By: Diana Wynne Jones Publisher: Eos Average Rating: Binding: Paperback Label: Eos Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 448 Publication Date: May 01, 2008 Reading Level: Ages 9-12 Release Date: April 22, 2008
Sophie has the great misfortune of being the eldest of three daughters, destined to fail miserably should she ever leave home to seek her fate. But when she unwittingly attracts the ire of the Witch of the Waste, Sophie finds herself under a horrid spell that transforms her into an old lady. Her only chance at breaking it lies in the ever-moving castle in the hills: the Wizard Howl's castle. To untangle the enchantment, Sophie must handle the heartless Howl, strike a bargain with a fire demon, and meet the Witch of the Waste head-on. Along the way, she discovers that there's far more to Howl—and herself—than first meets the eye.
A great suprise Sophie is the first-born daughter of a deceased hatter. She makes hats in the shop, now run by her step-mother, resigned to her fate of being a homebody when the Witch of the Waste, for reasons of her own which she is not sharing, changes Sophie into an old woman. Fearing rejection Sophie makes her way out into the wide world and finds herself housekeeper to the dread wizard Howl. As you might guess adventures and self-discovery abound in this enchanting book for young readers, and not so young readers like me.
Diana Wynne Jones has managed to weave a wonderful new fairy tale with everything the old fairytales have that make them so timeless and wonderful! The prose is beautiful and very intelligent, but simple enough that readers as young as third or fourth grade can easily follow it. There is nothing predicable about this tale and you will find yourself turning the pages quickly wanting immerse yourself deeper in this world where wizards and witches are business people and the distance between the mundane and the miraculous is as close as the nose on your face.
Blows the movie out of the water I watch a lot of anime, so of course I saw the movie before I read the book. Of course I had to read the book (being a bigger lover of books than anime) As my title states is blows honorable Miyazaki's film out of the water. The world is so intricate, the characters so imperfect (in a good way) I love them. Howl, Sophie, Calicfer and Micheal all became as precious as Bella, Edward (Twilight), Kate and Marak (Hollow Kingdom) in my mind. And for those of you who don't know there are sequels!
I would suggest this book to anyone. I work at a movie store and have turned many a movie lover into book lovers. READ HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE!!
Howl's Moving Castle will brighten up any boring day! Reviewed by Avni Gupta (age 15) for Reader Views (7/08)
When I got the book "Howl's Moving Castle" in the mail, I was elated. I had been going through a dry spell where I did not have any books that I had not already read. As soon as I got it, I sat down and started reading. A few hours later, I was finished with that masterpiece of a book. Of course, it being written by Diana Wynne Jones is another reason that it is a masterpiece.
This book is about Sophie, the oldest of three sisters. In her day and age, the oldest child is usually the most unsuccessful. This being known to her, Sophie decides to live with her fate. Fate, however, does not want her to bend to this rule and has a different outcome in its eyes for Sophie which involves the mysterious wizard Howl who lives in the floating castle near her town. This plan that fate has is all put into place when the wicked Witch of the Waste comes into Sophie's mother's hat shop when Sophie is the only one in there. Sophie angers the witch, and in her angered state, the witch turns Sophie into an old woman. Sophie has no idea how to break the curse, but she thinks that wizard Howl might. So, Sophie walks up to the castle. There she continues the plan set in place by fate with help from her new house (well castle really) mates, Michael, the apprentice, Calcifer, the fire demon, and wizard Howl himself, who is a lot more than meets the eye.
I thought that this book was amazing! It was a perfect balance of wit and magic all with a touch of mystery. I feel that this book is a book that all fantasy readers will enjoy. The humanness of Calcifer, the fire demon, ties the story all together. Without him, I know that the story would not have gone anywhere, nor would it have made any sense at all.
Of all of the fantasy books that I have read, "Howl's Moving Castle" by Diana Wynne Jones is the one that I have found to be the most plausible. I also think that people who generally do not read fantasy will like this book as well. And the best part is that this book has been made into a movie, so you can read the book and then watch the movie or watch the movie and then read the book!
The Best Fantasy I've Ever Read This book is the best fantasy book I've ever read. It has very well developed characters and a unique plot that spins the reader into a vortex of imagination, humor, and fun. It has unlikely characters that you can watch develop while the story line twists and turns that keeps you from looking past the next bend. The ending was surprising and the book was very neatly wrapped up. A thoroughly enjoyable read that made me laugh and cry along with the characters. You honestly feel like you're inside the book, alongside the characters with their conflicts. Diana Wynne Jones has done a wonderful accomplishment creating such a fantastic book, a page turner that is the best book I've read in a long time.
It begins with an eldest daughter named Sophie, stuck into thinking that the eldest daughters have the dullest lives. She works in her family's hat shop, making beautiful and popular hats for the local women. Then,adventure comes when she angers the Witch of the Waste, and gets cursed to be an old woman.
So the adventure starts, with Sophie meeting the wizard Howl, and finding plenty of mystery and adventure inside his castle, including striking a deal with a fire demon, fleeing from a scarecrow, and meeting the Witch of the Waste, while discovering her own magic.
A tale of romance and self-discovery, this book is highly recommended. The best book by D.W.J. yet.
Light-hearted, warm, and entertaining Diana Wynne Jones is very in tune with her young audience. The story flowed well, the characters were well-developed, and the enjoyment factor was higher than expected. I'd highly recommend this book for pre-teens and for people (like myself) who enjoy quick, entertaining little reads from time to time.
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