I am not sure why I never read this before. Nor have I seen the movie, so I came to the book with no preconceived ideas although glancing at the synopsis I knew it should be something I would enjoy.

And enjoy it I did! Basically it is full of the most charming characters, including the demon who is not half as bad as he wishes to be. Wizard Howl behaves badly and complains loudly but remains totally appealing. And Sophie, when she becomes a young girl in an old woman's body, actually finds herself freer than before and she makes the most of it.

The magic is delightful. Howl's castle moves most of the time and it has a number of doors which can open in different worlds. One of them even comes out in real world Wales where Howl has relatives. Of course this is all written to be read by middle grade children but is equally brilliant for anyone, any age, who enjoys some well written, humorous fantasy.

Altogether a book which is deserving of its place as a classic and although I came to it very late it now has a spot on my bookshelves.

No se que puntaje darle porque nunca lai nada parecido excepto somehow por alicia en el país de las maravillas

I'd started writing this review yesterday. I had to quit because I was busy having one of my anxiety fits about using cliches, not saying what I really mean, unclear sentences, my bad grammar, blah blah. I worry about it so much that it is hard to write anything.

Howl's Moving Castle is one of those books that I wish I'd not read so I could read it again. That's a cliche, it's true, but it is true. A lot has been written about Howl's on goodreads so I'll try and say something beyond all of the true things about it that would appeal to fantasy junkies (that is me). I wouldn't be able to come up with a list of all the things that I wanted in a book (if I could I'd write better stuff than I do to amuse myself). I'd just wish for something this good to appear in my hands all on its own. Diana Wynne Jones has a book about how to write fantasy. I haven't read it. I wonder what she has to say about endings, though. If there is one thing I don't like about her it is the endings. (The sequels to Howl's are not special in any way, to me.) How to write a good ending?

It's like what John Lennon said. If it's not okay, it's not the end. I loved that there was like this chance for things to be okay. That's an ending. Fantasy is good to me because it is different than any forseeable future. What I can recognize is seperated like Morrissey under a stage spotlight. The best moments, and all of it put into some kind of dramatic context where there's actually a point to any of it. (I suck at explaining stuff!) My favorite part is what felt familiar to me (people stuff). I can't explain it to myself why that is. Reviews all over goodreads constantly mention something called "world-building" (I'm sure I've done it too, in an attempt to be normal or useful. Yeah, right) in reviews of all kinds of fantasy type books (probably more than anything else. I don't understand technical talk). I am going to admit something else besides that I don't understand commas or semi-colons (or did I remove that confession?): I don't understand reality either. I either believe it or I don't. It should be like a movie if it is really good. You don't think about how they did it. You're at home there. Most of the time I'm feeling anxious and not at all at home. That's why I love books so much. I get to be at home, for a change.

I recognized Sophie. Sophie lets herself down in so many ways. I can relate to this so much! Being hard on yourself to the point you don't want to do anything at all? Check. She believes everything in her life is predetermined; from being the eldest of her sisters, obligations, the job in the hat shop. I cannot remember exactly what her reasons were for not taking a chance on anything. It was definitely something about a kinda curse/fate on the eldest kids. It resonated with me for all of the reasons I can come up with not to do things. It's hard to push past that kinda shit. For example, how it is drilled into your head that if you don't have everything in life figured out before age eighteen you're screwed. You can go back and do something else if you made the bad choice for yourself. I'm a naysayer, though. Reminding doesn't last long enough. I believe this kinda shit can happen, just like she did.

I hated that the Miyazaki anime made the point of the story that Sophie thinks of herself as being beautiful (as an image). It wasn't about that!

The curse the Witch of the Waste lays on her is killing (and oh so telling) because it takes away the life she didn't think she deserved to have. Not what the life is, just the right to have one.

There was a lot about this book that got to me on those "oooh" levels about plots, the world, atmospherics, villains, right and wrong and the characters. It was pretty much freaking cool (I loved that moving castle before I ever even "saw" it). Cool isn't all that special without something to make it feel like it mattered, or you were "there".

