Rating: 
Summary: Loved it
Review: I loved this book. It was one of those when you're reading it, you want to be in it. A lucky find at a booksale (50c, can't beat the price), it's the story of Sophie, the eldest of three daughters and thus, she assumes, born to screw up. Everyone knows the eldest is the one to make mistakes so the youngest can win the prince and prize. She is cursed by a witch to become an old woman (from 18 to 75 in the blink of an eye), and makes her way to the moving castle of the disreputable wizard Howl. Sophie is a wonderful character, I thought she was funny and intelligent and aware of her shortcomings, which was nice. I really didn't want to finish this book, I wanted to be with the characters more and see what happens. All ends well, as might be suspected, and you will have a guaranteed good time reading it.
Rating:
Summary: You will not want to put it down
Review: Sophie Hatter lived in Market Chipping with her two sisters. When her father dies, the girls are sent away to seek their fortunes, and Sophie must stay as an apprentice in her father's old hat shop. Sophie soon grows tired of her boring lifestyle, and wants to seek her own fortune. But getting herself turned into a 90 year-old woman by the Witch of the Waste was a bit more than she wanted.Now Sophie must go see the Wizard Howl, who lives, of all possible paces, in a moving castle. But the only way to break the witch's curse on her is to help a blue fire demon gain his freedom from Howl. But that takes time, and Sophie's has to make sure that the Witch of the Waste doesn't find her first. Howl's Moving Castle is a wonderful, humorous fantasy full of magic and romance. It will keep you guessing what the next page will bring, and all leads up to an explosive ending big enough for two worlds.
Rating:
Summary: A Castle that moves, how amazing
Review: Have you ever wanted to own a hat shop? No, probably not, seems a little dull. Well, how about trade bodies with your sister? Or, Be a maid for a wizard? Maybe, make a deal with a fire demon? Walk in seven league boots? Those seem much more exciting don't they?
Well, Sophie has to stay home and work at the hat shop, while her two sister go to be apprentices, and switch bodies. Well, Sophie isn't too excited about this, but she gets turned into and elderly woman and goes to seek her fortune, which is unlucky for the eldest child to do. But she does. And enters Howl's Moving Castle. Where she makes a deal with a fire demon and becomes a maid to Wizard Howl.
There is much to the story and i will give no more away, that would take away the fun, wouldn't it? So, all i can say is READ IT, PLEASE! It's great!
It is coming to theaters in 2004, anime.
Rating:
Summary: Not A Review But A Preview....
Review: Why is this not a review but a preview? Because I hove not read this book. So why am I doing this? Easy, I want everyone else who may be wary of reading this book to know this fact: Howl's Moving Castle WILL DEFINIATELY be made into a movie by the master of fantastic animation, Hayao Miyazaki, in 2004. Yes, Miyazaki-San has decided to use yet another of Dianne Wynne Jones tales of fantasy and creativity as the basis for his 2004 movie project, the previous book was Castle In The Sky: Laputa. Whether this will be the second release to debut in both Japan and American is unknown at this point, but rumors as surfacing after the already Oscar hopeful animated film "Tokyo Godfathers" (Dir. Satoshi Kon, sonypictures.com/movies/tokyogodfathers/) is set to be released in both Japan AND American on December 29, 2003. I can already tell you that the man who brought you such brillent pieces of cinema such as My Neighbor Totoro, Castle In The Sky, Princess Mononoke, and the Oscar winning Spirited Away and who is one of the top selling authors of ALL TIME with his gut-renching and utterly beautiful masterpiece, Nausicaa; Valley of the Wind, it's a sure thing that this will be one the things that, like in the past, whenever he places his hands upon it will become instant gold. A brief preview for Howl's Moving Castle is already being circulated throughout the internet on both Japanese and English language websites, so please do check it out. Oh yea, go see Tokyo Godfathers as well, trust me....
Rating:
Summary: Not your average fantasy...
Review: What is it that separates Howl's Moving Castle from all the other magic-driven tales out there? Well, the best answer I can supply is that it has a sort of rare, spunky quality that makes it a fairytale, just twisted around so you can relate to it. I have never met anyone who has not enjoyed this book. In fact, most people, like me, love it.
The tale can be a bit confusing, which is why it turns out all the more satisfying. This also gives it its re-read factor. I guarantee you will not pick up everything the first time you read, but after that you will discover little clues and portions you wouldn't have noticed otherwise. It also suits readers of all ages.
The storyline is bold and new, though it has the familiarity of an old fairytale. It will not bore you with never-ending descriptions of things you don't care about. You will want to know what happens to the characters, particularly Howl and Sophie, since they have such strong personalities.
