Howl's Moving Castle

My first contact with Howl's Moving Castle was through Miyazaki's movie, which is my favorite from him.
I have been delaying reading the book because I didn't want to be disappointed with either versions, and was kind of waiting to read it with my kids, which I did not.

Diana Wynne Jones book is wonderful, albeit different from the movie, it definitely gave me a new appreciation for it. Sophie is gentle and kind, and keeps unwillingly, and unintentionally, messing with Howl's life.
Howl's is, at surface, a spoiled brat and a womanizer, too powerful for his own good. Sophie obviously sees his gentle and benign ways, and it is through her that we fall for him too.

I loved both the movie and the book!

My heart leans more towards the movie regarding the love story bit. While Howl's and Sophie's love is quite abrupt in the book, the movie makes a wonderful job showing them falling in love and my heart always aches when he gives her the flowers field. I can see Miyazaki interpreted Howl as every girl wanted and I appreciate this very, very much.

On everything else, I think I prefer the magic of the book. I rewatched the movie yesterday and some things are much more clear now (e.g: Sophie being a witch and how she gives life to things, which makes her the only person able to break their curse without killing Calcifer). I don't know how I was interpreting this before... I should have rewatched before and after reading the book