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Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone (Illustrated Edition)
Date: Sunday, January 3, 2016
Time: 4:34 AM
Author: J.K. Rowling
Illustrator: Jim Kay
Ratings: 5/5
Synopsis: Harry Potter has never been the star of a Quidditch team, scoring points whilst riding a broom far above the ground. He knows no spells, has never helped to hatch a dragon, and has never worn a cloak of invisibility.
All he knows is a miserable life with the Dursleys, his horrible aunt and uncle, and their abominable son Dudley - a great big swollen spoiled bully. Harry's room is a tiny closet at the foot of the stairs, and he hasn't had a birthday party in eleven years. But all that is about to change when a mysterious letter arrives by owl messenger: a letter with an invitation to an incredible place that Harry - and anyone who reads about him - will find unforgettable.
Review: This is around the sixth or seventh time that I've read the Harry Potter series. Let me tell you right now, I don't read books six or seven times. Of course, Harry Potter isn't a 5/5 star-books. I'd say it's closer to 500/5.
Because of that, this isn't going the one of my normal reviews where I talk about pros and cons and character development. I highly recommend the story of Harry Potter but what I am reviewing now is this particular edition of Harry Potter.
Words cannot describe how excited I was when I first heard that they were making illustrated editions of these beloved books. Although I was a month late of buying it cus a) I bought seven books of Rick Riordan b) both Fully Booked and National Book Store and even the online sellers were saying they don't have the book available on their shelf anymore. So I have to wait. Only afer two months of the agony of waiting, Fully Booked said they have it but on a UK edition which is a bit pricey compare to the US edition.
I was not disappointed at all. And I would highly recommend it. However, I understand that this is pretty expensive book £30.00 or in Philippine Peso, it is PhP 2,099.00. So here are all the things you should know before you make a decision on whether or not to buy it.
- The entire story is in here: Nothing was cut out of the original story or substituted for a picture that illustrated the same basic idea. Well for some spellings as I got mine on a UK edition. Some words had been spelled differently from the US edition.
- The book is incredibly well-made: Every page is glossy and thick. It's a solid hardback and the spine do not crease or fold even when I had this gigantic book flopped open on my lap. It comes with one of those cute little built-in ribbon bookmarks.
- Some of the punctuation is a little weird: I was surprised to see when I first opened the book that some of the punctuation was changed from the original Harry Potter books I was used to. It also doesn't use periods after words like mister (i.e. Mr instead of Mr.) It's not the biggest deal in the world and I didn't find it too distracting but if that's something you have an issue with, be aware.
- The text is in columns: Like in a newspaper, the text in this book is in columns instead of just straight across the page.
- The illustrations are stunning: I was tempted to completely litter this review with pictures of my favourite pages, but I honestly feel like I would end up showing you the entire book and ruining the fun of seeing the pictures for the first time in the book.
- There aren't illustrations on every single page: Sometimes there are pictures that take up two whole, side-by-side pages and sometimes there are two side-by-side pages with no illustrations at all, leaving you with just the columns of text. These pages are still wonderful (how could they not be, they're covered in words from The Philosopher's Stone) and have a cool background that makes them seem as if they could've been written on parchment paper.
- This book isn't life-changing: If you hated Harry Potter on your first go-around, this version most likely isn't going to change your opinion. But how did you hate Harry Potter on your first go-around?
This book is a really fun new way to experience Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone: The Illustration Edition aren't just cartoon versions of the same scenes and faces you see in the movies or the original little illustrations in the books. By picking this book, you're getting a fresh new experience and perspective. I completely adored this book. My ratings isn't just for the story that I already knew that I loved, but it's also for the incredible illustrations. I would 100% recommend picking this up, it blew me away.
Labels: Fantasy, Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone, Illustrated Edition, J.K. Rowling, Jim Kay, Magic
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The Chronicles of Narnia: The Magician's Nephew
Date:
Time: 3:13 AM
Author: C.S. Lewis
Ratings: 4/5
Synopsis: When Digory and Polly are tricked by Digory's peculiar Uncle Andrew into becoming part of an experiment, they set off on the adventure of a lifetime. What happens to the children when they touch Uncle Andrew's magic rings is far beyond anything even the old magician could have imagine . Hurled into the Wood between the Worlds, the children soon find that they can enter many worlds through the mysterious pools there. In one world, they can encounter the evil Queen Jadis, who wreaks havoc in the streets of London where she is accidentally brought back with them. When they finally manage to pull her out of London, unintentionally taking along Uncle Andrew and a coachman with his horse, they find themselves in what will come to be known as the land of Narnia.
Review: The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis published in 1955. Before I begin I should probably address the fact that the reading order of The Chronicles of Narnia series is a topic in which many people are passionate about. Whilst many believe that they should be read in the order they were published, in which The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe is the first book, others myself included, feel the need to read the series in chronological order (starting at The Magician's Nephew).
Before reading this book, I would recommend keeping in mind the fact that this story is obviously meant to be enjoyed by young children. It seems to me that many people over-look this statement when they read the book, and it is therefore criticised for it's almost overly-simplified story line and stereotypical evil-for-no-reason protagonist. Keeping this statement in mind, The Magician's Nephew is easily enjoyable. Whilst I will always recommend that this book should be the first to read in the series, it is almost twice as interesting for people who began the series with The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe because it answers many questions such as the origins of the infamous lamppost, and how Queen Jadis came to be along with the wardrobe.
Whilst this book can be disagreeable to some people due to its obvious Christian themes and outdated ideas about gender roles, it makes up for it due to Polly and Digory's bumbling idiocy, and Lewis' simplistic yet imaginative writing. Whether you start the series off with The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe or never continue the series after The Magician's Nephew, it's an interesting book that, with the right frame of mind, is enjoyable for any and all ages. I truly believe this is a book everyone should read at least once.Labels: Adventure, C.S. Lewis, Christian Literature, Classics, Fantasy, Magic, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Magician's Nephew
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The Hogwarts Library: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Date: Friday, January 1, 2016
Time: 9:03 PM
Author: Newt Scamander (J.K. Rowling)
Ratings: 5/5
Synopsis: A copy of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them? resides in almost every wizarding household in the country. Now Muggles too have the chance to discover where the Quintaped lives, what the Puffskein eats and why it is best not to leave milk out for a Knarl.
Review: I liked Quidditch Through The Ages. But I loved Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them? I find it quite difficult to get into books that don't really have a plot, neither of these books do, yet I was really intrigued by the content of this book more-so than that in Quidditch Through The Ages. I think this might purely be because of the fact that in my opinion magical creatures > magical sport, but regardless, I found it so easy to flick through the pages.
True Harry Potter fans will love the "triple-threat" action that this book features due to a) J.K.'s wonderful writing style b) Harry and Ron's sarcastic comments handwritten throughout the pages and c) simply reading such rich, detailed information about all of the beasts and magical creatures that are quite possibly lurking around our Muggle world.
The book is split into two parts, the first part giving a summary of the history of fantastic beasts, the second part being an encyclopedia of sorts. It even features the Ministry of Magic's danger classification. The second part was definitely my favourite part to read, and I loved imagining all of the creatures based on the description given. I definitely had a little nerd thrill every time I recognised a creature that was featured in the books. My favourite entries though, go to the Kelpie and the Moon Calf. The Moon Calf is a little flat-footed creature with bulging eyes that dances in the moonlight. And the Kelpie is a shape-shifting water demon that drags travelers underwater and eats them.
Overall, I really love this little book. It's the perfect Harry Potter companion, along with the Quidditch Through Ages and The Tales of Beedle The Bard. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them? is set to become a trilogy -screen written by Joanne herself- which I am excited for as it's about the author of this book's journey discovering all of the magical creatures featured in the silver screen.
Labels: Book Companion, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Fantasy, J.K. Rowling, Magic, Newt Scamander, The Hogwarts Library
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The Hogwarts Library: Quidditch Through The Ages
Date:
Time: 8:18 PM
Author: Kennilworthy Whisp (J.K. Rowling)
Ratings: 5/5
Synopsis: Did you know that there are 700 ways of committing a foul in Quidditch? The first game began to evolve on Queerditch Marsh - What Bumphing is? That Puddlemere United is oldest team in the Britain and Ireland league (founded 1163). All this information and much more could be yours once you have read this book. This is all you could ever need to know about the history - the rules, and the breaking of all the rules - of the noble wizarding sport of Quidditch.
Review: Naturally I couldn't leave it behind - anything remotely to do with Harry Potter becomes an obsession of mine - and it now takes pride of place next to the Harry Potter series on my bookshelf. This teensy 105-page book was one of the two books that Joanne wrote in aid of Comic Relief, the second of which is soon to be a film! It's basically a fictional nonfiction work featuring everything you ever wish to know about Quidditch. Personally, I wish that she would write up every single book that is ever mentioned in the books, but alas, that has not yet happened.
One of the things that I adore about this book is that it features J.K. Rowling's signature simple, winning writing style. It's such an easy read and I literally flipped through the pages in about an hour. Each chapter contains hilarious tidbits of information about Quidditch and broomsticks, the time-scale ranging from 1107 to present day. The evolution of the magical game is simply genius, and the writing style makes everything so authentic. My favourite part (aside from reading about the broomsticks) was learning about how the Golden Snitch came about - the pretty, golden version that Harry uses during the Harry Potter series replacing a poor golden bird that was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Little additional features of the copy include a foreward written by Albus Dumbledore himself, and within every copy is also a little glossary type descriptive section at the back that lists Quidditch teams that played in the British and Irish League and a bunch of Quidditch moves and hilarious little drawings showing them in action.
This book is simply genius.Labels: Book Companion, Fantasy, J.K. Rowling, Kennilworthy Whisp, Magic, Quidditch Through The Ages, The Hogwarts Library
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Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows
Date: Thursday, December 31, 2015
Time: 4:22 AM
Author: J.K. Rowling
Ratings: 4/5
Synopsis: Harry is waiting in Privet Drive. The Order of the Phoenix is coming to escort him safely away without Voldemort and his supporters knowing - if they can. But what will Harry do then? How can he fulfill the momentous and seemingly impossible task that Voldemort has left him?
