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Howl’s Moving Castle
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Howl’s Moving Castle
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Howl’s Moving Castle
Audiobook (abridged)3 hours

Howl’s Moving Castle

Written by Diana Wynne Jones

Narrated by John Sessions

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

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About this audiobook

Now an animated movie from Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki, the oscar-winning director of Spirited Away

In this beloved modern classic, read by John Sessions, young Sophie Hatter from the land of Ingary catches the unwelcome attention of the Witch of the Waste and is put under a spell . . .

Deciding she has nothing more to lose, Sophie makes her way to the moving castle that hovers on the hills above her town, Market Chipping. But the castle belongs to the dreaded Wizard Howl, whose appetite, they say, is satisfied only by the souls of young girls…

There Sophie meets Michael, Howl’s apprentice, and Calcifer the fire demon, with whom she agrees a pact. Her entanglements with Calcifer, Howl and Michael and her quest to break her curse come alive with Diana Wynne Jones’s unique combination of magic, humour and imagination.

LanguageEnglish
PublisherHarperCollins
Release dateDec 6, 2012
ISBN9780007508440
Unavailable
Howl’s Moving Castle
Author

Diana Wynne Jones

DIANA WYNNE JONES was born in August 1934 in London, where she had a chaotic and unsettled childhood against the background of World War II. The family moved around a lot, finally settling in rural Essex. As children, Diana and her two sisters were deprived of a good, steady supply of books by a father, ‘who could beat Scrooge in a meanness contest’. So, armed with a vivid imagination and an insatiable quest for good books to read, she decided that she would have to write them herself.

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Rating: 4.244845360824742 out of 5 stars
4/5

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  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    In the fairy-tale land of Ingary, Sophie Hatter is the eldest of three sisters, and thus doomed (so she feels) to fail the worst if they set out to seek their fortunes; so she decides, instead, to be responsible for looking after her sisters. Unfortunately, she falls under a curse cast by the Witch of the Waste, so she leaves home to find a cure. She meets Howl's moving castle (which is also trying to avoid meeting the Witch) as she is crossing the moors, and stays on to look after the housekeeping, in return for the chance to have the spell removed. This is a fun YA read, with lots of unexpected twists and turns to the tale, and mixed up characters who have been cursed by the Witch. And Sophie finds that her sisters, whom she tries to protect from the wizard Howl, are not the only ones who need saving...

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I'm sure I read this ages ago, but it was nice to listen to. Jone's quirky fantasy has her heroine in disguise (under a curse) as an old lady who continues on her adventure despite the fact that it never works out for the eldest child.

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Although I had a bit of fun with this (and couldn't keep from imagining that Howl was created for Johnny Depp to portray him) overall I thought it a bit of a messy effort, much like the character Sophie's often ill-considered ventures. There's a lot of humor, some excellent characterization, and some nifty magic, but no real framework for the world we're visiting. Too many instances where it seemed Howl's skills ought to have been equal to sorting things out, and too many contorted set-ups just to keep the castle moving, as it were. Of course, real life is often messy and disordered, and people frequently fail to do the simplest thing that might make the most sense...but I wasn't reading about real life, was I? I did enjoy the nod to John Donne; his "Song: Go and Catch a Falling Star", the basis of a witch's curse, gave what little structure there was to the story line here, but it was a pretty wobbly construction. A weak 3 stars.

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    The book is more comedic, less romantic, yet as delightful as the Miyazaki movie.

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    When Howl’s Moving Castle pops up in conversation, most people think of the Studio Ghibli film. Surprisingly, it was a beloved fantasy book written by Diana Wynne Jones decades before Hayao Miyazaki adapted it to the screen. It’s also one of the few instances where I can honestly say that the book and the film, while vastly different, are both equally enjoyable.

    Sophie Hatter, the eldest of three sisters, lives in Ingary, where it has been established that the oldest child in every family is the most prone to a dull and ordinary life. While Sophie’s sisters, Lettie and Martha, run off to begin internships in magic and baking, she resigns herself to helping her stepmother manage the family hat shop. Due to an unfortunate misunderstanding, Sophie’s life takes an unusual turn when the Witch of the Waste sets a curse on her. The curse starts Sophie on her own journey, which eventually leads her to the infamous wizard Howl and his moving castle.

