Review: Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
Title: Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
rating: 5 out of 5
Description, borrowed from the book cover: 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, appear on the horizon, everyone though it was the Witch. The castle, however, was belonged to Wizard Howl, who, it was said, liked to suck the soul of young girls.
The Hatter sisters--Sophie, Lettie, and Martha--and all the other girls are warned not venture into the streets alone. But that was only the beginning.
In this giant jigsaw puzzle of a fantasy, people and things are not 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 of every turn, but when the final stormy duel between the Witch and the Wizard is finished, all the pieces fall magically into place.
My thoughts: I hadn't realized this was actually a book. I'd first seen Howl's Moving Castle the movie, which is a Miyazaki film (anime). So, when I saw it appear on somebody else's reading list, I asked if it was a graphic novel. When she said that, no, it wasn't, I checked it out from the library. After reading it, I realized that I was quite fortunate to have seen the movie first - if I'd seen it after reading the book, I might have been disappointed. The book is so different from the movie! There's one aspect to the book that wasn't included in the movie that I would have loved to see, and it added a great bit of depth to the Howl character for me. It involves what's behind the black door. (Note: I think that for some people, telling what's behind the door would be spoiler-ish, so I'm leaving it out.)
Recommendation status: I love the book and would definitely read it again. I would also suggest it as a "great read" to my friends.
rating: 5 out of 5
Description, borrowed from the book cover: 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, appear on the horizon, everyone though it was the Witch. The castle, however, was belonged to Wizard Howl, who, it was said, liked to suck the soul of young girls.
The Hatter sisters--Sophie, Lettie, and Martha--and all the other girls are warned not venture into the streets alone. But that was only the beginning.
In this giant jigsaw puzzle of a fantasy, people and things are not 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 of every turn, but when the final stormy duel between the Witch and the Wizard is finished, all the pieces fall magically into place.
My thoughts: I hadn't realized this was actually a book. I'd first seen Howl's Moving Castle the movie, which is a Miyazaki film (anime). So, when I saw it appear on somebody else's reading list, I asked if it was a graphic novel. When she said that, no, it wasn't, I checked it out from the library. After reading it, I realized that I was quite fortunate to have seen the movie first - if I'd seen it after reading the book, I might have been disappointed. The book is so different from the movie! There's one aspect to the book that wasn't included in the movie that I would have loved to see, and it added a great bit of depth to the Howl character for me. It involves what's behind the black door. (Note: I think that for some people, telling what's behind the door would be spoiler-ish, so I'm leaving it out.)
Recommendation status: I love the book and would definitely read it again. I would also suggest it as a "great read" to my friends.
posted by Misa at
11:02 AM
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