Howl’s Moving Castle Read Along Week #2

Hello Readers!
I had some unexpected health issues come up this week which delayed my plans for posting my answers to the week #2 Howl’s Moving Castle read-along questions. I got a cold the same week I got my period AND my allergies acted up! I have been suffering. Never again will I laugh at Howl’s theatric’s when he gets a cold. I told people I was dying at least 10 times this week! I’m finally starting to recover, and, thanks to some strong allergy medications, I can sit for 2 minutes without needing to blow my nose ;D.

This week’s Howl’s Moving Castle read-along questions were created by Beth and Nils over at The Fantasy Hive. They had some thought-provoking questions on the content for chapters 8-14, so I’m excited to talk about them.

***This post contains spoilers for Howl’s Moving Castle chapters 8-14***

See my answers to last week’s read-along questions

This week’s reading opens with Sophie mending Howl’s suit. By Chapter 14, Sophie finally learns that she’s been inadvertently charming clothes. Was it as obvious to you as to everyone else in the book? Or were you as surprised as Sophie?

 I already knew Sophie had magic because I’d seen a sort-of spoiler. I’ve already watched the movie, but I didn’t realize that Sophie had magic watching that. I read a post about Howl’s Moving Castle that mentioned it.

Having said that, it does seem more clear to me that Sophie has magic in the book. I am not good at picking up hints, so maybe I still would’ve been surprised, but the success of certain hats after Sophie talked to them and Howl mentioning that the scarecrow had powerful magic after Sophie hat also chatted with it were much bigger hints in the book than the movie.

Even though I knew Sophie had magic, I was still surprised to learn that she was the one that charmed Howl’s clothes to make him more desirable. I just assumed Howl had done that himself, lol. It definitely seems like something he would do.

What do we think of Sophie’s magical ability? How do we predict she might use them to break the contract between Howl and Calcifer?

 I really like Sophie’s magic ability.

I like that in this fantasy world, magic is treated like a craft that people can learn and as energy woven into the act of creation. You usually only see the first in fantasy, but if you do see the second, it’s usually on its own. This was the first time I read a book that included two very different interpretations of magic in the same story. It seems to say “Magic is what you make of it. Whether you choose to pursue it as an academic calling or weave it into your everyday life, your version is valid”.

Actually, now that I think about it, Witch Hat Atelier also has a very similar interpretation of magic as a field of study and as a product of craftsmanship.

The scarecrow that Sophie spoke to previously has caught up with the castle and gives everyone quite a fright when it attempts to come in. Who or what do we think the scarecrow might be? And why is he so insistent on getting inside the castle?

I think the scarecrow will end up being one of the two missing people mentioned in the book. There’s the king’s brother and the former royal wizard. The witch of the waste had the motivation to curse both of them, so I’m sure she’s behind it.

I think the scarecrow is insistent on getting in the castle because it recognizes that Sophie (or Howl) has the ability to break its curse. I think it was inanimate before Sophie spoke to it, and she reminded it that it used to be human. Then it decided to track her down to try and get help.

If you had a pair of seven-league boots, where would you go?

 I’d go on a lot more vacations, hahaha. I’d probably start by visiting my parents over the weekend, though, since I live in a different state and don’t get to see them much now that I’m working full-time. One of the many consequences of getting a Real Adult Job.

Calcifer claims to have dropped hints for Sophie during these chapters. What do you think? Did you pick up on any of them?

I’ve picked up on them only because I know the ending. I’ve really enjoyed seeing all the hints at what the deal between him a Howl is. I really appreciate how much foreshadowing goes into this story without revealing what’s actually going on. It’s very well done!

What did we think of Howl comparing Sophie to his sister Megan? Was that a fair comparison?

Pfffft. Sophie is way too good to Howl. He needs to shut up and thank her for her service and unending patience with him.

But don’t let this make you think I don’t love Howl. He’s my favorite dramatic pretty boy yet he is the absolute worst. What a guy.

But in all honesty, I just find Howl very interesting as a character. Like, he’s still masculine, but not in the conventional brooding, dominant love interest way. And he’s definitely not an ideal, emotionally intelligent, perfect character either. I love that he expresses emotions and does stupid shit and gives Sophie a hard time for being nosy. He feels very real. Even if he’s the worst, he’s also funny in a snarky way, intelligent, and loyal. Like, if you look deeper than his self-absorption and patheticness–much, much deeper– Howl is actually pretty cool.

Have you read Howl’s Moving Castle? What did you think of it?

Check out my plans for Wyrd and Wonder this year!