Hello lovely readers~ O M G has it been a great month to be ARMY! 💜 JK lives that go on for 5+ hours (thank you Kancho cookies, you’re a real one)! Minimoni dancing! Yoooooongi Cute merch drops! And of course…all the hype for the upcoming album!
But do you know who we’ve been seeing more in the comments section of other members’ lives than going live himself? 🐹 Our hamster (or wolf if you ask him 🐺) Kim Seokjin~ Rumor has it some of us even find out about Weverse lives from Jin comment notifications. 👀 Thanks Jin~
Today we’re discussing our November Books With Luv pick for Jin, Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones, recommended by an ARMY as being a great pick for our mathyung.
If you missed getting in on October’s book discussion on Lonely Castle in the Mirror and you want to share your thoughts, you can do so here! Feel free to jump in~
Interpret the music video later and break out the books!
Below is a discussion guide. Some book-specific questions and some sharing suggestions!
You can scroll down this thread to see the question and reply to them in the comments!
- Transformation is at the heart of this story. How do Sophie’s and Howl’s transformations reflect deeper truths about self-acceptance and the masks that people wear?
- Magic in this book is unpredictable and often chaotic. How did the author use magic as a metaphor for creativity, emotion or even love?
- The characters often appear very different from who they truly are. Howl is vain yet noble, Sophie is plain yet powerful. What does this suggest about the way we perceive strength and worth?
- The love story between Howl and Sophie is full of contradictions, humour and tenderness. How does this dynamic challenge traditional fairy-tale romance tropes?
- This month’s book was a recommendation for Jin. How do you think Jin would relate to this book? Do you think he’s more of a Howl or a Sophie?
B-Side Questions/Discussion Suggestions
- Fan Chant: Hype/overall reviews
- Ments: favorite quotes
- ARMY Time: playlist/recommendations of songs you associate with the book/chapters/characters
- Do The Wave: sentiments, feels, realizations based on the book
- Encore/Post Club-read Depression Prevention: something the book club can do afterwards (on your own leisure time) to help feel less sad after reading.
Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
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 that there's far more to Howl—and herself—than first meets the eye. What will happen to Sophie Hatter when she enters Howl's castle?
In this giant jigsaw puzzle of a fantasy, people and things are never quite what they seem. Destinies are intertwined, identities exchanged, lovers confused.
I Need U(r thoughts)
If you have come across any books you think would be perfect for any of the BTS members, or maybe the book just makes you think of any of them, do tell us below so we can add them to our TBR list.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the book or the thread, feel free to tag me like so u/repressedpauper or any of the mods or BWL Volunteers.
…and the r/bangtan Mod Team
by repressedpauper