A Review of Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

I read this book because it was chosen to be read in the book club I run on facebook. This is a book I have been wanting to read for awhile anyway because I really enjoyed the Studio Ghibli movie they made from it. While the two differed quite a bit I enjoyed both.

Howl is a wizard known as the eater of young women’s souls. He is much feared in the lands his floating castle moves through. Sophie is a y0ung woman at the cusp of adulthood living a boring life in a hat shop, though she seemed to be very good at what she did. Then a woman came in and put a spell on her that ages her 60 years until she’s a very old woman. At that point she decides since she doesn’t have much time left she better go out to seek her fortune. When she comes to Wizard Howl’s castle she decides to go in and try to get a job with him since it is only young woman’s souls he’s after.

This book caught my attention from the very beginning and there was never a dull point. There was a lot going on and though it is pure fantasy there are many elements of mystery that you begin to see unfold throughout the story. I was not expecting the way the book ended at all. I had my guesses but I was caught completely off guard and the last 2 chapters in the book sunk it’s claws into my heart and I was captivated.

I give this book a 5 out of 5 and would give it even more if that was possible. I loved this book and easily put it in my top 10 books of all time. It is a quick and fun read and something I would consider rereading in the future, something I normally don’t do. I recommend this book to everyone who is a fan of the fantasy genre both young and all. There are no adult themes so this is something that would even make a great bed time story for children old enough for chapter books.

A Review of The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

I read this book with a book club over the course of three weeks. I’m glad I took the time to read it slowly and discuss it with others because there is much to be gleaned from this book.

Garth Stein writes an amazing story of the struggles of a small and dysfunctional family told through the perspective of the family dog, Enzo. Enzo is a highly intelligent dog who thinks he should’ve been born a man, spurred on even more so from constantly watching TV with a voracious appetite to learn. Even being the highly intelligent being that he is he still gives in to the baser needs of being a dog, giving this tale a more realistic feel.

This story has many highs and many lows but teaches many lessons about life along the way. I found myself laughing and crying. I also found myself bored sometimes. There are a few chapters dedicated solely to the aspects of raceway driving, and while I can see what the author was doing comparing real life with fast driving, it was hard to focus and not just skim through. This would probably really appeal to fans of NASCAR though. And even those who aren’t can draw something from this book as the raceway driving mostly takes a backseat to the family dynamic.

This is a quick, easy read and I would definitely recommend it, especially to dog lovers.

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