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adventurous
emotional
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
This was a fantastic read. Read this along with the audiobook and it made the storytelling so enjoyable. I interpret the book and the movie as two separate pieces. The differences in the two stories are enough to make both of them completely different universes. The movie is how Howl tells the story, while the book is how Sophie tells it. This shows realistic love. Both Howl and Sophie have so much more personality and their dynamic together was so much better. I’m obsessed 🥹
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Violence
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
"I think we ought to live happily ever after."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Kidnapping
Moderate: Death, Violence, Murder
Minor: Death of parent, Alcohol, War
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Decent children's book.
I was not expecting the Welsh Rugby club to be mentioned, but I took would escape to fantasy land where I can be wizard.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Death, Death of parent
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
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
Howl’s Moving Castle is whimsical, witty, and full of heart. I adored Sophie’s growth, Howl’s dramatic charm, and Calcifer’s snark. Even the smallest characters felt alive, and the magical settings were enchanting. Clever, funny, and unexpectedly moving. I finished it wanting to reread right away
Content Warnings
Minor: Violence
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A classic, a children's book and overshadowed by the movie adaptation.
- I feel conflicted about the characters - I care for them (maybe because they are flawed), but somehow they don't grow much, which I do not like, personally.
- I don't like the superficial portrayal of love, either.It may be that Sophie and Howl do have chemistry, which is shown right at the end, but it feels like they don't know much about each other.
- The story isn't as streamlined as the one in the movie and establishes different plot points/ another main focus, which I found refreshing the first time I read it. (Less war in the book, more practitioners of magic, more characters, a bit morr context on what is happening and why. )
- Unique concepts of magic (one door that opens to different places, falling stars as firedemons who amplify magic )
- I feel conflicted about the characters - I care for them (maybe because they are flawed), but somehow they don't grow much, which I do not like, personally.
- I don't like the superficial portrayal of love, either.
- The story isn't as streamlined as the one in the movie and establishes different plot points/ another main focus, which I found refreshing the first time I read it. (
- Unique concepts of magic (
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
Moderate: Body shaming, Death, Sexism, Violence, Murder, Classism
Minor: Cursing, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, War
adventurous
lighthearted
slow-paced
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I've tried to read another title by Diana Wynne Jones that I just couldn't get into. But Howl's Moving Castle was recommended by a good friend and met a reading challenge prompt so I gave it a try and persevered even when it wasn't doing much for me.
I think the audio version i listened to may have not helped. I didn't love the narrators voice or delivery. But I also knew from my previous attempt that the author's writing style didn't work very well for me.
All this to say... the book is fine. I didn't hate it, although I felt like it dragged on. I do not recommend the audio version by Jenny Sterlin. Maybe all the bonkers magical mayhem would be better in writing. Idk
I liked that the female characters were written with as much character and autonomy as the male characters, especially given how long ago this was written. That Sophie didn't need to attractive to secure her place in the story. That there are plenty of external relationships beyond Sophie and Howl. I doubt I'd ever reread this though, and I don't intend to read anything else by the author. It just doesn't work for me.
I think the audio version i listened to may have not helped. I didn't love the narrators voice or delivery. But I also knew from my previous attempt that the author's writing style didn't work very well for me.
All this to say... the book is fine. I didn't hate it, although I felt like it dragged on. I do not recommend the audio version by Jenny Sterlin. Maybe all the bonkers magical mayhem would be better in writing. Idk
I liked that the female characters were written with as much character and autonomy as the male characters, especially given how long ago this was written. That Sophie didn't need to attractive to secure her place in the story. That there are plenty of external relationships beyond Sophie and Howl. I doubt I'd ever reread this though, and I don't intend to read anything else by the author. It just doesn't work for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dysphoria
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Medical content, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol
Minor: Terminal illness, War
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
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
This was my first time reading the book (I am an adult! But I never read the book or watched the movie as a kid). I enjoyed it - the characters were complicated but generally like able. I liked Sophie a great deal, kind of knew the ultimate pairing from the start but it still didn’t compel me as a relationship that much. I found the story fun, though!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
Moderate: Violence, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Very charming. Loved Sophie's old woman energy. Only quibble is I didn't buy into Sophie and Howl being in love .
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Body horror, Chronic illness, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, War
adventurous
funny
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Death, Violence, Death of parent, Abandonment
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
This is a fun read, and quite an original story. I love the castle and the world building, and the characters feel very real. The end is a bit confusing.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse, Violence, Kidnapping