Reviews with content warning for Death - Howl's Moving Castle

Reviews tagging 'Death'

Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

44 reviews

jiobiee's review against another edition

lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

OVERALL: 8/10, or 4/5 stars.

A delightfully warm and cozy read. Most are familiar with the Miyazaki film based on this book, and in a lot of ways, I prefer the book to the movie, but at the core of both works they share the same warmth. A modern middle-grade classic. (Fun fact: it's my favorite Miyazaki movie! I have two tattoos and one of them is a little Calcifer on my ankle!)

Sophie Hatter, the practical, quaint, stubborn yet level-headed eldest of three is cursed to live in an old woman's body after an altercation with the Witch of the Wastes. She stumbles upon the infamous Wizard Howl's moving castle- Howl, the feared, monstrous and womanizing wizard from another land- and figures, it can't get much worse now, can it?

Sophie is a delightful protagonist- she is stubborn, intelligent, but far too quick to action. She struggles with self-confidence and it frequently presents a challenge to her in achieving her goals. Her experience being older gives her a newfound sense of freedom, however, to experiment with the confidence that comes with age. It is a pleasure watching her discover the magic of the world around her, and watching her discover the magic that's innate within herself. And that's not to say anything of the other characters in the story, who all have their own brand of unique charm. Calcifer, the fire demon, seems scary on a first glance, but he has his own anxieties- and cares more than he lets on. Michael, Howl's assistant, is a good counter to Sophie's personality- youthful, excitable, eager-to-learn, but cautious and weary of both Howl and Sophie's antics.

And that's to say nothing of Howl, himself. It's easy to see why the ladies of Jone's world are ravenous for his affection. Despite his reputation, he is incredibly likable. He is vain, he is selfish, he's got a penchant for melodrama and he runs away from his responsibilities because he is a coward. He covers the castle in green slime because his hair dye made him ginger. He gets a cold and moans and groans about how he's dying. And yet, over the course of the story we find that underneath these flaws and underneath his eccentricities, he really, truly, is a kind and thoughtful man. A kind and thoughtful man that is insufferably melodramatic and vain, but a kind and thoughtful man nonetheless. And when Sophie and Howl interact with each other, they manage to be able to counter each other in a hilarious but genuine way.

The interactions between these characters are the bread and butter of this story. They, alongside this setting, are charming in a way that very few fantasy novels are anymore. Loose threads are tied up well as the story progresses, although in the latter portion of the second half of the book, it does get a little muddied- I feel as if the latter portions of the Ms. Angorian plotline could have been handled a little more gracefully.

Charming, delightful, and enchanting. I'd let Howl eat my heart if it meant I get to hang out with a cool little fire dude.

Content Warnings