I thought it might be too late for me to read this book. I mean, I've seen the movie both in Japanese and English, and read reviews, etc.

And I hate rereading or rewatching stuff, so I thought I'd be bored.

But, in a word, I was WRONG. Diana Wynne Jones is a seriously good writer. Awesome characters, random events, perfectly dove-tailing storylines, etc.

Never bored, always amused.

Highly recommended. Miyazaki didn't do it justice.