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ceciltheceaselesswatcher's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
fast-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
graceellerby's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
kaicchan's review against another edition
4.0
Amei demais finalmente ler o livro de um dos meus filmes favoritos. Existem grandes diferenças entre as duas histórias, embora o central permaneça o mesmo.
Adorei ver uma Sophie um pouco mais ousada, assim como ri muito com o Howl dramático e extravagante do livro. Senti falta da química que eles tinham no filme, que parece não ser bem trabalhada no livro e também achei o final muito apressado, podia ter durado uns capítulos a mais, assim como poderiam ter tido mais cenas “fofas” dos dois personagens juntos.
Dito isso, meu personagem favorito continua sendo o Calcifer que, em suas duas versões, é irônico e divertido.
Adorei ver uma Sophie um pouco mais ousada, assim como ri muito com o Howl dramático e extravagante do livro. Senti falta da química que eles tinham no filme, que parece não ser bem trabalhada no livro e também achei o final muito apressado, podia ter durado uns capítulos a mais, assim como poderiam ter tido mais cenas “fofas” dos dois personagens juntos.
Dito isso, meu personagem favorito continua sendo o Calcifer que, em suas duas versões, é irônico e divertido.
hcharm's review against another edition
5.0
We can’t all be Mad Hatters. ©
Ah, how amazing fairy tale! How nice story!
Where are Diana Wynn Jones knew that I like dressy green-eyed beauty with sad and noble appearance? And the blond one also (thought with dyed hair :D)! Narcissistic and cheeky guy, adventurer and talented magician – it is our Howl. He had as many flaws as merits. Is he a sloven and spender? Yes. He is not without sin. But he good to those who need it, faithful to friends, though a coward, but he is capable of self-sacrifice.
The main thing in a fairy tale: you're a loser, while you think you are so. Believe in yourself and a miracle will happen!
Read! Read! Read!
Ah, how amazing fairy tale! How nice story!
Where are Diana Wynn Jones knew that I like dressy green-eyed beauty with sad and noble appearance? And the blond one also (thought with dyed hair :D)! Narcissistic and cheeky guy, adventurer and talented magician – it is our Howl. He had as many flaws as merits. Is he a sloven and spender? Yes. He is not without sin. But he good to those who need it, faithful to friends, though a coward, but he is capable of self-sacrifice.
The main thing in a fairy tale: you're a loser, while you think you are so. Believe in yourself and a miracle will happen!
Read! Read! Read!
allonsyalexa's review against another edition
4.0
(Originally posted here!)
I was very excited to read this book. I absolutely loved the film version by Hayao Miyazaki, and the gorgeous soundtrack by Joe Hisaishi. I think I've played the main theme a couple hundred times already since I watched the film earlier this year, because if there's something I'm a sucker for more than beautiful writing, its beautiful music (I'm actually writing this with it playing on repeat in the background, teehee). I really can't get enough of the music. Despite my excitement, for some reason, I kept putting off reading the book - even though I got my copy in May - until this month. I think I saved this because of the holidays, which would give off the magical atmosphere I would very much prefer in reading a book like this.
Howl's Moving Castle stirred somewhat lukewarm feelings within me at first, because I was expecting it to have the same effect on me as the film had. The film version was more exciting and dramatic, definitely, but then I realized that it wouldn't be fair to judge a book by its movie. I'm very okay with judging a film by its book, but vice versa? It just feels weird, so I decided to try reading Howl's Moving Castle with a mind that wasn't familiar with the movie. It worked. I enjoyed reading about Howl and Sophie, and I felt like a child again. Gosh, how I missed reading fantasy that didn't have such convoluted plots!
I really loved the characters. I am absolutely amused by Howl, the entertainment factor of which helped me in rating this book. He is so vain and conscious of his appearance that I sometimes want to throw and fit and make green slime myself (because no one, and I mean NO ONE, should take that long in the bathroom EVERY DAY sheesh) but also very scatter-brained everywhere else, so the results are just hilarious. I keep imagining the events in the book transpire with the film characters* and I am all laughey-dovey for hours. Well okay, minutes, but you know. He started to grow on me somewhat because of those moments. Also, let me just mention how I admire Sophie very much. For someone in a granny's body, she is everywhere! I would like to be like her, (still) sassy and full of energy when I am ninety, if ever I do reach that age. I also love how determined she is when she is set to do something. She's like, "Oh, I'm an eldest kid so I can't be exciting? Qurl, Imma find my fortune and prove y'all wrong. I'm sorry, being ninety all of a sudden just ain't enough, so lemme see if I can poke the Wizard Howl's eye or summat." That's the impression her character made on me. So sassy. I love it. (For some reason, I remembered McGonagall, and by association, Dame Maggie Smith. She would make a perfect Sophie, I'd say!)
Overall, I really liked this book. Despite Howl's vanity and Sophie's stubbornness, I found myself rooting for them until the very end. It was a very cute story, whimsical in a way that makes you remember all those fairy tales you used to read as a little child. It's got a very simple plot, but it has its very own charm, which is why I have no doubt many readers will enjoy this. This is the first novel I've read by Diana Wynne Jones. I've read a short story of hers in Firebirds, and I enjoyed her writing even then, so I wouldn't say no to reading more of her works.
*okay, maybe I failed in the complete separation of film and book part, but hey, I still liked the book!