    Jones possesses the uncanny ability to write realistic characters within a highly fantastical setting. Sophie may be physically cursed, but her deepest struggles have always been low self-confidence and the misguided attitude that she has no control over her own destiny. Howl is a powerful wizard, but he is also vain, pretentious, and a bit of a coward. Howl’s fire demon, Calcifer, has no corporeal form, yet articulates some of the most human insights of all of the characters. By the end of the novel, each character learns something about themselves, and since the reader can relate to their faults and quirks, he or she gains understanding too.

    Even if you’ve seen the film, the plot is different enough that that there are bound to be moments where you’re genuinely surprised by something. There are multiple twists scattered throughout the novel that add quite a lot of entertainment value. Jones certainly keeps her readers on their toes. Sophie’s sisters, Lettie and Martha, also play significant roles in the book with their own subplots and romances. Howl’s apprentice, Michael (Markl in the film), Prince Justin, and the king’s wizard, Suliman, have larger roles as well, and they are crucial to the events that transpire at the end of the book.

    As an added bonus, especially for literary aficionados, keep an eye out for the abundance of allusions interspersed in dialogue, setting, and character names. Hint: Many are Shakespearean and Arthurian in nature.

    Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones is first and foremost a coming of age story that just so happens to be set in a magical kingdom. As characters, Sophie and Howl are intriguing both together and apart, since they are so different, yet complement each other beautifully. If you love the movie, you will adore the book, and vice versa. Make a weekend of it and devour one after the other. Calcifer would certainly approve.

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I love picturing Miyazaki characters while I read this!

