I actually saw Miyazaki's film first, not knowing it was based on a book, and dashed out to the store as soon as I was better informed. I'm not sounding my own barbaric yawp because of a need to help spread the word about this treasure - just as Sherlock Holmes didn't need Watson to tell him he was a genius, Howl does not need my help in extolling its virtues - but because this book was just so excellent. 
 The tone of the book is delightfully fantastic and a little whimsical, akin to Gaiman's Stardust, only lighter and airier. Even though the world of Ingary holds traditional fairy tale tropes to be true, Wynne Jones's deft characterization turns traditional archetypes on their head. Sophie has a curse put on her, but she's no damsel in distress. Howl is the handsome and enigmatic wizard, but he's also vain, petulant, and actually in need of saving himself. Sophie's two sisters are pretty and talented, but they're not spoiled and selfish. This is a book that I wish I had read earlier in life - I hate to think of all the years I spent not being able to re-read it.