Howl's Moving Castle the book

[kakashi]

Has anyone read the book by Diana Wynn Jones? Just wanted to know.

[LKK6144]

Yes, I've read it and rate it quite highly. If you've only seen the movie, you'll find the book significantly different in plot. The two should probably be considered seperate stories. Still, it's a very enjoyable read. You learn a lot more about Howl in the book than you do in the movies. Some of what you learn is very surprising. :)

[kakashi]

Thank you! I don't know anyone who has read it and wanted to find out if it was a good read.

[LKK6144]

It's definitely worth reading in my opinion. I couldn't put it down after I started it. Stayed up until 4 in the morning reading and killed my eyes from the strain because I absolutely had to know what happened next. I paid for the effort with a massive headache all the next day, but the novel was worth it.

[feder]

It's a great book! I really enjoyed reading it. I actually bought a copy of it from the store because I was sick of having to keep checking it out from the library every time I was in the mood to read it.
The characters are very well done and, for the most part, likeable.
And it's interesting how the spells on the characters are so interwoven.

[PeterAhlstrom]

I actually bought a copy of it from the store
Oh my gosh!!! ;)

[Andrew Cunningham]

It makes a lot more sense than the movie.

[duowolf]

I read the book years ago and thought it was great. Still haven't seen the movie yet though

[Aratos]

I've been told to read it. On the other hand I hate Diana Wynn Jones so I doubt I ever will.

[LordD]

don't be so grumpy aratos ;-) it's a good book and nice to read.
But don't buy it because you want to read the story from the movie, because it isn't.

[Aratos]

I've not seen the film now you mention it. Don't have any particular plans to.

[Rem Akimichi]

LOVE this book. I haven't seen the movie yet, but I've seen the art and so I really want to. But the book is, in fact, sitting under my bed as we speak and begging for a reread over spring vacation XD It's very good!

[Garnet Ore @ Windia01]

I own two copies myself.
The book is very different from the movie.
Miyazaki likes to take something serious and turn it into something pretty and child-like.
Well, the book goes deeper into Howl's background. There was no "war", that's Miyazaki's handprint.
It's actually about two worlds co-existing or two timelines living side by side.
Pretty complicated and confusing.
But worth the read.

[sailortitan]

I didn't reallly find it confusing, but it was awesome. I think I actually liked it better than the movie. They are very different, as people have said, but they do feature the same characters. Howl is awesome XD

(And the famous green slime scene is definitely still there)

[Simmons-chan]

I love this book! It's definitely appealing to many people who may like entirely different things. I have yet to see the movie, but I would like to do that just to compare them.
I'm surprised no one has mentioned this yet, but there is also a novel that is the sequel to HMC. It's called Castle In The Air. Not to be confused with the Studio Ghibli film Castle In the Sky. Anyways, if you read HMC then start reading Castle In The Air, do not be confused. It is the sequel! None of the original characters of HMC come into the story until the very end, and then it all makes sense.
I would really recommend these books to anyone interested in them!

[feder]

Oh my gosh!!! ;)

hey, hey, that's not what was being emphasized, there. ^^
The fact that I kept having to check it out of the library was.
Although, normally I don't buy books from the bookstore. They're far too expensive.

Did anyone read the sequel, Castle in the Air?
I actually read that one first. It was good, but the first one was better in my opinion.

[TheMangaQueen]

I haven't read either of the books, but the movie was quite confusing (but still likeable!)

[Shizu-san]

I also think that the book tends to make more sense than the movie does. The book also focuses more on characterization than the movie, if that's the kind of thing you like.

[feder]

I also think that the book tends to make more sense than the movie does. The book also focuses more on characterization than the movie, if that's the kind of thing you like.

Yeah, the movie kind of rushed through everything, and it really didn't explain too much about why Sophie left the hat shop and why the witch even visited her in the first place. I mean, I figured the witch had seen Howl help her out and had gotten jealous, so she went to tell Sophie off. But then when Sophie ticked her off she used her anger as an opportunity to make Sophie have to turn to Howl so her message to Howl would be delivered.
Sophie left because she didn't want her family to see her like this, and she was trying to start a new life as a different person.
That's just how I interpreted it, since the movie didn't really make it clear. ^^

[mei-chan]

I really loved the book, the story is better developed in the book, and so you really get to know the characters. I stayed up way too long reading it because I could not put it down. Is the second book any good? I read somewhere the story is rather different.

[Cowboychamploo44]

Has anyone read the book by Diana Wynn Jones? Just wanted to know.