Review: I know many fans find The Deathly Hallows disappointing. In one sense, I understand the feeling. The book differs drastically from its predecessors in both structure and tone. This is not simply "Year Seven" at boarding school. Harry, Ron and Hermione have left Hogwarts to embark upon a more traditional epic fantasy quest to find magical artifacts.
Although Deathly Hallows probably could never have satisfied the fevered expectations of fans in 2007, the book does suffer from introducing too much plot too late in the series. Almost everything the heroes needed to do in order to defeat Voldemort they learn and accomplish in this book. It makes the book and the series as a whole
In The Half-Blood Prince Dumbledore discovers that Voldemort created seven Horcruxes in order to preserve his soul. One - Tom Riddle's Diary - was destroyed in The Chamber of Secrets whilst Dumbledore destroyed another - Marvolo's Ring - sometime before The Half-Blood Prince. That means Harry, Ron and Hermione still have to find and destroy five additional Horcruxes in the final book. In theory, the Horcruxes could be anywhere and anything. That alone would pose a huge obstacle, enough for most epic fantasy novels.
Because the task is so daunting, The Deathly Hallows - rightly - tries to make the process of searching for Horcruxes seem difficult. We needed to see Harry, Ron and Hermione wandering in the woods at a loss for what to do. Yet, because none of the previous books featured Horcruxes, The Deathly Hallows bears this burden alone. In other words, this one book - which supposedly finishes the series - also acts as the beginning, middle and end of the Horcrux subplot. Thus, it feels like a cheat when Harry, Ron and Hermione manage to destroy all of them (with an assist from Neville Longbottom) so quickly. It's quite convenient that Voldemort hid all five Horcruxes in the greater London metropolitan area rather than say, in a junkyard in China or in a deep ocean trench.
On top of that, halfway into The Deathly Hallows, the book adds yet another artifact quest. Harry, Ron, and Hermione must not only destroy Horcruxes but also stop Voldemort from obtaining the Deathly Hallows. Harry still needed to learn to truly accept death as part of human life. However, you'd think that by book seven in the series, the characters would basically know what they have to do and have already started doing it. Because the book needs to spend so much time on exposition for these additional quests, it has less time to spend exploring the implications of these plot developments.
The Deathly Hallows feels more like the end of the beginning than the end, or even the beginning of the end.
For example, there was a moment when Harry considers pursuing The Deathly Hallows for himself. He already has the Resurrection Stone and Invisibility Cloak, and he knows where to find the Elder Wand. With these three, he would become master over death and supposedly have the power to bring the dead back to life. Even with everything Harry has learnt up to this point, I still think this was - or should have been - a difficult choice. Wouldn't he have been tempted to bring his parents back? Even Dumbledore couldn't resist trying to use the Ressurection Stone to ressurect his sister. Harry's decision should have been a crucial moment for the character, but the book barely touched upon it. I felt that we as readers needed to see Harry struggle at least to make the right choice.
And yet, even if the dénouement feels rushed, emotionally The Deathly Hallows works a story about accepting death. The Tale of Three Brothers with the younger brother who wore the invisibility cloak and welcome death as an old friend, is a beautiful metaphor for passing on gracefully. Harry's walk through the Forbidden Forest to meet his own death at Voldemort's hands reflects a mature acceptance and acknowledgement of the human condition. I am sure many readers cried when the ghosts of James and Lily Potter, Sirius Black, and Remus Lupin appeared to comfort Harry.
I wouldn't consider The Deathly Hallows to be the greatest book in the series, but I am also not disappointed. It has some good ideas and the slower parts - the character development, exposition, even the wandering in the forest - were necessary to obtain the emotional pay off at the end. I just wish J.K. Rowling had spread a bit more of the plot and exposition amongst the other six books. The Deathly Hallows doesn't feel like the final installment of a seven-book series building to a climax. In fact, taking the Harry Potter series as a whole, I'd say Deathly Hallows contains around 80% of the crucial plot, making previous six books feel like glorified back story.
Epilogue:
The epilogue of The Deathly Hallows has become infamous. Deservedly so. The final book in a series should provide a sense of closure. The Deathly Hallows epilogue really only reveals the marital status of the main characters, which readers probably could have guessed. (Ron and Hermione, Harry and Ginny). It does not resolve the many remaining questions. Did Hermione succeed in promoting Elfish welfare? Did Harry ever become an Auror? Did Draco Malfoy find redemption - or is he still a shady Slytherin? How did wizarding society achieve peace and reconciliation after such a bloody civil war? After all, many wizards and witches such as Dolores Umbridge willingly supported Voldemort's anti-muggle policies.
Apparently, the Pottermore website has short stories about the lives of the main characters after The Deathly Hallows.Labels: Fantasy, Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows, J.K. Rowling, Magic
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Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince
Date: Wednesday, December 30, 2015
Time: 11:36 PM
Author: J.K. Rowling
Ratings: 4/5
Synopsis: It is the middle of summer, but there is an unseasonal mist pressing against the windowpanes. Harry Potter is waiting nervously in his bedroom at the Dursley's house in Privet Drive for a visit from Professor Dumbledore himself. One of the last times he saw the Headmaster was in a fierce one-on-one duel with Lord Voldemort, and Harry can't quite believe that Professor Dumbledore will actually appear at the Dursley's of all places. Why is the Professor coming to visit him now? What is it that cannot wait until Harry returns to Hogwarts in a few weeks' time? Harry's sixth year at Hogwarts has already got off to an unusual start, as the worlds of muggles and magic start to intertwine.
Review: It should have been called Harry Potter and You-Know-Who because the primary plot gives Harry - and the readers - a glimpse into Voldemort's back story. Dumbledore schedules private lessons in which he uses the Pensieve to show Harry from key moments in Voldemort's life.
In the Half-Blood Prince, J.K. Rowling combines intimidating and pathetic into Voldemort, as if Sauron and Saruman were a single character. It's tricky because those two character traits works against each other. Before The Half-Blood Prince, Voldemort was successful at managing his reputation that few wizards even dared to speak his name aloud. Only a handful of wizards realised that in his youth Voldemort was Tom Riddle, and only Dumbledore seems to have pieced together his back story. We only saw Voldemort a few times, and whenever he appeared somebody usually died. In the The Goblet of Fire he demonstrate his casual disregard for life by telling Peter Pettigrew to "Kill the spare" (Cedric Diggory)
After The Half-Blood Prince, readers learn that Tom Riddle's hatred of muggles all comes down to daddy issues. Riddle's mother tricked his muggle father into loving her, only to leave her when the spell wore off. Riddle's mother died after childbirth, leaving young Tom in an orphanage. The book strips away the cool, cruel image that Voldemort created for himself and reveals him to be deeply insecure and emotional. With the veil of mystery lifted, Voldemort becomes less scary and more pathetic. In fact, if the young Tom Riddle weren't such a creep, I suspect many readers would have felt bad for him.
But readers don't get feel sympathetic for Voldemort because the back story never actually "humanizes" the character. Voldemort was inherently evil, and nothing in his back story changes my assessment. There's no tragedy about Tom Riddle, no sense of missed opportunities, no possibility of redemption. We never get the sense that Voldemort had good in him, or that he might have turned from evil had his mum and dad loved him. When Dumbledore first met Tom in the orphanage, he already bullies other kids and steals from them.
Ultimately, The Half-Blood Prince manages to leave Voldemort's evilness intact even after removing some of the mystery; it's just a different type of evil. It's a good balance that makes Voldemort just enough of a threat for Deathly Hallows. Voldemort is still scary, but he's also a loser. Unfortunately, Voldemort is still a very one-dimensional character, inherently evil. I think it might have been more interesting had Rowling given him a few positive virtues. That said, even if Voldemort doesn't rank amongst my favourite villains, I give Rowling alot of credit for exploring different facets of evil.
Up to this point, the Harry Potter series had primarily presented Voldemort as an ominous threat. Other wizards so fear him that they dare not speak his name. For the first time, The Half-Blood Prince shows Voldemort as an actual character. However, this doesn't necessarily humanize him. On the contrary, it demonstrates a different facet of Voldemort's inhumane evil.Labels: Fantasy, Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince, J.K. Rowling, Magic
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Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix
Date:
Time: 10:07 PM
Author: J.K. Rowling
Ratings: 5/5
Synopsis: Voldemort is back, but Harry has been shunted to Privet Drive all summer with no information. What is Dumbledore's plan? Will the Ministry of Magic ever acknowledge what's happening? Ministry is interfering with their education at Hogwarts. Is it possible for him to worry about impending war whilst also going on dates?
Review: So today we're talking The Order of the Phoenix, which is 100% the most underrated book in the entire series. Why you ask? Well, let me tell you.
Alot of people write this book off because it's a little... cerebral... compared to the others in the story. There's doesn't always seem to be action or adventure, despite containing one of the biggest fight scenes in the entire series. The cause for this is that too many people write off what they deem Harry's "grumpiness" in the book and get mad it's so central to the story. His grumpiness, which is probably more accurately described as depression is SO unbelievably important. The boy has just gone through an incredible trauma, and yet he still tries to figure out a way to help his cause throughout the story. Despite never getting answers, he wants to help. He also continuously hides his feelings, or at least he tried to. Alot of people can relate to Harry's struggle in this book. His sadness and anger shouldn't be pushed aside and labeled as grumpy or emotional.
The Order of the Phoenix is more cerebral; so much of it takes place within the mind - Harry's mind, Voldemort's mind, even the Longbottoms' minds. Being in the "mind" doesn't mean there's no action, there certainly is. And we shouldn't hate on a book simply because it's not a 500-page battle sequence.
