Howl's Moving Castle
by Diana Wynne Jones
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Book Reviews of Howl's Moving Castle
Book Review: Witty as heck.
Summary: 5 Stars
Being a huge fan of the anime, I jumped at the chance to read the book. Normally, people automatically like what they experienced first, but I really loved it. While the movie and the book have their differences, I adore both of them as complimentary to one another.
With all the Harry Potter rage, I realize that most fantasy fiction aimed at YA audiences will inevitably be compared to the works of J.K. Rowling, but to be honest, watching those movies never compelled me to read her books. Just not interested...
I knew that the anime based on this book would leave out many details--as movies are apt to do--but I was enchanted enough by it to find out the rest. I'm so glad that I did.
The Howl and Sophie from the book are so much more fleshed out and flawed than in the movie--Sophie being more of a pain in Howl's butt and vice-versa. In my opinion, this makes them even more relatable. If you think you love the anime Howl, you haven't seen anything yet. The book Howl is way more charming in his sarcastic and shady way--if you have ever found yourself completely enamoured of someone whom you were simultaneously distrustful of, you'll get what I mean. The book Howl is that gorgeous and charming guy that you try to hate but can't say no to, written in a PG way. And let me tell you, I'm not normally the kind of reader with very much patience with overly PG books. This, however was a very imaginable, witty, and all-around enjoyable read.
Book Review: Absolutely loved it
Summary: 5 Stars
Sophie Hatter is the oldest of three daughters, and because of this, it means she has no "fortune" to look forward to. Instead, she's given the hat shop. One day, the Witch of the Wastes come in. Sophie insults her, and in turn, the witch turns Sophie into a crone. Upset by this, she ventures out to the moving castle, which is owned by Howl. Howl is a wizard that is feared in Sophie's town of Ingary due to stories of him capturing pretty young girls and devouring their hearts.
After she arrives at the castle, Sophie meets Howl's apprentice, and Calcifer the fire demon. Her and Calcifer make a bargain that if she finds a way to break the contract Howl and Calcifer have, Calcifer will break the spell that is put on Sophie. She agrees, and becomes the cleaning lady for the castle.
While in the beginning of the story, Sophie is a relatively boring character, after she's turned into a crone, she becomes very lively and witty. She constantly annoys Howl, and bosses Calcifer around.
You soon find out that Howl is not the evil wizard that the town believes him to be. He's a self-absorbed man that throws fits over things like a mix-up of hair dye. Sophie also finds that the door of the castle leads to different places, including modern Wales.
Over all, this is a really good book that's full of humor. The reader will fall for Howl, just like Sophie does.
Book Review: Howl's Moving Castle - An Amazing Fantasy Book
Summary: 5 Stars
Sophie Hatter, the eldest of three daughters, lives in the town of Chipping Market which is in the kingdom of Ingary. Sophie is very good with the needle, she makes beautiful hats and dresses. Sophie works in the Hat Shop with her two sisters, Lettie and Martha, and her stepmother, Fanny.
Eventually when Sophie's two sisters move out and find their own careers, she accepts the fact that being the eldest means you will have a very uninteresting life and she will not be able to seek her fortune. With her sisters gone Sophie is left to run the shop with her stepmother. Sophie is usually left running the shop on her own most of the time. With no one there to talk to, but hats, that's what she does; talk to the hats.
One day Sophie is tired of her life, tired of being the eldest and not being able to seek her fortune. She's left to run the shop alone again when a very rude woman comes in and asks for a hat. Every hat she hands the woman, the woman doesn't seem to like it. Sophie is tired of putting up with everything; she insults the woman and the woman responds with turning Sophie into a very old woman. It turns out that this woman was The Witch Of The Waste.
I'm not going to say anymore because I don't want to spoil the book for anyone, but this book is absolutely wonderful. Very good and funny read.
Book Review: Sweet, original story
Summary: 4 Stars
Sophie lives the boring life of an eldest daughter, wiling away her days quietly chatting with the hats she makes for her stepmother. Expecting absolutely no good fortune in her life, Sophie takes things in stride when, seemingly out of the blue, the wicked Witch of the Waste comes into her hat shop and lays a curse on Sophie that transforms her into a creaky old woman. Setting out on her own with no direction in sight, Sophie finds herself offering her services as a cleaning woman for the mysterious Wizard Howl. Enter a whole host of atypical fantasy elements, including a sarcastic fire demon, a vanity-obsessed wizard, a man-dog, and a strange scarecrow, and Howl's Moving Castle (yes, the castle actually does move) is a refreshingly original fantasy story.
Sophie is a likable heroine and while I was a little worried I would have trouble connecting with her as an old woman, this wasn't a problem at all. The romance, while predictable and ok, was the only piece that didn't quite fit. Aside from that, my only wish is that there had been a little more edge-of-your-seat action, which there really wasn't much. Instead, this is a story that happily moves along at its own not too fast but not too slow pace. Surprisingly, all of the unique elements worked beautifully in this fun book that really is in a class of its own.
Book Review: Entertaining Original Fantasy
Summary: 5 Stars
Being the eldest of three daughters, Sophie has made up her mind that she will never amount to anything in life. But when she is cursed by the Witch of the Waste Sophie is forced to set out to seek her fortune. Along the way she meets the cowardly and womanizing Wizard Howl and is taken into his castle. Sophie is tumbled headlong into a whiling adventure of magic and self discovery.
I was inspired to read this book by my intense love of Hayao Miyazaki's animated adaption of Howl's Moving Castle. After experiencing both I can honestly say that I enjoyed both despite their differences. Both deviations of the plot boast magic, intrigue, originality and romance. Sophie is a strong spirited heroine with issues in confidence that many girls can relate to. Though Howl is a "slitherer-outer" as well as a womanizer his faults become endearing.
Jones is a tolerably good writer though her novels are meant to be for young adult readers and as such are reasonably simple. Still, she manages vivid descriptions and a compelling plot obviously born of a tremendously creative imagination. Howl's Moving Castle is no typical fantasy novel about witches and wizards.
If you enjoyed the movie or are simply looking for a good book I would definitely recommend Howl's Moving Castle!