I've never read it before. I didn't know it had a book.

[littlekittysakura]

I loved the book. I loved the movie too. Of course, they have two totally different storylines, but both of them are loveable.

I liked the fact that you got to hear more of Howl's infamous quotes in the book. Howl has an interesting thought process so it was nice to delve further into it in the book. Definitely give it a read.

[Alphonse Elric]

maybe i should look into reading it...

[GracieLizzy]

I love the book too, I don't dislike the film or anything in fact I enjoyed it a lot, but I like the book so much more. It's just better developed I think. I'm glad I read the book first. If you haven't read it you should! But as has been said, don't expect it to be like the movie as it is very different! Especially the secondary half of the story (from Sophie's Kingsbury visit onwards).

[tohruhonda16]

AWESOME...IT'S A BOOK!! i want to read it...^.^

[mizushimo]

I can't even find the book. It was out of print the last time I checked, is it still?

[LKK6144]

Howl's Castle should still be in print. I picked up a copy shortly after the movie's US release which wasn't all that long ago. The first store I tried didn't have it in stock. The sales clerk offered to order for me. The next store had it on the shelves. If you can't find it, a bookstore clerk should be able to place an order for you and have it delivered to the store. Plus, there's also the public library option if all you want to do is read it and not own it.

[Nyanyan]

I thought of getting it, but didn't want to until I watched the movie. Is there more character development in the book? Especially between Howl and Sophie.

Anyone read the sequel? Castle in the Air or something (definitely not Castle in the Sky). I read the summary and if I'm not mistaken, Howl and Sophie is married with a child?

[Akanke]

Im reading it now actually and after i finish it....IM GONNA BUY IT AND MAKE SWEET LOVE TO IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN MUAHAHAHAHHAHA

seriously, im only up to ch...9 i think and im so entirely in love with it i dunno why XD and when im head over heals for a book....i must own it (hence y im so broke all the time....plus no job T__T )

I thought of getting it, but didn't want to until I watched the movie. Is there more character development in the book? Especially between Howl and Sophie.

Anyone read the sequel? Castle in the Air or something (definitely not Castle in the Sky). I read the summary and if I'm not mistaken, *highlight for spolier*Howl and Sophie is married with a child?

oohh...is that book form or movie form?

[Nyanyan]

It's still in book form. I'm not sure if there would be sequel by Ghibli though...

[Akanke]

LSDHYFIWENFDKSJHDMSCXVIKDS MCXFSDNC!!!!!!!!! OMGOSH PEOPLE THANK YOU!!!! *runs off to order the book* squuueee!!!! *turns to goo in a pure ectasy* i'm so excited and i havent even gotten the book yet *dreams about it*

EDIT:
oh and i just finished the Howl's Moving Castle...hm....i dunno...now i think over it the book is a little...confused..and rushed a bout...and the ending...half way anti climactic but...squeee!!!!! lol

[mei-chan]

I dont't think there will be a movie sequel.. Ghibli are already working on other stuff.

[Rosie1]

the book was great i counldn't even put it down, i wish i've seen the movie

[AgentJuly]

This is one of the greatest books i have read all year
i really love the story
but the ending is a bit over the happily ever after thingy
but all the same it's a wonderful book
i think the movie shouldn't be associated with the book as it's way diffrent
but it's still pretty good
but i'm a hayao miyazaki fan
so yeah i think most of his stuff is good:o

69

the movie poster
(a guy i knew thought it was howl's moving casket!:D )

[Raina]

There's a Book!? I never knew about this. I have the movie. When did the book come out? Along with were can I get it?

[Shizu-san]

The book came out awhile ago, actually. You can get it at your local bookstore or just check it out at the library. Or you can order it at www.amazon.com.

[Pedes]

To Nyanyan's spoiler: YEAH :D

I read the book and I like it. Actually I agree - the book is better than the movie. Miyazaki meddled with the story a bit.. But the movie has one big plus: YOU CAN SEE HOWL!!!! *.*
And I agree with Sophie - he looks better with black hair ^^

[Tsuzuki]

umm ehat do u mean u can see howl......????
im gettin the book tonight(u all gave it such high praises)
i really cant wait!!!!
and the sequal in a castle in the air???
hmmmm iwonder if i can buy that to tonight.....no chance
is in the manga section or the novels section?

