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olinj's review against another edition
5.0
I can't believe it's taken me this long to read this book. My only defense is that I was in 9th grade when it was published, and "too grown up" for this kind of book. This story, filled with fairytale themes, magic, and humor would have pleased me then, I know. My enjoyment of it now, though, was so intense that things probably worked out for the best. As a bonus, I actually listened to this as an audiobook and Jenny Starlin is a phenomenal narrator. I'm going to leave my review at this because anything else would include spoilers, so I'll just finish by saying that I enjoyed this book more than I would have thought possib
brujaphd's review against another edition
5.0
It was a lot different then the movie but I still enjoyed it. I might even read its sequel.
annajagoda's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
As a fan of the movie I was really keen to read the book. It's very different from the film but holds it's own. I really liked that the author leaned into the less ideal parts with her whole chest - the creepiness of some of the characters (I'm looking at you, Turnip Head), Howl's multitude of character flaws etc. It was a whimsy, fun read filled with magic, witches, demons and spells.
That being said I have a problem with Dianna Wynne Jones' conclusions - she always looses me in the last third of her books, the action get confusing and the storyline ends up all over the place. I also didn't think the romance between Sophie and Howl happened organically at all.
But it's still a solid fantasy book that can be enjoyed by children and adults alike.
That being said I have a problem with Dianna Wynne Jones' conclusions - she always looses me in the last third of her books, the action get confusing and the storyline ends up all over the place. I also didn't think the romance between Sophie and Howl happened organically at all.
But it's still a solid fantasy book that can be enjoyed by children and adults alike.
winterbinding's review against another edition
4.0
The Hayao Miyazaki movie has been a favorite of mine for a very long time, so I was going into this looking forward to how it might differ and expand upon the movie. I liked both equally in their own ways, I think. Sophie's family in the book is a nice look at her life prior to meeting Howl, and there were bits and pieces I wish they would have brought into the move - Wales, for one, since that added some nice backstory to Howl as well. There are pieces I would have loved to see more of, but I liked it regardless. This was a quick and easy read and just what I was looking for. I definitely recommend it.
tessroussbardoux's review against another edition
5.0
This was a beautiful book. I usually don't like stories set in other worlds but this was such an amazing story. I was charmed. Read this book!!
katrox's review against another edition
5.0
lost track of how many times i’ve re-read this book, it’s one of my go-to comfort reads
juushika's review against another edition
4.0
In the land of Ingary, where magic can and often does happen, Sophie is a young woman, the unlucky eldest of three. She works at the family hat shop while her sisters go off to seek their fortunes in apprenticeships—until one day, when the Witch of the Waste comes to the hat shop and curses Sophie, turning her into an old lady. Sophie leaves the hat shop and her home town, searching for the cure to her curse and for her own fortune. Her journey takes her to the moving castle of the a fire demon, an apprentice wizard, and the Wizard Howl, who steals girls's hearts. A playful, fantastic, personal book, Howl's Moving Castle is a magical adventure story about very human journeys of coming of age, discovery of identity, and love. However, as the book progresses the plot becomes increasingly complex and muddled, detracting from the book's clarity in plot and meaning; the ending is abrupt and somewhat anticlimactic. Nonetheless, the book remains a fun, swift, and meaningful read, and I do recommend it.
This book is of course the inspiration for Miyazaki's anime film of the same name. While the two have the same concept and many similar aspects, they differ as the plot progresses, and for once the film is actually better than the book: in the book, plot lines, character inclusion, and character growth are often too complex, confusing the story and approaching major themes, characters, and interactions in insufficient depth. In other words: the book lacks the broad narrative sweeps, limited cast, and tight plot of the film, and it suffers for it. This is perhaps most obvious in Howl's character and in the relationship between Sophie and Howl. As the book's protagonist, Sophie's character growth is subtle and well-developed, evolving throughout the book through slow and natural revelation. Unfortunately, the same natural, eventual growth does not exist elsewhere. Howl remains his vain, selfish, shallow self until the book's conclusion; the relationship between Sophie and Howl also remains argumentative and strained until the conclusion. There, in the length of a single chapter, Howl matures and they both realize their true feelings and begin their romantic relationship. Another downfall is the extensive cast. Many of the characters appear only briefly or very late, and become lost in a mess of names and short scenes. Do not mistake: the book is still easily readable, and the plot makes sense and resolves to a logical conclusion. But the plot and the character identities and developments are not as clear as they could be, and the book suffers for it: the story becomes muddled, and so the themes become muddled.