People write it off but I am going to talk about why I didn't. I am all about being in the heads of characters. And I think this book provides that in so many different ways. Obviously, we're in Harry's head all the time. It's important that we see him struggle in the death of Cedric and Voldemort's return. How could he NOT struggle? I love as well that we get to see more of his classmates' family lives. Seamus' mother doesn't approve of Harry whilst Neville's grandmother does. Speaking of the Longbottoms', that scene, where Harry, Ron and Hermione saw Neville at St. Mungo's is such a poignant and important scene. It truly highlights that Harry's not the only one that lost a family the last time Voldemort was around. I think it's great that Rowling goes further into relationships in this one. They're 15 now and they're curious. Harry has liked Cho for two years. I also love that we get see some Harry's true, innate abilities in this book as well. With everything he went through in The Goblet of Fire where he wasn't really prepared at all, it's nice to see him excel. Hermione is the best sure, but Harry being a teacher was such a brilliant idea. I so enjoyed seeing all of those different characters come together to learn Defense Against the Dark Arts stuff. With that in mind, I love Rowling's decision to make Fudge paranoid and have him inserted Umbridge. She's honestly one of the top two vile people in this entire series. And that's why I love the decision. Her evilness is what truly makes Harry the leader he's meant to be; he earns it from his skills, rather than his circumstances. And that is so important. Then there's the battle. What a brilliant battle! Highlighting that Harry is an incredible teacher, along with the courage of those students, just brings a smile to my face. Then adding the Order of the Phoenix members who mean so much to them all, just wonderful. I love the way that we see the evil surrounding them. Dumbledore versus Voldemort is perfect. I just thought it was a brilliant bit of writing for Rowling. I thought she did so right by her characters. Finally, I love that we finally get explanations for why things have happened the way they have. Dumbledore's answers are finally sufficient.
Even though I rated this review perfect 5, but I think everyone is really shitty to Harry in this book. How is it that no one except for Hermione one time asks Harry how he feels, and how's he's doing and how he's coping? It's completely ridiculous. The kid WITNESSED A MURDER. I can't grapple with the fact that Dumbledore is not aware enough to realise that having Snape do the Occlumency is a terrible idea. Whilst Dumbledore may have forgotten how youth feels. I really do find it inexcusable. It makes no sense. Almost every decision Rowling made usually I can find understanding in it. I cannot find understanding in the Occlumency decision. I've read the book a dozen of times. And I can't. I understand that Snape is an accomplished Occlumens and that he is an Order of the Phoenix member at the school. I get all of that. I am sorry I know Dumbledore is the most brilliant wizard ever, and even if he was trying to stay away from Harry, he should've been smarter than that. Also, obviously, I hate Sirius's decision, but I understand it - it just makes me sad.Labels: Fantasy, Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix, J.K. Rowling, Magic
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Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire
Date:
Time: 8:39 PM
Author: J.K. Rowling
Ratings: 4.5/5
Synopsis: When the Quidditch World Cup is disrupted by Voldemort's rampaging supporters and the terrifying Dark Mark appears against the night sky, it is obvious to Harry Potter that far from weakening, Voldemort is getting stronger. Back at Hogwarts for the fourth year Harry is astonished to be chosen to represent the school in the Triwizard Tournament. The competition is dangerous, the tasks were terrifying, and true courage is no guarantee of survival - especially with the Dark Lord's forces on the rise.
Review: I am weary. I am aware of which characters will die and I really don't want the series to end. When I first read the Goblet of Fire, it wasn't my favourite book. But reading it this time around, I can honestly say I absolutely loved it and, in fact, it ties with my enjoyment levels I felt when reading The Prisoner of Azkaban. I never thought having a bad memory had any positives, but when it comes to rereading it does, as it felt like I was reading the first time as I had most forgot what happened. I remember which character died, but all the other plot twists I had completely forgotten about, which made for an even more enjoyable reading experience.
The book was fantastic. The plot was so entertaining and I was flying through the pages, completely unaware of that fact. I also loved that I got to learn more about the wizarding world and that I was able to "witness" the Quidditch World Cup and learn more about the sport, as well as the world when Voldemort was in power. The writing was fantastic and the characters were just as amazing as ever, the whole entire story was just utterly phenomenal and I can't express how much I enjoyed reading this book.
The Goblet of Fire was definitely a noticeable turning-point in the series. As I said, everything becomes more detailed and more mature in this book. In the previous installments, we had heard of Voldemort but we hadn't actually seen what it would be like if he came to power, and in this book, his grotesque and violent nature is revealed and it genuinely made me scared for the characters whilst reading the book, as I was terrified of what would become of them once Voldemort returned. The students at Hogwarts were treated like adults in this book, and Dumbledore told them the truth and hid nothing from them, and I felt like we, the readers, were also being treated like adults by J.K. Rowling as she finally revealed to us the torture Voldemort inflicted on the people in the wizarding world. Like I said, I truly felt terrified for the characters as they feel like my best friends and when I am reading the books, their world is currently my own, and I cared deeply about what would happen to the world that I was currently living in. It takes a truly great writer to suck a reader in make them feel, for awhile, as if their story is their reality, and J.K. Rowling is a master of that.
The characters were just as lovely in this book, but we can clearly see that they are maturing and at times it was sweet (and frustrating) to see them try to navigate the uneven seas of growing up. There was something in this book that lacking in the previous three: romance. It was extemely interesting watching Hermione, Ron and Harry develop crushes and there's definitely some chemistry between Ron and Hermione.
With each book Harry seems to grow all brave. The emotional turmoil he experienced was evident and towards the end it was clearly that he was completely worn out and perhaps even slightly depressed, which would be completely understandable. I think Harry finally realises how powerful Voldemort and I suppose he feels responsible to stop him, because he was able to before.
In the previous books, Ron has always been the sidekick, the one with the sense of humour and the one who sticks beside Harry. In The Goblet of Fire, we were revealed his most vulnerable side, such as how he hates being poor when everyone else around him has new things in working order and we also see how left out he feels when Harry receives all the attention. It was interesting seeing this side of Ron.
I didn't feel as if we saw much of Hermione in this novel, but it was clear that she has matured in this book - more feisty. You can see she has started taking more care of her appearance and has started noticing boys.
The entire Weasley family were just wonderful as ever. Dumbledore was just as wise and kind, and Sirius was fantastic.
In the first three books, we were never shown just how powerful Voldemort is and in this book his power and destruction he is able to cause hit me like a ton of bricks. There was evidence that he was gaining power. I felt horrified when the things he had done in the past were revealed and I finally understand why people are so terrified of him.
We were also introduced to a new character in this book: Mad-Eye Moody. It's really hard to say where I stand with him, as it also turns out we didn't actually know him at all. I loved him and his relationship with Harry, but as we saw at the end, it wasn't real. When I found out who he really was, I was completely astounded and I'd actually felt sickened because I had adored his character and I felt cheated - just how Harry must've felt. I wasn't expecting it and that was a genius plot twist.
I really appreciate that Rowling has incorporated such strong friendship and family dynamics throughout her series. The books will teach people to stand up for one another, be loyal to their friends and do what is good and right. The family bonds are beautiful and you can see all the characters truly care for each other and it's just written so perfectly. It's during this book we see the characters struggle with internal decisions that will completely affect their lives, we see the true horror and power that Voldemort is capable of, we see tremendous sacrifices that will be made. The Goblet of Fire is darker, magical and more exhilarating than ever.Labels: Fantasy, Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire, J.K. Rowling, Magic
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Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban
Date:
Time: 3:48 AM
Author: J.K. Rowling
Ratings: 5/5
Synopsis: Harry Potter is lucky to reach the age of thirteen, since he has survived the murderous attack of the feared Dark Lord on more than one occasion. His hopes for a quiet school term concentrating on Quidditch are dashed, though, when a maniacal mass-murderer escapes from Azkaban, pursued by the soul-sucking Dementors who guard the prison. It's assumed that Hogwarts is the safest place for Harry to be. But is it his imagination that is making him feel eyes watching him in the dark, and should he be taking Professor Trelawney's ghoulish predictions seriously?
Review: I was so excited to read The Prisoner of Azkaban as it was my favourite book. I wish I was reading it for the first time again so I could experience the plot twists and such without knowing what the outcome would be. It was so enjoyable and captivating just as I knew it would be. The suspense, the action, the characters, the fantasy element and the under current themes of friendship, loyalty and family combined, totaled to an immensely entertaining end, and at times, quite a heartbreaking story. The Prisoner of Azkaban was astoundingly good and I love it as much as, maybe even more so, than the first time reading it.
In The Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter is returning to Hogwarts for his third year of wizadry training. However, the atmosphere is far from relaxed as Sirius Black, powerful wizard, who also happens to be a mass murderer is on the loose - and he's heading straight for Hogwarts... and straight for Harry. Soon Dementors, soul-sucking creatures that guard the Azkaban having a particularly nasty effect on Harry. Students aren't allowed to leave the school after dark and Harry is generally accompanied by someone everywhere he goes. The level of tension soars and the atmosphere is taut with nervousness as evidence of Sirius being in the castle appears. Soon everywhere is dangerous and everyone's nerves as are frayed as they wait for the notorious killer and supporter of Voldemort to appear. However, things are never as they appear to be. The book was fantastic! It was filled with so many plot twists and several revelations that shocked me nearly as much as the first time reading it. The writing was once again fabulous and the characters, I just completely adore them. I couldn't find any faults with this book, it was magnificently written.
The plot in Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban was fantastic and the best of the ones I read. There are plenty of plot twists that will astound you and later on one another will be revealed that will have you disbelieving the other plot twist and leaving you in a puzzled state as you try to figure everything out. The suspense is immense and the constant guessing will have your heart racing and your finger nails completely gone as you sit at the edge of your sit, more plot twists buffering you. It's SO good. Siriusly.
