#both howl’s and diana’s

[shebsart]

If thou be'st born to strange sights,

[callonpeevesie]

Kid Howl and Megan because I love whatever they have going on and I've been thinking about them reading LOTR together

[nadiajustbe]

I have a hedcanon that Howl named all his spiders after some famous characters from our world.

It was a particular tragedy when Juliet the spider bit off the head of Romeo the spider, and Howl spent at least a day lamenting over what to do with Juliette — kill her according to the canons of the play or leave the poor creature to suffer for the rest of her life.

[finnitesimal]

Kind of staggering to think I've read maybe less than 20 fanfics in all of 2023. Even less original books

[avithenaftali]

October 28, 2022, 7:11 P.M.

For whatever reason I enjoy thinking about Diana Wynne Jones' writing as a whole and picking out unexpected or resonant trends. For example, some things that comes up often is:

She'll fabricate a world (right down to its cosmology), fill it with memorable characters, set one or two short novels in it... and then never touch it again. On to the next one. Rinse and repeat for her entire career.

The concept of multiple/parallel universes appear half a dozen times in different novels/sequences, but always in completely different ways. The multiple worlds of Chrestomanci function very, very differently from the multiple worlds of The Homeward Bounders, which themselves function so different from the Ayewards/Naywards of Deep Secret, or the walls between the worlds in Dark Lord of Derkholm. More importantly, all these approaches to multiverse explicitly contradict each other. There is no larger DWJ multiverse; there is no way to coherently combine any of them, much less all of them. I love her for this. Every book is its own project. Franchising be damned.

With one exception (which is the Dalemark quartet, oddly enough), none of these worlds are sealed-off secondary worlds. Our own Earth appears in all of them, though usually from the 'wrong' end of the telescope. Meaning, it's stuff like reading Charmed Life and assuming you're reading a magical secondary world fantasy for most of the book... up until the point when Janet is pulled into the story due to Gwendolyn's spell. The reader instantly understands that Janet is from our own world, from the 1970s when the book was written. She never makes it home, either. She never sees her parents again. She's a supporting character who becomes permanently stuck in the world of Chrestomanci, as a casualty of Gwendolyn's spells.

It is interesting, though, how there are almost no sealed-off secondary worlds in DWJ's oeuvre.

There are lots of neat things to say about how DWJ did this, and why she'd do it, and the implications in the storytelling. But tonight I'm thinking mostly about how it can be a moment, narratively, that makes you halt and have to recontextualize all these things you thought you knew (or were assuming) about the nature of the story.

In Ursula Le Guin's The Dispossessed, Urras is obviously the metaphorical capitalistic stand-in planet for our own Earth... up until a moment right near the end, where we realize our own Earth exists in this novel too and is an ecological wasteland due to unchecked climate change.

Urras may be the distorted-mirror, uber-capitalist version of our own world. But it's also a planet with a functional ecosystem. It's a planet where society is careful about maintaining that ecosystem. We're not going to be Urras, says Le Guin. We'll be lucky if we become Urras. To become Urras means we wised up in time to not go extinct.

And suddenly, little subtle moments in the worldbuilding around both Anarres and Urras—their shared attention to their own ecology—come into a different light. All because our own, devastated Earth turns out to be present in the novel too.

And in Howl's Moving Castle, Howl is a magician who fits into the fairy tale landscape of Ingary as naturally as anyone else—until the chapter when he has to go home to retrieve a lost spell, and you realize home is in another world, aka home is our world, aka Howl is fucking Welsh and found his way into Ingary by pure accident. And Ben Sullivan, Ingary's missing royal magician, is no native of Ingary either.

To Sophie, it just means that both magicians travelled to Ingary from the same enigmatic foreign land, which is as strange to her as any spell.

