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A review by savvannnna
Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
5.0
This book is excellent. It's fantastically written, funny, engaging, and original.
Diana Wynne Jones succeeds in creating a unique world and writing an exciting, inventive plot—neither of which rely on overused fantasy tropes. A particular strength I found in this book was that she describes fanciful settings, bizzarre clothes, and magic spells in enough detail to really bring them to life without rambling on needlessly and sacrificing momentum for description (a tendency I find in many fantasy novels). She not only sets up a breathtaking and fantastic world but also fills it to the brim with lively characters and exciting plot developments—all at a good pace. In this way, the writing is perfectly balanced.
Perhaps what I most enjoyed were her very well rounded and unconventional characters. Jones' talent is most palpable in her remarkable ability to imbue minor characters with the same depth of personality as her major characters, and this applies to villains and heros alike. Interestingly, she also manages to defy conventional gender roles in a natural, convincing way. I adore Sophie—the strong-willed yet self-conscious, well-meaning yet foul-tempered, resourceful yet disastrous protagonist. She's a unique heroine whose prominent flaws make her even more endearing than her courage and intelligence. Similarly, the eponymous Howl circumvents the usual role of masculine hero. He's hopelessly vain, cowardly, and dishonest, but Jones wins sympathy for him with his comedic flair and his vulnerability. The main antagonist, the infamous Witch of the Waste, lacks the typical weaknesses of female villains and instead is ruined by her own ambition and ruthless success. She is no scorned maiden driven by vengeance or neglect but a strongly autonomous ne'er-do-well whose power gets the better of her. The depth of the characters and their unconventionality hugely strengthen this novel.
Like many, my interest was sparked from Miyazaki's film adaptation. But I've found that the book is vastly better than the movie despite its many strengths and that much was altered in making the film. The book has the same excitement and intrigue and magic that can be found in the film, but expect a significantly different (and superior) plot.
I found Howl's Moving Castle to be a refreshingly unorthodox take on the fantasy genre that was extremely well written. Jones is a master of the approachable yet creative and light-hearted style suited to children's literature. I recommend this book to readers of all ages and tastes, and I look forward to the rest of the trilogy.
Diana Wynne Jones succeeds in creating a unique world and writing an exciting, inventive plot—neither of which rely on overused fantasy tropes. A particular strength I found in this book was that she describes fanciful settings, bizzarre clothes, and magic spells in enough detail to really bring them to life without rambling on needlessly and sacrificing momentum for description (a tendency I find in many fantasy novels). She not only sets up a breathtaking and fantastic world but also fills it to the brim with lively characters and exciting plot developments—all at a good pace. In this way, the writing is perfectly balanced.
Perhaps what I most enjoyed were her very well rounded and unconventional characters. Jones' talent is most palpable in her remarkable ability to imbue minor characters with the same depth of personality as her major characters, and this applies to villains and heros alike. Interestingly, she also manages to defy conventional gender roles in a natural, convincing way. I adore Sophie—the strong-willed yet self-conscious, well-meaning yet foul-tempered, resourceful yet disastrous protagonist. She's a unique heroine whose prominent flaws make her even more endearing than her courage and intelligence. Similarly, the eponymous Howl circumvents the usual role of masculine hero. He's hopelessly vain, cowardly, and dishonest, but Jones wins sympathy for him with his comedic flair and his vulnerability. The main antagonist, the infamous Witch of the Waste, lacks the typical weaknesses of female villains and instead is ruined by her own ambition and ruthless success. She is no scorned maiden driven by vengeance or neglect but a strongly autonomous ne'er-do-well whose power gets the better of her. The depth of the characters and their unconventionality hugely strengthen this novel.
Like many, my interest was sparked from Miyazaki's film adaptation. But I've found that the book is vastly better than the movie despite its many strengths and that much was altered in making the film. The book has the same excitement and intrigue and magic that can be found in the film, but expect a significantly different (and superior) plot.
I found Howl's Moving Castle to be a refreshingly unorthodox take on the fantasy genre that was extremely well written. Jones is a master of the approachable yet creative and light-hearted style suited to children's literature. I recommend this book to readers of all ages and tastes, and I look forward to the rest of the trilogy.