Paperback, 360 pages
Published Nov. 19, 2018 by Nocturna Ediciones.
As the oldest daughter, willful, outspoken Sophie knew that her life could lead to nothing but mistakes. When her father dies, her stepmother sends her two sisters out to make their fortunes while Sophie continues to work in the family hattery. As she whispers her thoughts to the hats she trims, the shop begins to grow in popularity, until she offends the Wicked Witch of the Waste. The witch casts a spell turning Sophie into an old woman. Sophie leaves the shop and happens upon the castle of the Wizard Howl. He has a reputation for finding young women and eating their hearts but that doesn't stop Sophie from moving in and turning the lives of the whole castle, including Howl's apprentice and his fire demon, upside down in a battle against the wicked witch and for Sophie's future.
A young woman gets caught up in magical machinations and is turned old & fabulously crotchety. Great characters and vibe but I lost track of the plot a bit (disclaimer: listened to this as a sleep story), and wasn't really into the romantic ending.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8eOjQ3JrXk&list=PLp6dwtXsi8Pu6G7MT4ajMGB1YrumzQRZ9
I'm so glad I finally read this.
Everyone wants to marry Howl, especially me. He is the ultimate 'I can fix him' man, and that's just from the film! This book? Stupendous. Refreshing. Like a minty salve smeared over my forehead. Every character shines. The writing quality is a folktune on the ears. Sophie is a wonderful and deeply relatable protaginist for all of her pragmatisism and cynicism, but with just enough good-heartedness to carry her forward.
My only gripe is that the ending tries to bundle up everything at once in a way that comes off as a little confusing for how chaotic it gets, but it's not something I really mind.
We've had a lot of discussions at home of book v film, and I enjoy the film, but I think of it as an almost completely separate thing. I very much enjoy the book - it is a great readaloud with plenty to get into.
Fun, slapstick, and gross, mixed up identities and perspectives on fantasy and youth.
Harry Who? This is my favorite wizard story.
Fight me.
Such a refreshing fantasy world, and the narration is so beautiful.
This was my favourite book as a child, and reading it to my own children now it remains wonderful. Highly recommended.
Middle-grade fantasy that never takes full flight.
Nice story, bit very hurried ending.
I picked this up because I'm so familiar with the Ghibli film, I had to know the source material.
Without bashing the movie, which is wonderful in it's own right, I just have to say that I wish the movie included more of the book than it does. As is normal, the movie changed and omitted a lot, which is unfortunate. The book breathes so much more life into what are already lively characters. Anyone more familiar with the Ghibli movie should definitely give this a read, it paints a much fuller picture of the story.
I was introduced to Howl’s Moving Castle when I saw the movie years ago. I can’t recall when I first saw it but I do remember that it was enchanting. So when I found out it was a book, I knew I had to read it.
As an adult reading this book, I’m sure my perspective is quite different from a child but I still adored the characters, settings, and the story as a whole.
Sophie Hatter is the eldest of three daughters of a widow. They run a hat shop and Sophie is quite convinced that she will always have misfortune because she is the eldest. She is a very gifted hat maker though this brings down the Witch of the Waste’s anger and she ends up transformed into a little old lady. She leaves the hat shop and makes her way to the castle of the wizard Howl. …
I was introduced to Howl’s Moving Castle when I saw the movie years ago. I can’t recall when I first saw it but I do remember that it was enchanting. So when I found out it was a book, I knew I had to read it.
As an adult reading this book, I’m sure my perspective is quite different from a child but I still adored the characters, settings, and the story as a whole.
Sophie Hatter is the eldest of three daughters of a widow. They run a hat shop and Sophie is quite convinced that she will always have misfortune because she is the eldest. She is a very gifted hat maker though this brings down the Witch of the Waste’s anger and she ends up transformed into a little old lady. She leaves the hat shop and makes her way to the castle of the wizard Howl.
Each character is so colorful, fun, and quirky that they really come to life on the page. Calcifer the fire demon is one of my favorite characters in the story (outside of Sophie and Howl of course). For me, the story was about seeing beyond the obvious, learning about oneself, and about the true nature of others and the world. Really, it’s a lot about self. Sophie has to find her way in this new form. This story has one of the most satisfying endings I have ever read. I cheered out loud (waking my husband).
In my opinion, this is a book that will delight adults and children alike. It’s exactly the kind of book that I would love to read with my niece one day.
I am in love with this book and Diana Wynne Jones' writing.
I was already a huge fan of the Ghibli movie, but the book (as expected) has so many more layers and characters to add to the story!
The entire tale about the fate of an elder sister, younger sister, middle sister... It's awesome. I've read this book a long time ago but I carry it in my heart. <3
Officially head over heels for this book. I mist own it. The ending made my insides go all gooey. A perfect, magical little gem of a book.
Commute audiobook. I enjoyed the narrator of this one.
Book was ok.
I love the moving castle. LOVE it.
I felt like a lot of interesting things happen, and I liked the interplay between Sophie, calcifer and Michael. But none of it ever quite coheres into sensical plot, with the result that I found it somewhat challenging to keep track of the characters Howl may or may not be searching for and the encounters between minor characters who were probably in disguise at the time anyway. (I blame this partly on listening while driving. I can't give ALL my attention to the book...)
Spoiler below.
But honestly the biggest issue for me is the tail end--suddenly Sophie and howl are in love, but it comes out of NOWHERE. They've spent the entire book sniping at each other, and not in a "they secretly love each other but just don't know …
Commute audiobook. I enjoyed the narrator of this one.
Book was ok.
I love the moving castle. LOVE it.
I felt like a lot of interesting things happen, and I liked the interplay between Sophie, calcifer and Michael. But none of it ever quite coheres into sensical plot, with the result that I found it somewhat challenging to keep track of the characters Howl may or may not be searching for and the encounters between minor characters who were probably in disguise at the time anyway. (I blame this partly on listening while driving. I can't give ALL my attention to the book...)
Spoiler below.
But honestly the biggest issue for me is the tail end--suddenly Sophie and howl are in love, but it comes out of NOWHERE. They've spent the entire book sniping at each other, and not in a "they secretly love each other but just don't know it yet" way.