To us readers, it means "oh my god he's Welsh too? Just how much is Wales secretly connected to Ingary? Next thing you'll tell me Ben Sullivan's a rugby player as well—"

[neil-gaiman]

Hi Neil,

Hope you’re well. I’ve got another Diana Wynn’s Jones-related question for you. I’m re-reading the Howl books to my husband and he pointed out that it’s curious that John Donne’s Song shows up in Howl’s Moving Castle and then was an inspiration for you to write Stardust. Was this an inside joke, a coincidence, or is this poem just a particular favorite for you both? Also, Howl’s nephew is named Neil—is he named after you? Thanks!

It's a particular favourite of us both.

And on nephew Neil, I don't know. I definitely knew Diana when she was writing the book, so it's possible.

[elizadraws]

Bulgarian Music in Studio Ghibli films

”Myth has it that Orpheus was born in what is now Bulgaria. It seemed to be fact, not myth, that his daughters are still singing there”

These words were written by the New York Times in the remote 1963 — the year in which the largest Bulgarian folk ensemble crossed the Iron Curtain to conquer an entire continent with its cosmic art.

The 1975 release of Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares, a compilation album of modern arrangements of Bulgarian folk songs, further popularized Bulgarian music, and in 1977, a vinyl record featuring the folk song “Izlel ye Delyo Haydutin” (Eng: Come out rebel Delyo) began its journey aboard the Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 spacecrafts.

From this point on popularity from the West spread to the East, and Bulgarian folk music made it to the entertainment industry, including legendary Japanese anime films, like the cult cyberpunk “Ghost in the Shell” or the heartwarming Studio Ghibli features.

In this short article I write about two occasions of Bulgarian music playing in Studio Ghibli’s films.

The record that inspired the creation of “Only Yesterday”

“Only Yesterday” is a 1991 Japanese animated drama film written and directed by Isao Takahata, based on the 1982 manga of the same title by Hotaru Okamoto and Yuko Tone. Set in rural Japan, the film draws parallels with the peasant lifestyle present in Eastern Europe.

The original work is a compilation of short stories about 11-year-old Taeko’s daily life in 1966. Director Takahata had a hard time making it into a movie since the manga, told in the form of a memoir, has no plot to hold a feature. Together with producer Toshio Suzuki, they came up with the solution of bringing the narrator of the story, adult Taeko, into the movie. But there is a curious anecdote about how this idea came to mind.

Taeko picks safflower as the Bulgarian song “Malka moma dvori mete” plays in the background. © Studio Ghibli

In a 2021 interview with students from Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, producer Suzuki recounts how a record of Bulgarian songs performed by the children choir “Bodra Smyana”, introduced to him by director Takahata, inspired the creation of the movie. Moved by the cosmic voices of the children, they decided to make “Only Yesterday” a musical. He also recalls what a tiring process it was to acquire the rights to the music, but if you’ve seen the movie, I am sure you will agree that it was worth it; the haunting, beautiful songs with the pastoral images of farmers picking flowers contribute to one of the greatest scenes created in cinema.

Producer Suzuki showing the record that inspired the creation of ”Only Yesterday”. Source: Studio Ghibli’s Twitter

In “Only Yesterday”, we can hear two songs from the album Bulgarian Polyphony I by Philip Koutev Ensemble. The upbeat “Dilmano Dilbero” [Eng. beautiful Dilmana] sets a happy mood as the protagonist gets changed and ready to go on the field. As the scene shifts and Taeko starts narrating a sad story about the girls in the past picking safflower with their bare hands, the song and mood shift as well.

While the first song has a fast rhythm, with lyrics about pepper planting that can also be interpreted figuratively, the second one, “Malka Moma Dvori Mete” [Eng., a little girl sweeps the yard], is a ballad about a young girl who is forced into marriage but has never known true love.

Both compositions sing about life-cycle events like marriage and the regular coming of the harvests, with lyrics perfectly fitting the setting and plot of the movie, which makes me wonder if the filmmakers chose them by chance or if they had someone translate the words.