The characters are once again amazing. I felt quite a deep connection with Harry in this book, I finally understood just how traumatic it must've been for him to lose his parents and the torture he must surely go through knowing that he'll never be able to see them again. Harry showed immense bravery yet again and his courage and kindness just grows constantly throughout the series.
I adore Ron as well and I really admire how he is always there for Harry and always there to back him up, despite the amount of trouble he might get himself into. His loyalty and bravery is also something that is to be highly admired.
I absolutely adored Hermione in this book - even more than I usually do. The strain from all her studies was obviously getting to her and she was so spunky and sassy - it was highly amusing, especially Ron's reaction towards it. I think Hermione will always be my favourite character. She's also incredibly kind, brave, honest and just such a fantastic character.
The other new characters were really interesting and I grew close to several of them especially Lupin and a certain someone who I won't mention in case it spoils someone. I also loved once again Hagrid and Dumbledore in this book. I love Hagrid's big heart and Dumbledore's kind, wise nature. Actually, all the characters in this series are fabulous.
The Prisoner of Azkaban was a phenomenal sequel. It's packed full of action, mystery, magic and humour. You will have your eyes glued to the pages and your fingers flicking through the pages at an immense rate. It was also quite saddening at times when we were given glimpses into Harry Potter's parents' final moments and it made me thank God several times that my parents are safe and sound and that so am I and my man.
Labels: Fantasy, Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban, J.K. Rowling, Magic
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Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets
Date: Friday, December 18, 2015
Time: 1:23 AM
Author: J.K. Rowling
Rating: 5/5
Synopsis: The Dursleys were so mean and hideously that summer that all Harry Potter wanted was to get back to Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizadry. But just as he's packing his bags, Harry receives a warning from a strange, impish creature named Dobby who says if Harry Potter returns to Hogwarts, disaster will strike.
And strike it does. For in Harry's second year at Hogwarts, fresh torments and horrors arise, including an outrageously stuck-up new professor, Gilderoy Lockhart, a spirit named Moaning Myrtle who haunts the girl's bathroom, and the unwanted attentions of Ron Weasley's younger sister, Ginny.
But each of these seem minor annoyances when the real trouble beings, and someone -- or -- something starts turning Hogwarts students to stone. Could it be Draco Malfoy, a more poisonous rival than ever? Could it possibly be Hagrid, whose mysterious past is finally told? Or could it be the one everyone at Hogwarts most suspects... Harry Potter himself.
Review: Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets used to be one of my least favourite books because I didn't like Ginny and the plot was not as interesting as the other books. In fact, I planned on skipping this review and just re-read it for the sake of reading the whole Harry Potter set this year (including the three Harry Potter library books). But when my mind was blown -- twice -- whilst re-reading it, I knew I had to write about my newfound love for book two.
I don't know how I missed these in my first and second re-reading of Harry Potter. I guess this experience just proved to me that there's still something new I can discover when I re-read a good book. It may perhaps be because I skipped over that one the first time, or I looked over its significance, or simply, I grew up and became more sensitive to the tiny details in the story.
My first mind-blowing experience with Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets was during the dueling scene. It was the first time that the disarming charm, Expelliarmus, was used in the whole Potter-verse (spoiler alert). And this said disarming charm later became Harry Potter's signature spell. But do you remember who first used the spell? Severus Snape. My Harry Potter screamed when I realised that. I was like, Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God! Did J.K. Rowling mean for that to happen? Did she realise that? I bet she did because she's epic like that.
The second moment was when I realised this: Voldemort was awarded a Special Awards for Services to the School for "catching" the Heir of Slytherin. Fifty years later, Harry Potter earns the same award for the same reason. God, that realisation was mind blowing. It is also in this book that Voldemort told Harry Potter that they had alot of similarities. But J.K. Rowling, in her brilliance, said it through Dumbledore: "It is our choices that define us. That is certainly true".
Am I the only one who missed out on these things? Heh. I hope not.
There are alot of things that can be said about the three friends. Harry, Hermione and Ron, but this was the first time I truly admired Ron Weasley. I know alot of people love him, but this was the first time I realised how truly brave and loyal he was. This was displayed when he put aside himself and followed Harry into the forest despite his psychological terror of spiders. I am the same towards cockroaches, and I cannot imagine myself doing the same thing he did for anyone. I'll probably have a mental breakdown if I find a cockroach as big as Aragog. His act of doing that for Hagrid and Hermione just spoke volumes about him, and I have started to love him for it.
As I said in my opening statement, Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets used to be one of my least-liked in the series. But now that I've discovered these little gems, I can safely say it's one amazing book. In fact, with these, I feel like I am going to be reading the next five remaining books with a fresh set of eyes. I am ready.
What about you lovely, what's your favourite book in the Harry Potter series?Labels: Fantasy, Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets, J.K. Rowling, Magic
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Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone
Date: Thursday, December 17, 2015
Time: 11:57 PM
Author: J.K. Rowling
Rating: 5/5
Synopsis: Harry Potter has never played a sport whilst flying on a broomstick. He's never worn a Cloak of Invisibility, befriended a giant, or helped hatch a dragon. All Harry knows is a miserable life with the Dursleys, his horrible aunt and uncle, and their abominable son, Dudley. Harry's room is a tiny cupboard under the stairs, and he hasn't had a birthday party in ten years.
But that is all about to change when a mysterious letter arrives by owl messenger: a letter with an invitation to a wonderful place he never dreamed existed. There he finds not only friends, aerial sports, and magic around every corner, but a great destiny that's been waiting for him... if Harry can survive the encounter.
Review: I have alot going on this month, and I am taking my sweet time reading books this year, so finishing a book is taking longer than it did the past two years. But I finally re-read Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone after so many years, and let me tell you, I actually hugged the book afterwards. I hesitated in writing this review because what could I say that hasn't already been said? But my mind's been stuck on Harry Potter, and I just had to let it out. So here we are.
Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone is not my favourite book in the series, but it definitely holds a place in my heart because it's the book that introduced us to the amazing, fantastic world of everything - Harry Potter. Even Voldemort because, as Mr. Ollivander's said, "Terrible, but great". Although in this context, when I say great, I meant that he was able to acquire so much knowledge and Voldemort was undeniably, highly skilled, and that is, more often than not, the basis for the usage of the word "great"
I first read this book in 2009, and this copy is so special to me for so many reasons. When the whole Harry Potter franchise became popular in the Philippines around the year 2000, alot of schools banned the books, and the book was highly controversial. You know how I got a copy? My grandmother gave me a money, and then I bought the boxed set. How cool she is? I mean she's pretty conventional and strict Catholic but she didn't buy into the whole "magic is evil" argument that was spouted by some back then.
Another reason why I like Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone is that aside from the loss of Professor Quirrell, whom I first pitied but is now my most disliked characters in the Harry Potter world, all our beloved characters are happy there. If you've read the series, then you must know that the books progressively get darker and darker, and this is one of the books that still has a happy tone to it.
I love the different values espoused in the book even though they are not "in your face". There's a strong family ties, great friendship, support system, discipline, and knowing when to give a person a space and a little slack to get his act together. I also love that even at a young age, Harry, Ron, and Hermione took it upon themselves to do what must be done even though they're scared, or they might get hurt.
Now that I am older and have read more books, I am even more impressed by J.K. Rowling. Whilst reading Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone, I really wondered at her imagination and how she was able to create this whole world, all these characters with different personalities. the various structures (hello, Gringotts and 9 3 quarters?) and the character progression. She put all these fantastical creatures in a single world and made it, and nay, even logical that they are just there (goblins + centaurs + unicorns). Plus, she made you just want to be in that book, or even wish that the whole wizarding world is not just a figment of her imagination, even though there's a "real" evil lurking everywhere. I know she's into adult/mystery books now but I am really waiting for another fantasy series from her. I hope I am not the only one.
Labels: Fantasy, Harry Potter And The Sorcerer's Stone, J.K. Rowling, Magic
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The Hogwarts Library: The Tales of Beedle the Bard
Date:
Time: 12:29 AM
Author: J.K. Rowling
Rating: 5/5
Synopsis: The Tales of Beedle the Bard contains five richly diverse fairy tales, each with its own magical character that will variously bring delight, laughter and the thrill of mortal peril.
Additional notes for each story penned by Professor Albus Dumbledore will be enjoyed by Muggles and wizards alike, as the Professor muses on the morals illuminated by the tales, and reveals snippets of information about life at Hogwarts.
Review: The Harry Potter series is what started my love affair for books. I love it so much that I have read books 1, 2. 5, 6, and 7 twice and books 3 and 4 thrice. I acquired Beedle the Bard back when I was still longing for more of Harry Potter's magical world. I was looking for something to re-read so I grabbed this off my shelf.
The name of this book made an appearance in Book 7: Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows and played a prominent part in the story. It is a story book of sorts which consist of five fairy tales from the wizarding world, all having dark and creepy elements which reminded me of Neil Gaiman's fairy tale renditions and or The Grimm's Brother's original tales. But each of the stories did not feel like retellings of having borrowed parts from other fairy tales. I thought they were unlike any that I have heard before. Something truly unique as making me believe that they did come from a supposed wizarding world unknown to muggles (non-magical beings). Although the gist remains similar. Good triumphs over evil.
But what made me love this book is the extensive commentary by Albus Dumbledore at the end of every tale. It captured his voice, scholarly, calm and collected, reasonable and kind. and humorous. His notes were interpretations of each of the tale presented. It showed an insight into the history of the wizarding world particularly how the strained muggle-wizard relation came to be, about the dark arts, wand lore, being an animagus. We hear a mention of familiar characters (Lucius Malfoy, Abeforth Dumbledore, etc.) and new ones (Beatrix Bloxam)
I believe the book only works its charm on Potter fans and may also appeal to fairy tale fans. And I happen to be both. As for those who aren't, they might not enjoy it as much. But my stand on companion novels remain pretty much the same. I am willing to borrow one or be gifted with one but not to purchase one. The Tales of Beedle the Bard was just an exception.
