Howl's Moving Castle: A Review

Sophie Hatter, the eldest of three girls, is convinced that she will never amount to much. After all, if the old fairy tales really are true, fortunes only come to the youngest child, don't they? Mistakenly cursed by the Witch of the Waste (not to be mistaken for the Wicked Witch of the West), Sophie ends up in Wizard Howl's moving castle and in a bargain with Calcifer, Howl's fire demon. There, she finds that the dreaded Wizard, a terrifying figure reputed to eat young girl's souls, is nothing more than a childish, melodramatic young man who, in Sophie's own words, is a slitherer-outer and coward.

Will Sophie find her way out of the curse? Will Howl escape the clutches of the evil Witch of the Waste? Will they sort out which Lettie Hatter is being pursued by Howl and which by his apprentice Michael? Will Sophie find out how to break Calcifer's contract with Howl? Will things ever settle down to what passes for normal in Ingary? For a girl who expects to be dull and unsuccessful her whole life, Sophie takes stalking scarecrows, seven-league boots, breaking curses and being cursed into her stride with great calmness and almost-dignified aplomb.

Diana Wynne Jones tastefully weaves this tale of magic, fantasy and love, seamlessly bringing us to its happily-ever-after ending - which should be hair-raising, as Howl himself adds. Every page is humours and eventful, as Sophie barges into the castle and Howl's life, creating no end of disaster with everything she does and tries to do. She also adds a passing nod at the modern world, with forays into Wales, where they see magic boxes that 'grew on long, floppy white stalks that appeared to be rooted in the wall' and 'horseless carriages that went at a terrifying speed'. Jones' writing, while simple enough in its language and use of words, is a strong voice that carries well its wry look at life - and fairy tales - in a way vaguely reminded me of Terry Pratchett's more involved Discworld novels.

The book itself has been adapted into an animated film by Studio Ghibli, which I did not enjoy half as much as the book even though it was the film that led my friend to the book, which in sequence found its way to me.

Although Howl's Moving Castle is a children's book (or is marketed as one anyway), it should waltz its way into the hearts of all humour and magic lovers. It has just the right amount of laughter and impossibilities made possible to while away a boring afternoon in a jiffy.