Post by aeriel on Dec 4, 2013 17:03:08 GMT
So I've had an edition of Howl's Moving Castle for years that has on the back "Sophie lived in the town of Market Chipping, which was in Ingary, a land in which anything could happen, and often did-- especially when the Witch of the Waste got her dander up. Which was often.
As her younger sisters set out to seek their fortunes, Sophie stayed in her father's hat shop. Which proved most unadventurous, until the Witch of the Waste came in to buy a bonnet, but was not pleased. Which is why she turned Sophie into an old lady. Which was spiteful witchery.
Now Sophie must seek her own fortune. Which means striking a bargain with the lecherous Wizard Howl. Which means entering his ever-moving castle, taming a blue fire-demon, and meeting the Witch of the Waste head-on. Which was more than Sophie bargained for..."
Which I've always thought was a charming summary. However, the copy I just bought for a friend has this on the back "Sophie has the great misfortune of being the eldest of three daughters, destined to fail miserably should she ever leave home to seek her fate. But when she unwittingly attracts the ire of the Witch of the Waste, Sophie finds herself under a horrid spell that transforms her into an old lady. Her only chance at breaking it lies in the ever-moving castle in the hills: the Wizard Howl's castle. To untangle the enchantment, Sophie must handle the heartless Howl, strike a bargain with a fire demon, and meet the Witch of the Waste head-on. Along the way, she discovers there's far more to Howl- and herself- than first meets the eye.
It's interesting to me how some phrases are the same ("into an old lady", "meet the Witch of the Waste head-on"), and some are different, such as lecherous Howl vs heartless Howl. Do you have any different summaries on your copies? Personally I like the first one better, but I could see how some people would find it overly clever.
As her younger sisters set out to seek their fortunes, Sophie stayed in her father's hat shop. Which proved most unadventurous, until the Witch of the Waste came in to buy a bonnet, but was not pleased. Which is why she turned Sophie into an old lady. Which was spiteful witchery.
Now Sophie must seek her own fortune. Which means striking a bargain with the lecherous Wizard Howl. Which means entering his ever-moving castle, taming a blue fire-demon, and meeting the Witch of the Waste head-on. Which was more than Sophie bargained for..."
Which I've always thought was a charming summary. However, the copy I just bought for a friend has this on the back "Sophie has the great misfortune of being the eldest of three daughters, destined to fail miserably should she ever leave home to seek her fate. But when she unwittingly attracts the ire of the Witch of the Waste, Sophie finds herself under a horrid spell that transforms her into an old lady. Her only chance at breaking it lies in the ever-moving castle in the hills: the Wizard Howl's castle. To untangle the enchantment, Sophie must handle the heartless Howl, strike a bargain with a fire demon, and meet the Witch of the Waste head-on. Along the way, she discovers there's far more to Howl- and herself- than first meets the eye.
It's interesting to me how some phrases are the same ("into an old lady", "meet the Witch of the Waste head-on"), and some are different, such as lecherous Howl vs heartless Howl. Do you have any different summaries on your copies? Personally I like the first one better, but I could see how some people would find it overly clever.