All in all for a Potterhead and a fairy tale fan like me, this book was a lovely treat and provided me with another yet chance to revisit J.K. Rowling's writing and the magical world that she created albeit for just a brief moment in this book's few pages.Labels: Book Companion, Fantasy, Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling, Magic, The Hogwarts Library, The Tales of Beedle the Bard
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Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone (Illustrated Edition)
Author: J.K. Rowling
Illustrator: Jim Kay
Ratings: 5/5
Synopsis: Harry Potter has never been the star of a Quidditch team, scoring points whilst riding a broom far above the ground. He knows no spells, has never helped to hatch a dragon, and has never worn a cloak of invisibility.
All he knows is a miserable life with the Dursleys, his horrible aunt and uncle, and their abominable son Dudley - a great big swollen spoiled bully. Harry's room is a tiny closet at the foot of the stairs, and he hasn't had a birthday party in eleven years. But all that is about to change when a mysterious letter arrives by owl messenger: a letter with an invitation to an incredible place that Harry - and anyone who reads about him - will find unforgettable.
Review: This is around the sixth or seventh time that I've read the Harry Potter series. Let me tell you right now, I don't read books six or seven times. Of course, Harry Potter isn't a 5/5 star-books. I'd say it's closer to 500/5.
Because of that, this isn't going the one of my normal reviews where I talk about pros and cons and character development. I highly recommend the story of Harry Potter but what I am reviewing now is this particular edition of Harry Potter.
Words cannot describe how excited I was when I first heard that they were making illustrated editions of these beloved books. Although I was a month late of buying it cus a) I bought seven books of Rick Riordan b) both Fully Booked and National Book Store and even the online sellers were saying they don't have the book available on their shelf anymore. So I have to wait. Only afer two months of the agony of waiting, Fully Booked said they have it but on a UK edition which is a bit pricey compare to the US edition.
I was not disappointed at all. And I would highly recommend it. However, I understand that this is pretty expensive book £30.00 or in Philippine Peso, it is PhP 2,099.00. So here are all the things you should know before you make a decision on whether or not to buy it.
- The entire story is in here: Nothing was cut out of the original story or substituted for a picture that illustrated the same basic idea. Well for some spellings as I got mine on a UK edition. Some words had been spelled differently from the US edition.
- The book is incredibly well-made: Every page is glossy and thick. It's a solid hardback and the spine do not crease or fold even when I had this gigantic book flopped open on my lap. It comes with one of those cute little built-in ribbon bookmarks.
- Some of the punctuation is a little weird: I was surprised to see when I first opened the book that some of the punctuation was changed from the original Harry Potter books I was used to. It also doesn't use periods after words like mister (i.e. Mr instead of Mr.) It's not the biggest deal in the world and I didn't find it too distracting but if that's something you have an issue with, be aware.
- The text is in columns: Like in a newspaper, the text in this book is in columns instead of just straight across the page.
- The illustrations are stunning: I was tempted to completely litter this review with pictures of my favourite pages, but I honestly feel like I would end up showing you the entire book and ruining the fun of seeing the pictures for the first time in the book.
- There aren't illustrations on every single page: Sometimes there are pictures that take up two whole, side-by-side pages and sometimes there are two side-by-side pages with no illustrations at all, leaving you with just the columns of text. These pages are still wonderful (how could they not be, they're covered in words from The Philosopher's Stone) and have a cool background that makes them seem as if they could've been written on parchment paper.
- This book isn't life-changing: If you hated Harry Potter on your first go-around, this version most likely isn't going to change your opinion. But how did you hate Harry Potter on your first go-around?
This book is a really fun new way to experience Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone: The Illustration Edition aren't just cartoon versions of the same scenes and faces you see in the movies or the original little illustrations in the books. By picking this book, you're getting a fresh new experience and perspective. I completely adored this book. My ratings isn't just for the story that I already knew that I loved, but it's also for the incredible illustrations. I would 100% recommend picking this up, it blew me away.
Labels: Fantasy, Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone, Illustrated Edition, J.K. Rowling, Jim Kay, Magic
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The Chronicles of Narnia: The Magician's Nephew
Author: C.S. Lewis
Ratings: 4/5
Synopsis: When Digory and Polly are tricked by Digory's peculiar Uncle Andrew into becoming part of an experiment, they set off on the adventure of a lifetime. What happens to the children when they touch Uncle Andrew's magic rings is far beyond anything even the old magician could have imagine . Hurled into the Wood between the Worlds, the children soon find that they can enter many worlds through the mysterious pools there. In one world, they can encounter the evil Queen Jadis, who wreaks havoc in the streets of London where she is accidentally brought back with them. When they finally manage to pull her out of London, unintentionally taking along Uncle Andrew and a coachman with his horse, they find themselves in what will come to be known as the land of Narnia.
Review: The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis published in 1955. Before I begin I should probably address the fact that the reading order of The Chronicles of Narnia series is a topic in which many people are passionate about. Whilst many believe that they should be read in the order they were published, in which The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe is the first book, others myself included, feel the need to read the series in chronological order (starting at The Magician's Nephew).
Before reading this book, I would recommend keeping in mind the fact that this story is obviously meant to be enjoyed by young children. It seems to me that many people over-look this statement when they read the book, and it is therefore criticised for it's almost overly-simplified story line and stereotypical evil-for-no-reason protagonist. Keeping this statement in mind, The Magician's Nephew is easily enjoyable. Whilst I will always recommend that this book should be the first to read in the series, it is almost twice as interesting for people who began the series with The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe because it answers many questions such as the origins of the infamous lamppost, and how Queen Jadis came to be along with the wardrobe.
Whilst this book can be disagreeable to some people due to its obvious Christian themes and outdated ideas about gender roles, it makes up for it due to Polly and Digory's bumbling idiocy, and Lewis' simplistic yet imaginative writing. Whether you start the series off with The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe or never continue the series after The Magician's Nephew, it's an interesting book that, with the right frame of mind, is enjoyable for any and all ages. I truly believe this is a book everyone should read at least once.Labels: Adventure, C.S. Lewis, Christian Literature, Classics, Fantasy, Magic, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Magician's Nephew
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The Hogwarts Library: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Author: Newt Scamander (J.K. Rowling)
Ratings: 5/5
Synopsis: A copy of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them? resides in almost every wizarding household in the country. Now Muggles too have the chance to discover where the Quintaped lives, what the Puffskein eats and why it is best not to leave milk out for a Knarl.
Review: I liked Quidditch Through The Ages. But I loved Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them? I find it quite difficult to get into books that don't really have a plot, neither of these books do, yet I was really intrigued by the content of this book more-so than that in Quidditch Through The Ages. I think this might purely be because of the fact that in my opinion magical creatures > magical sport, but regardless, I found it so easy to flick through the pages.
True Harry Potter fans will love the "triple-threat" action that this book features due to a) J.K.'s wonderful writing style b) Harry and Ron's sarcastic comments handwritten throughout the pages and c) simply reading such rich, detailed information about all of the beasts and magical creatures that are quite possibly lurking around our Muggle world.
The book is split into two parts, the first part giving a summary of the history of fantastic beasts, the second part being an encyclopedia of sorts. It even features the Ministry of Magic's danger classification. The second part was definitely my favourite part to read, and I loved imagining all of the creatures based on the description given. I definitely had a little nerd thrill every time I recognised a creature that was featured in the books. My favourite entries though, go to the Kelpie and the Moon Calf. The Moon Calf is a little flat-footed creature with bulging eyes that dances in the moonlight. And the Kelpie is a shape-shifting water demon that drags travelers underwater and eats them.
Overall, I really love this little book. It's the perfect Harry Potter companion, along with the Quidditch Through Ages and The Tales of Beedle The Bard. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them? is set to become a trilogy -screen written by Joanne herself- which I am excited for as it's about the author of this book's journey discovering all of the magical creatures featured in the silver screen.
Labels: Book Companion, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Fantasy, J.K. Rowling, Magic, Newt Scamander, The Hogwarts Library
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The Hogwarts Library: Quidditch Through The Ages
Author: Kennilworthy Whisp (J.K. Rowling)
Ratings: 5/5
Synopsis: Did you know that there are 700 ways of committing a foul in Quidditch? The first game began to evolve on Queerditch Marsh - What Bumphing is? That Puddlemere United is oldest team in the Britain and Ireland league (founded 1163). All this information and much more could be yours once you have read this book. This is all you could ever need to know about the history - the rules, and the breaking of all the rules - of the noble wizarding sport of Quidditch.
Review: Naturally I couldn't leave it behind - anything remotely to do with Harry Potter becomes an obsession of mine - and it now takes pride of place next to the Harry Potter series on my bookshelf. This teensy 105-page book was one of the two books that Joanne wrote in aid of Comic Relief, the second of which is soon to be a film! It's basically a fictional nonfiction work featuring everything you ever wish to know about Quidditch. Personally, I wish that she would write up every single book that is ever mentioned in the books, but alas, that has not yet happened.
One of the things that I adore about this book is that it features J.K. Rowling's signature simple, winning writing style. It's such an easy read and I literally flipped through the pages in about an hour. Each chapter contains hilarious tidbits of information about Quidditch and broomsticks, the time-scale ranging from 1107 to present day. The evolution of the magical game is simply genius, and the writing style makes everything so authentic. My favourite part (aside from reading about the broomsticks) was learning about how the Golden Snitch came about - the pretty, golden version that Harry uses during the Harry Potter series replacing a poor golden bird that was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Little additional features of the copy include a foreward written by Albus Dumbledore himself, and within every copy is also a little glossary type descriptive section at the back that lists Quidditch teams that played in the British and Irish League and a bunch of Quidditch moves and hilarious little drawings showing them in action.
