Howl's Moving Castle (Howl's Castle Book 1)

by Diana Wynne Jones

It was odd. As a girl, Sophie would have shriveled with embarrassment at the way she was behaving. As an old woman, she did not mind what she did or said. She found that a great relief.

She watched Howl being restlessly busy in order to hide his discontent. That was something Sophie understood rather well.

Sophie’s experience told her that tantrums are seldom about the thing they appear to be about.

“I feel ill,” he announced. “I’m going to bed, where I may die.” He tottered piteously to the stairs. “Bury me beside Mrs. Pentstemmon,” he croaked as he went up them to bed.

That only left one more thing: the wind to advance an honest mind. If that meant Howl’s mind had to be honest, Sophie thought, there was a chance that the curse might never come true.