Shelf Care is a twice-weekly column that recommends uplifting, comforting or escapist books to read while staying home during the Covid-19 pandemic. Also, just about everything having to do with the Witch of the Waste and her master plan. This is the ideal novel for anyone who wishes they could turn the doorknob, open the door and be somewhere else altogether. There is no love at first sight here, just two very competent people engaging in banter as they try to save kingdoms, keep their house clean and so on. Howl, who maintains a reputation for devouring the hearts of young women, is not in fact wicked, just a very melodramatic narcissist. Sophie, the oldest of three sisters, expects to be sidelined by destiny, as adventure is reserved for youngest children, but slowly discovers she is quite powerful in her own right.

It also gently subverts fairy-tale tropes. Merry Go Round of Life, the film’s love theme for Howl and Sophie, is extremely infectious and brings a distinct feeling of joy that permeates the film. Joe Hisaishi returns yet again and completely outdoes himself. In the movie adaptation, her appearance varied with her awareness of her love for the Wizard Howl. Howl’s Moving Castle also has my very favorite musical score in any Studio Ghibli movie. Solving it makes for a delightful puzzle. Answer (1 of 9): In the book, Sophie was released from the spell by Calcifer as part of the deal they’d made. The curse at its heart is based on the John Donne poem Song (Go And Catch A Falling Star), with the impossible things in the verses - mermaids singing, mandrake roots bearing children - gradually becoming literal. The book may be for children, but it is very well-plotted. As a young girl, she stood up to the evil queen to.

Let me start off by saying, the first half of this movie I was in love with Sophie, as a young girl and an old woman. Its door can open onto four different locations - from a bustling port city to fields of flowers - and is powered by a cranky fire demon, Calcifer. I don’t even know where to begin with this movie, but I might as well give it a try.

Sophie howls moving castle