Bulgarian Cosmic Voices Enchanting Howl

“Howl’s Moving Castle” is a 2004 Japanese animated fantasy film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, loosely based on the 1986 novel of the same name by British author Diana Wynne Jones. Set in a fictional kingdom the movie draws inspiration from various places in Europe. One of them being Bulgaria.

The story focuses on a young girl, named Sophie, magically transformed into an old woman, and a self-confident but emotionally unstable young wizard, Howl, living in a magical moving castle.

A sketch of a Star Child. Source: The Art of Howl’s Moving Castle

If you’ve seen the movie, you surely remember the scene when Madame Suliman ambushes Howl and tries to strip him of his magic powers. Star Children encircle him and his companions; their shadows grow big, dark and intimidating. They start dancing and chanting unintelligible magic words and are almost successful in their devilish act.

This scene, together with the music played in the background, have been a favourite of many fans of the film. Some even recount it giving them nightmares when they were children.

Star Children encircle Howl in an attempt to strip him of his magic powers. © Studio Ghibli

It turns out, however, that these aren’t any incantations, but the lyrics of a folk song. In Bulgarian. And a love song! Contrary to popular belief, the lyrics have nothing to do with magic and are actually about a boy taking his sweetheart, Dona, to the market to buy her new clothes. The excerpt used in the movie is very short and a bit altered from the original, but the words used go like this: Trendafilcheto, kalafercheto, Done mamino, translated as “the rose, the costmary, my darling Dona”.

I am planing a follow up article where I will post the translated lyrics together with a brief explanation on how they are related to the movies.

If you want to comment on or add something, I would love to hear!

Source

[bethanydelleman]

Sophie was somehow more annoyed than ever. She gave a wordless grump of rage.

-Howl's Moving Castle, Diana Wynne Jones

I cannot sufficiently express how much I love both Sophie and this book.

[antigonick]

Hi! You mentioned starting small with short books to climb out of burnout and since I've been looking for a way out myself, could/would you rec a few of these books? Fiction, non-fiction, poetry - anything is fine by me! 🧡

Yes of course! If you look up "reading slump" on my blog, you'll find a few answers where I talk about short recs, reading children lit or quick crime stories especially, but in this instance here are the books that helped me get back into the saddle—I prioritised page-turners with strong prose, so that I wouldn't fall into either boredom or frustration.

I Who Have Never Known Men, written by Jacqueline Chapman and translated by Ros Schwartz

Dawn, Octavia Butler

Howl's Moving Castle, Diana Wynne Jones

The Thief and The Queen of Attolia, both from The Queen's Thief series by Meghan Whalen Turner

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, written by the Pearl Poet and translated by Simon Armitage

Hamlet, by, uh, William Shakespeare

Much Ado about Nothing, also by Billy

Dog Songs by Mary Oliver (I re-read it constantly)

And not exactly short, but they might have helped rewiring my brain for reading, so :

The Locked Tomb series:

Gideon the Ninth

Harrow the Ninth

Nona the Ninth

I have The King of Eddis (also from The Queen's Thief series), Han Kang's Greek Lessons translated by Deborah Smith, and Octavia Butler's Kindred lined up if that also sparks inspiration! I hope this helps and reading comes back soon for you, MWAH.

PS: OH, yeah, I often keep track of what I read on Goodreads and rate it, if you want to steal ideas!

[luxetobscuritas-blog]

October // books that magically found their way into my home this month.

The Latern of Lost Memories by Sanaka Hiragi

Carmilla by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu

Medusa by Jessie Burton, wonderfully illustrated by Olivia Lomenech Gill

The Full Moon Coffee Shop by Mai Mochizuki

Sämtliche Erzählungen / The complete stories by Adalbert Stifter

Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

What you are looking for is in the library by Michiko Aoyama

Selected Works of the Brontë Sisters

Sorcery and Small Magics by Maiga Doocy

Back in summer, I stumbled upon Sweet Bean Paste by Durian Sukegawa and I fell in love with its atmospheric simplicity while simultaneously addressing important issues like loneliness, illness and the societal discrimination that comes with it. I was intrigued to read more Japanese fiction, and it seemed like I wasn't the only one. Bookstores in my town jumped on this interest as well and in a section specifically decorated for Japanese fiction, I found The Latern of Lost Memories and What you are looking for is in the library.

