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A review by queer_bookwyrm
Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
adventurous
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
4 ⭐
Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones is book one in the Howl's Moving Castle trilogy. This was a wonderful and light middle grade read. This is something I've been meaning to get to for awhile since I love the movie so much. This book is vastly different from the story the movie tells, but they are both good in their own ways.
We follow Sophie, the oldest of three sisters, who works in a hat shop and feels she is doomed to failure because of that fact, and so does not try. Though only 17, Sophie toils her life away making hats and talking to them until, one day, the Witch of the Waste shows up, jealous, and turns Sophie into an old woman. At this, she finally decides to go out and seek her fortune.
Along the way she rescues a dog and a turnip scarecrow before finding the Wizard Howl's castle to rest her old bones. Inside she finds the wizard's apprentice and a fire demon named Calcifer. Sophie decides to clean Howl's castle while she figures out how to break the contract between Howl and Calcifer, all the while dealing with Howl's fickle moods, self-serving behavior, and dramatics.
I really enjoyed this story! It has relatively little stakes apart from the contract, the Witch of the Waste, and Sophie's own curse. I love the interaction between Howl, Sophie, and Calcifer. Calcifer was always my favorite in the movie, and it is the same for the book. There are definitely some messages about loving someone for who they really are and not just as they appear. At first there seems to be some heavy handed moralizing about not trusting your heart to a pretty boy who will only break it, but you quickly find out there is a double meaning to everything. Sophie's power is the best, and I feel like I relate to her a bit too much with being the eldest and having many doubts about what was possible for me. I will definitely be continuing the series and look forward to this expanding world.
Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones is book one in the Howl's Moving Castle trilogy. This was a wonderful and light middle grade read. This is something I've been meaning to get to for awhile since I love the movie so much. This book is vastly different from the story the movie tells, but they are both good in their own ways.
We follow Sophie, the oldest of three sisters, who works in a hat shop and feels she is doomed to failure because of that fact, and so does not try. Though only 17, Sophie toils her life away making hats and talking to them until, one day, the Witch of the Waste shows up, jealous, and turns Sophie into an old woman. At this, she finally decides to go out and seek her fortune.
Along the way she rescues a dog and a turnip scarecrow before finding the Wizard Howl's castle to rest her old bones. Inside she finds the wizard's apprentice and a fire demon named Calcifer. Sophie decides to clean Howl's castle while she figures out how to break the contract between Howl and Calcifer, all the while dealing with Howl's fickle moods, self-serving behavior, and dramatics.
I really enjoyed this story! It has relatively little stakes apart from the contract, the Witch of the Waste, and Sophie's own curse. I love the interaction between Howl, Sophie, and Calcifer. Calcifer was always my favorite in the movie, and it is the same for the book. There are definitely some messages about loving someone for who they really are and not just as they appear. At first there seems to be some heavy handed moralizing about not trusting your heart to a pretty boy who will only break it, but you quickly find out there is a double meaning to everything. Sophie's power is the best, and I feel like I relate to her a bit too much with being the eldest and having many doubts about what was possible for me. I will definitely be continuing the series and look forward to this expanding world.