Tag: Wizard

Diana Wynne Jones – Howl’s Moving Castle | Review

Title: Howl’s Moving Castle

Author: Diana Wynne Jones

Type: Fiction

Page Count/Review Word Count: 304

Rating: 4*/5

 

Dianne Wynne Jones - Howl's Moving Castle

Dianne Wynne Jones – Howl’s Moving Castle

 

I wasn’t really sure what to expect from this book, because although I watched the movie several years ago, I couldn’t remember it too much. Because of that, I can’t really tell you how close the book and the movie are, but I can hopefully give a decent insight into the book by itself.

Howl’s Moving Castle was a delightful little read that could appeal to both kids and adults, a fantastic little sojourn into a fantasy world that still has traces of our own world scattered throughout it. It reminded me of an Enid Blyton book, or maybe even of The Eye of the Dragon by Stephen King. It has the vibe of a classic fairy tale with a young adult fantasy edge.

Loosely speaking, the story follows what happens to a young girl called Sophie Hatter after she’s placed under a cruel enchantment. Cursed by the Witch of the Waste and with nowhere else to go, she finds herself settling in to live with a wizard called Howl. He’s a complicated chap from a mysterious, faraway country called Wales, and at first it starts to seem as though he’ll never change. But then they start to have adventures and the character development kicks in – but I can’t tell you about that without spoiling the story line.

Overall then, this is a great addition to anyone’s collection, and a fun one to read to your kids, if you have them. I don’t, but I didn’t let that stop me, and I found it to be a lot of fun. It whizzed by too, and I also loved the illustrations at the start of each chapter. It was an aesthetically pleasing read.

 

Diana Wynne Jones

Diana Wynne Jones

 

Click here to buy Howl’s Moving Castle.


J. R. R. Tolkien – The Hobbit | Review

Title: The Hobbit

Author: J. R. R. Tolkien

Type: Fiction

Page Count/Review Word Count: 288

Rating: 9/10

 

J. R. R. Tolkien - The Hobbit

J. R. R. Tolkien – The Hobbit

 

The Hobbit is easily the most easily readable of Tolkien’s books, and it’s the best introduction to his work that you could hope for – that’s probably why it’s so iconic. It was the first Tolkien book that I read, when I was about fourteen, and I enjoyed it so much that I’ve gone on to read almost a dozen more of his books. But there aren’t many of his works that are this easy to read, and so it’s definitely recommended as a starter book. Besides, it introduces you perfectly to Middle Earth!

In this story, Bilbo Baggins is recruited by Gandalf the Wizard to join his party to enter the lair of Smaug, the dragon, and help to reclaim the birthright of Thorin Oakenshield. At least, I think that’s right – it’s been a little while since I read it, and I didn’t bother to check. Either way, something like that happens, and then Bilbo finds this thing that sort of changes everything, and then some other stuff happens and there’s a big battle with a guy called Dain of the Iron Hills, who was played by Billy Conolly in the movie. That would be the guy I’m named after, although my mom insisted on changing the spelling so that my name was a little bit more… normal.

Overall, then, The Hobbit is just a vital part of your reading education, even if you don’t enjoy it and go on to read The Lord of the Rings. After all, there are always the movies if you don’t manage to stick through the books – they are heavy going.

 

J.R.R. Tolkien

J.R.R. Tolkien

 

Click here to buy The Hobbit.