Title: Howl's Moving Castle
Author: Diana Wynne Jones
Frequent visitors to The Squid already know of my family's tremendous affection for the films of Hayao Miyazaki. One of my favorites among them is Howl's Moving Castle (my review here). As such, I didn't need much convincing when fellow blogger Charles the Reader recommended that I try the original novel. Our Girl read it first, using it for a book project during the past school year and enjoying it very much.
There are perils in watching a film before reading the source material, just as there are in the opposite direction. In either case, one comes to the second medium with strong preconceptions, sure to be challenged. I tend to favor the book as I believe strongly in following the intent of the original author. So, reading the story second often undermines things I thought I liked about the movie. There are many differences between novel and movie in the case of Howl's Moving Castle, some inevitable in light of the works' relative scale but some of Miyazaki's choices sent the story on entirely different vectors. Both stories work, though, and to the credit of both creators, Jones gave Miyazaki her blessing.
Sophie is the oldest of three sisters working in the family hat shop. When their father dies, the two sisters are sent off for apprenticeships elsewhere but Sophie stays. One day, the Wicked Witch of the Waste comes in and turns Sophie into an elderly woman, for reasons our heroine does not understand. She leaves home to wander the world and find her new place in it. She encounters, as the title suggests, a moving castle and manages to get inside. There she befriends Calcifer, the fire demon who steers the ship, as it were; Michael, a teenage boy who serves as a wizard's assistant and, eventually, Howl the wizard who owns the castle. With a few changes in details, the basic set up of the movie is the same.
In the book, the area Howl and his castle roam is significantly broadened, including trips to modern Wales - a story element abandoned for the film. In the novel, Howl engages in direct battle with the Witch whereas he avoids all conflict in Miyazaki's interpretation. The end result is essentially the same for Sophie but the adventures that bring her there are quite different between the two media. I'll be curious to watch the movie again sometime to know how my exposure to the original impacts my perception.
I'm also interested in further Sophie and Howl adventures. Moving Castle was the first of a three-part series. Castle in the Air was published in 1990, House of Many Ways in 2008. Diana Wynne Jones passed away in 2011 at the age of 76.
Please join us and share your own review of your best read from the past month. This month's link list is below. I'll keep it open until the end of the day. I'll post August's tomorrow. Meetings are the last Friday of each month. Next gathering is August 30th.
One of my creative writing students read this last school year. I may pick it up at some point... if I can whittle down my current stack of books enough to add it.
ReplyDeleteIt's fun.
DeleteI have some other books by Diana Wynne Jones on my bookshelf that were given to me by a friend to read. I sadly haven't gotten to them yet. I had no idea she'd also written this book.
ReplyDeleteI'm definitely up for more.
DeleteI've read a couple of reviews this morning and I've gotta say, the Coffeehouse is shaping up beautifully. A great idea, the execution getting better and better with each passing month. Big, fat kudos on that count.
ReplyDeleteOut of curiosity, is 'Castle in the Air' at all related to Miyazaki's film, 'Castle in the Sky?'
I wondered the same but no, completely different stories. The movie came first, in fact: 1986. Jones's book (1990) is a new story with the same characters from the Moving Castle.
DeleteNice, I never would have considered this book. Thanks for suggesting it.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if I would have without Charles's recommendation. I do love the movie, though, so I might have come around to the book eventually.
DeleteI would probably watch the movie before getting around to reading the book, at least in this instance, mostly because that's not the kind of book I'm currently reading (and based on what I have been reading lately, I'm really game for some good literary fiction again).
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure which I prefer, though I would assert that if you like one, you'd most likely enjoy the other. As I said in my post, I usually come down in favor of the book but Miyazaki did an awfully nice job. If it's not my favorite of his films, it's definitely Top 2.
DeleteI also love Hayao Miyazaki's films (more than the stories themselves, I absolutely love the animations and artwork). I had no idea there were novels of his films (I imagined there would be comic books but not novels. Are there illustrations inside?)
ReplyDeleteI went over to your film review and saw the trailer. I'm definitely going to look for it!
Thanks for hosting this book club. :-)
Quite a few of his films are based on comics but a few, including Howl, are based on novels.
DeleteMy pleasure, Lorena! I am honored and humbled by the participation of The Sisterhood.
"One day, the Wicked Witch of the Waste comes in and turns Sophie into an elderly woman, for reasons our heroine does not understand."
ReplyDeleteDoes Sophie eventually figure out why she's been turned into and elderly woman? Is it something that is figured out in the film or the book?
I'm not a huge fan of this genre, so sorry I don't share your enthusiasm :( But thanks for sharing all the same!
Sort of. It's the result of a misunderstanding actually.
DeleteSounds like a very interesting book.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter and I both enjoyed it.
DeleteI have seen the movie and read the book. I enjoyed them both as separate entities. The book as with all books is more involved. This was also the first time Hayao Miyazaki went to an outside source for a movie.
ReplyDelete@Mary Mary I think there are enough clues through out the movie why she feels like the old women above and beyond the spell.
As for not being a fan of this genre you should try one of Studio Ghibli movies. The art alone will surprise you and the stories always have a strong female main character who doesn't need a man to save her, make it better or treat her like a object. I have given these movie to all my friends children girls and boys especially boys. Besides this movie try Kiki's Delivery Service.
Considering what Hollywood is spewing out these movie are so much better.
cheers, parsnip
Well, you know I agree with you across the board. I would agree that Howl is a good starter movie for Ghibli, too - Totoro's not a bad choice either. The strong female protagonists are definitely a major selling point at our house.
DeleteI adore Miyazaki as well and we've watched this film multiple times; I bought the book assuming one of us would get to it, but we just keep passing it by. I wonder if that's because we feel like we already know the story? Anyway, Sophie is such an engaging character and the twist of having her turn into an old woman is so original. There are some very Miyazaki touches in the film (the "bad guys" in his films are never entirely wicked), which I sort of assume are his contribution more than Jones's.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with Parsnip: Miyazaki's films are so different from your generic Hollywood offerings ... and that's a good thing. I've never seen anyone tell a story like he does.
The book has plenty to offer beyond what's in the movie. Part of why I'm eager to read the other books of the series is a desire to get further beyond the story of the film.
DeleteI haven't read or seen this story in either form, but I am pretty sure I do have some Diana Wynne Jones on my TBR list (which is very, very long).
ReplyDeleteI understand. My TBR list shall never be completely exhausted - and that's a beautiful thing!
DeleteAH, you have reminded me of something I wanted to see and read for a long time. Thanks for putting it back on my radar!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely - very much in the spirit of the enterprise.
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