First off, I will say that I was extremely frustrated to have pre-ordered this book from Amazon and not receive it until 6 days after its release. Super lame Amazon!
Tho, when I did get the book on Saturday I read the complete thing that afternoon. I absolutely LOVED reminiscing with Harry Potter and his friends. It was fun!
I give Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling (sure there is some dispute on how much she wrote) 4.5 out of 5 stars in my book review that I promise to not give any spoilers. HP and the Cursed Child is an all around is a fun fast read for high school students and up.
I know there are a lot mixed review on this book, but I still say definitely give it a read. Though, there are a few things that it is best to remember going into this book. First, you have to remember that this book is a script. Scripts are different from your traditional novel. To be honest, I forgot that at first. The first 20 pages or so was a little frustrating b/c I wasn't getting the detail in the setting, characters, story development, etc. However, after I remembered that little, but crucial, detail I really got immersed in the story. I have always felt that it is too hard to compare the books to their movie counterparts. They are different, and they each have different strengths. I feel the same thing applies with a script to a novel.
There were several things that I really liked with HP and the Cursed Child. I really liked reminiscing with the old characters. I really liked seeing the story continue. There are some awesome quotes/lines found in the story that I had to write down. I'd love to share all of them with you, but I promised you no spoilers. Therefore, I'll share just this one from Scorpius, Draco Malfoy's son. "I, uh, I opened a book. Something which has- in all my years on this planet- never been a particularly dangerous activity." This quote makes my librarian book loving heart smile. Even though Scorpius is not my favorite (I was never a Malfoy fan either), I LOVE this quote.
Now, it is true, and somewhat shocking that a Harry Potter book didn't earn a perfect 5 star rating. Though, I've always been a tough grader and that doesn't change. I'm not comparing the script to the other books b/c they are different (script vs. novel), but I am judging the book as part of the series and that is where it falters.
Since Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is a continuation of the story I was disappointed that the characters were not always consistent with who they were in the first 7 books. Hermione was known for being clever in the original series, but I didn't think she was her consistent witty clever self in this book. I felt there were inconsistencies with Ron and Harry's characters as well. I don't want to give too much into why they were inconsistent b/c I don't want to spoil a single aspect of the story. However, it is the inconsistencies with the characters that is the major reason for the less than perfect score.
I still thoroughly enjoyed reading the script book. I found myself feeling many emotions in the reading. I was incredibly happy. picking up the book, and concerned, worried, sad, curious, surprised, and more.
All in all, it is a fun read. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. I wouldn't say this is a must read for Harry Potter fans or those that have read the rest of the series, but I will say that I'm so happy that I did read it.
Just in case you aren't sure, here is the book description I took from Amazon.
"The Eighth Story. Nineteen Years Later.
Based on an original new story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, a new play by Jack Thorne,Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is the eighth story in the Harry Potter series and the first official Harry Potter story to be presented on stage. The play will receive its world premiere in London’s West End on July 30, 2016.
It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn’t much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband and father of three school-age children.
While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places."
I'd LOVE to hear what you thought of the book.
I am considering adding my favorite quotes from the book in a month or so. I will include them with a clear spoiler line so that you can choose to read them or not. Thoughts?
First of all I LOVED this book. But I do agree there were some inconsistencies with the characters. Hermione almost came off as sloppy and ditzy which totally is not the case. I also expected there to be a big twist or shocker at the end, and there wasn't. I would love to see the play. I really feel as though that is the best way to get the full experience with this story.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your thoughts and commenting! I like your explanation of Hermione coming across as sloppy rather than just not as witty. I agree that seeing the play would give the full experience of the story.
DeleteMy background in theater helped me visualize much of the action. I enjoyed the less than perfect father-son relationships. I would love to see this play.
ReplyDeleteI would LOVE to see this play too. Though, I am jealous of your theater background b/c that would be a different reading experience for sure.
DeleteMy background in theater helped me visualize much of the action. I enjoyed the less than perfect father-son relationships. I would love to see this play.
ReplyDeleteI got my copy of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child book today.
ReplyDeleteI brought it off Amazon and they delivered it in just 2 days!
Check them out:
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts 1 & 2
So it's only taken me FOREVER to write my feelings on this Harry Potter book, BUT i am sitting in the Gilbert Library and thought of you as soon as I sat down and then thought...oh yeah, I need to write a review!
ReplyDeleteFirst off, this should come as no surprise...we share nearly every feeling about the book. That being said, these are my OFFICIAL thoughts...
I was pretty skeptical of the book because of the play format...as most HP fans were. It probably took me about 40-50 pages to get past the format, acquaint myself with the new characters, and to get used to Adult versions of Ron, Hermione, and Harry. You can definitely tell when its not JK Rowling's voice behind the words which led me to ponder how many parts were written by here versus just approved by her (by now i have read the book 3 times just to figure this out). Once I got past those bits, the book was actually really great! There have only been about 5 books in my Adulthood that I have been so engrossed with that I stayed up ALL day and when it got to the evening and I had to go to work I just wasn't ready to put it down so I called in to work sick just so I could stay up even longer and finish the book (I am ashamed to say the first twilight book was one of these) and this Harry Potter book was one of those books! I got very into the story and didnt want to put it down until it was done! I think the only really bothersome parts for me was that I thought the relationship between Albus and Scorpius (I have mistakenly called him Scorpion a dozen times already) was a little weird, the time-turner plot seemed a little weird at times...like not as thought through as it could have been, or like...of all the options, THIS was what we came up with? Not fault finding though because I thought the book was great and thats just nit-picky and i thought the relationship between our favorite 3 friends was a bit off at times...other than that...I LOVED this book and I thought it was a fitting end to the series. I would LOVE to see the play! I just kept wondering the whole time how they could pull off some of these things on stage!! I sure hope they take it on a tour and that it comes to Arizona!!
So, 4 out of 5 stars.