Howl's Moving Castle
by Diana Wynne Jones
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Book Reviews of Howl's Moving Castle
Book Review: Riveting, Optimistic, Humorous, Intelligent -- and Great Fun!
Summary: 5 Stars
Sophie Hatter is the eldest of three daughters, and lives in a fairytale world. She knows quite well what happens to most elder children: they have the worst luck in the world. When a wicked witch transforms her into an old lady, she goes on a journey and meets the Wizard Howl, his apprentice Michael, and the fire demon Calcifer... and adventure and hilarity ensues!
This is the third time I've read Howl's Moving Castle. Every time I read it, I see something new... and I always have a great time. Jones knows how to write a fun narrative!
Every character is hilarious, well-rounded, and interesting to read about. The dialogue is snappy, clever, and funny. The prose is generally quite simple, yet well constructed and intelligently written. The plot is the only thing that gets bogged down in the end, but as a general rule, this book is marvelous. Every time I pick it up, I read along at a quick pace, delightedly devouring this book from cover to cover. This is from somebody who generally reads the first few pages of a book and drops it immediately!
Like I said earlier, there's only one bad thing about this book, and that is its plot. The spontaneity that makes it delightful also sometimes gets the better of it. I think that Ms. Jones is probably the kind of writer who flashes along while writing, pouring out a first draft very quickly and then going back to edit. To me, the story reads like a little-changed quickly-written narrative -- because it's full of awkward bits, things that should make sense and don't (such as the final realization about the location of two important missing persons), and plot devices that are either too vague or overly complicated (or both at once).
(SPOILERS FOLLOW. I have tried to keep it vague, but read at your own risk.)
Take the dimension through the black-blob door, for example. It breaks the magic of the story. I'm not sure whether this is because the reader becomes aware that his/her own world is utterly bereft of real magic, or whether that dimension simply isn't interesting.
Another example: the curse is confusing. What is the curse supposed to DO, really? Just return Howl to the castle? That's not frightening at all, as he can hold his own with the villain within it (see Porthaven). Furthermore, why on earth is it important for said curse to fulfill all of the subjects... why so complicated and silly? Why not, "When you see this ONE SIGN, then you return!" Let's just say that the curse seemed to be tacked on, overly complex, and awkward.
Furthermore, why is it that one supernatural being can do so much more than its identical counterpart, ESPECIALLY if it is weaker from old age?
(SPOILERS END)
But these are small concerns in the end. This is a wholly enjoyable book in every considerable respect. It's great for everyone from kids to adults, and regardless of your age, will leave you with a grin stretching from ear to ear.
Book Review: Howl's Moving Castle
Summary: 4 Stars
I had originally seen the movie by Hayao Miyazaki and hadn't even realized that there was a book. I stumbled across it quite by accident and of course had to read it. I have to say, I was pretty pleased with it. Even with my preconceived notions from the movie, I still enjoyed the plot and all the characters in the book.
Sophie is the oldest of three girls, and in her world, that means she's due to live an uneventful unlucky life. When a tough break with a witch leaves her looking like an old woman, she leaves the hat shop where she works and wanders, eventually coming upon Howl's Moving Castle. While she's heard horrible things about Howl and young women, she figures since she is old now she should be safe.
While staying with Howl she learns some of his secrets and makes friends with Calcifer, a fire demon who is bound to Howl and runs the castle. Along with Michael, his apprentice, Howl has turned this castle into quite the wondrous place. Sophie agrees to help Calcifer in return for his help and becomes Howl's cleaning lady. But will Sophie be able to get back to normal and help Howl with his own problems? There is an evil witch after him and the King wants his help in finding his brother; he may not have the time to return Sophie to normal.
The characters in this novel are pretty delightful. I especially love Calcifer. Even though he may just be fire, he's got quite the personality. Sophie and Howl have interesting interactions and its easy to see that despite their annoyances, they like bantering with each other. Even the side characters show some interesting traits; after all, this is a world that accepts magic.
The writing, since this is technically a kid's book is on the side of easier to understand. There's not a lot of hard language or concepts in the book. I will say that towards the end of the book the writing gets rushed and hard to follow. I had really enjoyed the book up until that part but I found myself reading in patches near the end just so I could try to make sense of what was going on. I think if Jones had just slowed down and detailed a bit more it would have vastly improved it. Despite the confusion at the end, I'm sure this would make a great book to read to a child.
Such a wondrous imaginative book though. I did enjoy it for the most part. I know Jones has some other novels out that have been made into movies and I'll probably look into reading them since I enjoyed this one.
Howl's Moving Castle
Copyright 1986
212 pages
Book Review: Howl's Moving Castle will brighten up any boring day!
Summary: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Avni Gupta (age 15) for Reader Views (7/08)
When I got the book "Howl's Moving Castle" in the mail, I was elated. I had been going through a dry spell where I did not have any books that I had not already read. As soon as I got it, I sat down and started reading. A few hours later, I was finished with that masterpiece of a book. Of course, it being written by Diana Wynne Jones is another reason that it is a masterpiece.
