Friday Friyay: 'Howl's Moving Castle' by Diana Wynne Jones

Happy Easter everyone! We get a full four days off here and I'm honestly very much looking forward to it. I've been doing a lot of writing and prepping for the summer semester, so I'm craving having a few days in which I can relax and read and do nothing. Also, apparently it's going to be 20 degrees here tomorrow, which feels insane. Anyways, one of the books I'm getting into this weekend is a reread, Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones! I adored the Studio Ghibli film for years before reading the book, and then fell in love with that as well. So I finally bought myself a physical copy!

In the land of Ingary, where seven-league boots and cloaks of invisibility really exist, Sophie Hatter attracts the unwelcome attention of the Witch of the Waste, who puts a curse on her. Determined to make the best of things, Sophie travels to the one place where she might get help - the moving castle which hovers on the nearby hills. 

But the castle belongs to the dreaded Wizard Howl, whose appetite, they say, is satisfied only by the hearts of young girls ...

Book Beginnings is at home on Rose City Reader, hosted by Gilion Dumas, and Friday 56 at Freda's Voice, hosted by Freda. Freda is taking a break at the moment, but Anne over at My Head is Full of Books is thankfully keeping the spirit going! I'll also be joining the Book Blogger Hop, hosted by Billy over at Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer. 

BB: 

'Ch. One: In which Sophie talks to hats

In the land of Ingary, where such things as seven-league boots and cloaks of invisibility really exist, it is quite a misfortune to be born the eldest of three. Everyone knows you are the one who will fail first, and worst, if the three of you set out to seek your fortunes.' p.9

I love how Diana Wynne Jones plays with the tropes of fantasy, folklore, and fairy tales. Sophie just knows what her fate is as the oldest, and as the oldest sister, I feel her pain. Also, this book is really funny. Not necessarily in a full belly-laugh kind of way, although that sometimes as well, but it fills you with a lovely warmth that just grows as you fall in love with Sophie.

F56:

'"Good morning," said the fire demon. Don't forget we have a bargain."
So none of it was a dream.' p.56

Calcifer, the fire demon, is a great character and I love how Wynne Jones just gets on with the plot, if that makes sense? The world-building is so smooth, you almost don't notice how she expands upon it and makes you feel at home there.

BBH:

This week's question comes from Billy himself:

Which has more power over readers: a book blogger or a professional critic?

Well isn't that a question to which we'd all like to know the answer? For me, as a reader, I think it is a mix, depending on what I'm looking for. If I'm looking for a fun read, one I'll enjoy, which fits into my genre-vibes, etc. then it's definitely a book blogger that holds the most sway. I know what they like to read, I know that they'll be honest, and I know that I'll get their opinions based on how the book made them feel. With a professional critic, there are also professional benchmarks etc. They need to be a bit more objective than a book blogger, I think, although they can be savage when necessary. If I am curious about how a book is received, or if I'm looking for a Literary Fiction read, then I'll probably go looking for professional critic reviews to see what's setting the scene a-buzz.

Update on the last FF read: I did really enjoy reading Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood. I haven't read a proper romance in a while, but my last fanfic read isn't too long ago, so I was fully on board. Also fun to read something that was set in an academic world, even if Elsie's dislike of teaching was a bit much, since I do really enjoy it xD

That's it for me this week! What are you reading?