"Howl's Moving Castle" by Diana Wynne Jones

[♥Xeni♥]

So, some of us wanted to read Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones as our Fantasy of June book, instead of or in addition to the one that won.

I'm looking forward to reading this!

Have all of you who are now reading this also seen the movie?

[Andre]

Yep, seen the movie, and I think the book explains what's going on much better. They tried to cram an awful lot into that movie. On the other hand, they captured the feel of the story quite well.

[Andrea]

One of my favourite books of all time. The movie keeps to the book for the most part at the beginning, but starts to diverge during the visit to the King, and then gets into aerial battles and war themes and so forth. It's still a beautiful movie, but rather disjointed.

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

I saw the movie first, and I love it, and then I read the book and realized how dissimilar they were. One reason I want to read the book again is because I only thought it was 'ok', but I don't know how much this was influenced by my prior movie-love and comparing the two. I'm going to try and read it without comparing so much this time (when I finally get a chance to read it, that is.)

[♥Xeni♥]

Okay, well this should certainly be interesting!

I had no idea that the two were so dissimilar. I'll be sure to keep my mind open while reading ;)

If the main focus isn't war and believing in yourself and seeing your own true, inner beauty (like what I took away from the movie) then I am really looking forward to discovering the true purpose behind this plot.

I also hope that the fire spirit stays as a character! I love that little dude.

[Andre]

♥Xeni♥ wrote: "I also hope that the fire spirit stays as a character! I love that little dude."

Oh yes, don't worry. Calcifer is quite present and rather critical to the plot. He might be my favorite character, but it's hard to pick just one. :)

[♥Xeni♥]

YAY! :D

[♥Xeni♥]

Okay okay okay, I will stop reading every other book as soon as my clock hits midnight, so that this read counts towards my June books. xD

The anticipation is killing me!

[[deleted user]]

I'll jump in here once I actually get a chance to read this book.

[♥Xeni♥]

*dangles an image of the book in front of Sherri's nose*

[Andre]

Sherri wrote: "Doggone it, the book is in storage, in a box under other boxes right now (I know this because I put it there a few months ago) and now I'm thinking about driving in this 98 degree heat to go to the..."

That's what libraries are for. :D

[Kara]

Looks like a fun read. I just found it at the library and hope to pick it up after work today.

I really enjoyed the movie, but ended up being even more curious about the book it came from. Glad to hear that they are different.

[Beatrix]

This was one of my favorite reads. I watched the movie before I read the book, aside from the moving castle and the character names, the book and movie can hardly relate to each other. I loved that book, and I'm going to re read it soon.
The sequel explains the relationships a lot better, so if you liked Howl's Moving Castle, don't hesitate to pick up Castle in the Air. (:

[Kara]

OooooOOooo, nice cover. Go library!


=)

[Kim]

I will be reading this this month :)

[[deleted user]]

So this is the start of a trilogy?

[♥Xeni♥]

I just started the book today and so far I am just **loving** it!

It is also pretty similar to the film thus far. But not in a bad way!

[Andre]

Ala wrote: "So this is the start of a trilogy?"

I thought there was only Howl's Moving Castle and Castle in the Air but I guess there's a third book too (House of Many Ways) which I have never read.

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

Ala wrote: "So this is the start of a trilogy?"

I've only read the first - it stands well on its own. It's not a trilogy that you have to continue to get the full story.

[[deleted user]]

Whew. Was going to just skip it if the other two were necessary for a full understanding.

Thanks Colleen :)

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

You're welcome. I wouldn't let you get out of reading it that easily. ;)

[[deleted user]]

curses! foiled again!

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

Damn straight, Snidely.

[Andre]

Well, Castle in the Air does explain some things from the first book if I remember right. Howl ends rather abruptly after resolving all the pieces (somewhat literally) but it doesn't go into a lot of explanation about why some things happened, which may be clarified in the second book. Yes I'm being vague because it's only the beginning of the month (and yes I've finished my reread already...). At any rate they're fast reads, so I'll probably reread Castle also and then go find the third book at some point.

[Andrea]

Both Castle in the Air and House of Many Ways are stand-alones as well. They each have different protagonists, with Howl and Sophie making what I guess you could call 'major guest appearances'.

Sadly, DWJ had a fourth book in mind but had not reached the point of writing it, where "Howl disguises himself as a handsome prince".

[♥Xeni♥]

Mhh, they are fast reads. I'm almost done with Howl's Moving Castle. xD But it's also such a good story that I can't help myself!

I am starting to get a trifle confused and feeling a bit overloaded with thinking that I'm missing out on important bits. I almost feel like there are vital bits of information being tossed my way (for instance from Mrs. Pentstemmon) but I just can't process them with the small amount of knowledge that I have.

Also, I love the bit where we get to go through the black door into Howl's 'real world'. xD It was so classic to read about some of Sophie's reactions to what we take to be normal!!

[Andre]

♥Xeni♥ wrote: "Also, I love the bit where we get to go through the black door into Howl's 'real world'. xD It was so classic to read about some of Sophie's reactions to what we take to be normal!! "

Yeah, that part reminded me of Piers Anthony's forays into Mundania. The Xanth characters generally react similarly to things like fast cars and tight jeans and loud TVs.

