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Cart and Cwidder (Dalemark Quartet, Vol. 1)

Cart and Cwidder (Dalemark Quartet, Vol. 1)

List Price: $6.95
Your Price: $6.95
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: One of DWJ's Best
Review: Like most Diana Wynne Jones books, this is published for children and probably most appreciated by adults. Having read it as both, I see a lot more in it now. The theme of finding your own voice, shown through the main character's struggle to control a powerful magic cwidder (which seems to be something of a cross between a dulcimer and a kettle drum), resonates like a mountain-moving spell through every scene in the book.

Music seems to be a metaphor for writing, or for expression and discovery, as it is in many of Jones's books.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A very satisfying coming-of-age fantasy.
Review: Moril is a dreamy and contemplative boy, with "his head in the clouds" most of the time. He loves the stories of the old and glorious days, when big doings were about, which his father, a well-known singer, tells often. Little does he know what his future holds, just around the corner.

This is a tale of unexpected magic, immersed in plenty of action. The old mandolin-like cwidder that Moril's father played, turns out to be more than just a musical instrument in Moril's hands. And just in the nick of time...

As always, Jones gives us a cast of characters that become instantly familiar and believable. The tale is a warm and believable human drama, mixed judiciously with magic, and a young person's budding maturity. Beginning as an engaging adventure, the book turns into a compelling page-turner, with a wonderfully complex and unpredictable ending. Great stuff for an imaginative young reader.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A very satisfying coming-of-age fantasy.
Review: Moril is a dreamy and contemplative boy, with "his head in the clouds" most of the time. He loves the stories of the old and glorious days, when big doings were about, which his father, a well-known singer, tells often. Little does he know what his future holds, just around the corner.

This is a tale of unexpected magic, immersed in plenty of action. The old mandolin-like cwidder that Moril's father played, turns out to be more than just a musical instrument in Moril's hands. And just in the nick of time...

As always, Jones gives us a cast of characters that become instantly familiar and believable. The tale is a warm and believable human drama, mixed judiciously with magic, and a young person's budding maturity. Beginning as an engaging adventure, the book turns into a compelling page-turner, with a wonderfully complex and unpredictable ending. Great stuff for an imaginative young reader.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: One of the finest Children's Series
Review: The Dalemark Quartet is an absolute classic - what I like most about it is that the first three books seem to be totally unlinked except for being set in the same 'world' of Dalemark. They completely turn the standard sequential trilogy/quartet model on its head. The characters are different from book to book. They don't coexist in time. Each is a compelling and brilliantly written stand-alone novel, but....
When I came to the final novel in the quartet I was awe-struck by Wynne Jones's deft handling of the ideas across the books. The links the parallels and the cunning interconnectedness of all four books slowly and magically unfold before you. I would give anything to write so well, so surely and so winningly. Every child's bookshelves should hold this series

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Completely amazing!
Review: This book is unbelievable! The librarian at my school reecommended it, and when I read the back of the book it sounded kind of weird. What is a cwidder, I wanted to know. Well, it turns out that a cwidder is an amazing instrument that you can use to make your thoughts control people. First, Moril has to figure out exactly how to use this cwidder, then he has to get to North Dalemark, where he belongs, not the South. Well, you can tell that my opimion of the book has changed since then! If you like fantasy, magic, and a wonderful story YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK!!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Best In the Quartet!
Review: Well, as you can tell from the headline of this review, you can see that I will probably be a bit biased about this, but I will be as fair as I can. I'm going to give my suggestions about all four books in the Dalemark Quartet. The reason I'm writing this in the CART AND THE CWIDDER section is because it's undoubtedly my favorite. All of the books in the Quartet are great, and I hope this review helps. All of these books central around the fantasy genre (as you most likely obviously know), so I will describe the other minor, what you might call, "surrounding particulars." note: The numbers are not the order of the Quartet, but by my own preferal. 1. Cart and the Cwidder: I would suggest that you read the base of the Dalemark Quartet if you are even remotely interested in music, or the powers behind it. The book does readily involve the politics of Dalemark, but not as considerably as some of the others. The character Kialan was interesting from the start, and you can't help but wonder what is so special about this guy, as Clennen mentions before Kialan joins the family. 2. The Crown of Dalemark: Fabulous as well, actually I had a hard time deciding whether to put it in second or first, so I just went by instinct. If you enjoy much political interaction, this may be your favorite in the Quartet. There is more action in it as well, along with more character interaction. And inevitably, a relationship going on between Mitt and Maewen (the protagonist during the expedition in Dalemark for the Crown). Magic is involved as well, along with the magician Kankredin and "the One." The book involves the return of most of the characters from the three previous books, but don't let you throw you off by reading it last. There is a "guide" in the back to help, but maybe you should read at least one of the other books first. 3. Drowned Ammet: Mitt, the protagonist, is a great character! I couldn't help but like him because of his narrating "style." Most events are logical (e.g. tripping in the chase and being taken prisoner instead of "magically" finding help just when your breath gives out), and that you could believe. A character I especailly liked was Hildy, the Earl Hadd's grand-daughter. Memorable characters, and involves just as much political action as THE CROWN OF DALEMARK, along with the new location "The Holy Islands." 4. The Spellcoats: This installment to the Quartet takes place in pre-historic Dalemark, and involves more magic than all three books. I found myself wondering about Tanaqui, the main character, a lot because she came off as so mysterious, yet so real at the same time. For some reason the narrative comes off as "misty," probably because of the fact that this is pre-historic time, but who knows? Maybe DWJ was just feeling exceptionally creative. Kankredin is involved as well, (his actions are continued in THE CROWN OF DALEMARK)along with the oh-so-logical Hurl. The family seems quite close, except the occasional bursts of anger, and grudges some of the family members keep, but after all, what family DOESN'T have problems to work out? There are touching scenes of phycology (sorry, spelling is not my best suit) which makes you think deeper about the actions of the characters. Thanks for reading! Please vote, thanks :-)


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