Could it be any better?

[musicluvr123]

it would be very difficult to make it any better.

[Carl]

Gerd wrote: "Zephyr wrote: "I like my fantasy to be fantasy with a fantasy world. So I didn't like finding a place from our world in it..."

Much the same there.
Hannah, you've got a fair point there, but in "H..."

That is so interesting, seriously. I found the revelation that Howl (and say that with a Welsh accent, it's perfect) is from a Welsh estate, unemployed, interested in the occult, makes complete and ironic sense. The second book of the Thomas Covenant book places a military strategist into a fantasy setting, with compete success.

[Erin]

Syahira wrote: "Well, I think the book is kinda open-ended. Theres sequels right?

But I remembered that I was so excited years ago when Hayao Miyazaki wants to do an anime version of it. It wasn't covered much in..."

Yes - that's pretty much the only way the book could be better, in my opinion: as an audiobook read by Christian Bale.

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

I would love an audiobook read by Christian Bale!

[[deleted user]]

I actually didn't like the book the first time I read it. I was weirded out by the different worlds, and I really didn't like how it connected to ours. Then I reread it a couple of years later (I'm not sure why, other than the fact that I loved the movie), and it became one of my very favorite books that I wouldn't change anything about. Diana Wynne Jones is now my favorite author.

[Hannah]

Anyone read the next two in the Howl series? hehe I love Diana Wynne Jones (PS: she said that she might be coming out with a new Howl book that has more of just Howl and Sophie - so no Abdullah or Charmaine)

[April]

I watched the movie Howl's Moving Castle a couple of years ago, but just recently read the book! I love Miyazaki's work, he brought the book to life! When I read the book I fell in love with it too. It's such a fantastic read!

[Angie ~aka Reading Machine~]

Lady Danielle "The Book Huntress" wrote: "I would love an audiobook read by Christian Bale!"

That would be awesome!

[[deleted user]]

Hannah wrote: "Anyone read the next two in the Howl series? hehe I love Diana Wynne Jones (PS: she said that she might be coming out with a new Howl book that has more of just Howl and Sophie - so no Abdullah or ..."

While that would be totally awesome, and I would pay to read even the beginning of it, Diana Wynne Jones died this spring.

[J.M.]

I loved Howl's Moving Castle, but my favorite book by Jones will always be Charmed Life. Fire and Hemlock, House of Many Ways, The Pinhoe Egg, and Deep Secret are also particularly good. Of course, I like almost her entire body of work. It was such a shock this fall when I learned of her death earlier in the year. I recollected what I'd been doing in March (recovering from a severe hip injury) and thought: "How could one of my favorite authors have died and I not know it?"

[Kagama-the Literaturevixen]

Michael wrote: "Anyone think Howl's moving Castle could be better? How?"

I wouldnt change a thing. Its been my favorite ever since I read it for the first time 10 years ago.

[Dcf260]

Gerd wrote: "The only thing I'd change is Howl's origin, that part never really fit for me with the rest of the story."

But it does fit with the author's style. She often writes stories that involve more than one world.

[Gerd]

Dcf260 wrote: "But it does fit with the author's style. She often writes stories that invol..."

It's probably stupid, but for me it took away from his character when he turned out being just this human guy. Before there's a sense of dangerousness to him, afterwards he's only a poser.

It's like Star Wars Ep. 2 cheapens the character of Boba Fett by declaring him just a clone. I guess if these facts had been stated early on I wouldn't mind them, but the way it is done I feel somewhat cheated.

[Fami]

I LOVE Howl's Moving Castle! I've read this book multiple times, and I never get tired of it! I personally liked the book better than the movie. My only complaint about the book would be that its too short! Diana W. J. is a great author, and I love all of her books.

[Bron]

Hannah wrote: "Zephyr wrote: "Gerd wrote: "The only thing I'd change is Howl's origin, that part never really fit for me with the rest of the story."

Yes good point."

You got something against Wales? I personal..."

I was delighted to discover Howl was Welsh, I loved the book but that was the icing on the cake for me.

[Chris]

Bron wrote: "I was delighted to discover Howl was Welsh, I loved the book but that was the icing on the cake for me..."

DWJ loved puns and other word-plays, so Howl is not just the Welsh name Howell (Hywel in Welsh spelling, pronounced the same way) but also has that wolf-like predator feel that the cartoon captures well.

Personally I do like fantasy very much, but feel the added aspect of rooting Howl in a real place in our own universe makes him more human and more believable, and gives the story a deeper and darker dimension. It also fits in with her leitmotiv habit of narrating tales of parallel worlds.