[♥Xeni♥]

I finished the book last night. One of the fastest reads I've gone through lately, I think, but it was well worth it!

I really love this book; gave it 5 stars! Here is my review if you'd like to read it. And I can understand why so many of you want to reread it. :)

I will give some other people a chance to read it before I start discussing any of the parts that interested me a bit more. Don't want spoilers appearing on already the 2nd day of the month!

[Kim]

I'm really enjoying it so far and like the differences between it and the film. I can't help but hear the characters voices in my head the same as the film, especially Billy Crystal as Calcifer.

[Marissa]

I love the book! In fact, I love Diana Wynne Jones and will read all of her books, for any age. I've re-read the book a zillion times. If you like her, I'd highly recommend The Dark Lord of Derkholm and The Year of the Griffin two books in the same world with many continuing characters, much like Howl's Moving Castle and Castle in the Air. I like the movie in it's own right, but you have to look at it as a different creature entirely from the book. I love all Miyazaki movies though. My main advice, read more Diana Wynne Jones!

[Kim]

Marissa wrote: "My main advice, read more Diana Wynne Jones! "

Well next month's fantasy book is Charmed Life by Diana Wynne Jones :)

[Brad]

Are any of you folks reading Charmed Life this month? We seem to be lacking participation so far.

[Beatrix]

I got it from the library, but I forgot to bring it with me on my trip. I wanted to read it,though. I love Jone's writing.

[Andrea]

I'm happy to read any DWJ any time. :) Do you need some topic suggestions?

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

Brad - I wasn't planning on rereading it (Charmed Life), and it's been too long since I read it to really discuss it. I'll try and get to it after the other three group-reads I have scheduled for this month.

[Chaeya]

I read it, but I think I'll reread it again. I read it also after seeing the movie. I like them both, but in the book the love story between Howl and Sofie didn't seem as prevalent as the movie made it out to be. It seemed the movie was simply using a simple conflict and promote the love interest more. But the book offers you much more, so things will begin to make more sense to you. Still, I like the movie as a feel good type of visual fix, I like the steampunk atmosphere.

[♥Xeni♥]

Oh right... Charmed Life. I have read it before... only about 10 times or so :P I'll weigh in on the discussions later. Thanks for the reminder!

[Bets]

Marissa wrote: "I love the book! In fact, I love Diana Wynne Jones and will read all of her books, for any age. I've re-read the book a zillion times. If you like her, I'd highly recommend [book:The Dark Lord o..."

I love love love love Diane Wynne Jones and Howl's Moving Castle is one of my favs. I believe it works best as a stand alone as the next two are a little weak. Also, it has basically nothing to do with the movie, which was disjointed as it tried to keep original elements while shoving in new or radically changed elements.

The style she uses in this book takes a little to get used to, though I read it as a kid. It's an intuitive journey marked by a faith in the readers as she doesn't over explain. I learned much of what I know of writing from Jones, and worship her. This book is (finally) back in print now, but if you hit up abebooks.com you should be able to find a sale. You guys rock.

[Robin]

I really enjoyed reading this book...I'm not so much a fan of the animated movie version. Am I the only one? I hear the anime version is very popular but I didn't think it captured the flavor of the book for me.

[Teresa]

It's been a while since I read this book, but I really enjoyed reading it and I liked the style. Loved Sophie, and particularly Horrible Howl.

I agree with CicadaGrrl that the sequels are a little weak.

[Sara]

Just joined the group and will quickly say (though this thread is old) that when I first read Howl's Moving Castle AGES ago, I loved it so much that I reread it about once a year until about 10 years ago. Love that book!

[♥Xeni♥]

It's some good times :D

[Bo]

The book haunts me for some reason too.

[♥Xeni♥]

To be honest, I have more images in my mind of the anime movie than of the book. Although I read this not too long ago. *sad face*

[Michele]

I enjoyed the solid Welsh flavour running through the book and I enjoyed the film as well. But I had to pretend the film was nothing to do with the book in order to appreciate it properly. They are so very different. I would say the film was more inspired and based on the book rather than an adaptation of it.

The book is much less dark and much more straightforward. I like the storylines with the sisters and mother in the book too, they don't show up so well in the film.

[Traci]

One of my favorite books. A light cute sweet and funny fairytale. I missed too much that the movie left out. Loved the animation. Thought it was mostly okay. But too much of the comedy and confusion was missing. Also I didn't like how it got turned into an anti war message. Which I didn't like for this story.

[Jenelle]

How have I never heard of this book OR the movie?! I love D.w.Jones! I'm going to have to go to the library again this week!

[Brenda]

All of DWJ's works are wonderful. It was a tragedy when she passed away recently. I had hoped she would live for ever and write a book a year.

[Michele]

Brenda wrote: "All of DWJ's works are wonderful. It was a tragedy when she passed away recently. I had hoped she would live for ever and write a book a year."

Oh me too Brenda. If anyone should have been immortal for the benefit of mankind DWJ should have.

[Gary]

loved the movie, great animation, but like most movies they can't tell all the story thats in a book, you're always going to get differnet sides on whether they did or didn't I say read the book and watch the movie that way you'll have both.

Gary Mark Lee