Jones fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of domestic crises aggravated (or solved) with a little magic.
-Arthur W. Jordin
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10 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
chronicles of Chrestomanci 1, January 22, 2002
A Kid's Review
Great book i spent lots of nights reading late into the night and im not a person who likes reading!
My favorite book all time!!!
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