House of Many Ways

 Diana Wynne Jones's third book in the Howl's Moving Castle series is probably my favorite. Don't get me wrong. The first one is amazing, but this one was fun. 

Charmain Baker is a baker's daughter who is good at nothing but reading. Her mother doesn't let her do anything that is remotely unladylike, so mostly she reads. But then she is tasked with taking care of Great Uncle William's house while he is going away to see the Elves to heal him. Great Uncle William is a wizard and his house his magical. Outside it is a simple cottage with two rooms, but the large wooden door that leads to the kitchen can also lead to "many ways" other than the kitchen. Not only does she come to a house that is piled high with laundry and dishes which she doesn't know how to do, but the kobolds are also complaining and a boy barges in looking to be Great Uncle William's apprentice AND she gets a reply from the King to come and help him with his library. So much is going on for a girl who doesn't know how to do anything. 

This was  my sons favorite out of the three stories. Charmain was cute and it was just a super fun book. I liked the appearance of Howl and Sophie, though Howl's lisp was hard to voice over, jus saying. I also enjoyed the history of he old country and how some problems last generations before they become resolved. 

It was a cute book, that I would defiantly read again, and probably will if my son has more say in what I pick for our breakfast book club. 

Castle in the Air

 I was not disappointed with this "companion" to Howl's Moving Castle though it was not what I expected. 

This story follows Abdullah, a humble carpet merchant from Zanzib. One day, a traveler comes and sells him a flying carpet. Seeing that it does fly, he buys it but then can't seem to make it work. To make sure it doesn't fly away, he falls asleep on it only to wake up in a garden that could only be from a dream. Abdullah also sees a beautiful woman who's name is Flower-In-The-Night, who happens to be the princess. On his second miraculous visit the next night, she is kidnapped by a djinn and he can do nothing to stop it. After getting thrown in the palace dungeon by her father the Sultan, with help from the carpet he finds himself in the dessert in the hands of bandits with a genie at hand. With a wish to help him find Flower-In-The-Night, he finds himself in the northern non-dessert country of Ingery and at he disposal of a vagabond soldier who is supposed to help him find the most beautiful, smart, and kind woman he's ever seen. 

It was a jolly read that I very much enjoyed. 

At first I was a bit perturbed that this sequel didn't star Howl, Sophie, and Calcipher, but I found that I enjoyed Abdullah, the genie, the cats, the soldier, and the others. I liked Flower-In-The-Night, though I would have liked it more if she had gotten a bit more screen time. But she was a powerful woman who didn't take any flack from anyone, even a djinn. The other princesses we meet were pretty awesome, too. 

I also liked the expansion of the world in Howl's Moving Castle. There is much in the world that I wanted more of and happily got it through a different narrator. 

I don't think I have anything negative to say about this one. It was very much a joy to read. My son really liked it too and got into the story. 

Howl's Moving Castle

"Howl's Moving Castle" by Diana Wynne Jones

For those of you who didn't even know that "Howl's Moving Castle" was a book but loved the movie, I think you'll like the book. For those who have never heard of either one, you should read and watch the movie. It doesn't matter which one you find first because they are vastly different, and not different in a bad way. They both have their pros and cons but they both make for an entertaining story.

Sophie is the oldest of three sisters and therefore can't do anything with her life except take over the hat shop that her family owns. She blames all of her mistakes on the fact that she is the oldest by saying "It all comes from being the eldest" and what's funny is that she ends up trying to help but messes up all the time--sad but funny.

She has a curse put on her by the evil Witch of the Waste which makes her turn her from her young, teenage self to a 90 year old woman. Quickly she escapes the city in order to seek her fortune--which goes very awry because "it all comes from being the eldest." Sophie runs into the heartless Wizard Howl and his moving castle and ends up joining the little family when she makes a contract with the Fire Demon Calsifer--if she can break his spell, he will break hers. This leads to much mayhem and lots of laughs as they try to find the King's brother and Royal Wizard who have gone missing.

I greatly enjoyed the book and love the movie. I was also pleasantly surprised to find out that this is the first book in a series of three that Diana Wynne Jones has written with Sophie, Howl, and the other characters in the book. Sophie is an amazing character that quickly grows on you and even though Howl is "heartless" he is very kind. It was also a joy to find out that Sophie is a witch herself and does her own witchcraft--this doesn't really happen in the movie.

Super fun book and I will probably read it to my kids when they get old enough. ;)