The movie isn't bad. It just wastes time on the stuff that isn't special and ignored what was (to me). It was also pointless to waste the jab on John Lassiter. (It IS annoying having to watch him blab on about how great Miyazaki is on all of the dvds. I know I'm in for a treat to watch Spirited Away! I've seen almost everything he's done. I'm a mega-fan. Shut-up, you stupid fucker. I hate that Disney dvds don't let you skip. "Fastplay", my ass.) The whole bit about the turnip head turning into a prince jab at Disney tied-up endings? I can't stand it when successful people are bitter. Terry Gilliam's stupidly pointless intro "explaining" Tideland just 'cause some critics at Cannes panned it (if you have to explain it to the audience beforehand...). Or Christopher Guest's bitter awards show movie. Art School Confidential. Howl's Moving Castle the Movie or China Mieville's Un Lun Dun. Um, I could go on with examples. Don't waste your own story time on making bitter jabs at other people. This is your time and if you have something to say, say it. I mean, they have the chance.

Ooops.

I hope this didn't suck too bad. This reviewing business is tough.

P.s. I'd give my heart to a demon too.

An annoying 3 Stars

While I had no recollection of the plot, I remember absolutely loving the Howl's Moving Castle Studio Ghibli film as a kid, so I went into this expecting to escape into a world of feel-good nostalgia. And I was for the first 100 pages, but then everything changed with the reading slump attacked... It took me over 2 weeks to get through the next 200 pages, but it wasn't even the book's fault, just me being a big dumb dumb D:

As to the book itself, I really like how imaginative this world is and how ridiculous everything was! Just the idea of having a moving castle itself is super fun to me... I mean, what more could you want in life?! Well a dragon would be pretty cool but anyway...

I also really liked how the story was introduced. The first few chapters were definitely my favorites, as it was entertaining to learn about everyone's wacky personalities and the randomness of the magic. Seriously, the magic is just completely crazy, but that's what I loved about it! Sometimes it's nice not to have a really in depth and detailed, scientific magic system... Sometimes I just want a living scarecrow and a cursed fireplace... is that so wrong?

I know for a fact that I would have continued to love this book after the first 100 pages, if I had read it at a different time, which is why is why it's an annoying 3 stars... It deserves so much more but I simply didn't enjoy reading it and it became a chore :( There was nothing I didn't like about it, but I just kept losing concentration and then losing track on the plot and eventually I just had no idea what was going on because I kept zoning out. Like I said though, this wasn't even the book's fault, just me and the pesky little reading slump! *Shakes fist to the sky*

I'm really hoping to get out of it soon though and get back into reading again! :D

Via: https://angoreads.blogspot.co.uk/

4★

El libro me ha encantado. Ya conocía a los personajes gracias a la película, pero siento que esta lectura me hizo encariñarme muchísimo más con ellos. Todos son tan carismáticos y entrañables. Aunque la escritura es simple, me fascinó cómo la autora nos presenta la historia y todos los elementos fantásticos.

I read this to my daughter, Celyn (10 at the time), who is too disabled to read books by herself.

I had seen some of the anime film version years ago but remembered basically nothing of it.

I found the whole thing original and refreshing. The point of view character (Sophie) is engaging and no-nonsense with a very capable can-do attitude. The story moves along at a good pace and the whole moving castle / multiple doors thing is a great idea and used well.

The Welsh connection is well-played, and the continuing reveals keep everything interesting.

My only complaint is that the end seemed rather tortured with so many story-lines converging in ways that felt rather unsatisfying / hard to believe. The  Miss Angorian  part, for example, seemed to come out of left-field and made very little sense to me.

If I were a touch harsher then that ending would pull this down to a 4*. But Celyn loved it. I enjoyed reading it. And I'm in a good mood. So 5*!

I can see why it's a classic, and if you have a 10 year old, point them at it! We may well pursue the author's other works.

Edit: We've now finished the trilogy!



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...

What a delight this story is!

This magical world swept me away and filled my heart right up. The creativity of this author is truly one-of-a-kind. I did not want this story ever to end. I savored every single second of this book.

This one is an easy 5-star book for me. I already want to reread it. The world and the characters in it were absolutely enchanting and so very whimsical. I was hooked on every chapter, and that ending was perfect! I also love it when chapters in a book have titles - such a quaint touch. This book checks all the boxes. There were some parts that I guessed, but even so, this did not take away from the magic once the author revealed these parts later on.