Carmilla is a book that I absolutely adore and I've been eager to replace my worn-out edition, filled with post-its and notes, with a beautiful hardback version, and I've stumbled across this gem last week. I am just waiting for a rainy evening to cuddle myself into a warm blanket with some freshly brewed tea before I let myself get lost in this wonderfully haunting gothic classic.

Medusa has a special place in my heart as it quite beautifully rewrites the myth of the Gorgon monstrosity, highlighting the vulnerability of being human amidst unjust power dynamics. Medusa explores the difficulties and challenges of being a woman in a world made by men and also the struggles men eventually face in the world they've created against men and women. The narrative is both heart-breaking and heart-warming, capturing the complexities of gender in a profound way.

I couldn't resist taking The Full Moon Coffee Shop with me. There are cats on the cover, and the story revolves around a magically appearing café entirely run by cats. :3 I've got pretty high expectations of this little tale.

I also recently purchased Adalbert Stifter's "Sämtliche Erzählungen" to delve a bit deeper into the nuanced craftsmanship of this often-overlooked literary figure. Amongst lovers of his stories, he is celebrated for his profound exploration of nature, human emotion, and moral philosophy.

Howl's Moving Castle was a pre-order from Fairyloot, but I received it this month. Ugh, this book and the movie just feels like home to me, and I know that I am not the only one. I got a little teary-eyed because whenever I revisit stories, movies, or games from my childhood that have carved themselves into my heart, I realize how much time has passed and how fleeting life is, but it's a great reminder to appreciate the magic that not only surrounded us as children, but that is still there in adulthood. We just have to be willing to see it.

The Selected Works of the Brontë sisters consists of classics that are an absolute necessity to my little library. I've always loved classics where female characters and the portrayal of femininity challenge societal norms, a passion that began during my university days when I wrote term papers on gender and femininity in Victorian literature. The Brontës’ powerful narratives continue to inspire with their bold depictions of women navigating a heteronormative, restrictive society.

Sorcery and Small Magics was part of Fairyloot's October adult-subscription box that I receive monthly. It's the first book of "The Wildersongs Trilogy" and the story revolves around Leovander Loveage who specializes in small magics, like summoning butterflies or turning hair into different colours. Powerful spells always backfire on him, so he swears not cast them ever again. But after a forbidden spell binds him to his nemesis, Sebastian Grimm, they must find a counterspell, and their search leads them on a journey filled with monsters and outlaws, and Leovander needs to confront his true magical potential. Of course this wouldn't be a typical contemporary fantasy tale without some romance, so I expect a typical enemies-to-lovers story with this one.

[roydeezed]

Diana Wynne Jones normalizes magic in a way very few other authors do. Magic in her worlds are more akin to skilled trades like blacksmithing or having a degree in medicine. She normalizes magic through a sense of domesticity and communality. In Howl's Moving Castle, Howl's treated like an apothecary by the locals and in Charmed Life there's magicians on every corner that are both services and trades you can learn from as well. Also in Charmed Life, there's a whole undergroudn industry and reguated laws around magic items. She injects a sense of realism into magic, but it's still done with a romantic ideal in mind such as an idyllic village life being disturbed by shady dealings going on in the background. In fact one of Sophie's sisters actually became a magican by trade in Howl's Moving Castle as well. And she furthers this idea of magic as a trade by having Howl actually be a PhD student.

I hadn't read her books in years but they'd always been my favourites. I'm starting to make my way through them again as an adult now, and it's so fun noticing things I didn't have the knowledge or experience to notice when I was younger. And it contextualizes why I loved her writing so much growing up since the way she puts things just scratches such a specific itch in my brain for me.

