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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
4.75 Charming book that really manages to build up and subvert fairy-tale clichés while also presenting characters that are mostly believable and a story that starts out as really opaque and mysterious, but step by step manages to explain the craziness (though thankfully not exhaustively). It's still very enjoyable to read after watching the Miyazaki's amazing movie since almost nothing but the three main character's main plotline is the same. The interviews with the author in my edition were also very nice showing the mutual admiration of Jones and Miyazaki.
4.75 Charming book that really manages to build up and subvert fairy-tale clichés while also presenting characters that are mostly believable and a story that starts out as really opaque and mysterious, but step by step manages to explain the craziness (though thankfully not exhaustively). It's still very enjoyable to read after watching the Miyazaki's amazing movie since almost nothing but the three main character's main plotline is the same. The interviews with the author in my edition were also very nice showing the mutual admiration of Jones and Miyazaki.
I first learned of this novel because of Hayao Miyazaki's film of the same name. To be fair, I love the movie more than the book. This is something that's a bit rare for me because I don't often say that; there's only one other novel where that's true (and god, it's a novel I hate). But I digress!
This book is, on its own, really good. It's an interesting story with some great elements, such as the kind of curse that is placed upon Sophie. She's as old as she feels; she's always able to break her own curse, but she never does because she (almost) gives up. The kinds of characters in this novel are absolutely fantastic.
However! There are a few elements that really make the movie better:
The dynamic between Calcifer and the other characters (especially the Calcifer/Sophie and Calcifer/Howl dynamic) are less …
I first learned of this novel because of Hayao Miyazaki's film of the same name. To be fair, I love the movie more than the book. This is something that's a bit rare for me because I don't often say that; there's only one other novel where that's true (and god, it's a novel I hate). But I digress!
This book is, on its own, really good. It's an interesting story with some great elements, such as the kind of curse that is placed upon Sophie. She's as old as she feels; she's always able to break her own curse, but she never does because she (almost) gives up. The kinds of characters in this novel are absolutely fantastic.
However! There are a few elements that really make the movie better:
The dynamic between Calcifer and the other characters (especially the Calcifer/Sophie and Calcifer/Howl dynamic) are less of a focus. In the movie, there's a kind of care that Howl appears to give Calcifer (because of what Calcifer is to him) that doesn't seem to be present in the novel. Calcifer's personality is more hopeful, though he's still shown as being frustrated. In the novel, Calcifer really seems to have given up; he relies so heavily on Sophie and doesn't... really do anything other than complain or give cryptic (but really obvious) clues (that somehow go over Sophie's head).
The dynamic between Sophie and Howl actually make their becoming a couple more logical in the movie; Howl may still have the same rumours being told about him, but he's not being written in a way that make him sound like a total womaniser (who comes across as weird when redeemed). In the movie, he's the kind of man who starts off as not treating women with total respect but recognising some of their abilities; he doesn't take love seriously and ends up hurting them. In the movie, Sophie doesn't spend the whole time complaining about Howl's womanising; she doesn't waste time thinking about all the women he's trying to woo. In the novel, this was something that I felt was super distracting. She's complaining about it all the time, which makes it feel... less interesting when they finally get together at the end.
There are more characters involved (she has another sister), and Howl's story puts him as being an ordinary man from Wales who went off to become a wizard somewhere else. It's a weird story in some ways, making it feel awkward to place Howl's loyalties and feelings.
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 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.
