This entrancing classic fantasy novel is filled with surprises at every turn. An international bestseller, this much-loved book is the source for the Academy Award nominee for Best Animated Feature.Sophie has the great misfortune of being the eldest of three daughters, destined to fail miserably should she ever leave home to seek her fate. But when she unwittingly attracts the ire of the Witch of … attracts the ire of the Witch of the Waste, Sophie finds herself under a horrid spell that transforms her into an old lady. Her only chance at breaking it lies in the ever-moving castle in the hills: the Wizard Howl’s castle.
To untangle the enchantment, Sophie must handle the heartless Howl, strike a bargain with a fire demon, and meet the Witch of the Waste head-on. Along the way, she discovers that there’s far more to Howl—and herself—than first meets the eye.
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?
All fans of classic fantasy books deserve the pleasure of reading those by Diana Wynne Jones, whose acclaim included the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement. As Neil Gaiman stated, she was “quite simply the best writer for children of her generation.”
The three books in the World of Howl are:
- Howl’s Moving Castle
- Castle in the Air
- House of Many Ways
Other beloved series from Dianna Wynne Jones include the Chronicles of Chrestomanci and the Dalemark Quartet.
more
One of my favorites as a kid. Tons of adventure, magic and witches.
Howl’s lingers with me because of the humor, because of the perfectly executed twisting plot, because of the snapping dialog. Diana is possibly the best writer of her generation but because she wrote mainly YA in a time before HP she was disregarded. You want to know what I think a book should be like? Read this one.
I started reading this book because of the movie, and I was not disappointed! The book exceeded my expectations and I loved all of the characters even more than I did in the movie!
Loved this book. Nice twist.
After enjoying the movie for years, I had to read the book. As per usual, I loved it even more than its cinematic cousin.
One of my childhood favorites — must have reread this book a hundred times. I’ll never stop loving Howl and Sophie. Highly recommended to any age.
This is the story of Sophie. A young girl who works in a hat shop with her sisters and mother. One day the Witch of the Waste comes into the shop, and Sophie tries to turn her away. What results is a curse that leaves Sophie an old woman. She sets off to try and get the curse reversed and she comes upon Howl’s Castle. She shows up and tells …
This was a fun fantasy and a pleasure to read. It became a model for my own fantasy regarding tone and creativity.
I adore the Howl and Sophie series. It should be impossible to root for someone so self absorbed as Howl but somehow you do and will the two to get together. The whole cast of characters are alive.
The Studio Ghibli film version is also my favourite (hard to choose).
I love this book. In my opinion, it`s the best book of the whole series!
As with all of Diana Wynn Jones’ books, it is enjoyable to read the first time. The many subtle details means that it gets better every time you read it!
This is a fabulous book, but it might be one of the very few books on the planet that the movie better. Or at least on par. But the book is fantastic, so if you liked the movie you will also like this! Happy Reading!
At first I was a huge fan of the movie by studio ghibli and when I realized that it was a first a book I bought it immediately. I read it very quickly and consumed every word. I loved how the characters were represented even more and I would definitely recommend it to everyone! (I would also recommend Diana Wynn Jones because she was a wonderful …
I loved it
it’s really cool to read and it’s a book that you can relax on.
I have the audiobook of this book and I loved listening to this. Three sisters independently trying to manage the death of their father and the financial responsibility of life. This book is whimsical, coming of age and how each sister steps forth in gaining their independence and going forth in what they desire. Sophie has magic but doesnt know …
I didn’t read this book until after I saw the movie. Somehow, the novel has better imagery than the film! So much more story. Great story development and a wonderful and whimsical magic system. The story has a touch of romance, but it doesn’t dominate the plot.
I’ve been a fan of Diana Wynne Jones for quite some time, and I think Howl’s Moving Castle might be my favorite of her books, hard as it is to pick just one. I just adore the characters in this book and all the wacky magical nonsense they get into and up to. Sophie at this point is a very old friend, and I find myself a little in love with Howl …
Ever since watching Studio Ghibli’s animated version of Howl’s Moving Castle in school, I’ve been a big fan! Now that I’ve read the book I feel I have a much bigger fandom for it. Howl’s Moving Castle is suitable for all ages, and it teaches life lessons such as don’t believe in rumours unless you know they are true, and don’t judge a book by it’s …
It’s top on my reading list.It’s not exaggeration,I simply love it.