Take a photo of a barcode or cover
adventurous
funny
inspiring
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
Content Warnings
Minor: Violence
adventurous
funny
hopeful
reflective
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
Reading this was a much more enjoyable and magical experience than the audiobook. The story of Sophie and Howl's Moving Castle feels like a fairy tale that peeks into our world. Believing in yourself is necessary to survival and happiness, and Sophie fights hard to learn her lesson.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Death of parent
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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
Content Warnings
Minor: Body horror, Bullying, Violence, Fire/Fire injury
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'm not sure I know where to begin with this review... Maybe let's start by saying that the Ghibli movie is one of my all-time favourites. It's comforting and familiar and I rewatch it (along with the other Ghibli's) several times a year. I'm so glad that I knew in advance how different the book would be because that also helped me manage my expectations. Howl's Moving Castle fits perfectly under the category of <b>"I loved this book but I can't begin to tell you why"</b>. Many elements normally would not have worked for me but I found myself enjoying it regardless. Diana Wynne Jones sweeps you along for the ride before you even know it and what a ride it was!
If you were to look up the definition of whimsical I'm convinced that this title would top the list of examples. I read this with Becky and as we were reflecting on our thoughts, I mentioned that it felt like a hodgepodge of whimsical magical elements that worked wonders for this story. Honestly, if it had been any <i>less</i> whimsical, I think it would have fallen flat. The world-building is slightly erratic, the plot only clearly makes itself known towards the end, the romance is close to non-existent, and while the characters were the pillars of the story, they felt slightly underdeveloped. That said, this chaotic jumble paired with the slightly over-the-top magical whimsy created a fun adventure-filled story that moved at a rapid clip and made for easy entertaining reading.
As much as I tried not to, I couldn't help but compare the book to the movie and while I think I still prefer the movie, I appreciated the differences in both. I loved the insight we get into the characters and their relationships that we don't get in the movie—they're more flawed but also more human. Sophie was a fantastic protagonist. In the movie, you see how the curse pushed her to stop being so careful all the time but it's even more pronounced in the book! She was a hilariously particular and slightly curmudgeonly little old lady with a young, vibrant spirit which I found quite endearing. I also loved seeing Sophie as a sister and that we got to explore her complicated family relationship as the oldest daughter. It was a delight to discover that her two younger sisters are just as willful, cheeky and sharp as her!
I also loved how Sophie whips the castle and its inhabitants into shape and the wonderful found family she makes with Calcifer, Michael, and Howl. These three are as central to the plot as Sophie is and I loved that we do get to learn more about each in the book. Calcifer is much more terrifying but Michael is just as sweet and soft, although older than in the movie. Howl is even more of a dramatic man-child but instead of being irritating, I found it quite hilarious! The scene where he catches a cold is just so stereotypical, but not inaccurate, a portrayal of a man getting sick. 🤣 Howl is such a peculiar character enshrouded in total mystery and despite finding it difficult to describe him, he has such a presence that you can simply say "That's just so Howl" and it makes sense, lol. I would've liked for his backstory to have been explored in more detail, especially how he ended up in this magical world when he's originally from Wales, but he's just as mysterious and slithery in the book as he is in the movie. I also have to point out how glad I am that the movie made Calcifer and Turnip Head less terrifying because they were truly demonic in the book, lol.
The romance itself was very low-key and if I hadn't known that there was a romance, I wouldn't have seen it coming at all! It's very... subtle and I guess, "very Howl" because of the way he came about it. I did like how Michael's statement about what would happen when Howl truly fell in love came true—again, it was very subtle but when you look back on the changes, apparent and very sweet!
Overall, this made for an interesting reading experience. I'm glad that it didn't end up being a flop for me despite how much I love the movie and how different the book is. I'm happy that I finally read it :)
Content Warnings
Minor: Violence, War
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
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 absolutely loved this book! The audio narrator was wonderful with the different voices and really made the story come to life. The story is very original and the main character’s no-nonsense, capable attitude moves the story along at a good pace. There is magic, other worlds, fantasy, whimsy and deeper underlying meanings and lessons. Great classic!
Content Warnings
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexism, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Kidnapping
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Death of parent
Minor: Violence, Murder, Alcohol
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Minor: Bullying, Violence, Alcohol
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking
Moderate: Death
Minor: Violence, Murder, Alcohol
adventurous
fast-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
Content Warnings
Minor: Body horror, Torture, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Classism
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, Confinement
Moderate: Death, Murder
Minor: Violence, Death of parent, Alcohol