[Laenavesse]

...whoa whoa whoa

THERE'S A SEQUAL TO THE BOOK?!? I DID NOT KNOW THIS *makes note to hunt it down and read it like..like..a person who really really wants to read the book!*

I have yet to see the movie but I definitely LOVED the book. I was actually surprised to see it when I was just browsing through the Young Adult section out of boredom and out of hopes of finding a little gem like this. I didn't realize that there was a book that inspired the movie, let alone one that was written by an American (or was she British..whatever, she's English xD) I had read her books before so I immedately snatched this little jewel up with no second thoughts.

I've recently purchased the movie but have yet to watch it o-o I wanna see the differences and now I wanna reread the book xD It's kinna rare for me to want to reread a book nowadays, no matter how good it is.

But to find that sequal O_O

[Tsuzuki]

i got the books....... i got the books ........*dances around*
Howls moving castle and castle in the air r mine!!!
muahahahahaha!!!!!
yayyyyyyyyyyy!!!!
i will read em' tomorrow or tonight!!!!

[Shizu-san]

Howl has much more personality in the book than in the movie!

...and personally like the blonde-haired Howl better. :P Heh.

[Pedes]

umm ehat do u mean u can see howl......????
Because it's anime XD I mean I have a vivid imagnation but... To see those hair, to hear him talk... *.* (I don't know much about english dub, POlish was DREADFULL but I've seen original and OOoohhh! the voiceeeeeeeeeeeee........ *melts*
...and personally like the blonde-haired Howl better. :P Heh.
I think I like the black because I remember in the cinema when Howl cried "I won't be beautifull again" I went like "WHAT IS HE COMPLAINING ABOUT?? " XD
I like both to be honest just the black is... real :D

[Tsuzuki]

i like both....but he is reeeeeeeally cute as a blonde!!!!
lol.....his voice is pretty good in english to. funny how u can fall in love with a charachters voice isnt it?

[Shizu-san]

I thought Howl's voice was a little too deep, but I definitely didn't hate it. I think the thing that ruined it for me is that in my brain I relate Christian Bale = Batman.

[Akanke]

lol XD Howl owns!!!
XD i manage to make my mom fall in love with Howl XD

i saw the movie, then found out there was a book so i borrowed it from teh library and read it, and since my mom reads the same books as me sometimes, she read it and absolutely loved it (loved Howl lol heck we were giggling over him in a discussion once XD) and so i told her bout the movie (although she had watched the end of it with me) and she said she wanted to see it, so i borrowed the movie from my friend again adn we watched it together (loved still a second time around <3 hee hee. i think she like dthe book best but she liked the movie too.)

at point when Howl's towel falls off after his tantrum i say to my mom "ok now watch....there goes his towel.....and there goes his butt!!!" lol and we both start laughing XD
but dang that guy has a cute butt =D~~

and now i've gotten the second book, but she's reading it before i do.

and yea i like him as a blond but i think i like him as a brunnete better ^^;;

[Tsuzuki]

i couldnt help myself....i bought both books and the movie last night...><
dang it is worth it though!!!
i will just have to sell more crafts than usual this week.

[Laenavesse]

It's not fair! NEITHER Barnes and Nobles NOR Books-A-Million had the second book!! And there are NO other bookstores around here x_x I'm dying x___X I neeeeed the sequal @___@

I finally watched the movie last night with my boyfriend and he actually enjoyed it a lot. (He might even read the book >o> omg <o<) But yeah, I remember when I first read the book how much I would like to see it as a movie of some kind, so I was really shocked and happy when I learned it turned into a movie :D

I didn't like the changes though -_- But it was still good, especially the different effects. I thought Billy Crystal was PERFECT for Calcifer (if I'm spelling it right..s'been a while since I looked at character spelling xD).

I wonder what it would be like if it was live action o.o...

[Tsuzuki]

i know the movie made my cry....the book had less romance, but u learn more about howl...im not sure which one i like better now...> <

[yaytime]

I think Howl's Moving Castle has become one of my favorite books of all time. The characters are all so great and enjoyable in their stubborness.

As huge a Miyazaki fan as I am it took me a while to accept all the changes in the movie. Especially the ones that made things more confusing for no reason (like time travel at the end?). And the omission of the 7league boots sequence from the book seems like the biggest waste ever! Miyazaki could have done that so awesome! Also I missed the romance stuff and the competition with teenage apprentice, Michael (whose just a kid in the movie).

That said, I still enjoyed a lot of the visuals of the movie a LOT!

[luckymegami]

I've read the book and I've seen the movie (many many times) and I love both. Some people can't seem to see them both as seperate things. The movie was BASED on the book; meaning Miyazaki took the idea and made it into his own. *whew!* Just had to get that out...it was kinda bothering me to know end.