[screamintoad]

Cherrycard kid-Jane Trappola

“Man, what an honor! My dads told me all about Night Raven College but actually being here…why it’s incredible!”

SHES HOLDING A BROOM

Voice claim: TBA

Character info

  Jane is a spunky girl with a fiery spirit. She tries to be humble but because of her magical prowess she can sometimes be cocky and people will take it the wrong way. She’s decided that those people just aren’t worth dealing with and sticks close to her tight knit group of friends. At lunch she usually sits with her grandpa and eats with him and they use that time to catch up. She takes pride in being in Heartslabyul. 

  She grew up in the Queendom of Roses as almost next door neighbors to the Spade family. Whenever there was a vacation break that her family could take they would either go to the Shaftlands to visit the Howl’s, Schoenheit’s, and Felmier’s or to Briar Valley to visit the Zigvolt’s, Vanrouge’s, or even the royal family. “It pays off making connections in school.” Is what her papa always tells her. Constantly learning things from new places gained her a lot of experience and knowledge that she likes putting to use. She’s definitely a mini Ace and some people would comment on it with pity to Rory but, he always snapped back at them about how he wouldn’t want her to feel like she has to hide herself in any capacity. 

Fun facts: Chronically single. Rory taught her how to play guitar. In middle school she found a puppy in an alleyway on her way home, her family still has her and she was named Calliope. Ace taught her tons of card games and tricks. She has a bad habit of relying on her magic too much, even using it for normal daily tasks. Her love for the macabre and goth has deterred some people away but if given the chance, she could talk about her likes, dislikes, hobbies, etc. for hours. 

Basic info

Age: 16

Height: 160cm, 5’2 (out of platforms)

B-day: August 28th (Virgo)

Dominant hand: Right

Family: Rory and Ace Trappola (Papa and Dad), Divus Crewel (adopted grandpa)

Nickname: Starling and Firecracker (by family)

1st year

Class A

Club: Board game club

Best subject: Alchemy

Hobbies: Exploring campus, playing with her dog at home, and playing guitar

Pet peeve: People who judge before getting to know someone

Favorite food: strawberry pastries

Least favorite food: Broccoli.

Talent: Honing her magic to manipulate it in intricate ways

Character dynamics

Alaric Vanrouge: One part of a trio. He’s definitely more soft spoken than her but they can both talk about their favorite things for ages. She sneaks out of NRC to visit him at RSA sometimes. 

Fleur Vanrouge: Older sister figure. Since Jane is an only child she thrives when hanging out with Fleur. They would take walks around the Vanrouge property and sometimes Blanche would let Jane help out at the bakery. Girl talks go hard between Jane, Fleur, and Luna. 

Luna Howl: Her, Alaric, and Jane are a trio that are menaces. Well two menaces and an Alaric. They’re all partners in crime much to their parents chagrin. These two spent hours running around the Howl family property and they continue to spend hours running around NRC. 

Joey Howl: Older brother figure. He’s the one who would tell the trio to not get too dirty or get into too much mischief. Jane took full advantage when she realized that him and Fleur liked each other and would help Luna try to set them up. Whenever Jane got into trouble at her old school she would call him before her parents to get some older brother advice before parent advice. 

Angel Spade: Neighbor and childhood friend part 1. Ginger cat and black cat dynamic. Jane is certainly the loud to his quiet. They still look out for each other though and bond over various video games. 

Diana Spade: Neighbor and childhood friend part 2. They’re also roommates at their dorm! They’re pretty different but growing up as neighbors with their dads working together made em figure out how to get along. Every weekend they’ll have movie nights. 

Lana Bucchi: New friend! Lana made a loud introduction and ever since, they’ve been quite the friends. They have the good? Bad? Habit of matching each other’s energy. Which is sometimes good, sometimes bad. 

