Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones (1986)

[Nikki kitty]

I'm about halfway done with the book, and I love it. If you've seen the film by Hayao Miyazaki, don't try too hard to find similarities in the book. From having seen the film, and from what I've read so far, I can see that Miyazaki has changed some things. Probably for the purposes of adding his own twist to the story. The movie is awesome, but you can never go wrong with the original.

Here's a little description of the book--

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.

[n0Mad]

Thanks for the review. I'm a huge Miyazaki fan and loved the movie, however it was so full of his style that I wondered if it was anything like the book at all, especially with the novel being British. I'll have to add it to my list of books to get to eventually. I already have a huge stack I swear I'll never get through.

[Nikki kitty]

Thanks for the review.  I'm a huge Miyazaki fan and loved the movie, however it was so full of his style that I wondered if it was anything like the book at all, especially with the novel being British.  I'll have to add it to my list of books to get to eventually.  I already have a huge stack I swear I'll never get through.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Like I said, there were similarities, but I think he really did add a lot of his style to the movie. What other Miyazaki films have you seen? Maybe you know of some I haven't seen. Definitely add this book to your collection. Small book. Easy read