Despite the muddled plot, many other aspects of the book shine like diamonds. From the premise, to the characters (at least the better developed ones), to the lively sense of humor, to the land and magic of Ingary, Jones creates a colorful, vivid, truly human story. There is a certain amount of playful irreverence to every aspect of the book: Howl is a beautiful man who seduces beautiful women—and spends two hours in the bathroom every day. Sophie turns from a dull young woman into a batty old lady, taking out her frustrations by vicious house cleaning and calling even Calcifer the fire demon "young." The book's setting is similarly off kilter and playful: Howl's moving castle, which frightens Sophie's city, is the same castle that Howl uses to run away from girls, identities, and obligations; in the land of Ingary, magic is at once part of life (so Sophie is entirely unsurprised by her curse) and complete unexpected (so she is frightened of the cursed the scarecrow that chases the castle). Jones exhibits a rare sense of humor. Nothing—not suffering, not journeys, not love—is taken too seriously, and so her book is continually amusing, but at the same time, everything is meaningful—brief plot points come back at the end of the story, and the humorous, faulted characters do go on to immense personal growth. This unusual and delicate combination makes for a book that is funny, colorful, and always a joy to read, but is at the same time intensely authentic, human, and meaningful.
I hugely adore the Miyazaki film based on this book, so I will admit that I was disappointed to see how different the film and book are, and even more disappointed that (as very rarely happens) the film is in this case a better story. Nonetheless, I was delighted by Howl's Moving Castle, and I do recommend it. There are some definite faults, and the book is ultimately too complex, muddled, and abrupt, but it remains a delightful read. Jones's style is a pleasure, her characters are faulted, funny, and ultimately realistic, and Sophie's journey—through places, meeting people, and finally discovering herself—makes for a truly wonderful story. This book was not everything I hoped it would be, but I'm still glad I had a chance to read it. It is a young adult title, but I recommend it to all readers. Any age group can and will appreciate the humanity and humor of this text.
This book is of course the inspiration for Miyazaki's anime film of the same name. While the two have the same concept and many similar aspects, they differ as the plot progresses, and for once the film is actually better than the book: in the book, plot lines, character inclusion, and character growth are often too complex, confusing the story and approaching major themes, characters, and interactions in insufficient depth. In other words: the book lacks the broad narrative sweeps, limited cast, and tight plot of the film, and it suffers for it. This is perhaps most obvious in Howl's character and in the relationship between Sophie and Howl. As the book's protagonist, Sophie's character growth is subtle and well-developed, evolving throughout the book through slow and natural revelation. Unfortunately, the same natural, eventual growth does not exist elsewhere. Howl remains his vain, selfish, shallow self until the book's conclusion; the relationship between Sophie and Howl also remains argumentative and strained until the conclusion. There, in the length of a single chapter, Howl matures and they both realize their true feelings and begin their romantic relationship. Another downfall is the extensive cast. Many of the characters appear only briefly or very late, and become lost in a mess of names and short scenes. Do not mistake: the book is still easily readable, and the plot makes sense and resolves to a logical conclusion. But the plot and the character identities and developments are not as clear as they could be, and the book suffers for it: the story becomes muddled, and so the themes become muddled.
Despite the muddled plot, many other aspects of the book shine like diamonds. From the premise, to the characters (at least the better developed ones), to the lively sense of humor, to the land and magic of Ingary, Jones creates a colorful, vivid, truly human story. There is a certain amount of playful irreverence to every aspect of the book: Howl is a beautiful man who seduces beautiful women—and spends two hours in the bathroom every day. Sophie turns from a dull young woman into a batty old lady, taking out her frustrations by vicious house cleaning and calling even Calcifer the fire demon "young." The book's setting is similarly off kilter and playful: Howl's moving castle, which frightens Sophie's city, is the same castle that Howl uses to run away from girls, identities, and obligations; in the land of Ingary, magic is at once part of life (so Sophie is entirely unsurprised by her curse) and complete unexpected (so she is frightened of the cursed the scarecrow that chases the castle). Jones exhibits a rare sense of humor. Nothing—not suffering, not journeys, not love—is taken too seriously, and so her book is continually amusing, but at the same time, everything is meaningful—brief plot points come back at the end of the story, and the humorous, faulted characters do go on to immense personal growth. This unusual and delicate combination makes for a book that is funny, colorful, and always a joy to read, but is at the same time intensely authentic, human, and meaningful.
I hugely adore the Miyazaki film based on this book, so I will admit that I was disappointed to see how different the film and book are, and even more disappointed that (as very rarely happens) the film is in this case a better story. Nonetheless, I was delighted by Howl's Moving Castle, and I do recommend it. There are some definite faults, and the book is ultimately too complex, muddled, and abrupt, but it remains a delightful read. Jones's style is a pleasure, her characters are faulted, funny, and ultimately realistic, and Sophie's journey—through places, meeting people, and finally discovering herself—makes for a truly wonderful story. This book was not everything I hoped it would be, but I'm still glad I had a chance to read it. It is a young adult title, but I recommend it to all readers. Any age group can and will appreciate the humanity and humor of this text.
israfel462's review against another edition
5.0
Much more interesting than the movie. But I still love the movie on its own.
toni_reads07's review against another edition
5.0
Books see you when you are most invisible. This book, through Sophie and the fortune she sought with all its wild, (ab)normal, variant complications, sees me through and through. So much more to say, really, but not now. I'm just going to enjoy this one.