Howl's Moving Castle

“Doors are very powerful things. Things are different on either side of them”’

I love this quote. There’s nothing like the threshold of a door when it comes to story magic! It’s steeped in tradition since long before Roman times. And Diana Wynne Jones is the underrated Queen of this whimsical genre. Her words flow so beautifully, and not only that, her characters are the cutest. I fell in love with Calcifer, the little fire demon, and the headstrong Sophie. 

I must confess that I watched the movie version of this book before I read it—but I adored both versions so very much. Diana Wynne Jones has long been a favorite author of mine. Her writing is cleverly cheeky.

This is one of her most popular works, for good reason! Who doesn’t love a grumpy wizard and a deal-making fire demon? Not to mention an enchanted castle that moves around the countryside!

I don’t think I’ve ever been giddier than when I first read this book. Jones crafts a whimsical and cozy world that’s so easy to sink into again and again, and her sharp wit and droll observations always have me laughing from cover to cover.

Even under a curse, Sophie feels like a good friend with her humor and charm, and broody, flamboyant, spoiled wizard Howl is so frustrating on every page that I can’t help but utterly adore him. As a couple, they just have that warm and fuzzy 'It Factor' for me, and I find myself picking this… show more.

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… show more.

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!

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.

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… show more.

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… show more.

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… show more.

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!