Castle in the Air

Rating:
Summary: Likeable and funny
Review: a highly enjoyable romp thru Alladin type Arabia to wet Sussex environs. Although not as poignant as it's predecessor, Howls Moving Castle, Castle in the Air is nonetheless very readable and makes one just as reluctant to put it down. Fans will enjoy it and if you haven't been converted to the DWJ fanclub yet, you're only one book away!

Rating:
Summary: A lot of fun
Review: Abdullah is a young carpet merchant. He likes to daydream to escape the more mundane aspects of his life, and creates detailed fantasies of adventure, palaces, and a beautiful princess. His life suddenly becomes much more exciting when he buys a flying carpet and meets a princess, the lovely Flower-in-the-Night - only to have her snatched away from him by a djinni. Fleeing the wrath of Flower-in-the-Night's father and his relatives' plans to marry him off, Abdullah goes in search of his princess . . . and find himself caught up with bandits, djinni, a pair of mysterious cats, a sneaky soldier, and one very bad-tempered genie in a bottle.
This is a lovely story. I couldn't put it down. Abdullah is resourceful and smart, coping well with all the difficult situations he finds himself in; he is compassionate, too. Flower-in-the-Night is charming and clever, and is doing very well at planning her escape by the time Abdullah manages to catch up with her. There are so many funny moments in this book, from the genie's malicious fulfilment of Abdullah's wishes to the problems a flying castle full of princesses can cause their djinni captors. And if you have read Howl's Moving Castle, you do get to meet some old friends again, however briefly - though this story would have been just as good without them.
The title of the story comes not just from Howl's flying castle that the djinni have taken over and renovated, but from Abdullah's daydreams. In the end, all his daydreams came true - but not in a way he had ever expected. So it's just as well that this book has a happy ending for all concerned.

Rating:
Summary: A completely charming sequel to "Howl's Moving Castle."
Review: Don't be put off by the naysayers here. "Castle In The Air" is a lovely, if lightweight, sequel to the utterly wonderful "Howl's Moving Castle," if only because it's a send-up of the Arabian Nights tales (much as HMC was a deconstruction of traditional fairy tales). It's true; the HMC characters don't show up until the last half of the book, but when they do, it's the best dovetailing of stories since Edward Eager's Tales of Magic quartet. I wish to God someone would make live-action movies out of these books (although I'm sure the Japanese anime version of HMC due in spring 2003 will be great).

Rating:
Summary: A completely charming sequel to "Howl's Moving Castle."
Review: Don't be put off by the naysayers here. "Castle In The Air" is a lovely, if lightweight, sequel to the utterly wonderful "Howl's Moving Castle," if only because it's a send-up of the Arabian Nights tales (much as HMC was a deconstruction of traditional fairy tales). It's true; the HMC characters don't show up until the last half of the book, but when they do, it's the best dovetailing of stories since Edward Eager's Tales of Magic quartet. I wish to God someone would make live-action movies out of these books (although I'm sure the Japanese anime version of HMC due in spring 2003 will be great).

Rating:
Summary: She has done better
Review: I am a big fan of hers and I normally like how her plots and characters are at times confusing and strange but this is too hard to follow. I Loooved Castle in the air and if you liked this then you will enjoy any of her other books but I can see how a fan would be disapointed. They would expect better. By the way, she rarely centers on the main characters from a previous work in a sequel.

Rating:
Summary: ... Review *~*
Review: I like this book because it had adventures, mysteries, and humour. It reminded me of " Aladdin." It was about a carpet sellsman who went on a journey in search of a the princess. My favorite character is Adbullah. He is very positive about everything and won`t stop until he finds the princess. He is also brave. My favorite part was when they first saw the dijnn. I liked that part because it described it very well.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent book
Review: I liked the book, Castle in the Air. I would like to read it again because it is good! I encourage kids who are very good readers to start this series. I read this book as a project for Library at Waukazoo Elementary.

Rating:
Summary: Lighthearted fantasy set in a world of magic.
Review: I remember reading this several years ago, after I had read most of Diana Wynne Jones' other novels. I was delighted by the change of pace, this novel being set in the world of the "Arabian Nights". Abdullah, a young man in Arabia, sells carpets for a living in a little hut in the merchant district. He lives a happy, if unsuccesful life, besides the hassle with dealing with his relatives who are trying to get him to marry. Alas, he dreams of someone more beautiful than the pigs his relatives want him to marry. His life changes one day when a stranger sells him a magic carpet. So begins a wonderful tale of magical Djin and a beautiful princess. I heartily recomend this book for young adult readers.

Rating:
Summary: Lighthearted fantasy set in a world of magic.
Review: I remember reading this several years ago, after I had read most of Diana Wynne Jones' other novels. I was delighted by the change of pace, this novel being set in the world of the "Arabian Nights". Abdullah, a young man in Arabia, sells carpets for a living in a little hut in the merchant district. He lives a happy, if unsuccesful life, besides the hassle with dealing with his relatives who are trying to get him to marry. Alas, he dreams of someone more beautiful than the pigs his relatives want him to marry. His life changes one day when a stranger sells him a magic carpet. So begins a wonderful tale of magical Djin and a beautiful princess. I heartily recomend this book for young adult readers.

Rating:
Summary: Great to read aloud!
Review: I stumbled upon this book without having read its prequel, but I didn't even realize there was a book that came before (although I will seek it out!). I am reading it to my kids, ages 5 and 8, and they are loving it. Admittedly, I have shortened some parts that I thought would lose my 5-year-old's attention. But overall, I think this is a terrific tale and will certainly look forward to more from this author!