[Laenavesse]

That's why there should be a LIVE ACTION movie based off the book and more closely tied to it >O>

[Tsuzuki]

live action movie?
wouldnt that be AWSOME!!!!! ><
man...how many movies can u make based off of 1 book.
live action tho...mab when im a director ^^

[Wrath]

Ew, no live action! It would be cool to see in another anime style, though. *not a big fan of miyazaki*

[Pedes]

It'd be difficult to find right Howl for life action...

[Shizu-san]

I'm sure they could find a Howl-esque actor when it comes to looks, though.

None comes to mind at the moment...

[Pedes]

I'm sure they could find a Howl-esque actor when it comes to looks, though.

Yeah, right, and Gary Oldman is handsome* -_-


[*Gary Oldman was playing Sirius black from Harry Potter. It was mentioned many, many, MANY times in the book that he was handsome, even after imprisonment in Azkaban. AND in Azkaban wanted picture he looked "vampire like". Yet I haven't found a single person who could connect word "handsome" to Gary Oldman in other way than along with the word "not". Not to mention he looked like stoned crook, not like a vampire, on the poster. I mean... They HAD the budget, so they took someone NOT fitting the role but famous?!!!]

[Shizu-san]

Yeah, right, and Gary Oldman is handsome* -_-


Lol. True.

However, this doesn't necessarily mean that there isn't someone out there who would make a good Howl. It just means that it takes a bit of effort when it comes to casting.

I don't think a live-action Howl's Moving Castle would be terrible; there have been stranger adaptations out there.

[Horizon]

That was a great movie! I would love to read the book!

[Akanke]

OMGOSH! OMGOSH! OMGOSH!! OMGOOOOOSSSHHHHHH!!!!!!!~~~~~ SQUEEEEE~~~~!!!!!!
i just finished Castle in the Air and I'M IN LOVE~~~!!!! omgosh that book is so sweet and cute and omgosh!!!! i loved it XD
but i by the end i kinda felt bad for Dalzel and Hasruel...and kind of especially for Dalzel...and Hasruel too ah hell i just felt bad for em....it really wasn't their fault kinda. and omgosh!!! i love the princesses and baby morgan and Howl XDDDDD!!!!!!
im so hyper right now!!! i so need to go buy it now lol

hey! anyone knows if there's a third book? *bounces excitedly*

[nikitia]

did anyone else picture a sherlock holmes type guy when they read howl was english? maybe it was me. i'm not saying i envisioned holmes, just someone similar.

[Akanke]

honestly i still cant really picture him -_-

[Pedes]

Lol. True.

However, this doesn't necessarily mean that there isn't someone out there who would make a good Howl. It just means that it takes a bit of effort when it comes to casting.

I don't think a live-action Howl's Moving Castle would be terrible; there have been stranger adaptations out there.
I'm artaid that bit of effort is what would be lacking :/
Although if they DID do it right... I'd LOVE the movie.... *^^*

[Akanke]

would anyone happen to know if there's a sequel to Castle in the Air -hoping yes-

[Tsuzuki]

would anyone happen to know if there's a sequel to Castle in the Air -hoping yes-
from what i know...no there isnt *sob* but someday...there may be ^^

[WavemasterElk]

Howl's Moving Castle... I saw the movie, then read the book. I loved both of them! ^_^

[Shizu-san]

would anyone happen to know if there's a sequel to Castle in the Air -hoping yes-

She probably would have written it by now, considering Castle in the Air was published ten years ago. She seems to be focusing (or has been focusing) more on her longer series.

But I heard in an interview that Howl's Moving Castle was one of her favorite books that she'd written, so she may not want to give up on her characters just yet. Wishful thinking, but still...

[Pixie Dust]

I loved both the book and the movie.

I think the movie was better in the romance between Howl and Sophie department, but there was a lot that wasn't explained e.g why the Prince was turned into a scarecrow.

The book explained it all much better and the characters were all better developed, but it seemed .... somewhat rushed towards the ending. Liked that there were more characters in the book, too.

Can't wait to read Castle in the Air, but I've got a whole other pile of books to read first ... lol.

[Akanke]

She probably would have written it by now, considering Castle in the Air was published ten years ago. She seems to be focusing (or has been focusing) more on her longer series.

But I heard in an interview that Howl's Moving Castle was one of her favorite books that she'd written, so she may not want to give up on her characters just yet. Wishful thinking, but still...

that would be awesome wouldn't it? ~_~