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    IT was ok but the anime was better which is rare
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Wish I hadn't seen the movie first!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I loved this book. It had a great plot with many twists and turns that kept me enthralled until the very end.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I enjoyed the book, but it wasn't my favorite of Jones' books. (I really loved the Chrestomanci series.)
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I never read anything by Diana Wynne Jones when I was a kid, but I knew about her, somehow. When I decided a few months ago to indulge in gentle, low-stress books - and that means a lot of children's favorites - I knew that Howl's Moving Castle would need to be on the list. I didn't really know much about the plot except that Sophie is under a spell that makes her old, only it's her own doing, and Howl is ridiculous, and also there is a castle that floats around. But I know it's very popular, and that Diana Wynne Jones is well respected.Frankly, I love the book, too. There's a few parts that don't work for me, but I love fairy tale land settings, and protagonists who are dislikable but still lovable, and POV characters who are flat-out wrong about their POV.The bits that didn't work - I'm not sure I'm a fan of reverse portal fantasy element of Wales, though I do like stories where our POV is the portal-land (Sophie, not Howl). I just don't really see why Wales or what it adds to the story, which works perfectly nicely if Howl's home were another part of Ingary, or Norland, or wherever. I also wasn't very clear on the resolution of the plot. I can't point out which part lost me, or what's confusing, only that I feel there's something unsettled or unexplained still, and which I need to have explained to me. Or maybe I am disgruntled with how it seems everyone knew Old!Sophie was Young!Sophie since the very beginning, and it was all disguised so well through Sophie's pov.But, oh, I love that Sophie embraces her old ladyness so thoroughly, grumpy and muttering and the way she goes about things impulsively, instead of logically. She's exasperating, but really so. Howl is also exasperating, never explaining anything, never pinned down - he's certaintly a slitherer-outer - but I like him a lot, too. It's fun having a male main character who is so vain and selfish, but also kind and considerate underneath. I would have been delighted if the end scenario was a friendship between the two, rather than the romance, but a romance is fine - I think I might be interested in non-porny fanfiction exploration of what their lives end up doing. (I'm told by LibraryThing that there are two sequels, but they're not exactly sequels about Howl and Sophie.)I'm very fond of Sophie's sisters, too, and I'm sad that her stepmother got so besmirched by the teenagers. Michael is a bit of not much, I think, but I'd love to have my mind changed about his interestingness.One fun thing is that since Howl's Moving Castle was written in 1985, it is completely uninfluenced by Harry Potter. I've noticed that books-with-magic are a lot more varied in what magic spells are like and what it can do in the before-HP days. Or maybe it's just the books I pick up.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I have seen the movie this is based upon many times, and I was curious to see how it compared.However, perhaps this was not the best of books to read while recovering from surgery and on pain medication.Howl's Moving Castle takes place in a zany world with prominent wizards and witches. There is the Witch of the Waste, not a figure one wants to cross. There is Howl in his moving castle who is said to eat the hearts of girls. And then there is Sophie Hatter, an absolute nobody. The eldest of three sisters and doomed to be the biggest failure, Sophie resigns herself to a dreary life of making hats. That is, until the Witch of the Waste waltzes in and without explanation changes Sophie into an old woman. Arthritic and grumpy, Sophie sets out to find her fortune and ends up cleaning house for Howl - who has his own conflict going with the Witch of the Waste.This is a trippy little book. As odd as it seems, the movie actually toned down the craziness a good bit. I had trouble following it at times - whether that was because of my mental state or the book itself, I can't really say. I still loved Calcifer, though.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    DRAMATIS PERSONAE
    • Howl, the shameless coward, full of vanity and secret cares.
    • Sophie, the cranky old woman, unnaturally aged.
    • Calcifer, the fire demon, at the heart of the castle.
    • Michael, the ever faithful apprentice and friend.
    • Witch of the Waste, wicked, heartless, and cruel.
    SETTING
    • Castle here.
    • Castle there.
    • Castle there, too.
    • Castle ever moving and stationary.
    • And, Wales.
