Author:  Diana Wynne Jones

Year of Publication: April, 1986

PLOT: 5/5

CHARACTERS: 5/5

WRITING: 5/5

CLIMAX: 5/5

ENTERTAINMENT: 5/5

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Plot:

This is a whimsical classic fantasy novel with endearing characters, which has grabbed many accolades on its name, an international bestseller, this loved by all book is the motivation for the Academy Award nominee- Best Animated Feature film (goes by the same name).

This book is about a wizard by the name Howl and her soon to be love interest and hat maker- Sophie. These two characters complement one another in the plot quite well. Sophie is a typical young woman who now manages the family business that makes hats. Her talents are well-known throughout the world. She is cursed by a witch and becomes old, which causes things in her predictable, easygoing life to shift. She left her home in pursuit of a remedy because she yearned to regain her youth. She manages to enter the Howl’s moving castle someway. Howl on the other hand is an eccentric famous wizard known for eating young women’s heart but as Sophie and Howls spend more time, she sees him to be harmless fellow.

To destroy her spell, Sophie makes a deal with fire demon, has to visit the witch of waste and more. In the end, both howl and Sophie realize their emotions for each other.

What I liked about the book?

1. Looks can be deceiving and a good heart always wins over looks. Sophie, is a young person trapped in the body of old women. While she is working to brake her curse, in way she never steps back from helping others.
2. Only we control the life that we want. Sophie had an option of quitting and living with the curse but instead she took matters in her hand and quit home to look for solution for her curse, which eventually did not only help her break the curse but on the way she made really good friends and met love of her life.
3. Friendship can be found in unlikeliest of the places. You’ll be surprised to see who all become her friend in the end (witch of waste, read this book to know how?)

Who should read this?

Though this book is marketed as a kids book, but both adult and kids will equally enjoy this book. If moving house, doors opening to multiple portals, a living scary scarecrow, and magical potions interests you then yes you should definitely, definitely read this book.

Final Verdict

I loved this book and is one of the books that I will re-read in future. Highly recommended.