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literarypenguin'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
5.0
As a person who saw the movie and considers it one of their favorite movies of all time, I am shocked that I have not read this book sooner. I had no idea that there were a couple of things that were in this book that were not in the movie and I felt like some parts could have been included in the movie. I still felt like this book was just as magical and whimsical as the movie though!
Sophie being turned into an old woman by a curse only to find herself at the castle of a notorious wizard named Howl. There she finds herself learning to live with her curse and try to find a way to break it. She also learns more about herself as a person, learning that she is much more than just a hat seller and that her happiness is just as important and valuable as her family's who she put before herself. She learns about Howl, the wizard who isn't as notorious as she once thought instead she learns he might be the opposite of all those rumors that people made him out to be. Through each other they both improve themselves, choosing to be better not just for themselves but for everyone else in their lives.
The magic elements of the book were very cool and had a bit of whimsy to them, the castle itself was as much of a character as the actual characters in the book. The writing you have to pay attention to when you are reading to make sure you don't miss anything that happens, I did have to reread certain parts to make sure I got all the information I could. Besides that I really am happy I got to experience the book that inspired one of my favorite movies! I hope to reread this book in the future and hope to enjoy it as much as I did the first time!
Sophie being turned into an old woman by a curse only to find herself at the castle of a notorious wizard named Howl. There she finds herself learning to live with her curse and try to find a way to break it. She also learns more about herself as a person, learning that she is much more than just a hat seller and that her happiness is just as important and valuable as her family's who she put before herself. She learns about Howl, the wizard who isn't as notorious as she once thought instead she learns he might be the opposite of all those rumors that people made him out to be. Through each other they both improve themselves, choosing to be better not just for themselves but for everyone else in their lives.
The magic elements of the book were very cool and had a bit of whimsy to them, the castle itself was as much of a character as the actual characters in the book. The writing you have to pay attention to when you are reading to make sure you don't miss anything that happens, I did have to reread certain parts to make sure I got all the information I could. Besides that I really am happy I got to experience the book that inspired one of my favorite movies! I hope to reread this book in the future and hope to enjoy it as much as I did the first time!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Kidnapping, and Confinement
bi_n_large's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Kidnapping
Minor: Bullying and Toxic relationship
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: Death and Body horror
Minor: Death of parent, Pedophilia, and Kidnapping
theirgracegrace's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
A delightful romp through a fairy-tale, Howl's Moving Castle is a great middle grade fantasy. Sophie Hatter is the eldest of three, so naturally she gets cursed by a witch and leaves her home to find a cure. She ends up at the moving castle of Wizard Howl, a mischievous magician with incredible magical prowess but very little sense. The characters are so hilarious to listen to as they bicker and plot and scheme, and the magic is so vague and mysterious that it's impossible to figure out how it works. The ending answers so many questions that dog Sophie and Howl throughout the book and ties everything up nicely. A great read, even if (like me) you've never seen the Studio Ghibli film before!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Grief, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Stalking, Body horror, Gaslighting, and Kidnapping
Minor: Alcohol and Alcoholism
erebus53's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
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
4.0
This was a book club read that finally came through for me on Libby. I didn't feel like I was missing out on much because I have long been a fan of the movie. As such it's great to finally read the source material, because these things are generally better for having more time to develop the characters and more insight into the motivations.
The book is certainly clearer to understand than the film. It is made clear that Sophie interacts with inanimate objects and respects them more than most people, but because it's her "normal" she doesn't realise that the things she says to the things that she talks to or makes are taken to heart by those items. She is innately magical, but does not see it. This has a subversive, dreamy quality, and I could see how it would be inspirational to a young reader... what if I am magical too, and I just haven't noticed, or figured out the trick of it?
A lot of the little descriptions in the books are rendered in the movie very faithfully. Little things like feeding eggshells to the fire have been faithfully captured in the animated version, though as is always the case, the movie just doesn't have the scope to unpack all the backstory provided in the book.
I am very glad that I got the chance to check this version out, as it fills out a lot more of a story that I already loved. It would be a great read for the 10+ age group.
The book is certainly clearer to understand than the film. It is made clear that Sophie interacts with inanimate objects and respects them more than most people, but because it's her "normal" she doesn't realise that the things she says to the things that she talks to or makes are taken to heart by those items. She is innately magical, but does not see it. This has a subversive, dreamy quality, and I could see how it would be inspirational to a young reader... what if I am magical too, and I just haven't noticed, or figured out the trick of it?
A lot of the little descriptions in the books are rendered in the movie very faithfully. Little things like feeding eggshells to the fire have been faithfully captured in the animated version, though as is always the case, the movie just doesn't have the scope to unpack all the backstory provided in the book.
I am very glad that I got the chance to check this version out, as it fills out a lot more of a story that I already loved. It would be a great read for the 10+ age group.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Body horror, and Confinement
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury and Mental illness
Minor: War and Death
a_islandcriptid's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This is one of my favorite books and is defienetly my go-to comfort read. I highly recommend to to anyone and everyone!
The whole series is quite funny, and very engrossing! Diana Wynn Jones is, as always, a fantastic writer and all of the characters have depth, and the characters' story feels very real (especially for being set in a fantasy world).
It is very different from the Studio Ghibli movie (which is also amazing, and I recommend) but they are better enjoyed if they are not compared against eachother and each let to stand on their own merits. The go together and prop eachother up but are also fairly seperate stories and worlds. (The movie will probably make more sense, and has more depth if you know the book.)
The whole series is quite funny, and very engrossing! Diana Wynn Jones is, as always, a fantastic writer and all of the characters have depth, and the characters' story feels very real (especially for being set in a fantasy world).
It is very different from the Studio Ghibli movie (which is also amazing, and I recommend) but they are better enjoyed if they are not compared against eachother and each let to stand on their own merits. The go together and prop eachother up but are also fairly seperate stories and worlds. (The movie will probably make more sense, and has more depth if you know the book.)
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal cruelty, Death, Kidnapping, and Bullying
singalana's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
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
3.25
Content Warnings
Minor: Abandonment, Body horror, Death, and Kidnapping
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