By: Diana Wynne Jones Publisher: Eos Average Rating: Binding: Mass Market Paperback Label: Eos Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 336 Publication Date: August 01, 2001 Reading Level: Young Adult Release Date: August 07, 2001
In the land of Ingary, such things as spells, invisible cloaks, and seven-league boots were everyday things. The Witch of the Waste was another matter.
After fifty years of quiet, it was rumored that the Witch was about to terrorize the country again. So when a moving black castle, blowing dark smoke from its four thin turrets, appeared on the horizon, everyone thought it was the Witch. The castle, however, belonged to Wizard Howl, who, it was said, liked to suck the souls of young girls.
The Hatter sisters--Sophie, Lettie, and Martha--and all the other girls were warned not to venture into the streets alone. But that was only the beginning.
In this giant jigsaw puzzle of a fantasy, people and things are never quite what they seem. Destinies are intertwined, identities exchanged, lovers confused. The Witch has placed a spell on Howl. Does the clue to breaking it lie in a famous poem? And what will happen to Sophie Hatter when she enters Howl's castle?
Diana Wynne Jones's entrancing fantasy is filled with surprises at every turn, but when the final stormy duel between the Witch and the Wizard is finished, all the pieces fall magically into place.
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.
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.
pleasant prose, thin story Sophie, the eldest of three sisters, is turned into an old woman by the Wicked Witch of the Waste, who is jealous of her abilities. She takes off and moves into Howl's moving castle. Howl is a magician, and his fire demon is managing to keep the castle in a number of places at the same time. The book was fairly well written, without any glaring failures in plot. The ending felt rushed, cluttered and it was the only time that I had to re-read sentences in order to keep up with what was happening. Overall, a fairly pleasant, but rather mindless experience. The characters were developed up to a point, but there was nothing really original here, just a lot of flippant remarks. The story had little depth to it, and it seemed that the author wanted to 'keep it light' in the sense of this is just a little fun story, don't take it seriously, wink-wink, let's have some tea now. But the humour wasn't worth more than a smile and the story, while not grating, was nothing more than the equivalent of bland tea on a breezy afternoon.
Like a breath of fresh air, or maybe... This book is like a warm summer breeze. So refreshing that when you are finished with it, you'll sit back and sigh.
This story is wonderful: filled with wit, humor, quirkiness, magic, and of course, love. It is such a wonderful adventure that when it finally ends you will find yourself back on page 1. It is definitely worth "exploiting."
I won't tell you anything about the story other than to read it. This book is an adventure--one that tickles all your fancies. Besides, isn't that what any fantastical journey is supposed to do?
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