Mika Bucchi: Alaric’s roommate that she met on accident. They haven’t interacted much but she’s heard a lot about him from Alaric. She can tell he’s really nice and she gets along with his sister. 

Mallory Draconia: Menaces in crime. Think of Malleus and Rory’s friendship but the complete opposite. They’re the gremlin duo that need separated, if one is in trouble, the other is also in trouble with them. Except Mallory will talk them out of trouble. 50/50 chance it works. 

Marven Leech: These two absolutely need separated. They roughhouse all the time and the twins make it almost a challenge to see who can throw Jane farther. She absolutely loves it though and loves having them as found brothers. When she told her dads about them they turned as pale as ghosts. 

Evelio Leech: He’s as bad as his brother. But they have calm moments where they talk about their interests and what’s going on with their schoolwork. 

Alora Leech: Again, need separated sometimes. These two are peas in a pod, they share so many common interests and hobbies. On top of being in the same club. They’ll pass around scary stories like candy. 

HOWL KIDS BELONG TO @blood-red-bumblebee SPADE’S BELONG TO @skibidibabygirl BUCCHI’S BELONG TO @twtysevapr LEECH’S BELONG TO @angelwishess AND MALLORY BELONGS TO @moonyasnow TELL ME IF I GOT ANY INFO WRONG OR YOU WANT SOMETHING CHANGED OR ADDED

and extra tags: @gimmeurmoneyagh @babyghoul138 @theolivetree123 @4necdote @midnightmah07

@justm3di0cr3 @beneathsakurashade @bunniehunn

[nadiajustbe]

A music band HMC AU, but no one actually plays in this band.

See, Howell was put there because of his connection to Suliman, the band's main singer and guitarist (Justin is the second singer and sometimes adds some sparkle, and there are rumors that they are together, but no one can be sure because it's the 80s), with the addition of Megan's screams about how Howell can't find a decent job. Well, he did. And there he's...no, not playing. He's not even a full-fledged member, a he was born an unmusical Welshman and he's terribly upset about it, but still carries that guitar with him, just for it to be. And he tells all the others, especially the girls he's courting, how cool he is and how strong his connection to this cool Suliman's band is, but in reality he's usually just there. He hangs around backstage, gets ready for hours in front of the mirror only to sit at a table eating sandwiches and complaining about his incredible life because yet another woman, whose name he will forget tomorrow, doesn't like him. Oh, and of course, he does some orders, paperwork, sometimes helps with lyrics or costumes, calling himself an expert in everything (but he especially loves costumes, yes).

In general, he lives his best and worst life, sharing Welsh jokes with Suliman™.

Michael got there as a 15-year-old orphan who desperately needed some money. Howl was undoubtedly the author of the idea to invite this unknown sad boy, who had been sitting on the bench for an hour after the concert had ended. He decided to try his hand at mentoring, to elegantly take the boy "under his wing," but it didn't work out well, to put it mildly. Because, although Michael's job is to actually carry things back and forth and be Howl's second assistant, in fact, it is he who is trying to be the voice of reason for this piece of Welshman, because "you can't spend money on another guitar you can't play because Ben bought a new one for himself. No, I don't recommend buying a skull either."

(He complains about this to their local fiery red cat with yellow and blue eyes named Calcifer, who purrs as if he agrees, and then stares at Howl with his eyes burning eyes)

Sophie was miraculously put there by Fanny, because in all universes, Sophie Hatter is destined to be exploited for labor for a pittance because of Fanny. She was personally assigned to the task of sewing costumes, hats, and general decor, and in fact, she was the only one of this team who seemed to have a clear job in this under-troupe. However, over time, she accidentally moves away from hats and becomes (of her own free will) the cleaning lady behind Howl's mess, oops...

