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m_a_j's review
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Confinement
Moderate: Death
Minor: Death of parent
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
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
monniebiloney's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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
The reason why I rated this book 4 stars rather than 5 is that the book has a very ruff first 20 pages. There was so much exposition on sophies family that I think was there to show you that Sophie is an unreliable narrator and but felt just badly written to me.
Its been many years since I origionally read Howl's Moving Castle. I was mainly motivated to re-read it because I saw a couple of tiktok of people saying the book was very different then the movie, to the extent the characters were different, and I was flabergastes becuase I remembered that the book was very similar to the movie with the exception of the plot--as in Sophie and Howl were the same.
Upon re-reading this, I was mostly right. Sophie and Howl ARE exactly the same as they were in the movie, but Micheal, even though he is 5 years older, is also the same (personality wise) which was a shock! I forgot how different the Witch of the waste was between the two versions, and I also completely forgot the majority of the plot of the book other then the dog. (The dog thing was traumatising for me as a child)
I was crazy shocked when I begun reading the book and the first half of the book was exactly the same as the first half of the movie (Other then the Lesse plotline not being mentioned). The two don't really diverge from each other until they go visit the (King in the book)' (Madam Soloman in the movie), there the book and movie diverge greatly plotwise BUT the characters stay the same as they were depicted in the film. The only difference in 'personality' is that the film shows us that Howl is slightly less egotistical at the very end of the film I guess? Maybe? Or maybe the opposite, Sophie is slightly more egotistical at the end of the book lol.
I actually found the flower scene in the book to be more moving than in the movie. It felt kind of random in the movie, but soo sweet in the book.
Its been many years since I origionally read Howl's Moving Castle. I was mainly motivated to re-read it because I saw a couple of tiktok of people saying the book was very different then the movie, to the extent the characters were different, and I was flabergastes becuase I remembered that the book was very similar to the movie with the exception of the plot--as in Sophie and Howl were the same.
Upon re-reading this, I was mostly right. Sophie and Howl ARE exactly the same as they were in the movie, but Micheal, even though he is 5 years older, is also the same (personality wise) which was a shock! I forgot how different the Witch of the waste was between the two versions, and I also completely forgot the majority of the plot of the book other then the dog. (The dog thing was traumatising for me as a child)
I was crazy shocked when I begun reading the book and the first half of the book was exactly the same as the first half of the movie (Other then the Lesse plotline not being mentioned). The two don't really diverge from each other until they go visit the (King in the book)' (Madam Soloman in the movie), there the book and movie diverge greatly plotwise BUT the characters stay the same as they were depicted in the film. The only difference in 'personality' is that the film shows us that Howl is slightly less egotistical at the very end of the film I guess? Maybe? Or maybe the opposite, Sophie is slightly more egotistical at the end of the book lol.
I actually found the flower scene in the book to be more moving than in the movie. It felt kind of random in the movie, but soo sweet in the book.
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal cruelty and Body horror
saltnvinnies's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Body horror and Death
fishfish's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
tense
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
5.0
Absolutely loved this book oh my gosh
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
birdkeeperklink's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-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
4.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal cruelty, Death, and Body horror
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
elodiethefangirl'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
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
katievallin's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, and Body horror
Minor: Death of parent and Alcohol