This book is about Sophie, the oldest of three sisters. In her day and age, the oldest child is usually the most unsuccessful. This being known to her, Sophie decides to live with her fate. Fate, however, does not want her to bend to this rule and has a different outcome in its eyes for Sophie which involves the mysterious wizard Howl who lives in the floating castle near her town. This plan that fate has is all put into place when the wicked Witch of the Waste comes into Sophie's mother's hat shop when Sophie is the only one in there. Sophie angers the witch, and in her angered state, the witch turns Sophie into an old woman. Sophie has no idea how to break the curse, but she thinks that wizard Howl might. So, Sophie walks up to the castle. There she continues the plan set in place by fate with help from her new house (well castle really) mates, Michael, the apprentice, Calcifer, the fire demon, and wizard Howl himself, who is a lot more than meets the eye.
I thought that this book was amazing! It was a perfect balance of wit and magic all with a touch of mystery. I feel that this book is a book that all fantasy readers will enjoy. The humanness of Calcifer, the fire demon, ties the story all together. Without him, I know that the story would not have gone anywhere, nor would it have made any sense at all.
Of all of the fantasy books that I have read, "Howl's Moving Castle" by Diana Wynne Jones is the one that I have found to be the most plausible. I also think that people who generally do not read fantasy will like this book as well. And the best part is that this book has been made into a movie, so you can read the book and then watch the movie or watch the movie and then read the book!
Book Review: Courtesy of Mother Daughter Book Club.com
Summary: 4 Stars
Sophie is sure that her life is meant to come to nothing, because where she lives the eldest child is always ill-fated. So when times get tough for her family she is content to stay home and work in the family hat shop while her two younger sisters go off to bright futures working in a bakery and learning magic. But when the Witch of the Waste comes into her shop one day and casts a spell on Sophie, making her appear old, she decides to set off into the wider world where she knows no one.
When her old bones become tired at the end of her first day of wandering, she finds herself at the edge of the wizard Howl's castle. The castle is enchanted; it moves and blows puffs of smoke constantly. Although Sophie is afraid of Howl because she heard he eats young girls' souls, in the guise of an old woman she thinks she will be safe. With thoughts of finding a warm fireside and a comfy chair, Sophie goes into the castle.
She finds Howl's assistant Michael, and his fire demon, Calcifer, but Howl is not in. As Sophie makes herself useful and becomes a part of the castle life, she begins to learn more and more about Howl, Calcifer and Michael. Gradually, as she gets to know them, they become like a second family to her. But can she keep Howl from being taken by the Witch of the Waste? And can she break a magical spell that binds Calcifer to Howl, so the spell on her can be broken as well?
Howl's Moving Castle brings up issues of creating family for yourself and seeing people for who they truly are, despite the masks they put up to keep others at a distance. It's about finding love and acceptance, and not being afraid to look for the magic in small moments. The castle itself is fascinating, with its door leading to different villages depending on which colored-button is facing down, its ability to move its location and its permanent window looking onto a sunny port town. Our mother-daughter book club members thought the ending felt a bit rushed, but otherwise we all enjoyed reading it and talking about Sophie, Howl and all the characters. I recommend it for book clubs with daughters aged 13 and up.
Book Review: Howl's Moving Castle
Summary: 5 Stars
In the land of Ingary, it is considered a great misfortune to be born the eldest of three. It means that you are destined to fail, no matter what you do, and Sophie Hatter, a meek little hat shop owner's daughter, firmly believes in this. She herself is the oldest of three in the town of Market Chipping, and her younger sisters are considered far more pretty and talented than she. But Sophie's miserable little world is turned upside down when she is transformed into an old hag by a woman known as the Witch of the Waste, and she leaves the hat shop to seek her fortune in the world. On the way, Sophie encounters a vicious dog stuck in a hedge, a scarecrow she accidentally brings to life, and most importantly, a huge moving castle owned by a wizard named Howl, who has many different rumors floating around the place about him. In the castle, she discovers a fire demon named Calcifer, who is bound to Howl by a contract he cannot tell Sophie about. Calcifer offers to free Sophie from her curse though, and return her to her normal form, if she breaks the contract between him and Howl. Sophie starts to get used to her life in the castle, including Howl's hopeless apprentice Micheal, the odd business the castle runs, and Howl himself and his peculiar little quirks. But the more times goes on, and the more Sophie grows to almost enjoy her time here, she starts to worry...will she ever be able to free Calcifer, and therefore, herself? And more importantly...does she even want to?
I found this book absolutely amazing, and I think it is honestly one of the best books I ever read. It definitely kept my attention throughout the whole novel, and I absolutely could not put it down after I started reading it. I believe that anyone who likes fantasy with a more humorous twist should definitely pick this one up.
-Jenn