Long on my radar, I'm happy I finally got to read Howl's Moving Castle. Diana Wynne Jones' fairytale can solidly be characterized as whimsical and free of cynicism, appropriate for children of all ages.

At the story’s start, main protagonist Sophie, the oldest of three sisters, would seem to be fated to lead an uneventful life managing a hat shop. That is until one day a witch shows up and curses her, turning Sophie into an old woman and putting her on course to cross paths with the seemingly conceited (and definitely perplexing) wizard Howl. She enters a moving castle, as well as a world of unexpected turns.

“As a girl, Sophie would have shriveled with embarrassment at the way she was behaving. As an old woman, she did not mind what she did or said. She found that a great relief” (64).

What I enjoyed most about this story is that at its heart lies an exploration of identity. Unlike her sisters, Sophie is passively resigned to make the most of her fate, and does not exert much agency until her transformation. Only when she’s free of society’s expectations is she then truly free in mind and spirit. In fact, none of the characters are really who they seem to be, with the ultimate reveal of their true nature driving most of the story’s plot.

That said, while I really did enjoy this tale and would even rank it above similar stories like Stardust, I still felt like something was missing when I reached the final page. The content of the story is more than quality, the ideas are great, but the presentation felt lacking. Specifically, my issue is that I like the Miyazaki film adaptation more than the source material. I know it’s like a cardinal sin to like the movie more than the book, but it was my first Ghibli film and I can’t change how I feel. Oh well!

Overall, Howl’s Moving Castle is a solid read and I still definitely recommend it… But I would also recommend the film, it too is super delightful.