Howl's Moving Castle Audiobook By Diana Wynne Jones cover art

Howl's Moving Castle

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Howl's Moving Castle

By: Diana Wynne Jones
Narrated by: Jenny Sterlin
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A Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book and ALA Notable and Best of the Year in Young Adult Fiction, Howl's Moving Castle is by acclaimed fantasy writer Diane Wynne Jones and was transformed into an Academy Award nominated animated motion picture by Hayao Miyazaki. On a rare venture out from her step-mother's hat shop, Sophie attracts the attention of a witch, who casts a terrible spell transforming the young girl into an old crone.

©1986 Diana Wynne Jones (P)2008 Recorded Books, LLC

Accolades & Awards

Fantasy Essentials
Fantasy & Magic Fantasy Essentials Humorous Fiction Fantasy Magic Science Fiction & Fantasy Witty Fiction Fairy Tales, Folk Tales & Myths Comedy Literature & Fiction Suspenseful Feel-Good

Critic reviews

"A wonderful blend of humor, magic, and romance." (Publishers Weekly)

Featured Article: The top 100 fantasy listens of all time


When compiling our list of the best fantasy listening out there, we immediately came up against the age-old question: Is this fantasy or science fiction? The distinction is not as clear as you may think. Dragons, elves, and wizards are definitely fantasy, but what about wizards that also fly space ships? (Looking at you, Star Wars.) For the sake of fantasy purity, the top 100 fantasy listens include the best audio works in all manner of fantasy subgenres.

Featured Article The top 100 fantasy listens of all time
Magical Worldbuilding • Complex Characters • Intricate Plot • Whimsical Storytelling • Clever Humor

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This is a great book, read by a great narrator. I loved listening to the story unfold and could really feel the character development. I usually have to be working on something while listening to an audiobook, but I could just sit around with this and listen to it over and over again. The writing is funny, quick, and original, and Jenny Sterlin brings Sophie, Howl, and Calcifer to life. Especially Sophie; I loved her character tremendously. I'm about to make a bold statement and don't want to cause any controversy, but this is the kind of performance that makes the audio version better than the written one, and I mean that with full compliments to Diana Wynne Jones. A painting is only as good as the drawing underneath.

Stays with you for days

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This is one of my favorite books. If you've only seen the movie, the book is just as good and much more complex. It is entertaining enough for children yet intelligent enough for adults.

If you've read/listened to D.W.J's Chrestomanci books, this is a slightly different type of fantasy and takes place in a fairy tale world.

Sophie is the oldest of 3 sisters and therefore, of course, destined to be the least successful. She submits quietly to this fate until the day her life takes an unexpected turn. Freed from expectation, she discovers just what she is capable of and "finds her fortune".

If only the narration were as good. I own another book read by the same narrator and liked it just fine. Her voices for this book, however, were a bit irritating and detracted somewhat from my enjoyment of the story. It won't keep me from listening to this book again, though.

5 stars for the book / 3 stars for the narration

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I loved this book! I can't wait to have my kids read it. It's unique, imaginative, exciting and squeaky clean. Great read!

A magical romp for the whole family!

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I watched the movie before I read the book. You have to decide to set them apart in your mind, and if you do you will be impressed with both the book and the movie separately.

lovely

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I grew up watching the movie as a child and I absolutely adored it. Now that I've heard the full book I've decided i love both. Even though they're different they're both wonderful and I will hold them in my heart forever.

I can't tell which I like better

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