    Miyazaki’s film diverges significantly from mid-story to the end, deflating the Witch into a doddering old fool. Miyazaki adds his magic touch—whimsical air machines, his wonderfully creepy blob monsters, and a fantastic walking steampunk castle. Diana Wynne Jones’ tale is more familiar and in some ways more satisfying. Both charm and delight.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Now that was fun and lovely. I really wouldn't mind more of it though. The ending was a bit rushed wasn't it? I did like the meandering way it got there though. I love seeing everyday life in fantasy novels, so luckily there was plenty of that.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Some people just don't "get" fantasy. They are unable to comprehend the appeal of stories full of people who never existed and never could have, genealogical tables composed entirely of unpronounceable names, and endless endpaper maps portraying craggy coastlines that look like Wales, but aren't, quite. They prefer to stay within the known world, with names which somebody, somewhere, can pronounce, and lands reliably mapped by National Geographic.There's plenty of great reading in the realms of realistic fiction, to be sure; but there is nothing quite like the pleasure of opening a book and stepping into a world that is purely of the imagination, yet inwardly coherent and recognizably real. Something in the human mind and spirit, something of its boundless possibilities, can perhaps best be expressed thus. Some authors, we can feel, are not so much painstakingly inventing a world full of cumbersome accoutrements, but discovering one that reveals a hidden aspect of ourselves.Such a world is given to us by Diana Wynne Jones in Howl's Moving Castle, one of her blithest and most enchanting novels. "In the land of Ingary, where such things as seven-league boots and cloaks of invisibility really exist, it is quite a misfortune to be born the eldest of three," she begins, and immediately we are caught up in the realm of fairy-tale logic, where everyone knows the eldest of three is doomed to failure, should three siblings set out to seek their fortunes.Sophie Hatter, who happens to be the eldest of three sisters, never questions this law of existence. She resigns herself to a mundane existence in the family hat shop (not even being "the child of a poor woodcutter, which might have given her some chance of success"). Her determination to be ordinary is disrupted by a call from the wicked Witch of the Waste, who casts a very inconvenient spell on her; and by the fearsome Wizard Howl, who, in spite of his reputation for sucking out the souls of young girls, allows her in to his mysterious moving castle, and seems to be in need of some saving himself.As Sophie puzzles through the riddle posed by witch, wizard and castle, she finds that all is not as it seems, including her assumptions about herself. Is magic all about showy transformations and fiery battles? Or is there even more power in the stories we tell ourselves?Creating a fairy-tale pastiche that brings something new to the old tales in a satisfying way is not so easy. Jones succeeds brilliantly with a comic tone from somewhere between Charles Dickens and Terry Pratchett, starting with the chapter headings: "In which Sophie talks to hats." "In which a Royal Wizard catches a cold." "In which Sophie expresses her feelings with weed-killer."Jones is a master at creating fast-moving stories full of surprises. Unlike some of her rivals, though, she never leaves us feeling empty or cheated at the end. Her books have a quality I can only refer to as "heart," not in any cheaply sentimental sense, but springing from shrewd and compassionate observation of human relationships. Howl and Sophie are one of my favorite examples of this. Their bickering could rival that of Shakespeare's Beatrice and Benedick. 'By the way,' Howl said, 'Mrs. Pentstemmon will call you Mrs. Pendragon. Pendragon's the name I go under here.' 'Whatever for?' said Sophie. 'For disguise,' said Howl. 'Pendragon's a lovely name, much better than Jenkins.' 'I get by quite well with a plain name,' Sophie said as they turned into a blessedly narrow, cool street. 'We can't all be Mad Hatters,' said Howl.How they work through to an understanding of themselves and each other is literally the "heart" of the story. (Read it to find out why.)Once you enter the land of Ingary, I'm sure that you won't want to leave. Fortunately, Jones has obliged us with a sequel, Castle in the Air, in which tales from the Arabian Nights are given the same lovingly irreverent treatment.Originally posted on The Emerald City Book Reviewemeraldcitybookreview.blogspot.com
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I started this thinking it was going to be a novel version of the film... i was so wrong lol, but i didn't enjoy it any less !. the world is basically the same as is the story but the characters were a nice change and they kept the story alive.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    A great adaptation of my favourite Ghibli film