All of this authors books are great, with a unique writing style that is humorous and vivid.
The only thing I can say is, if you haven't already picked up Howl's moving castle, go! Now! You won't regret it.
Rating:
Summary: Diana, you've done it again!!!
Review: 'Howl's Moving Castle' is a colourful work of black and white art! This story is never boring, and is wonderfully told. It's witty, and you won't want to put it down! I also suggest reading "Castle in the Air", some of the characters from 'Howl' make an appearance in 'Castle', and you'll be thrilled to death with how wonderful these novels are!
Rating:
Summary: My favorite book!!!
Review: This is my favorite book the world has to offer!! It has all the components of a great fantasy book, and it draws you in to Ms. Wynne-Jones' world of excitement. Bravo!!!
Rating:
Summary: The stirring, exiting book, Howl's Moving Castle...
Review: As you read this book a story of humour, mystery, exitement and a pinch of romance unfolds itself. If you read it again -which undoubtedly you will!- you will discover even more about this story and its wonderful characters. The story begins in a hat shop in Market Chipping with Sophie Hatter. Sophie is the eldest child of three children. One day, when she is alone -her two sisters having found apprenticeships- the Witch of the Waste comes and casts a spell on her. She then decides to go to Wizard Howl, who eats hearts of young girls, in his moving castle...And the wonderful adventure of Sophie Hatter begins.
Rating: 
Summary: Sparkling fantasy
Review: Diana Wynne-Jones has a well-deserved reputation for funny, well-plotted, keep-you-riveted-to-your-chair fantasy stories. Here she provides an unusual sorcerer, an unlikely heroine, and a lot of sly winks at fantasies and fairy tales. Very entertaining. Sophie Hatter is the eldest of three daughters, which in this fantasyland means that she's the one who doesn't have an astounding "fortune" to seek. Instead she's stuck at the hat shop. One day a plump, very rude woman comes to see the hats, and Sophie uncharacteristically insults her. Unfortunately, this woman is the Witch of the Wastes, and responds by aging Sophie into a crone. Peeved out of being shy and retiring, she tramps off to the "Moving Castle" of the supposedly evil wizard Howl, who reportedly [steals] out the souls of young girls. After arriving at the castle, she encounters Howl's pleasant apprentice and contracted fire demon Calcifer (who promises to disenchant Sophie if she breaks his contract). Though she annoys the rather self-absorbed Howl and drives Calcifer almost nuts at times, Sophie becomes the cleaning lady at the Moving Castle. She begins searching for the chewed-up hearts of the girls, only to find something a lot more bizarre -- including her own peculiar magic. If you've ever read a fairy tale -- Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast -- you'll know that the youngest kids are always are the favored ones. They go on to marry princes or princesses, become wealthy and beloved. Jones mocks this and many other fairy-tale cliches, such as the hilarious scene where Sophie lurches around in seven-league boots. There's even a brief homage to J.R.R. Tolkien. It's certainly an interesting twist to have a not-so-evil evil-wizard, a harried apprentice, and a heroine who appears to be in her nineties. Similarly, the ideas of the "Moving Castle" with its doors to other places (including modern Wales) is very original. That's not even mentioning the attacking scarecrow. Until she's aged into a crone, Sophie isn't much of a heroine; she's too timid and dull to be of interest. Post-aging, she becomes interesting and delightfully pushy. Howl is not what you think of a "bad" wizard as; his tantrums over things like hair dye are hysterically funny, and he's also immensely attractive to the opposite sex. Michael is a good sidekick, with the common-sense that Howl lacks; Calcifur the fire demon is one of Jones' most memorable characters, especially when Sophie bullies him. While it isn't quite as spectacular as Jones' Chrestomanci Chronicles, "Howl's Moving Castle" will appeal to those who liked fantasy spoof "Dark Lord of Derkholm" and "Year of the Griffin." A funny, thought-provoking magical ride.
Rating:
Summary: Delightful tale of magic by Diana Wynne Jones
Review: Sophie lives in a small village in the magical land of Ingary. Her village fears the heartless wizard, Howl, whose dark castle insists on circling the village--but it is a wicked witch who suddenly places an aging spell on Sophie, causing her to leave the village and, exhausted, take refuge in Howl's castle. Filled with finely drawn characters, this is a book accessible for all ages. Perhaps the best part is when the characters visit our world, and we see things through their perspective. Jones includes bits and pieces of standard fantasy, from fire demons to seven-league boots, but what results is, as always, entirely her own. Highly recommended. Jones is finally starting to get her due as an author, and this is a good place to start reading her works.
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