moliviar01's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
apriliacinthio's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
aurelia2's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Another fun read with more Howl shenanigans. The protagonist is a bit difficult to enjoy because he is constantly describing women as fat or slim and comparing them to his love interest.
scipiokento's review against another edition
Howl's Moving Castle is one of my favorite books. My daughter loved it as well and I was excited to read this to my daughter but I am not comfortable with doing so any further. We really were just in this to see Sophie and Howl again but neither of us could get into the story and the way it is presented doesn't sit well with me at all... I wish I had seen the content warnings before starting. A lot of themes in this book are very hurtful and the content warnings are all correct so my daughter and I have chosen to move on.
sephora_ariean's review against another edition
4.0
I really loved this one! Only the surface of the story is similar to the story of Aladdin and I hesitate to call it an Aladdin retelling because Diana Wynne Jones incorporated so many unique narratives into it that it’s truly become her own work.
The writing style is so pleasantly nuanced and so quietly witty and funny. Abdullah was such a charm of protagonist and I loved Flower-in-the-Night.
Jones really put some great twists in the story. I kept reading and thinking, “when is my favourite character, Howl, going to make an appearance?” Let’s just say I did NOT see his entrance coming like that, I was genuinely surprised.
I think a smaller part, but a beloved aspect of the story for me was the speaking style in Zanzib. I loved how the characters spoke in poetic, flatteries as the standard for baseline politeness. It’s nothing big, but in the world we live in today, anyone coded as Arab or Muslim is painted as barbaric, incapable of higher thought and subhuman. It was really nice to see that Jones didn’t let anyone real world stereotypes taint her fairytale.
I came across the Howl’s Moving Castle Series in the funniest way. I was cruising through my Tumblr dashboard when I came across a moving gif set of a beautiful garden location and the prettiest anime man ever. My brain: OMG WHOOOO IS THAT
The writing style is so pleasantly nuanced and so quietly witty and funny. Abdullah was such a charm of protagonist and I loved Flower-in-the-Night.
Jones really put some great twists in the story. I kept reading and thinking, “when is my favourite character, Howl, going to make an appearance?” Let’s just say I did NOT see his entrance coming like that, I was genuinely surprised.
I think a smaller part, but a beloved aspect of the story for me was the speaking style in Zanzib. I loved how the characters spoke in poetic, flatteries as the standard for baseline politeness. It’s nothing big, but in the world we live in today, anyone coded as Arab or Muslim is painted as barbaric, incapable of higher thought and subhuman. It was really nice to see that Jones didn’t let anyone real world stereotypes taint her fairytale.
I came across the Howl’s Moving Castle Series in the funniest way. I was cruising through my Tumblr dashboard when I came across a moving gif set of a beautiful garden location and the prettiest anime man ever. My brain: OMG WHOOOO IS THAT
kyrakristin's review against another edition
4.0
Just as cute as the last one! Loved it more towards the end, but very worth the read.
teaandspite's review against another edition
1.0
I didn't think it was possible for the second book to be more dull than the first, but it turns out I was wrong. I honestly don't know how Diana Wynne Jones does it. This is a book about a boy finding a genie and a magic carpet and going on a quest to save the girl he loves from an evil djinn! It should be interesting! It should be compelling! That's the basis of so many brilliant stories, but somehow this ended up about as interesting as the back of cereal box.
I'm also not thrilled with the Orientalist tones. I know, history and being indicative of its times and all that. Those times were the 1990s. I'm old enough to remember the 90s. We knew about Orientalism then. It's not as bad as it could be (maybe a bit worse than Aladdin?), but that doesn't make it good. It certainly doesn't make this a book I'd give to children, beloved classic or not.
I'm also not thrilled with the Orientalist tones. I know, history and being indicative of its times and all that. Those times were the 1990s. I'm old enough to remember the 90s. We knew about Orientalism then. It's not as bad as it could be (maybe a bit worse than Aladdin?), but that doesn't make it good. It certainly doesn't make this a book I'd give to children, beloved classic or not.
oliver_cpd's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
absolutely loved this!! would've been 5 stars if the mc wasn't a fatphobic misogynistic prick. he disliked sophie just because she's assertive?? man shut up....
i honestly prefer this author's books when the mc is a girl/woman lmaooo
i honestly prefer this author's books when the mc is a girl/woman lmaooo
meadowofravens's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75