PS
Now I want to watch the film again. Or any Studio Ghibli film, for that matter.
I was very excited to read this book. I absolutely loved the film version by Hayao Miyazaki, and the gorgeous soundtrack by Joe Hisaishi. I think I've played the main theme a couple hundred times already since I watched the film earlier this year, because if there's something I'm a sucker for more than beautiful writing, its beautiful music (I'm actually writing this with it playing on repeat in the background, teehee). I really can't get enough of the music. Despite my excitement, for some reason, I kept putting off reading the book - even though I got my copy in May - until this month. I think I saved this because of the holidays, which would give off the magical atmosphere I would very much prefer in reading a book like this.
Howl's Moving Castle stirred somewhat lukewarm feelings within me at first, because I was expecting it to have the same effect on me as the film had. The film version was more exciting and dramatic, definitely, but then I realized that it wouldn't be fair to judge a book by its movie. I'm very okay with judging a film by its book, but vice versa? It just feels weird, so I decided to try reading Howl's Moving Castle with a mind that wasn't familiar with the movie. It worked. I enjoyed reading about Howl and Sophie, and I felt like a child again. Gosh, how I missed reading fantasy that didn't have such convoluted plots!
I really loved the characters. I am absolutely amused by Howl, the entertainment factor of which helped me in rating this book. He is so vain and conscious of his appearance that I sometimes want to throw and fit and make green slime myself (because no one, and I mean NO ONE, should take that long in the bathroom EVERY DAY sheesh) but also very scatter-brained everywhere else, so the results are just hilarious. I keep imagining the events in the book transpire with the film characters* and I am all laughey-dovey for hours. Well okay, minutes, but you know. He started to grow on me somewhat because of those moments. Also, let me just mention how I admire Sophie very much. For someone in a granny's body, she is everywhere! I would like to be like her, (still) sassy and full of energy when I am ninety, if ever I do reach that age. I also love how determined she is when she is set to do something. She's like, "Oh, I'm an eldest kid so I can't be exciting? Qurl, Imma find my fortune and prove y'all wrong. I'm sorry, being ninety all of a sudden just ain't enough, so lemme see if I can poke the Wizard Howl's eye or summat." That's the impression her character made on me. So sassy. I love it. (For some reason, I remembered McGonagall, and by association, Dame Maggie Smith. She would make a perfect Sophie, I'd say!)
She'll be all, "Green slime? Meh."
Overall, I really liked this book. Despite Howl's vanity and Sophie's stubbornness, I found myself rooting for them until the very end. It was a very cute story, whimsical in a way that makes you remember all those fairy tales you used to read as a little child. It's got a very simple plot, but it has its very own charm, which is why I have no doubt many readers will enjoy this. This is the first novel I've read by Diana Wynne Jones. I've read a short story of hers in Firebirds, and I enjoyed her writing even then, so I wouldn't say no to reading more of her works.
*okay, maybe I failed in the complete separation of film and book part, but hey, I still liked the book!
PS
Now I want to watch the film again. Or any Studio Ghibli film, for that matter.
bexterrr's review against another edition
5.0
Decided to listen to this book (one of my favourites) at work on a doggy day care. Not sure how much they followed and, to be honest, I didn't get to hear it all when barking broke out. But it's a nice familiar place and was read beautifully by Kristen Atherton.
I highly recommend this book to you, no matter who you are or what you like.
I highly recommend this book to you, no matter who you are or what you like.
tarja_mo's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
tarannosaurousrex's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
inkerly's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I watched Howl’s Moving Castle , the movie which was loosely inspired by this book when I was in high school but I always wanted to read the book. Eight years later, and I have finally done so. I didn’t have any expectations on this book as I had forgotten most of what happened in the movie.
This was a really lighthearted adventure-packed tale that reminded me of other classic tales like “Alice in Wonderland”, “The Wizard of Oz“, etc. It is quite literally a bundle of riddles wrapped in fantasy , adventure and colorful language.
4 out of 5 stars though because I felt like there were 10 different plots running concurrently at the same time - Sophie’s curse, Calcifers curse, Howls curse, the Prince, the Witch, etc…- that I could barely keep track of what was going on. I was confused almost the entire book. Especially since this book is under 300 pages it felt like these segments were slapped into the story for shock value more than to actually move the plot forward. I think this is where the movie does the story justice as these subplots were whittled down considerably. But I would say I enjoyed the characters and their aloof ness very much.
I suspected that Howl knew Sophie’s identity all along and their back and forth like an old married couple in the end was cute. Everyone who loves riddle-like tales should read this.
This was a really lighthearted adventure-packed tale that reminded me of other classic tales like “Alice in Wonderland”, “The Wizard of Oz“, etc. It is quite literally a bundle of riddles wrapped in fantasy , adventure and colorful language.
4 out of 5 stars though because I felt like there were 10 different plots running concurrently at the same time - Sophie’s curse, Calcifers curse, Howls curse, the Prince, the Witch, etc…- that I could barely keep track of what was going on. I was confused almost the entire book. Especially since this book is under 300 pages it felt like these segments were slapped into the story for shock value more than to actually move the plot forward. I think this is where the movie does the story justice as these subplots were whittled down considerably. But I would say I enjoyed the characters and their aloof ness very much.
I suspected that Howl knew Sophie’s identity all along and their back and forth like an old married couple in the end was cute. Everyone who loves riddle-like tales should read this.