Magic and mayhem, witches and wizards, demons and destiny. According to my book record, I’ve read 6 books by Diana Wynne Jones since 2001, but Howl’s Moving Castle wasn’t one of them. I’d seen the film, though, which unfortunately gave me high expectations of the book. I’d forgotten that there’s something about Diana Wynne Jones’ books that I find chaotic and not in a good way. The concepts are fantastic, the characters are interesting, but I find the plots confusing and unsatisfactory.

The story is set in the fantasy land Ingary, but occasionally in Wales. Sophie Hatter, who works in a hat shop and as an eldest sister is not supposed to have a fairy tale life, is turned into an elderly woman by a wicked witch. The spell also prevents her from telling anyone about it. She ends up a housekeeper in a quirky mobile castle, which is occupied by the drama-queen and heartbreaker Howl, the apprentice Michael and a fire demon named Calcifer. Various complex and low-key adventures follow, some of which involve a very determined scarecrow.

I can understand why the book has so many fans. I would be one of them, if the plot was simpler and the pacing quicker.

First published in 1986.