Dianne Wynne Jones: Howl's Moving Castle

This is a cute little book that works within a fairytale setting but turns some of the fairytale stereotypes upside down. I think it would be equally interesting to kids or to adults who like fantasy novels. Wynne Jones is very creative in coming up with details of the world in her book and she tells the story in such a way that her world comes alive. I was sad when I finished the book that I couldn’t read more about the characters. That is always a sign of a good book. This novel is being made into a movie by Miyazaki Hayao (a Japanese director who is famous for his unique adaptations of stories — he directed “Spirited Away”). Really looking forward to seeing it.

(Note: I watched the Japanese adaptation and, unfortunately, I have to say that I was disappointed.)