At first, she behaves quite quietly, trying not to draw too much attention to herself: she is the eldest of the three, and it is her fate to be stuck somewhere here, behind the scenes and out of the spotlight of the good life and fame, without even thinking about regrets. But over time, seeing how much the crowd really doesn't care about her, and perhaps after breaking a few bones and walking around with a cane, she finally decides to screw it all and goes on all kinds of adventures.

And - oh, yes - she and Howl can't stand each other. So much so that from the moment Sophie arrives, they can't stop arguing about the fit, or the colors, or the look of the performance, or the fact that the little hint of a bathroom they're given was designed for the band members, not for Mr. Howell Jenkins, who has already spent hours in his home shower. And, of course, Sophie continues to involuntarily look at Howell's writing and threaten to remove the spiders he has safely hidden somewhere in the corners, for which she will be called "Ms. Nose" by him (she responds by calling him a slither-outer because, God, man, when are you ever going to face anything but your own reflection?)

Of course, one day she finally finds the moment to go into the bathroom for a second to get something she needs and accidentally mixes the cans of dye Howell left there (it feels as he just leaves his stuff in the bathroom like that on purpose to make Sophie complain, about how his trash shouldn't be there) and OH SURE, the day after that she has to stay up all night cleaning up the scene after Howell throws a horrible tantrum, smashing everything in his path, with good-natured Michael helping her. (And, OF COURSE, this idiot will then say that the color is actually not bad and go on about his business)

And - finally - they can't stand each other so much that they can't spend a second

not to get into a fight with each other (and just be without each other, it seems), so much so that it took Sophie a long time to lose her confidence that all her feelings for him were solely because of the professionally tailored suits she makes, which he always steals from Suliman and Justin, and that stupid damn smile. So much so that they end up kissing somewhere in a secluded corner right before the eyes of the unfortunate spiders.

Obviously, they can't stand each other enough to repeat it more than once.

[labyrynth]

(as many of you may or may not know) Studio Ghibli’s “Howl’s Moving Castle”, is based on the Diana Wynne Jones book by the same name, and there are actually a substantial number of differences between them!

i was curious how many people have experienced both or might like one more than the other, so i put together a poll to help us find out :)

to clarify, saying that you like one version more than the other does NOT mean that it’s better, or that the other one is worse or bad—i love both the book and the film! it’s just an expression of your own preference

[neil-gaiman]

Hi Niel!

My book club and I just finished reading Stardust! I listened to the audiobook (great job on the recording by the way) and was wondering about some of your inspiration for the book. Was howls moving castle by Diana Wynne Jones an inspiration?

Also do you have any book club recommendations? We read mainly sci-fi and fantasy

Thank you!

(ps I loved American gods)

No, but both Diana and I loved John Dunne's poem "A Song" which begins "Go, and catch a fallen star..."

Why not read some Diana Wynne Jones for your book club? Every one of them is a winner.

[everything-feels-so-sureal]

I finally rewatched howls moving castle today after reading the book version last year and i realized i love both versions equally. the movie is the romanticized version and it depicts the love between sophie and howl in a way that only a studio ghibli movie could. the book shows the story in a more down to earth way. rather than dreamily floating in the air, howl and sophie dont actually get along at first with the parallel between the story and the book where in the movie, sophie is being hit on by two soldiers in an alleyway and is saved my howl and in the book, howl is the one chatting her up. i remember reading another post that said that we should think of the movie as howl’s perspective and the book as sophie’s perspective and i really like that idea. i would say that i enjoyed the movie a lot more after reading the book because it helped me understand more of the storyline and what was actually going on. stories can be told and interpreted in differing ways depending on how you read and understand how they were explained. i think both versions are beautiful stories of a girl who learns to love herself through loving others and through finally realizing that your worth is what you make it. once sophie was free of being stuck in the hat shop as the eldest sister with no opportunities for what she could do with her life, she was able to create her own way of being happy that is most fitting for her. thank you to both diana wynne jones and to hayao miyazaki for telling the beautiful story of howls moving castle