Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
#58 in my book challenge for the year. I re-read the book after seeing the movie, and can now say that the movie gets muddled when it departs from the book. I can see why the film director chose to depart, because the book is complex. It centers on Sophie, a young hat girl who is bewitched to look like an old woman. Ashamed of her appearance, she leaves home and takes up residence in the moving castle of the title, owned by the wizard Howl. There are many mysteries that Sophie must solve, and she must stand up to any number of witches and difficult situations. Sophie is a strong, well-realized female character, and her story is a compelling one. I recommend this and other books by Diana Wynne Jones for fans of fantasy and Harry Potter.