My friend recommended I listen rather than read to this on, as the narrator is perfect for Sophie, and I have to agree. Narrated by Jenny Sterlin, the novel of Howl's Moving Castle (in some parts) is quite different from the Studio Ghibli movie of the same name. 

Sophie is less soft-spoken and more action-oriented in the book,

even though she may be cursed to be an aged grandmother

, she doesn't shy away from speaking her mind. One of my favorite parts of the book was Sophie's realization

that she'd accidentality sewn magic into Howl's best suit by spiting his ability to entrap the hearts of young women all over - something that she made to be more true with the magic then sewn into his clothing.