The mad Hatter
I'm really not that original. A lot of the time I'll see a good movie and then eventually decide to check out the book it was based on. Ever since seeing Hayao Miyazaki's near-brilliant film, I knew I'd have to experience the source material.
Sophie Hatter is unremarkable, and when compared to her two younger, magical sisters, she is decidedly moreso. After all, one can bewitch men and the other wants to be an actual witch; Sophie just knows how to make hats. But when the Witch of the West curses Sophie with old age, the stubborn Sophie realizes her only hope lies in the wizard Howl, that feared being who is rumored to eat the hearts of young women. But he is also the Witch's enemy, and he might find a way to lift Sophie's curse. She leaves the hat shop for the lands beyond, where Howl's castle glides above, never staying in one place for long. After an encounter with a persistent scarecrow, Sophie hitches a ride within the castle, at first viewed as no more than a harmless pest. She meets Michael, Howl's down-to-earth apprentice, and Calcifer, a flame demon who contracts Sophie into curing his curse in exchange for him curing hers. The picky, charming Howl eventually reveals himself to be something entirely different than what she expects. Together, the four of them embark on an adventure concerning a lost prince, a complicated spell, Sophie's own sisters, and a trip to a world like ours that Howl seems to know all too well.
I can definitely say that the eighties were a good time for self-aware, subversive fantasies with female protagonists (see Dealing with Dragons). This book has a similar sense of fun concerning traditional fantasy tropes and themes. Beyond that, it's also inventive and different enough to set it apart from the pack. One of the things that struck me was how Jones writes her female characters; the three sisters, not to mention Sophie's stepmother, are all quite loving toward one another and I enjoyed their interactions. It's obvious to the reader that Sophie is made of sterner stuff than she realizes, and her determination becomes her defining trait. Her interactions with the vain Howl are also a treat, even if I didn't quite believe the turn their relationship took in the end. Michael becomes a VIP as well, as Sophie eventually comes to see him as something like a younger brother. Indeed, the theme of families and familial love is a huge part of the charm here.
I also admire Jones's relatively tight plotting, although I think there was one missing person too many. Keeping track of all the different events, none of which connect until nearly the very end (the exposition is spaced out so that it doesn't all come in one big block, which makes things easy on the reader). Jones does some neat things that don't need an explanation, such as Howl's ability to move between his world and our modern 1986 world and the implication that he has a family there, as well (hello, theme). It feels like something that's been done before (Xanth = Florida, as I recall), but Howl's connection to it remains mysterious. As it should.
For a classic, Howl's Moving Castle fits the bill. It delivers a subtle "discover/be yourself" message that jells with the feisty plot and characters who you'll want to spend more time with. There's some things that fail to impress, but those are few and far between. I wouldn't have minded seeing Sophie getting more than an intimate gaze, though. Rating: 4 falling stars out of 5.
I can definitely say that the eighties were a good time for self-aware, subversive fantasies with female protagonists (see Dealing with Dragons). This book has a similar sense of fun concerning traditional fantasy tropes and themes. Beyond that, it's also inventive and different enough to set it apart from the pack. One of the things that struck me was how Jones writes her female characters; the three sisters, not to mention Sophie's stepmother, are all quite loving toward one another and I enjoyed their interactions. It's obvious to the reader that Sophie is made of sterner stuff than she realizes, and her determination becomes her defining trait. Her interactions with the vain Howl are also a treat, even if I didn't quite believe the turn their relationship took in the end. Michael becomes a VIP as well, as Sophie eventually comes to see him as something like a younger brother. Indeed, the theme of families and familial love is a huge part of the charm here.
I also admire Jones's relatively tight plotting, although I think there was one missing person too many. Keeping track of all the different events, none of which connect until nearly the very end (the exposition is spaced out so that it doesn't all come in one big block, which makes things easy on the reader). Jones does some neat things that don't need an explanation, such as Howl's ability to move between his world and our modern 1986 world and the implication that he has a family there, as well (hello, theme). It feels like something that's been done before (Xanth = Florida, as I recall), but Howl's connection to it remains mysterious. As it should.
For a classic, Howl's Moving Castle fits the bill. It delivers a subtle "discover/be yourself" message that jells with the feisty plot and characters who you'll want to spend more time with. There's some things that fail to impress, but those are few and far between. I wouldn't have minded seeing Sophie getting more than an intimate gaze, though. Rating: 4 falling stars out of 5.
Some of those who saw the movie first like it better with the anti-war theme and such. Still prefer the book.
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