⭒June 2023 - Howl's Moving Castle [Questions]⭒

[Lily, ⭒on hiatus⭒]

1. Who was your favorite character?

2. Who was your least favorite character?

3. If you could change one part of the book, what would it be?

4. What did you think of the ending? (spoiler tags, please!)

5. What was your overall opinion?

Other Threads
✩ Howl's Moving Castle General Discussion
✩ Howl's Moving Castle Activities!

[M.H.]

1. My favorite character was Sophie. I loved how she grew in confidence throughout the book.
2. My least favorite character was probably Howl (sorry guys!). He doesn't seem to learn much, still relying on "tricks" to make himself do things. I don't think he would be a great friend in real life.
3. I think I would add a bit more romance or maybe like Howl's perspective, as it would add more to the story.
4. The ending was fun, but definitely wanted more (see comment 3).
5. Overall, I really liked the book. I love the humor, the characters, the fast moving plot, and the unique, ever changing setting. It's definitely a favorite, but I'm not sure I want to reread it anytime soon.

[M.H.]

P.S. It could be that it doesn't age well. I read this book years ago and remembered it fondly, but now as a 30 year old, it doesn't seem as romantic to have such a hot-cold character like Howl. That being said, I really enjoy the humor and how Sophie grows, so maybe I can keep it on the favorites list? It was enjoyable, regardless.

[Cari]

yesss it won!

[Cari]

I'm so checking it out from the library

[EllieJellyBean :D, ⭒assistant mod⭒]

1. Howl!! Sophie!! Michael!! Calcifer!! XD Those 4 were amazing!! But I guess if I’m picking one it would be Howl!

2. The Witch of the Waste

3. Probably that it wouldn’t have as much magic in it.

4. It was soooo good!! I felt like it was a lil cheesy, but I loved ittt!! 😆

5. SO GOOD! I loved the characters. They each had interesting and fun personalities that just made me love them. The story line was interesting and kept me intrigued the whole time. The humor was great and had me laughing out loud multiple times 😂
The only thing I’m not that happy with is the use of magic and wizards and witches and demons. A little is ok, but this whole book was filled with it. So if it had less, I’d love it even more then I already do!

[EllieJellyBean :D, ⭒assistant mod⭒]

I get number 2. She just…got on my nerves somehow 😂

[M.H.]

Miss Angorian would definitely be a close second for me, too.

[Ali]

1. Who was your favorite character? Gosh so many... Sophie, Howl, Michael, Lettie

2. Who was your least favorite character? Fanny and Miss Angorian

3. If you could change one part of the book, what would it be? More Howl and Sophie banter. Everything is perfect I just love them talking to each other

4. What did you think of the ending? (spoiler tags, please!) Perfection & Joy!

5. What was your overall opinion? I love this story so much. Seeing Sophie's inner thoughts transform and finding herself apart from what she is always told to be. Also, Proverbs 18:21 kept coming to mind where it says life and death are in the tongue. It really makes you want to think twice about what you are speaking over yourself and those around you.

[EllieJellyBean :D, ⭒assistant mod⭒]

Totally want 3 too!!

[₊‧ ୨୧mollie_]

hey guys does this book have any lgbtq plus stuff in it?

[₊‧ ୨୧mollie_]

Z.C wrote: "It does not."

great! thx!

[M.H.]

Alex wrote: "1. Who was your favorite character? Gosh so many... Sophie, Howl, Michael, Lettie

2. Who was your least favorite character? Fanny and Miss Angorian

3. If you could change one part of the book, wh..."
I never thought of Proverbs, but now that you've said that, I can see it!

[Elise]

1. Michael. No competition. The other characters were brilliant as well, and Howl and Sophie are a close second for me, but Michael. Every interaction with him was hilarious or sweet, and his friendship with Sophie? 😭
I also loved the way he talked about Lettie/Martha. Their relationship was so sweet, and the way he talked about her & decided to wait for her was so sweet♥️.

2. I honestly don’t have a least favorite. I really think that every character played the exact role they were supposed to. And they weren’t really any characters I felt a righteous anger toward, either.

3. The only thing I would’ve changed is the ending… it seemed like the entire book led up to it, and then it felt a bit rushed to me. I loved all the elements of it, but wish it hadn’t felt so squished into a couple pages :).

4. ^

5. It was magnificent. It’s been a really long time since I was reading a book that I wanted to stop everything else to read, and that I knew WHILE READING that I would think about constantly after 😭. One of the best books I’ve read this year. I’m so glad it was chosen!

[Mary Emma]

1. Sophie, probably. But Howl was a close second.

2. I don't know...Howl's sister?

3. I'd take out all of the stuff where witchcraft is shown in a good light and demons are presented as something you can befriend.

4. The ending was satisfactory. I'd have liked to see it go on a little longer, though.

5. It's such an entertaining, well-written story, but it also has some elements that are very contrary to what the Bible says. I feel on the fence about it, similar to the way I felt with Harry Potter.

[M.H.]

Elise wrote: "1. Michael. No competition. The other characters were brilliant as well, and Howl and Sophie are a close second for me, but Michael. Every interaction with him was hilarious or sweet, and his frien..."

The ending definitely felt rushed, I agree!

[M.H.]

Mary Emma wrote: "1. Sophie, probably. But Howl was a close second.

2. I don't know...Howl's sister?

3. I'd take out all of the stuff where witchcraft is shown in a good light and demons are presented as something..."

I agree that I've felt conflicted about this book because of the demons and witchcraft.

[Elisabeth]

1. Who was your favorite character?
I didn't have one - at least that I can remember XD. Actually, Michael was okay, but not a favourite really.

2. Who was your least favorite character?
Howl I think. No character development and I can't stand fops.

3. If you could change one part of the book, what would it be?
How to pick one? Maybe the magic and the oddness.

4. What did you think of the ending? (spoiler tags, please!)
It was rushed and anti-climactic.

5. What was your overall opinion?
I didn't like it, but I didn't quite hate it.

[Cat]

1. Who was your favorite character?
Sophie.

2. Who was your least favorite character?
Pretty much everyone else.

3. If you could change one part of the book, what would it be?
The middle. I'd chop out about 100 pages of filler material and speed up the plot.

4. What did you think of the ending? (spoiler tags, please!)
(view spoiler)[ I wasn't a fan. The whole battle thing with the Witch of the Waste was really anticlimactic. And the fact that Howl knew about Sophie's curse is supposed to make them like each other romantically? Um, what? She spent the entire book convincing other people that she was his elderly mother! (hide spoiler)]

5. What was your overall opinion?
I wanted to like it, but I ended up not.