This is a perfect little book. It’s a fantasy story that understands how perspective limits the ways in which stories can be told, in the very best of ways. It’s a lot like the movie (or more so the movie does a great job of translating the story to the screen) and the result is a beautifully visual novel with heart, intrigue, curiosity, and sense.
The story begins in a fantasy kingdom and Sophie’s mother has decided to push her three daughters into apprenticeships. Sophie will work in the hat shop with her, Lettie will go work in the bakery, and Martha will become a witch. The problem is Sophie doesn’t know what she wants, Lettie wants to be a witch, and Martha is perfectly happy becoming the adored object in the bakery. This changes things up and Lettie and Martha switch places and perform a disguise spell. One day Sophie inadvertently, it seems, offends a customer who storms back in and casts a spell on her — to become very old — and it is revealed that this customer is the Witch of the Waste, infamous in the kingdom. Sophie runs off and eventually runs into the moving castle, the home of Wizard Howl. She muscles her way in, being much more assertive in her old, and strikes a deal with the magical heart of the castle, a fire demon named Calcifer, who says he will help eliminate her spell if she’ll help him get out of his contract in the castle.
Thus begins the journey. We meet Howl, who is younger, more morose, more handsome, and much less evil than his reputation suggests, and Michael, and a dog who might be a prince.
Like I said, this story understands scope and perspective brilliantly. Most of the story happens in the kitchen of the castle, while we understand that so much more is happening outside. But we’re attached to Sophie and her limits as an older woman (and a slightly meek girl) and the limits of the room.
(Photo: https://www.amazon.com/Howls-Moving-Castle-Diana-Wynne/dp/0061478784/ref=sr_1_4?crid=3SBA9O01F8OI8&keywords=howls+moving+castle&qid=1553689018&s=gateway&sprefix=howl%2Caps%2C303&sr=8-4)