A wonderful childrens book not to be missed (Howl's Moving Castle - Diana Wynne Jones)

Member Name: lady_natalie

Product:	Howl's Moving Castle - Diana Wynne Jones
Date:	26/08/09 (21 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great characters, funny story, unputdownable

Disadvantages: Not too much like the film, if that's what you were looking for

I saw the Studio Ghibli film after already seeing a few of them just after it came out, without realising that Howls Moving Castle was originally a book. After seeing so in the opening credits, I left the cinema, went home and immediately ordered the book from Amazon. It has since become pretty much my favourite book of all time, I couldn't even begin the count the amount of times I've read it, and have since read pretty much all of Diana Wynne Jones's books I've been able to get my hands on.
Despite the title, the main character is Sophie, a 17 year old girl who spends her life making hats, thinking herself rather ordinary and well suited to an average lifestyle, while her two sisters go of to seek their fortunes, one learning her trade from a witch, another at a baker's. One day Sophie comes across the Witch of the Waste, who puts a curse on her which turns her into an old woman, and prevents her from telling anyone of the spell. Sophie decides to leave the town of Ingary to try and find a wizard that could cure her. She comes across Howls moving castle when the fire demon, Calcifer, invites her in. Although Howl has a reputation as an evil wizard who eats girl's hearts, Sophie decides to stay in the castle in the hopes that the spell can be broken.
This story is really lovely and full of magic. Diana Wynne Jones's imagery is beautiful and her characters well written and unusual. None of them are written as perfect or overly nice, I think bringing out their bad points is a nice touch. For example, having the leading lady and a rather bland young woman turned old cleaning lady might not usually. Nor would having the leading man a somewhat pretentious, vain, selfish wizard, but the characters are funny and endearing. I really love how parts of the world created in this book cross over with 'our' world. Howl originally comes from Wales, it appears.
I was surprised a how different the book was from the film, which pretty much kept the basic concept, characters and settings, but beyond Sophie getting cursed and going to live with Howl, the plot differs quite drastically. Still, I think the film really brings the characters and Ingary alive, I would be shocked at anyone would could either read the book or watch the film and not become a little in love with Howl. Apparently Diana Wynne Jones received letters after writing this from female readers asking of he was based on a real person and if so where he could be found!
This is, in essence, a children's book, so wouldn't be suitable for adults who just can't stand reading them, nor I suppose anyone with a dislike for fantasy. But as an adult reader there is nothing in this book that could put me off reading it again and again.

Summary: One of the best books i've ever read