This should be considered a classic of the fantasy genre. It is a heartwarming book that should be passed down from generation to generation. No matter your age, this book will charm you. If you haven't read this, you must! It's a beautiful story. I never wanted to leave this little world. I can't wait to start the next book.

Side note: I read the Kindle version of this book, and right away, I knew I needed to add a copy to my home library. To my surprise, while searching for the paperback with the particular cover I wanted, I discovered that this is also a movie! I will watch it very soon (after I finish the following two books). I cannot wait.

Update: I finished watching the movie last night. The movie adaption differs significantly from the book (in my opinion), and although I did love it, I still find the book to be superior! It's super cute, and I would watch it again. The movie and book will live rent-free in my brain forever. I'm so happy I discovered both.

"Nobody's safe in a wizard's house." Calcifer said feelingly.

What can I even say about this story except that I wholeheartedly adore it. It's a huge cup of hot tasty beverage on a cold winter's day. It's a huge smile and tight hug when you're feeling blue.

It is about a young woman Sophie, the eldest daughter of three, which is a bad news when you're a character in a fairy tale. One day while minding her own business, she's cursed into the form of a very old woman, that nudges her to go seek her fortune and liberates her from her meekness and fearfulness. That's how she finds a moving castle, meets a great scary wizard Howl and his fire demon. A lot of adventures, whimsies and fantastic bickering later we arrive at the happy ending.

Love love love! This is a perfect fairy tale.

Howl is criminally overlooked when it comes to classic fantasy male characters, and that’s my take

Turns out that the movie was way different than the book. But that's okay, because I'm a Howl simp first, human second it was soo good! Very tempted to go watch it again.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ASKJDLAKSJDAKLJDSL IT'S HEEEEERRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Update: I put this and other Studio Ghibli movies on hold at my local library.
Now it's time to wait.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This book was so charming and wonderful, therefore I don't think I will ever be able to properly review it.
(That sentence took me 5 minutes to type. I am shooketh.)

I loved everything about this book, from the way that the simplistic writing made me feel immersed in the magic to the characters (but especially the characters. Can I marry Howl? Although, I feel like that will interfere with my ship because you knOW I SHIP IT LIKE CRAZY WITH HOWL ALWAYS BEING ADORABLY MELODRAMATIC AND SOPHIE BEING SO MATURE AND RESPONSIBLE AAAAHHH SOPHIE X HOWL OTP OTP OTP OT-)

*ahem*

(sorry you had to read that)

But seriously. These two are couple goals:

aaagaghg stop too cute too cute too cute

I really loved the characters' dynamic and the way that they were like a family (I'm sorry I'm soft for that trope I can't help it), and also the way that appearances were portrayed in this book overall.

And while I've never watched the Studio Ghibli version (I promise that I'm remedying that VERY SOON), I feel like I'm obsessed probably from the fanart intake, and experienced a bit of nostalgia while reading this. It was probably just the longing to live in this world, though.

I. JUST. LOVED. EVERYTHING.



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AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH I'M IN LOVE
RTC BECAUSE I HAVE FANART TO SCROLL THROUGH

4.5 out of 5 stars!

Why did this book have to end. I needed at least a 10 page long epilogue.

This has been one of my favorite books since the first time I read it.

Wynne Jones manages to make fun of every fairy tale cliché while gifting us with a world and a story that feels so fresh and yet so old because it's full of meaning and wonder, a world where we get to meet Sophie Hatter. A world we come to discover as she moves through it, finding out that sometimes luck matters more than bravery... but not always.

Sophie, the oldest daughter of a hat store owner, and as such the one with no chance for an adventurous life, is put under a spell by the powerful Witch of the Waste. Spellbound, she has to leave the comfort of the back room of his father hat store to go in search of her own destiny. But she's not looking for adventures, she's just trying to hide from those who know her, because the Witch has stolen away her youth turning her into an old woman, exactly the last thing Howl, the womanizer wizard, would like.

An awesome read for young children but a very entertaining book for any age. Read if you like fairy tales, and really, really read it if you don't really like them. It will change your opinion about them, I'm sure.