Howl's Moving Castle

I’ve just finished reading Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynn Jones. It is full of imagery and whimsically adventure. Sophie and eighteen year old who works as an apprentice in her family’s hat shop is turned into a 90 year old woman by the Witch of the Waste. She finds her self venturing to visit the evil Wizard Howl, whom she hopes will break the spell. Things don’t work out exactly as she planned because she is unable to tell anyone that she is under a spell- a quip embedded by the Witch of The Waste.

Once Sophie has entered into the castle she begins to realize that things aren’t as they seem. She comes to realize that Howl is a young man whom she met in the town square the day before and that he is not at all evil. He lives with his young apprentice Michael and a fire demon that is bound to the fireplace. To Sophie’s surprise the Fire Demon can see that she is under a spell and they enter into a bargain to free each other.

There are many more details to the story but I don’t care to give away too many details. The story is beautifully told, elegant and enchanting. I encourage everyone to pick up this read. I can assure you a joyful adventure of love and self-discovery