    Ok I know the book came first but I can't help think of it that way since I've seen the movie many times before I read the book. I like the differences between the two, each having it's own focus and main plot points.

    The only issue I have with the book is the ending. It was a little quick and wasn't exactly the clearest but overall the book was great.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Heaps of fun. An adorably crusty and gruff version of the Snow Queen spiced with bits and pieces of fairytale turned upside down.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Wonderful book! I love how they kept focusing on the eldest child being a failure...
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    What an interesting world Diana Wynne Jones has come up with - it's quite different from anything else I've read. The characters are so magical and quirky, but act as any normal human would act - the magic is just there and nobody really wonders too much about it. Of course, Calcifer, the fire demon, is my favorite character - he's just so sulky and conniving and loving all at once that you can't help but like him. I also love that obedient Sophie gets all the guts in the world when she is transformed. I've never read any of Diana Wynne Jones' books before, but I'll definitely be on the lookout for more.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I have to admit I saw the movie first, which you're not supposed to do, and I didn't read the book until much later. I thought the movie was amazing, but sadly the book was not as good. Which is not to say it's not good. Just different mediums. Usually I find the books to be better. I can only think of one other book where I felt the film was better, and that was the Booker-winning Remains of the Day. I just thought there were so many subtleties that it was easier to get meaningful understandings while watching Anthony and Emma work their magic on scree. The book was brilliant though.In this case, I don't know if it's fair to compare the two. The film is an incredible version of modern anime at its finest, and I thought that's what made it stand out more than the book for me. But again, the book as to stand on its own first and this is an excellent fantasy novel. I always love witches, enchantments and the like. It probably goes back to my Narnia days as a kid, but while I've been laughed at for being a grown man who likes a few YA novels, it's not a genre I seek out. But good writing is good writing and when I finally got around to Harry Potter, that series blew my mind! So, this too meets that type of interest and standard, and thus I would recommend this, not only for those who like YA novels in general, but for any fantasy fan, as well as for anyone who likes a good story in general.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    “Howl’s Moving Castle,” by Dianna Wynne Jones is a magical tale that takes place in the town of Market Chipping; a land where all is possible. The story begins introducing us to our main character, Sophie. As her younger sisters prepare to leave home and seek the fortunes of life, sister Sophie, being the eldest, is assigned to stay behind and run the family hat shop. Unfortunately for her, running a hat shop is incredibly dull; that is, until the witch of the wastes drops by. After a brief confrontation, Sophie is left feeling a bit different – a bit stiff. She soon comes to realize that an awful spell has been cast upon her; one that has turned her into an old woman. This then ignites the fire of the story as Sophie sets off on her own journey; a journey that leads her straight to the eerie castle that looms above the town – Howl’s Moving Castle.This is one fantasy novel that I’ve been meaning to read for ages. While I never truly forgot about it, I kept putting it off. Part of my reluctance came from the fact that it appeared to be a novel directed toward much younger readers. While there’s certainly nothing wrong with young adult/children’s literature, I wasn’t convinced that it would be something I could connect to. Nevertheless, the description intrigued me, and much of the reviews were quite positive. So despite my reluctance, I picked it up and jumped in. I’ll say right now that I’m pleased that I did. “Howl’s Moving Castle” was an incredibly entertaining and fun read. Here’s why:To start, the characters were great; so great in-fact, that it was nearly impossible to single any out as favorites. I will say, however, that Sophie was one of the most enjoyable characters I’ve read in a long time. Not only was she strong-willed and brave – but hilarious, witty, and a bit mad. She had a big heart and it really showed. Aside from Sophie, we also had the all-powerful Wizard Howl. As I was introduced to his character, I have to admit that I was actually rather surprised. For whatever reason, I expected something reminiscent of king Haggard from “The Last Unicorn;” someone depressed, mopey, unlikeable. He was quite the opposite (though prone to leaking green slime when depressed). Oh and yes, we can’t forget Calcifer, an adorable puppy-dog-like fire demon; Michael, Howl’s young apprentice; a creepy scarecrow, and the witch of the wastes. To say the least, I was really impressed with Jones’s ability to create such diverse and interesting characters.In addition, there was also the writing. Well, what can I say? It was equally as impressive. As stated above, when I decided to begin “Howl’s Moving Castle,” I was expecting something crafted for a much younger audience. My assumption however, was quickly destroyed. After reading just a few chapters, I soon found that it was much more; and while kids could definitely get a kick out of it, nothing was dumbed down. The overall language was impressive; the pacing was perfect; the tone was amusing. Diana Wynne Jones is clearly a witty and clever author, and her style in “Howl’s Moving Castle” was both comfortable and easy to follow; yet at the same time, well-written and carefully detailed. Her words were like art, flowing from page to page; her humor had me cracking a smile through-out. This wasn’t like reading, this was like taking a journey.Lastly, the story itself was refreshing, creative, and fun. From Sophie’s odd predicament, to Calcifer the fire demon, to magic spells and shooting stars, “Howl’s Moving Castle” was jam packed with wonder and enchantment. While reading this lovely tale, I found myself never knowing what would happen next – and with Wizard Howl in the picture (who was a very skilled wizard, mind you), anything was possible. Aside from that, things progressed swiftly, and there was never a dull or boring moment; there was a huge amount of character development, leading all the way up to the final page, and there were even a few interesting plot twists. Overall, this story was spot on, and held my interest all the way up to the end. Oh, and speaking of the ending? I absolutely loved it. I can’t imagine it being any different.With that said, “Howl’s Moving Castle” was really impressing, and after closing the final chapter and beginning this review, I quickly came to find that coming up any sort of critique was a real challenge. For me, this is one of those novels where nothing should be changed. From the intelligent writing, to the memorable and lovely characters, to the story, and to Howl himself, I found myself completely immersed within each page. While this is indeed considered a young adult novel, and I can certainly understand why, it’s clear to me that people of all ages could enjoy the magic of this novel. If you’re looking for a really fun, well written fantasy, this could be exactly what you’re seeking. Overall, I found “Howl’s Moving Castle” to be a truly a riveting and enchanting tale; one full of wit, heart, and a whole lot of magic.