Howl's Moving Castle
Book description
Now an animated movie from Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki, the oscar-winning director of Spirited Away
In this beloved modern classic, young Sophie Hatter from the land of Ingary catches the unwelcome attention of the Witch of the Waste and is put under a spell...
Deciding she has nothing more…
Why read it?
17 authors picked Howl's Moving Castle as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?
The world of Howl’s Moving Castle immediately invites you into a place that feels cozy and magical. This book is easily one of my favorites because of its low-stakes plot and wonderfully quirky characters.
Jones takes you on a leisurely stroll through the world of the book’s protagonist, Sophie, a rather awkward 18-year-old girl who believes she is doomed to fail at life because she was born the eldest of three.
This story is refreshingly original and has inspired me time and again to love living a life built around so many of the lovely cottagecore aesthetics featured inside its…
From Kayla's list on cozy cottagecore books to help you romanticize your life.
After reading a book that destroys your feelings, you might be feeling a little… fragile. That’s okay! I have the perfect remedy.
Howl’s Moving Castle is a delight from start to finish, and while many people are familiar with the wonderful animated film of the same name, the book itself (as is the case with most books) is the superior story, especially given the different characterization of Howl in the book versus the movie. Also, Calcifer!
From TJ's list on what you should read read after a book destroys your feelings.
This is one of the very few books where after reading the last page, I immediately turned back to the first page to start it all over again.
Sophie sets off on an adventure after being cursed by the Witch of the Waste into an elderly lady, and it is only after this transformation that she finds the strength of character and personality that has been within her all along. Her pluck is more than a match for the wizard Howl and his fire demon, who are part of the charming cast of characters in this clever classic.
From Callie's list on whimsical fantasy romps for middle grade and YA.
I know what you’re thinking. “Howl’s Moving Castle? Everyone loves that.” And you’re right—to an extent.
Everyone I know has seen the Studio Ghibli adaptation, but I’ve only met one other person who’s read the book. And believe it or not, the book is different from the movie. What I love about this book isn’t the fantasticism, but the whimsy. It’s an adventure that isn’t about wars or saving the world, and there’s no central antagonist.
This book reminds me that stories can just be fun, and I come back to it every time I need a quick…
From Jackary's list on overlooked YA fantasy.
If you are a fan of Studio Ghibli’s Howl’s Moving Castle like I am, you owe it to yourself to read the book. It’s just as lovely and magical as the film is. They captured the characters from the book so perfectly. Even the author is a fan of the movie! Sophie stands out with her sense of humor and self-awareness, and Howl is just as mysterious, charming, and the big drama queen he ever was.
Magic is everywhere in this world and Sophie finds herself leaping right in the middle of it with every step she takes. It’s hard…
From Krista's list on fantasy that pull you right in from the start.
My family is Welsh, so imagine my delight when, after years of being an avid fan of the exquisite Studio Ghibli film adaptation, I picked up the book and learned that the dazzling (and dazzlingly vain) wizard Howl was a confirmed Welshman, thick accent and all!
But the greatest delight of this whimsical story is in its writing. Only Diana Wynne Jones could imagine a world in which turning a young woman into the ninety-year-old version of herself would be a liberating, romantic act. It’s a story told with such wit, heart, and imagination that it’s become one of my…
From Ceinwen's list on to cozy up with a cup of tea and a warm blanket.
This was such an entertaining, feel-good fantasy adventure read, and so much more playful than the movie version. I adored the push-and-pull relationship of the two main characters and how their couple dynamic develops into that sweet, perfect ending. The book also has an ensemble of wonderful and quirky characters and quite a unique, distinctive magic system. Being a big fan of Japanese animation, I had seen the Miyazaki film first so certain things caught me by surprise, such as the "portal fantasy" element in the actual story. But of course, that just made me love it even more!
From S.'s list on action-packed offbeat sci-fi and fantasy.
Jones’ work embodies practical magic, something I strive to achieve with every word I write. The novel is the story of Sophie, who is cursed by a witch, and learns that she has some magic of her own. She talks to flowers and they bloom, and she can do amazing things with curtains. I read this at twelve, and still read it every year. Pics to prove upon request.
From Brian's list on fantastic of magical realism.
Howl’s Moving Castle is both subtly funny and poignant at the same time. A portal fantasy novel by technicality, it defies tropes by sidelining the character who came to the fantasy world largely in favor of a character who has lived there her whole life. Its fantasy world is rich but not overwrought and its strength is in the characters and the quiet humor they bring in their interactions with each other. Not to be mistaken for the movie of the same name, which is equally funny but shares very little in the way of plot.
From Evelyn's list on trope-twisting fantasy to make you laugh.
Howl’s Moving Castle is a magical gem of a book full of some of the best western fantasy tropes. Curses, an evil witch, character transformations, a visit to Wales, magical riddles, and lots more. Sophie is an endlessly relatable character, plain and ordinary with no allusions to greatness who ends up entangled in more magic than she could have ever dreamed. If you’ve seen and loved Studio Ghibli’s animated adaptation, take a few rainy afternoons to dive into the Kingdom of Ingary and meet the expanded, wacky, cast of characters.
From Cay's list on to take you on a fantastical adventure.
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