October 24th Meeting!

Saturday, October 24

2:00 PM

Big Borders

We will be discussing Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones.

Sophie Hatter realizes that as the eldest of three daughters, she is doomed to an uninteresting future. She resigns herself to making a living as a hatter and helping her younger sisters prepare to make their fortunes. But adventure seeks her out in the shop where she sits alone, dreaming over her hats. The wicked Witch of the Waste, angered by "competition" in the area, turns her into an old woman, so she seeks refuge inside the strange moving castle of the wizard Howl. Advertised by his apprentice as an eater of souls, Howl lives a mad, frantic life trying to escape the curse the witch has placed on him. So goes this intricate, humorous and puzzling tale of fantasy and adventure which should both challenge and involve readers. Jones has created an engaging set of characters and found a new use for many of the appurtenances of fairy tales seven league boots and invisible cloaks, among others. At times, the action becomes so complex that readers may have to go back to see what actually happened, and at the end so many loose ends have to be tied up at once that it's dizzying. Yet Jones' inventiveness never fails, and her conclusion is infinitely satisfying. Sara Miller, White Plains Public Library, N.Y.

This book is one of three and I hope that if you enjoy this book (which I know you will) that you will then read Castle in the Air and House of Many Ways.

Howl's Moving Castle has been made into a movie, produced and directed by the genius Hayao Miyazaki. He is one of my favorite directors and creates some of the most outrageous story lines and characters. It is my favorite movie of his and one of my favorite movies of all time. I'm really looking forward to reading this book and discussing it with all of you.

See you soon,

Sararose