![]() ![]() ![]() Deborah BakerĪdaptation African-American Autobiography Biography Canada Reads Canadian Challenges Contemporary Dystopian Essays Fairy Tales Fantasy Fiction Graphic Novel Historical Fiction History Horror Humour LGBTQIA+ Magic Realism Memoir MetaBooks Middle Grade Mystery Mythology Non-Fiction Novella Psychology Read Diverse 2017 Read My Own Damn Books Romance Science Science Fiction Short Stories Social Justice Speculative Fiction Steampunk Top Picks Urban Fantasy Young Adult Browse by Author Abigail Tarttelin Andrew Aydin Anna-Marie McLemore Anthony Marra Azar Nafisi Becky Chambers Beth Cato Cassandra Clare Charlaine Harris Cheryl Strayed Chris Riddell Claudia Gray Dhonielle Clayton Ellen Forney Emily St. The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman Miyazaki’s film did excellent work with the source material, but the extra layers of detail and character development allowed for in the book add something to this whimsical and endearing story that is now hailed as a forerunner to modern British fantasy. The book also develops a variety of connections between the characters, such a romance between Howl’s apprentice Michael-who is a teenager rather than a young boy as in the film-and Sophie youngest sister, Martha. Their father dies early in the story, leaving Sophie, her sisters, and stepmother to pick up the pieces. In the book, Sophie has two sisters, one apprenticed to a baker, the other to a sorceress, while Sophie stays at home to inherit the hat shop. The book has room to flesh out characters and subplots that were cut from the film, including Sophie’s family as well as Howl’s. Overall, the witch’s storyline is more satisfying and coherent in the book as a result of these developments. This eventually leads to a confrontation with the witch’s fire demon, the source of her power, and possibly also the cause of her wickedness. The addition of Howl’s family adds an important dimension to his character, and provides an angle of attack for the Witch of the Waste that is missing from the film. In the book, but not the movie, the black door leads to our world, specifically to Wales, where Howl-aka Howell Jenkins-has left behind his sister, niece, and nephew. As in the film, the castle has four entrances, each in a different physical location. One of my favourite aspects of the novel was the emphasis on the portal fantasy, including Howl’s connection to our world. She found that a great relief.” She is well-matched against the tumultuous and mercurial Howl in temperament, and her new life also frees her to discover her own magic. As an old woman, she did not mind what she did or said. Diana Wynne Jones writes that “as a girl, Sophie would have shriveled with embarrassment at the way she was behaving. The witch’s curse, which transforms Sophie into an old woman, frees her from much of that expectation, allowing her character to come through more strongly. Part of the appeal of this narrative is Sophie, a strong-willed character, but one who has been hiding her opinions and forcefulness behind the polite, timid façade expected of a young woman and dutiful eldest daughter. Howl’s Moving Castle is perhaps my favourite Studio Ghibli movies, so it is a bit surprising that it took me this long to get around to reading the book it was based on, which was originally published in 1986. Cursed to look like an old woman, Sophie seeks out the moving castle, and strikes a bargain with Howl’s fire demon that will have far reaching consequences. But when she accidentally runs afoul of the Witch of the Waste, Sophie leaves home to seek her fate, despite being the eldest daughter. Sophie tries to tell herself she is resigned to her fate, sewing hats in her father’s shop. Sophie Hatter is the eldest of three daughters, and everyone knows that in fairy tales the eldest is doomed to meet the worst fate, while the youngest has all the adventures and marries the prince. The Wizard Howl is a terrible fiend known for stealing and eating the hearts of young girls. And last year I offended someone very powerful and I need to keep out of their way.”Īll the residents of Market Chipping have heard of the terrible Wizard Howl, whose moving castle lurks over the hills and moors surrounding the town. I can’t have the King thinking well of me. ![]() “What an outspoken old woman you are! I’ve reached that stage in my career when I need to impress everyone with my power and wickedness. ![]()
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