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m_a_j's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Confinement
Moderate: Death
Minor: Death of parent
boba_nbooks's review against another edition
5.0
To say that this was a lovely tale would be doing it a disservice. Howl's Moving Castle is excellent and just what I needed.
As the eldest daughter, Sophie knows her life won't turn out to be anything spectacular. But, as her two younger sisters set off to fulfill their own destinies, Sophie wonder if there isn't more to life than working as a hatter. Her world is turned completely upside down when the Witch of the Waste visits the hat shop and turns Sophie into a 90-year-old woman. Sophie's only hope of breaking the spell is Wizard Howl--the man who lives in a moving castle and who is rumored to eat young women. Sophie bravely ventures off to find Howl's moving castle, and when she does, she encounters a fire demon and a young apprentice who also live in the castle. Sophie quickly adapts to her new environment since Howl, thankfully, doesn't throw her out; and through their many adventures, she discovers that there is more to the wizard, his companions, and his residence than meets the eye.
The story fully enchanted me, and I wish I would have read it sooner. Since I've never seen the movie, I found myself turning the pages at a breakneck speed to see what was going to happen to Sophie, Howl, and their companions. At first, the plot seems simple, but when you look a little closer, you find a journey of self-discovery hidden within the whimsical pages. We as humans are often put into boxes from the moment we're born, and if we so choose, we can confine ourselves to those boxes. However, if we are as brave as Sophie was to set out and forge a different path, we too can break free.
As the eldest daughter, Sophie knows her life won't turn out to be anything spectacular. But, as her two younger sisters set off to fulfill their own destinies, Sophie wonder if there isn't more to life than working as a hatter. Her world is turned completely upside down when the Witch of the Waste visits the hat shop and turns Sophie into a 90-year-old woman. Sophie's only hope of breaking the spell is Wizard Howl--the man who lives in a moving castle and who is rumored to eat young women. Sophie bravely ventures off to find Howl's moving castle, and when she does, she encounters a fire demon and a young apprentice who also live in the castle. Sophie quickly adapts to her new environment since Howl, thankfully, doesn't throw her out; and through their many adventures, she discovers that there is more to the wizard, his companions, and his residence than meets the eye.
The story fully enchanted me, and I wish I would have read it sooner. Since I've never seen the movie, I found myself turning the pages at a breakneck speed to see what was going to happen to Sophie, Howl, and their companions. At first, the plot seems simple, but when you look a little closer, you find a journey of self-discovery hidden within the whimsical pages. We as humans are often put into boxes from the moment we're born, and if we so choose, we can confine ourselves to those boxes. However, if we are as brave as Sophie was to set out and forge a different path, we too can break free.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Confinement
Moderate: Death and Murder
Minor: Violence, Death of parent, and Alcohol
chapstickdealer's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror and Death
Minor: Pedophilia, Kidnapping, and Death of parent
blackorchids's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Obviously this is a modern classic for a reason. Their chemistry is great, the plot is ridiculous, the movie adaptation may as well be an entirely different story. May we all have a Calcifer burning in our hearts too.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Violence
Minor: Child abuse and Death of parent
hyperashley's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
historyoftape's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Thoroughly enjoyed reading this. The world building is captivating, and how DWJ spins a story in the details that one glosses over in a first read is really enjoyable. I was rarly as lost at an ending as in this book, but the mood and the characters and the resolution all made up for it. I'm hoping to reread this one day so I can actually catch the relevant things happen and be able to make more coherent sense of it. There are many hints about Sophies magic I missed, and I'd love to be able to see them pile up in real time. Not only was this book fun & lighthearted, it also commented on themes like aging and self-perception, and I am really looking forward to rereading it someday.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Death of parent
natashaleighton_'s review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A whimsical, fairytale-esque fantasy that, though slightly different from the Studio Ghibli adaptation, was wonderfully enjoyable! Definitely planning to read the rest of the books set in this world.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Confinement
Moderate: Death and Murder
Minor: Violence, Death of parent, and Alcohol
small_shrimp's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death and Death of parent
katievallin's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Emotional abuse, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Death of parent and Alcohol
tays_books's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
Moderate: Death and Murder
Minor: Ableism, Death of parent, and Alcohol