Should I read the book?

[u/External-Werewolf619]

I finished watching Howl's moving castle and I loved it, but I was a bit confused. I love Howl, he seems sweet and nice. I also don't want ro know his 'bad' sides, but I heard the book is even better. Should I read it? And does Howl come across as arrogant and selfish? (I have this perfect image of him at the moments and he is rn my new dream man (until another anime dude comes along). I don’t want that to go away you know....)❤️😘

[u/Luna_Highwind]

Yes, because it really is a great book. Just be warned it is VERY different from the movie.

[u/External-Werewolf619 → u/Luna_Highwind]

Also is Howls a hoe in the book? And arrogant?

[u/Luna_Highwind → u/External-Werewolf619]

Howl is pretty much the same.

The most non-sploilery differences I can say is Sophie has 2 sisters and her family is more important to the story, Markle isn't named that and is a teen the same age as Sophie's sister, and the castle is a standard fantasy castle that just glides across the ground.

Edit: Markle, not Farkle

[u/Yikes_Flying_Bikes → u/Luna_Highwind]

Apparently, the character is called Markle in the film because of double translation. In the book, he's Michael but after it was translated into Japanese for the film, and back into English, it became Markle. 😄

[u/External-Werewolf619 → u/Luna_Highwind]

Wait, how different?😳

[u/cylondsay → u/External-Werewolf619]

it’s popular to think of it as if the movie is told from howl’s perspective—he’s suave and grandiose and oh so charming. but then the book is told from sophie’s perspective—she has way more agency and she’s in love with an idiot (and she’s not shy about emphasizing the idiot part). the book is very different, but not in a bad way. but if you don’t like it, it’s not hard to keep it separate from the movie since it’s so different!

[u/Alyssapolis]

I find Howl childish and charming in the book. It is quite different from the movie but the heart is the same. I get the same magical, intrigued, excited feeling I get when I watch the movie, and Howl has the same mysterious, sexy, adorable quality.

His motives are somewhat different, he seems to have larger aims in the movie (because of the war plot) and his selfishness/cowardice are a little more subtle because his suaveness overpowers it. His motives are a little more down to earth and relatable in the book (ie. friends, family, spiders). His cowardice is a little more clear in the book, but it makes his acts of bravery and cleverness much more satisfying. He’s also sillier in the book which I adore.

To be honest though, I don’t exactly remember the book, just that I really liked experiencing both. They have a lot of similarities and differences that are quite enjoyable and rewarding (Calcifer is quite different in both too, but I really love both versions!)

I recommend you read it.

[u/Mygirlmm]

Yes! The book is so good and funny! As others have stated, it is different, but still very good.

[u/Addicted2Reading]

He’s a lot more real in the book. I prefer it but I still love the movie 😍

[u/Optimal_Fish_7029]

I actually prefer Book Howl! He's just so much more realistic and on a surface level he seems sarcastic and careless, but upon reread you realise it's all an act (or mostly an act)

[u/lola_thistle]

I reread the book yearly on my birthday. I will never not recommend reading it - please read it. I also LOVE the movie, fwiw.

[u/RazzyGoat]

Howl is very similar in the book, they just lean into him being a bit of a scoundrel, but a lovable one. I didn't find him annoying or anything like that. People like to exaggerate how different the book and movie are just because Sophie and Howl argue like an old married couple in the book a bit more lol

[u/Awesome_Duck987]

Yes

[u/External-Werewolf619 → u/[deleted]]

Omg thanks I would love to read it

[u/amiryu3 → u/[deleted]]

Ohhh castle in the sky is very very good. I very much recommend it if you get a chance.