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boba_n_books's review
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: Alcohol, Death of parent, and Violence
lunarblazes's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
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
5.0
this book slays so hard. it's absolutely insane, howl is dramatic and completely dishonest, sophie is stubborn and impulsive, and i love it so much. howl and sophie are the world's most divorced couple and poor michael and calcifer are children of divorce. that said it's genuinely really heartfelt and sweet seeing howl and sophie start caring for each other. truly i just adore this book. diana wynne jones my eternal homie
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Violence
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
biobeetle's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Minor: Misogyny and Violence
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
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
augie_'s review against another edition
adventurous
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
emilywemily6's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I was surprised I didn’t enjoy this more. The writing was well done and immersive, but the story felt aimless and slow for quite a bit, and lots of major plots progression points were glossed over so quickly that I almost missed them. The ending had way to much going on in the last 30 minutes of the audiobook and it felt like a lot of conflict was suddenly resolved without a good explanation. I didn’t really like Howl, though I enjoyed Sophie’s character mostly except for a lot of the dumb things she was doing. Characterization was well written. Overall, it was a good book, but not a very good book, for me.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Violence, and Bullying
scrubsandbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
I knew the movie existed but I had never watched it. I picked this book as part of a reading challenge for reading a book published in the year I was born.
I'm so glad I did because I have fallen madly in love. (But I was hella disappointed to find out the movie is vastly different.) Every single character is absolutely charming and unique and so damn memorable and I can't remember ever reading a book in which I belly-laughed so hard. The humor was just so perfectly placed without distracting the reader from the seriousness of Sophie's whole predicament. Sophie and Howl's relationship was so touching and I enjoyed how they developed from bickering constantly to... well... read the book and you'll see!
I just loved it. Loved it so so so so much. I can't describe it any more words.
I'm so glad I did because I have fallen madly in love. (But I was hella disappointed to find out the movie is vastly different.) Every single character is absolutely charming and unique and so damn memorable and I can't remember ever reading a book in which I belly-laughed so hard. The humor was just so perfectly placed without distracting the reader from the seriousness of Sophie's whole predicament. Sophie and Howl's relationship was so touching and I enjoyed how they developed from bickering constantly to... well... read the book and you'll see!
I just loved it. Loved it so so so so much. I can't describe it any more words.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement and Body horror
Moderate: Death
Minor: Violence
draven_deathcrush's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
if i had read the book first i probably would've liked it more :(
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement
Moderate: Violence and Death
Minor: Alcohol and Death of parent