This book is simply genius.Labels: Book Companion, Fantasy, J.K. Rowling, Kennilworthy Whisp, Magic, Quidditch Through The Ages, The Hogwarts Library
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Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows
Author: J.K. Rowling
Ratings: 4/5
Synopsis: Harry is waiting in Privet Drive. The Order of the Phoenix is coming to escort him safely away without Voldemort and his supporters knowing - if they can. But what will Harry do then? How can he fulfill the momentous and seemingly impossible task that Voldemort has left him?
Review: I know many fans find The Deathly Hallows disappointing. In one sense, I understand the feeling. The book differs drastically from its predecessors in both structure and tone. This is not simply "Year Seven" at boarding school. Harry, Ron and Hermione have left Hogwarts to embark upon a more traditional epic fantasy quest to find magical artifacts.
Although Deathly Hallows probably could never have satisfied the fevered expectations of fans in 2007, the book does suffer from introducing too much plot too late in the series. Almost everything the heroes needed to do in order to defeat Voldemort they learn and accomplish in this book. It makes the book and the series as a whole
In The Half-Blood Prince Dumbledore discovers that Voldemort created seven Horcruxes in order to preserve his soul. One - Tom Riddle's Diary - was destroyed in The Chamber of Secrets whilst Dumbledore destroyed another - Marvolo's Ring - sometime before The Half-Blood Prince. That means Harry, Ron and Hermione still have to find and destroy five additional Horcruxes in the final book. In theory, the Horcruxes could be anywhere and anything. That alone would pose a huge obstacle, enough for most epic fantasy novels.
Because the task is so daunting, The Deathly Hallows - rightly - tries to make the process of searching for Horcruxes seem difficult. We needed to see Harry, Ron and Hermione wandering in the woods at a loss for what to do. Yet, because none of the previous books featured Horcruxes, The Deathly Hallows bears this burden alone. In other words, this one book - which supposedly finishes the series - also acts as the beginning, middle and end of the Horcrux subplot. Thus, it feels like a cheat when Harry, Ron and Hermione manage to destroy all of them (with an assist from Neville Longbottom) so quickly. It's quite convenient that Voldemort hid all five Horcruxes in the greater London metropolitan area rather than say, in a junkyard in China or in a deep ocean trench.
On top of that, halfway into The Deathly Hallows, the book adds yet another artifact quest. Harry, Ron, and Hermione must not only destroy Horcruxes but also stop Voldemort from obtaining the Deathly Hallows. Harry still needed to learn to truly accept death as part of human life. However, you'd think that by book seven in the series, the characters would basically know what they have to do and have already started doing it. Because the book needs to spend so much time on exposition for these additional quests, it has less time to spend exploring the implications of these plot developments.
The Deathly Hallows feels more like the end of the beginning than the end, or even the beginning of the end.
For example, there was a moment when Harry considers pursuing The Deathly Hallows for himself. He already has the Resurrection Stone and Invisibility Cloak, and he knows where to find the Elder Wand. With these three, he would become master over death and supposedly have the power to bring the dead back to life. Even with everything Harry has learnt up to this point, I still think this was - or should have been - a difficult choice. Wouldn't he have been tempted to bring his parents back? Even Dumbledore couldn't resist trying to use the Ressurection Stone to ressurect his sister. Harry's decision should have been a crucial moment for the character, but the book barely touched upon it. I felt that we as readers needed to see Harry struggle at least to make the right choice.
And yet, even if the dénouement feels rushed, emotionally The Deathly Hallows works a story about accepting death. The Tale of Three Brothers with the younger brother who wore the invisibility cloak and welcome death as an old friend, is a beautiful metaphor for passing on gracefully. Harry's walk through the Forbidden Forest to meet his own death at Voldemort's hands reflects a mature acceptance and acknowledgement of the human condition. I am sure many readers cried when the ghosts of James and Lily Potter, Sirius Black, and Remus Lupin appeared to comfort Harry.
I wouldn't consider The Deathly Hallows to be the greatest book in the series, but I am also not disappointed. It has some good ideas and the slower parts - the character development, exposition, even the wandering in the forest - were necessary to obtain the emotional pay off at the end. I just wish J.K. Rowling had spread a bit more of the plot and exposition amongst the other six books. The Deathly Hallows doesn't feel like the final installment of a seven-book series building to a climax. In fact, taking the Harry Potter series as a whole, I'd say Deathly Hallows contains around 80% of the crucial plot, making previous six books feel like glorified back story.
Epilogue:
The epilogue of The Deathly Hallows has become infamous. Deservedly so. The final book in a series should provide a sense of closure. The Deathly Hallows epilogue really only reveals the marital status of the main characters, which readers probably could have guessed. (Ron and Hermione, Harry and Ginny). It does not resolve the many remaining questions. Did Hermione succeed in promoting Elfish welfare? Did Harry ever become an Auror? Did Draco Malfoy find redemption - or is he still a shady Slytherin? How did wizarding society achieve peace and reconciliation after such a bloody civil war? After all, many wizards and witches such as Dolores Umbridge willingly supported Voldemort's anti-muggle policies.
Apparently, the Pottermore website has short stories about the lives of the main characters after The Deathly Hallows.Labels: Fantasy, Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows, J.K. Rowling, Magic
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Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince
Author: J.K. Rowling
Ratings: 4/5
Synopsis: It is the middle of summer, but there is an unseasonal mist pressing against the windowpanes. Harry Potter is waiting nervously in his bedroom at the Dursley's house in Privet Drive for a visit from Professor Dumbledore himself. One of the last times he saw the Headmaster was in a fierce one-on-one duel with Lord Voldemort, and Harry can't quite believe that Professor Dumbledore will actually appear at the Dursley's of all places. Why is the Professor coming to visit him now? What is it that cannot wait until Harry returns to Hogwarts in a few weeks' time? Harry's sixth year at Hogwarts has already got off to an unusual start, as the worlds of muggles and magic start to intertwine.
Review: It should have been called Harry Potter and You-Know-Who because the primary plot gives Harry - and the readers - a glimpse into Voldemort's back story. Dumbledore schedules private lessons in which he uses the Pensieve to show Harry from key moments in Voldemort's life.
In the Half-Blood Prince, J.K. Rowling combines intimidating and pathetic into Voldemort, as if Sauron and Saruman were a single character. It's tricky because those two character traits works against each other. Before The Half-Blood Prince, Voldemort was successful at managing his reputation that few wizards even dared to speak his name aloud. Only a handful of wizards realised that in his youth Voldemort was Tom Riddle, and only Dumbledore seems to have pieced together his back story. We only saw Voldemort a few times, and whenever he appeared somebody usually died. In the The Goblet of Fire he demonstrate his casual disregard for life by telling Peter Pettigrew to "Kill the spare" (Cedric Diggory)
After The Half-Blood Prince, readers learn that Tom Riddle's hatred of muggles all comes down to daddy issues. Riddle's mother tricked his muggle father into loving her, only to leave her when the spell wore off. Riddle's mother died after childbirth, leaving young Tom in an orphanage. The book strips away the cool, cruel image that Voldemort created for himself and reveals him to be deeply insecure and emotional. With the veil of mystery lifted, Voldemort becomes less scary and more pathetic. In fact, if the young Tom Riddle weren't such a creep, I suspect many readers would have felt bad for him.
But readers don't get feel sympathetic for Voldemort because the back story never actually "humanizes" the character. Voldemort was inherently evil, and nothing in his back story changes my assessment. There's no tragedy about Tom Riddle, no sense of missed opportunities, no possibility of redemption. We never get the sense that Voldemort had good in him, or that he might have turned from evil had his mum and dad loved him. When Dumbledore first met Tom in the orphanage, he already bullies other kids and steals from them.
Ultimately, The Half-Blood Prince manages to leave Voldemort's evilness intact even after removing some of the mystery; it's just a different type of evil. It's a good balance that makes Voldemort just enough of a threat for Deathly Hallows. Voldemort is still scary, but he's also a loser. Unfortunately, Voldemort is still a very one-dimensional character, inherently evil. I think it might have been more interesting had Rowling given him a few positive virtues. That said, even if Voldemort doesn't rank amongst my favourite villains, I give Rowling alot of credit for exploring different facets of evil.
Up to this point, the Harry Potter series had primarily presented Voldemort as an ominous threat. Other wizards so fear him that they dare not speak his name. For the first time, The Half-Blood Prince shows Voldemort as an actual character. However, this doesn't necessarily humanize him. On the contrary, it demonstrates a different facet of Voldemort's inhumane evil.Labels: Fantasy, Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince, J.K. Rowling, Magic
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Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix
Author: J.K. Rowling
Ratings: 5/5
Synopsis: Voldemort is back, but Harry has been shunted to Privet Drive all summer with no information. What is Dumbledore's plan? Will the Ministry of Magic ever acknowledge what's happening? Ministry is interfering with their education at Hogwarts. Is it possible for him to worry about impending war whilst also going on dates?
Review: So today we're talking The Order of the Phoenix, which is 100% the most underrated book in the entire series. Why you ask? Well, let me tell you.
Alot of people write this book off because it's a little... cerebral... compared to the others in the story. There's doesn't always seem to be action or adventure, despite containing one of the biggest fight scenes in the entire series. The cause for this is that too many people write off what they deem Harry's "grumpiness" in the book and get mad it's so central to the story. His grumpiness, which is probably more accurately described as depression is SO unbelievably important. The boy has just gone through an incredible trauma, and yet he still tries to figure out a way to help his cause throughout the story. Despite never getting answers, he wants to help. He also continuously hides his feelings, or at least he tried to. Alot of people can relate to Harry's struggle in this book. His sadness and anger shouldn't be pushed aside and labeled as grumpy or emotional.
The Order of the Phoenix is more cerebral; so much of it takes place within the mind - Harry's mind, Voldemort's mind, even the Longbottoms' minds. Being in the "mind" doesn't mean there's no action, there certainly is. And we shouldn't hate on a book simply because it's not a 500-page battle sequence.
