Wizard Howl from Howl’s Moving Castle (The book version)
It would be a dream to have dinner with Wizard Howl, more so because he is impossible to catch.
His Moving Castle ensures he is never in the same place. Also, nobody knows who he really is, switching between identities: Wizard Howl in Market Chipping, Wizard Pendragon in Kingsbury, Jenkins the Sorcerer in Porthaven and Howell Jenkins in Wales.
I love his character because it has so many layers. He is not your usual hero.
Everyone is scared stiff just by hearing his name. He is the most powerful wizard of his times with a fire demon to boot. He owns a scary moving castle and is known to “eat souls of pretty girls”. He is a manipulative arrogant showoff with tantrums that shake the city.
Mostly, he is a coward, hiding behind negative publicity and many identities.
But he is soft at heart, taking in strays like Calcifer, Michael and Sophie, despite the personal cost, buying them expensive clothes while only owning two dresses himself. He worries about Michael and Calcifer and tries to help Sophie even though she is being as charming as an old crone, taking out her frustration and anger on everyone around her. Even his sister is awful to him and yet he visits her to meet his nephew and niece and be close to the only family he has.
He is also trying to fall in love, knowing there is no hope since he is heartless.
He is a super wizard who plays football for college, drinks too much when scared and, yet, never moves the burden on the shoulders of those he loves. He carries it alone.
He is my type of hero!
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I have seen the Japanese animated film, and I loved it. But I never knew it was adapted from a book. I’m trying to imagine what fictional character I would have dinner with, and simply cannot choose one. But it would be from a book by Charles Dickens, I’m sure.
Best wishes, Pete.
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The book was so much more amazing because it had more magic, less action and a lot more emotion
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The name is familiar, but unless I read it with my daughters when they were young, I’ve never read it myself, as it’s not really my thing. I think there was a film, and the music in it was good. Cheers, Jon.
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Hey, Jon. The movie killed the actual story. The book is so much more interesting both Howl and Sophie (the female lead) are so much more special. It is not a children’s book. It is clean Fantasy.
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