Editorial Review
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.
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Customer Reviews
Howl's Moving Castle 
2008-03-06
This was an absolutely great book! I first saw the movie, then later heard from friend that there was a book. And who knows what you can find in a book.
I loved the author Dianne Wynne Jones, from just this novel, I want to read her other many novels, particularly Castle in the Sky (Sequel to Howl's Moving Castle). The venacular she uses is a tad confusing for those who are not familiar with briticism, but nonetheless, it was interesting!
As most movies based on books, things normally get left out. And boy, was it worth reading this. The movie's story is different from the book, as there are more characters that contribute to the very broad story in the novel. By reading the book, you learn more about the world of Ingary and the characters that make up that world .
I found that seeing Howl mature from a spoiled and self-centered child to a man who really cares about everyone and their well-beings. And then comes Sophie. Her character was rather perplexing at times and I would sometimes not understand her decisions, but as the story later goes on, she becomes able to express herself better. Overall, I think the novel's character development was great and I found each and every character special in their own ways.
I would definitely recommend those who have seen the movie to take a gander at what the novel has to offer. That means alot. So go read it!
different from the movie 2008-02-26
I got this book because I love the movie. As I have learned in the past when there are questions in a movie that aren't answered, usually those questions will be answered in the book. I enjoyed the book, but be prepared (if you have seen the movie first) they are very different. At first I was disappointed that they were so different. But at the end I realized that I loved each of them for different reasons. They are both amazingly fun stories that take you someplace else. I was sorry that the story ended.
Fabulous Fantasy Read! 2008-02-16
I absolutely loved this book! I fell in love with Howl and was hopelessly lost in the story - it even creeped into my dreams! Diana Wynne Jones writes an amazing, refreshing, and charming love story with masterful character development. I was thoroughly captivated by Howl as he matured and became a man/wizard capable of a true love relationship. And Sophie's character was so complex that the unwinding of her personality, with it's twists and turns was a delight to experience with her. All the characters in this book were well-developed and a joy to meet. This book was so much better than the movie, that I find myself wondering why the movie took such a departure from an almost perfect story.
Fantastic in every possible way 2008-02-14
Before Hayao Miyazaki made "Howl's Moving Castle" into a feature length animated film in 2006 (2004 if you saw it in Japan), it was a book written by Diana Wynne Jones in 1986. Due to the inherent difficulties of creating an animated film, Miyazaki greatly abridged and adjusted the plot of the novel for his movie. I happened to enjoy both film and novel but after reading the book I realized that the plot is extremely different in the novel--enough that the book and movie become completely different viewing experiences.
Anyway, that's all I'm going to say about the movie. On to the discussion of the book:
Sophie lives "in the land of Ingary, where such things as seven-league boots and cloaks of invisibility exist." In other words, all of the traditional fairy tale stories are real. Not so bad, except that Sophie Hatter is the eldest of three sisters, which everyone knows means Sophie is doomed to failure should she ever set out to seek her fortunes. Sophie is resigned to her fate--living obscurely, and less than successfully, working in the family hat shop. Except that this is not a traditional fairy tale and events soon intervene to set Sophie on a very unexpected course indeed for an eldest daughter.
It all starts in the hat shop after some interesting things begin to happen when Sophie talks to the hats she trims. Interesting enough to attract the attention of the dangerous Witch of the Waste. When her encounter with the Witch of the Waste leaves Sophie cursed in the body of an old woman, she has no choice but to go out and seek her fortune in hopes of breaking the curse (even if she is an eldest daughter).
Along the way, Sophie comes upon a mysterious moving castle that has taken up in the hill's of Ingary. The castle belongs to Wizard Howl "who was known to amuse himselv by collection young girls and sucking the souls from them. Or some people said he ate their hearts." Either way, he was not anyone Sophie expected to ever meet let alone move in with. Until she does. Adventure ensues as Sophie tries to break the curse and help Howl with his own uniquely magical problems.
In terms of fantasy novels, "Howl's Moving Castle" is one of my favorites. The world Jones creates is fully realized without ever getting boring or limiting the reader's imagination. The tone of her narrative is also spot on. Readers of Jane Austen's novels or the "Sorcery and Cecelia" series will notice a similar narrative voice. Although this novel is largely timeless, the prose has a charmingly Victorian tone--taking its time to arrive at the action, the better to familiarize readers with the characters involved and show the readers just how fantastic they (and the story) really are.
I also adore this story because it is romantic, thrilling, and completely absorbing. Even at 329 pages, the novel is far too short. Happily, Diana Wynne Jones follows up "Howl's Moving Castle" with "Castle in the Air" (1990) and a brand new book featuring Sophie and Howl ("House of Many Ways") is due out in May of 2008.
Very good! 2008-02-09
I learned about this book after watching the movie directed by Miyazaki, and I finally purchased a copy. It was a very fun read, I enjoyed the story very much! It was fun to compare the differences between the movie and the book, and it's nice how although the versions were very different, they still made very good stories. Like even though they were very different in the twists and stuff, the audience could still enjoy them because the story-telling is beautiful, unlike most book-turned-movies. I recommend this very much!
The Best Fantasy I've Ever Read 2008-06-15
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 2008-06-04
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 
2008-04-11
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... 2008-04-02
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?
Howell Jenkins, a charming rogue 2008-03-31
This is a delightful book whose characters will live with you for a long time after you have closed the book,down-to -earth Sophie, who has the gift of being able to talk life into inanimate objects,feisty fire-demon Calcifer, Sophie's exuberent family and above all, the charming Welsh [his real name is Howell Jenkins and he once played Rugby for Wales]wizard Howl
Howl is a bundle of paradoxes,a vain philanderer,who falls for every pretty girl he meets,only disappear as soon as they fall for him but putting his own life on the line in a random act of kindness, so cowardly that he has built his moving castle with the sole purpose of running away from trouble but capable of acts of great bravery [provided that he can can convince himself that he is not really doing it ]he is a delightful rogue and you can't help loving him, as Sophie does ,in spite of herself.
The great Hayao Miyazaki, has made a film based on this book using the same characters and the basic premise [young girl magically turned into an old woman ]That film ,too, is totally enchanting but don't expect it to be a carbon copy of the book,I loved them both equally but they are very different.