People write it off but I am going to talk about why I didn't. I am all about being in the heads of characters. And I think this book provides that in so many different ways. Obviously, we're in Harry's head all the time. It's important that we see him struggle in the death of Cedric and Voldemort's return. How could he NOT struggle? I love as well that we get to see more of his classmates' family lives. Seamus' mother doesn't approve of Harry whilst Neville's grandmother does. Speaking of the Longbottoms', that scene, where Harry, Ron and Hermione saw Neville at St. Mungo's is such a poignant and important scene. It truly highlights that Harry's not the only one that lost a family the last time Voldemort was around. I think it's great that Rowling goes further into relationships in this one. They're 15 now and they're curious. Harry has liked Cho for two years. I also love that we get see some Harry's true, innate abilities in this book as well. With everything he went through in The Goblet of Fire where he wasn't really prepared at all, it's nice to see him excel. Hermione is the best sure, but Harry being a teacher was such a brilliant idea. I so enjoyed seeing all of those different characters come together to learn Defense Against the Dark Arts stuff. With that in mind, I love Rowling's decision to make Fudge paranoid and have him inserted Umbridge. She's honestly one of the top two vile people in this entire series. And that's why I love the decision. Her evilness is what truly makes Harry the leader he's meant to be; he earns it from his skills, rather than his circumstances. And that is so important. Then there's the battle. What a brilliant battle! Highlighting that Harry is an incredible teacher, along with the courage of those students, just brings a smile to my face. Then adding the Order of the Phoenix members who mean so much to them all, just wonderful. I love the way that we see the evil surrounding them. Dumbledore versus Voldemort is perfect. I just thought it was a brilliant bit of writing for Rowling. I thought she did so right by her characters. Finally, I love that we finally get explanations for why things have happened the way they have. Dumbledore's answers are finally sufficient.
Even though I rated this review perfect 5, but I think everyone is really shitty to Harry in this book. How is it that no one except for Hermione one time asks Harry how he feels, and how's he's doing and how he's coping? It's completely ridiculous. The kid WITNESSED A MURDER. I can't grapple with the fact that Dumbledore is not aware enough to realise that having Snape do the Occlumency is a terrible idea. Whilst Dumbledore may have forgotten how youth feels. I really do find it inexcusable. It makes no sense. Almost every decision Rowling made usually I can find understanding in it. I cannot find understanding in the Occlumency decision. I've read the book a dozen of times. And I can't. I understand that Snape is an accomplished Occlumens and that he is an Order of the Phoenix member at the school. I get all of that. I am sorry I know Dumbledore is the most brilliant wizard ever, and even if he was trying to stay away from Harry, he should've been smarter than that. Also, obviously, I hate Sirius's decision, but I understand it - it just makes me sad.Labels: Fantasy, Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix, J.K. Rowling, Magic
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Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire
Author: J.K. Rowling
Ratings: 4.5/5
Synopsis: When the Quidditch World Cup is disrupted by Voldemort's rampaging supporters and the terrifying Dark Mark appears against the night sky, it is obvious to Harry Potter that far from weakening, Voldemort is getting stronger. Back at Hogwarts for the fourth year Harry is astonished to be chosen to represent the school in the Triwizard Tournament. The competition is dangerous, the tasks were terrifying, and true courage is no guarantee of survival - especially with the Dark Lord's forces on the rise.
Review: I am weary. I am aware of which characters will die and I really don't want the series to end. When I first read the Goblet of Fire, it wasn't my favourite book. But reading it this time around, I can honestly say I absolutely loved it and, in fact, it ties with my enjoyment levels I felt when reading The Prisoner of Azkaban. I never thought having a bad memory had any positives, but when it comes to rereading it does, as it felt like I was reading the first time as I had most forgot what happened. I remember which character died, but all the other plot twists I had completely forgotten about, which made for an even more enjoyable reading experience.
The book was fantastic. The plot was so entertaining and I was flying through the pages, completely unaware of that fact. I also loved that I got to learn more about the wizarding world and that I was able to "witness" the Quidditch World Cup and learn more about the sport, as well as the world when Voldemort was in power. The writing was fantastic and the characters were just as amazing as ever, the whole entire story was just utterly phenomenal and I can't express how much I enjoyed reading this book.
The Goblet of Fire was definitely a noticeable turning-point in the series. As I said, everything becomes more detailed and more mature in this book. In the previous installments, we had heard of Voldemort but we hadn't actually seen what it would be like if he came to power, and in this book, his grotesque and violent nature is revealed and it genuinely made me scared for the characters whilst reading the book, as I was terrified of what would become of them once Voldemort returned. The students at Hogwarts were treated like adults in this book, and Dumbledore told them the truth and hid nothing from them, and I felt like we, the readers, were also being treated like adults by J.K. Rowling as she finally revealed to us the torture Voldemort inflicted on the people in the wizarding world. Like I said, I truly felt terrified for the characters as they feel like my best friends and when I am reading the books, their world is currently my own, and I cared deeply about what would happen to the world that I was currently living in. It takes a truly great writer to suck a reader in make them feel, for awhile, as if their story is their reality, and J.K. Rowling is a master of that.
The characters were just as lovely in this book, but we can clearly see that they are maturing and at times it was sweet (and frustrating) to see them try to navigate the uneven seas of growing up. There was something in this book that lacking in the previous three: romance. It was extemely interesting watching Hermione, Ron and Harry develop crushes and there's definitely some chemistry between Ron and Hermione.
With each book Harry seems to grow all brave. The emotional turmoil he experienced was evident and towards the end it was clearly that he was completely worn out and perhaps even slightly depressed, which would be completely understandable. I think Harry finally realises how powerful Voldemort and I suppose he feels responsible to stop him, because he was able to before.
In the previous books, Ron has always been the sidekick, the one with the sense of humour and the one who sticks beside Harry. In The Goblet of Fire, we were revealed his most vulnerable side, such as how he hates being poor when everyone else around him has new things in working order and we also see how left out he feels when Harry receives all the attention. It was interesting seeing this side of Ron.
I didn't feel as if we saw much of Hermione in this novel, but it was clear that she has matured in this book - more feisty. You can see she has started taking more care of her appearance and has started noticing boys.
The entire Weasley family were just wonderful as ever. Dumbledore was just as wise and kind, and Sirius was fantastic.
In the first three books, we were never shown just how powerful Voldemort is and in this book his power and destruction he is able to cause hit me like a ton of bricks. There was evidence that he was gaining power. I felt horrified when the things he had done in the past were revealed and I finally understand why people are so terrified of him.
We were also introduced to a new character in this book: Mad-Eye Moody. It's really hard to say where I stand with him, as it also turns out we didn't actually know him at all. I loved him and his relationship with Harry, but as we saw at the end, it wasn't real. When I found out who he really was, I was completely astounded and I'd actually felt sickened because I had adored his character and I felt cheated - just how Harry must've felt. I wasn't expecting it and that was a genius plot twist.
I really appreciate that Rowling has incorporated such strong friendship and family dynamics throughout her series. The books will teach people to stand up for one another, be loyal to their friends and do what is good and right. The family bonds are beautiful and you can see all the characters truly care for each other and it's just written so perfectly. It's during this book we see the characters struggle with internal decisions that will completely affect their lives, we see the true horror and power that Voldemort is capable of, we see tremendous sacrifices that will be made. The Goblet of Fire is darker, magical and more exhilarating than ever.Labels: Fantasy, Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire, J.K. Rowling, Magic
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Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban
Author: J.K. Rowling
Ratings: 5/5
Synopsis: Harry Potter is lucky to reach the age of thirteen, since he has survived the murderous attack of the feared Dark Lord on more than one occasion. His hopes for a quiet school term concentrating on Quidditch are dashed, though, when a maniacal mass-murderer escapes from Azkaban, pursued by the soul-sucking Dementors who guard the prison. It's assumed that Hogwarts is the safest place for Harry to be. But is it his imagination that is making him feel eyes watching him in the dark, and should he be taking Professor Trelawney's ghoulish predictions seriously?
Review: I was so excited to read The Prisoner of Azkaban as it was my favourite book. I wish I was reading it for the first time again so I could experience the plot twists and such without knowing what the outcome would be. It was so enjoyable and captivating just as I knew it would be. The suspense, the action, the characters, the fantasy element and the under current themes of friendship, loyalty and family combined, totaled to an immensely entertaining end, and at times, quite a heartbreaking story. The Prisoner of Azkaban was astoundingly good and I love it as much as, maybe even more so, than the first time reading it.
In The Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter is returning to Hogwarts for his third year of wizadry training. However, the atmosphere is far from relaxed as Sirius Black, powerful wizard, who also happens to be a mass murderer is on the loose - and he's heading straight for Hogwarts... and straight for Harry. Soon Dementors, soul-sucking creatures that guard the Azkaban having a particularly nasty effect on Harry. Students aren't allowed to leave the school after dark and Harry is generally accompanied by someone everywhere he goes. The level of tension soars and the atmosphere is taut with nervousness as evidence of Sirius being in the castle appears. Soon everywhere is dangerous and everyone's nerves as are frayed as they wait for the notorious killer and supporter of Voldemort to appear. However, things are never as they appear to be. The book was fantastic! It was filled with so many plot twists and several revelations that shocked me nearly as much as the first time reading it. The writing was once again fabulous and the characters, I just completely adore them. I couldn't find any faults with this book, it was magnificently written.
The plot in Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban was fantastic and the best of the ones I read. There are plenty of plot twists that will astound you and later on one another will be revealed that will have you disbelieving the other plot twist and leaving you in a puzzled state as you try to figure everything out. The suspense is immense and the constant guessing will have your heart racing and your finger nails completely gone as you sit at the edge of your sit, more plot twists buffering you. It's SO good. Siriusly.
The characters are once again amazing. I felt quite a deep connection with Harry in this book, I finally understood just how traumatic it must've been for him to lose his parents and the torture he must surely go through knowing that he'll never be able to see them again. Harry showed immense bravery yet again and his courage and kindness just grows constantly throughout the series.
