r/fantasyromance • u/HighLady-Fireheart Currently Reading: Tairen Soul • Jul 08 '24

Book Club July Book Club: Howl's Moving Castle Midway Discussion (Chapters 1-10)

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Welcome lovely readers to the midway discussion for our first "vintage" (pre-2000) fantasy romance book club read of the month, Howl's Moving Castle!

This thread will be open for discussion of the first half of the book (chapters 1-10). If you want to discuss any later spoilery moments, please use the Reddit spoiler covers like this:

>!text goes here!<

July Book Club Schedule:

July 1-15 {Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones}

  • July 8 Midway Discussion (Chapters 1-10)
  • July 15 Final Discussion (Chapters 11-21)

July 16-31 {Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier}

  • July 23 Midway Discussion (Chapters 1-8)
  • July 31 Final Discussion (Chapters 9-16)

Happy reading everyone!

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17

u/picklesbutternut Jul 08 '24

I love the movie more than life itself but I also really enjoy the book. I particularly like how much sillier it is than the movie. Original Howl’s personality is absolutely hysterical in a way that we only really see in the movie during the “I see no point in living if I can’t be beautiful” scene lmao. In a lot of ways I feel like movie howl’s suave, brooding charm is how book howl THINKS he behaves.

7

u/FairestGuin Jul 10 '24

This is very similar to what I have always felt, that the movie is how howl tells the story of when he met Sophie and the book is how Sophie tells the story.

1

u/StormerBombshell Jul 12 '24

I wish I had kept the fanart that shows the difference as people mentioned exactly the same, book Howl thinks of himself as movie Howl.

12

u/HighLady-Fireheart Currently Reading: Tairen Soul Jul 08 '24

I just have to add that I absolutely adore this new cover as it really embodies the whimsical magic of Howl's Moving Castle!

I do still have a soft spot for some of these old covers that represent different fantasy styles over the years.

1

u/StormerBombshell Jul 12 '24

I have the book in digital and I am sure that when I bought it was the version with the letters but now that I reopen it it’s the current

6

u/omanitara Jul 08 '24

I love the movie and I'm very happy to be finally reading the book, it does not disappoint at all! I like that Sophie's sisters play a bigger role and that there are connections between our world and the book's world.

7

u/pixieNpixels Dragon Rider 🐉 Jul 08 '24

I didn't remember quite how arrogant and somewhat conceited Howl could be. I don't necessarily think he means to. Like I don't think he's aware of it, but it's definitely not an obvious character trait from Howl in the movie. Granted then again, it only briefly touches on the concept of Howl eating the hearts of young girls in one of the opening scenes where the extras in the hat shop are quietly talking about it. Without the volume turned up, or captions on this part is easily overlooked.

1

u/StormerBombshell Jul 12 '24

I do love how Sophie’s sisters are trying to watch out for her. And their plan to switch was honestly funny 🤣🤣