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I came to this book as a fan of the Miyazaki movie and while I enjoyed it I do feel it is best read at the intended age group of grade school/preteen. The book starts out like a take off of a more traditional fairy tale, going on about birth order and fortunes and such, but then settles into more of an adventure story as Sophie learns (sort of) more about herself, the world and Wizard Howl. My biggest problem with the book is no one seems to learn or change or anything, Sophie sort of learns somethings about herself but it doesn't feel like she's changed or grown. As a young reader I don't think that would have bothered me as much and I would have just enjoyed the adventure, but as an adult it left me wanting something more. I did enjoy some aspects of the book more than the movie but overall I felt the movie did a better job of telling the story than the book does, which is rare and again probably has much to do with my age when reading it. Still, well worth reading especially the middle section.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Howl's Moving Castle is a really fun, feel-good story. It is set within a magical land full of withces, wizards, curses and enchantmenets, royalty, and all kinds of different creatures (including a mischeevious fire demon stuck in a hearth). If you like stories packed full of adventure, humor, and magic, this book is for you!
  • Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
    1/5
    I didn't like this book at all. I'm actually surprised that I finished it. The storyline was pathetic. It seemed like nothing interesting was happening. The ending was too quick and should have been exaggerated instead of Sophie's sewing or whatever. Vital information was only briefly covered and it was annoying. It was childish and the ending was all like "oh you killed the witch, freed the demon and now you're in love" in like a page. If I hadn't seen the movie I probably wouldn't have known what was happening most of the time.
    I just didn't like this book.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I really liked this!I enjoyed the story, and how it was different from what I'd seen in the movie. I liked Sophie and her sisters, and Howl was great. I don't know if I missed it in the movie, but the Howl romancing girls thing wasn't a thing? I liked that aspect in this novel though. I still got that whimsical feeling from the audiobook and I really love the world that Jones created. The plot was very intriguing and I liked how everything fit together.The narrator was kind of annoying. I really found his voice for Howl was extremely annoying, and it felt like he was yelling a lot. His voice grated at times.Overall, I really enjoyed this whimsical story, and I really want to pick up the physical novel.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    As the eldest of three sisters, Sophie Hatter is destined to be unfortunate. So it is no surprise when The Witch of Waste turns her into an old woman. Searching for someone who can remove the curse, Sophie ventures into the moving castle of Howl, an eccentric and capricious wizard. There she makes an agreement with Howl's fire demon to break a secret contract between Howl and him, and in return, he will lift her curse. The only catch is that neither he nor Howl are allowed to reveal the terms of the curse. At the same time, Howl and his apprentice are each courting Sophie's sisters. Sophie encourages the apprentice but fears Howl will, as he always does, lose interest in his current love. More pressing is the fact that the king wishes for Howl to defeat the Witch of Waste and find the missing Prince Justin.Humor and conflict ensue as Sophie tries to aid Howl and figure out the secret contract. The castle itself is a compelling device. It opens onto four different settings, the hills above Sophie's village, the village of Portshaven, the royal capital, and Wales, Howl's childhood (and modern) home.This novel creates a intricate world where fairytale-type magic is an everyday reality. The norms and rules of this world are clearly established and consistently followed. The characters are well-drawn--three-dimensional and subject to change and human inconsistencies. The ending offers love for the human characters and happy resolution for all. This was a compelling and satisfying read. It would be appropriate for grades 5 and up.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This has to be my second favorite DWJ book ever! The Chrestimanci books still come first (I lump them all together because it's too hard to rank them), but Howl's Moving Castle definitely gave them a run for their money! In Howl's Moving Castle, Sophie, a young hatter, gets turned into an old woman when she accidently ticks off the Witch of the Waste. She doesn't know what to do and can't tell anyone what has happened, so she sets off on an adventure to try to find a way to get rid of the spell. She ends up moving in with the wizard Howl and his apprentice Michael as an unasked for housekeeper with the hopes that he or his fire demon, Calcifer, can help her break her curse. Of course, breaking the curse won't be easy and along the way they all get caught up in loads of other difficult situations also mostly caused by the Witch of the Waste, but everything works out most satisfactorily in the end. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it for anyone who likes lighthearted fantasy no matter their age!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A fun, playful sort of book. Having finished the book, I promptly began again at the beginning as I wanted to figure out what had actually happened. I think some of it is impossible to figure out, but I am eager to read the sequel nonetheless.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The book is far better than the movie, although I am a big Studio Ghibli fan. I don't like it as much as other books by Diana Wynne Jones, but it is very good. There's something about her writing which just imbues magic in everything.