I adore Ron as well and I really admire how he is always there for Harry and always there to back him up, despite the amount of trouble he might get himself into. His loyalty and bravery is also something that is to be highly admired.
I absolutely adored Hermione in this book - even more than I usually do. The strain from all her studies was obviously getting to her and she was so spunky and sassy - it was highly amusing, especially Ron's reaction towards it. I think Hermione will always be my favourite character. She's also incredibly kind, brave, honest and just such a fantastic character.
The other new characters were really interesting and I grew close to several of them especially Lupin and a certain someone who I won't mention in case it spoils someone. I also loved once again Hagrid and Dumbledore in this book. I love Hagrid's big heart and Dumbledore's kind, wise nature. Actually, all the characters in this series are fabulous.
The Prisoner of Azkaban was a phenomenal sequel. It's packed full of action, mystery, magic and humour. You will have your eyes glued to the pages and your fingers flicking through the pages at an immense rate. It was also quite saddening at times when we were given glimpses into Harry Potter's parents' final moments and it made me thank God several times that my parents are safe and sound and that so am I and my man.
Labels: Fantasy, Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban, J.K. Rowling, Magic
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Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets
Author: J.K. Rowling
Rating: 5/5
Synopsis: The Dursleys were so mean and hideously that summer that all Harry Potter wanted was to get back to Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizadry. But just as he's packing his bags, Harry receives a warning from a strange, impish creature named Dobby who says if Harry Potter returns to Hogwarts, disaster will strike.
And strike it does. For in Harry's second year at Hogwarts, fresh torments and horrors arise, including an outrageously stuck-up new professor, Gilderoy Lockhart, a spirit named Moaning Myrtle who haunts the girl's bathroom, and the unwanted attentions of Ron Weasley's younger sister, Ginny.
But each of these seem minor annoyances when the real trouble beings, and someone -- or -- something starts turning Hogwarts students to stone. Could it be Draco Malfoy, a more poisonous rival than ever? Could it possibly be Hagrid, whose mysterious past is finally told? Or could it be the one everyone at Hogwarts most suspects... Harry Potter himself.
Review: Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets used to be one of my least favourite books because I didn't like Ginny and the plot was not as interesting as the other books. In fact, I planned on skipping this review and just re-read it for the sake of reading the whole Harry Potter set this year (including the three Harry Potter library books). But when my mind was blown -- twice -- whilst re-reading it, I knew I had to write about my newfound love for book two.
I don't know how I missed these in my first and second re-reading of Harry Potter. I guess this experience just proved to me that there's still something new I can discover when I re-read a good book. It may perhaps be because I skipped over that one the first time, or I looked over its significance, or simply, I grew up and became more sensitive to the tiny details in the story.
My first mind-blowing experience with Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets was during the dueling scene. It was the first time that the disarming charm, Expelliarmus, was used in the whole Potter-verse (spoiler alert). And this said disarming charm later became Harry Potter's signature spell. But do you remember who first used the spell? Severus Snape. My Harry Potter screamed when I realised that. I was like, Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God! Did J.K. Rowling mean for that to happen? Did she realise that? I bet she did because she's epic like that.
The second moment was when I realised this: Voldemort was awarded a Special Awards for Services to the School for "catching" the Heir of Slytherin. Fifty years later, Harry Potter earns the same award for the same reason. God, that realisation was mind blowing. It is also in this book that Voldemort told Harry Potter that they had alot of similarities. But J.K. Rowling, in her brilliance, said it through Dumbledore: "It is our choices that define us. That is certainly true".
Am I the only one who missed out on these things? Heh. I hope not.
There are alot of things that can be said about the three friends. Harry, Hermione and Ron, but this was the first time I truly admired Ron Weasley. I know alot of people love him, but this was the first time I realised how truly brave and loyal he was. This was displayed when he put aside himself and followed Harry into the forest despite his psychological terror of spiders. I am the same towards cockroaches, and I cannot imagine myself doing the same thing he did for anyone. I'll probably have a mental breakdown if I find a cockroach as big as Aragog. His act of doing that for Hagrid and Hermione just spoke volumes about him, and I have started to love him for it.
As I said in my opening statement, Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets used to be one of my least-liked in the series. But now that I've discovered these little gems, I can safely say it's one amazing book. In fact, with these, I feel like I am going to be reading the next five remaining books with a fresh set of eyes. I am ready.
What about you lovely, what's your favourite book in the Harry Potter series?Labels: Fantasy, Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets, J.K. Rowling, Magic
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Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone
Author: J.K. Rowling
Rating: 5/5
Synopsis: Harry Potter has never played a sport whilst flying on a broomstick. He's never worn a Cloak of Invisibility, befriended a giant, or helped hatch a dragon. All Harry knows is a miserable life with the Dursleys, his horrible aunt and uncle, and their abominable son, Dudley. Harry's room is a tiny cupboard under the stairs, and he hasn't had a birthday party in ten years.
But that is all about to change when a mysterious letter arrives by owl messenger: a letter with an invitation to a wonderful place he never dreamed existed. There he finds not only friends, aerial sports, and magic around every corner, but a great destiny that's been waiting for him... if Harry can survive the encounter.
Review: I have alot going on this month, and I am taking my sweet time reading books this year, so finishing a book is taking longer than it did the past two years. But I finally re-read Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone after so many years, and let me tell you, I actually hugged the book afterwards. I hesitated in writing this review because what could I say that hasn't already been said? But my mind's been stuck on Harry Potter, and I just had to let it out. So here we are.
Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone is not my favourite book in the series, but it definitely holds a place in my heart because it's the book that introduced us to the amazing, fantastic world of everything - Harry Potter. Even Voldemort because, as Mr. Ollivander's said, "Terrible, but great". Although in this context, when I say great, I meant that he was able to acquire so much knowledge and Voldemort was undeniably, highly skilled, and that is, more often than not, the basis for the usage of the word "great"
I first read this book in 2009, and this copy is so special to me for so many reasons. When the whole Harry Potter franchise became popular in the Philippines around the year 2000, alot of schools banned the books, and the book was highly controversial. You know how I got a copy? My grandmother gave me a money, and then I bought the boxed set. How cool she is? I mean she's pretty conventional and strict Catholic but she didn't buy into the whole "magic is evil" argument that was spouted by some back then.
Another reason why I like Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone is that aside from the loss of Professor Quirrell, whom I first pitied but is now my most disliked characters in the Harry Potter world, all our beloved characters are happy there. If you've read the series, then you must know that the books progressively get darker and darker, and this is one of the books that still has a happy tone to it.
I love the different values espoused in the book even though they are not "in your face". There's a strong family ties, great friendship, support system, discipline, and knowing when to give a person a space and a little slack to get his act together. I also love that even at a young age, Harry, Ron, and Hermione took it upon themselves to do what must be done even though they're scared, or they might get hurt.
Now that I am older and have read more books, I am even more impressed by J.K. Rowling. Whilst reading Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone, I really wondered at her imagination and how she was able to create this whole world, all these characters with different personalities. the various structures (hello, Gringotts and 9 3 quarters?) and the character progression. She put all these fantastical creatures in a single world and made it, and nay, even logical that they are just there (goblins + centaurs + unicorns). Plus, she made you just want to be in that book, or even wish that the whole wizarding world is not just a figment of her imagination, even though there's a "real" evil lurking everywhere. I know she's into adult/mystery books now but I am really waiting for another fantasy series from her. I hope I am not the only one.
Labels: Fantasy, Harry Potter And The Sorcerer's Stone, J.K. Rowling, Magic
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The Hogwarts Library: The Tales of Beedle the Bard
Author: J.K. Rowling
Rating: 5/5
Synopsis: The Tales of Beedle the Bard contains five richly diverse fairy tales, each with its own magical character that will variously bring delight, laughter and the thrill of mortal peril.
Additional notes for each story penned by Professor Albus Dumbledore will be enjoyed by Muggles and wizards alike, as the Professor muses on the morals illuminated by the tales, and reveals snippets of information about life at Hogwarts.
Review: The Harry Potter series is what started my love affair for books. I love it so much that I have read books 1, 2. 5, 6, and 7 twice and books 3 and 4 thrice. I acquired Beedle the Bard back when I was still longing for more of Harry Potter's magical world. I was looking for something to re-read so I grabbed this off my shelf.
The name of this book made an appearance in Book 7: Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows and played a prominent part in the story. It is a story book of sorts which consist of five fairy tales from the wizarding world, all having dark and creepy elements which reminded me of Neil Gaiman's fairy tale renditions and or The Grimm's Brother's original tales. But each of the stories did not feel like retellings of having borrowed parts from other fairy tales. I thought they were unlike any that I have heard before. Something truly unique as making me believe that they did come from a supposed wizarding world unknown to muggles (non-magical beings). Although the gist remains similar. Good triumphs over evil.
But what made me love this book is the extensive commentary by Albus Dumbledore at the end of every tale. It captured his voice, scholarly, calm and collected, reasonable and kind. and humorous. His notes were interpretations of each of the tale presented. It showed an insight into the history of the wizarding world particularly how the strained muggle-wizard relation came to be, about the dark arts, wand lore, being an animagus. We hear a mention of familiar characters (Lucius Malfoy, Abeforth Dumbledore, etc.) and new ones (Beatrix Bloxam)
I believe the book only works its charm on Potter fans and may also appeal to fairy tale fans. And I happen to be both. As for those who aren't, they might not enjoy it as much. But my stand on companion novels remain pretty much the same. I am willing to borrow one or be gifted with one but not to purchase one. The Tales of Beedle the Bard was just an exception.
All in all for a Potterhead and a fairy tale fan like me, this book was a lovely treat and provided me with another yet chance to revisit J.K. Rowling's writing and the magical world that she created albeit for just a brief moment in this book's few pages.Labels: Book Companion, Fantasy, Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling, Magic, The Hogwarts Library, The Tales of Beedle the Bard
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