hp – Zakiya N. Jamal

"The Cursed Child" Review (No Spoilers!)

Book Review: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (No Spoilers!)

Posted on August 2, 2016August 2, 2016 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Book Reviews, Books to Buy

Synopsis:

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.”

Purchase From:

Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository

Review

I went into this book with low expectations because a) this is a script of a play not an actual book and b) this isn’t really J. K. Rowling’s writing. Yes I’m sure she contributed but Jack Thorne really came up with this play so I didn’t expect it to be like the books and it wasn’t but it was still really good.

The play mainly follows Albus, the son of Harry, and Scorpius, the son of Draco, who were great characters. I truly loved Scorpius and I didn’t think I would, so that was a great surprise. He’s definitely my favorite character from this whole play. I also found it interesting how Albus and Scorpius friendship reflected both the relationships they had with their fathers as well as Harry and Draco’s interesting relationship.

I thought the Golden Trio were a bit different from what I remembered but I also took into account that they’re adults now with kids and that obviously changes a person. The changes I saw in them weren’t so drastic that it was unbelievable and I found Ron to be the most similar to what I would expect from an adult Ron. Ginny is still my fave and that hasn’t changed with this play. I thought she was fantastic and such a good mom and wife.

I found the story itself much different than what I would expect from a Harry Potter book but like I said this isn’t really J. K. Rowling’s writing so I didn’t expect it to be like previous books. As I’ve seen some other people say this story did feel a bit like fanfiction but a well written fanfiction. I do think the major plot point of the story is a bit far fetched and unbelievable to me but in choosing to just go with it I really enjoyed this story. I think if you take this story as something seperate from the Harry Potter stories and just as a fun piece of work that includes some of your favorite characters than you’ll really enjoy.

This one is a buy for me because I can actually see myself reading it again and also because nostalgia. Let me know if you’ve read The Cursed Child yet and tell me your thoughts (no spoilers!) in the comments below.

Stars:

Favorite Line:

“That’s the thing, isn’t it? About friendships. You don’t know what he needs. You only know he needs it.”

Book Review: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Posted on July 23, 2016 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Book Reviews, Books to Buy

Synopsis:

In his fifth year at Hogwart’s, Harry faces challenges at every turn, from the dark threat of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named and the unreliability of the government of the magical world to the rise of Ron Weasley as the keeper of the Gryffindor Quidditch Team. Along the way he learns about the strength of his friends, the fierceness of his enemies, and the meaning of sacrifice.

Purchase From:

Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository

Review

Going into this novel I knew I was going to be sad by the end of it but I was still excited. I really enjoyed this novel especially because there was a lot more in it than there was in the movie. For one thing I’m pretty sure there’s absolutely no mention of O. W. L. exams in the movie (but if I’m wrong please correct me; I haven’t seen the movies in a while). Also, I don’t remember Harry wanting to be an Auror so I feel like that wasn’t in the movies either, which I think is really important. It was really cool seeing this aspect of the wizarding world. Sometimes I forget Harry, Hermione, and Ron are in school so it was cool reading about them thinking about their futures and having to meet with Professor McGonagall like a guidance counselor.

Speaking of Professor McGonagall she is queen. I loved her so much in this book. The way she didn’t care about Professor Umbridge at all and just straight up disrespected her was amazing. I loved it and Professor McGonagall is definitely my favorite character now. She’s so sassy but also really caring.

The most annoying character was definitely Cho. On the one hand I wanted to feel bad because her boyfriend did die but on the other hand I was like, “Please just stop with all the crying.” Ginny on the other was fantastic and I definitely agree with everyone that said book Ginny is better than movie Ginny. She’s so much better!

The Order of the Phoenix is definitely a contender for my favorite book in the series now. My favorite was always The Prisoner of Azkaban in the past because I just love Sirius so much but this book was really good. I have two more books to read and then The Cursed Child will finally be released and I’ll read that too. I’m so glad I’m finally reading these books. I’d ask why no one told me to read them sooner but literally everyone told me to read them so it’s my own fault. I’ve learned my lesson you guys. I’m a real Harry Potter fan now. Thanks for showing me the light.

Stars:

Favorite Line:

“Anything’s possible if you’ve got enough nerve.”

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Book Review: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Posted on July 14, 2016 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Book Reviews, Books to Buy

Synopsis:

Harry Potter is midway through his training as a wizard and his coming of age. Harry wants to get away from the pernicious Dursleys and go to the International Quidditch Cup. He wants to find out about the mysterious event that’s supposed to take place at Hogwarts this year, an event involving two other rival schools of magic, and a competition that hasn’t happened for a hundred years. He wants to be a normal, fourteen-year-old wizard. But unfortunately for Harry Potter, he’s not normal – even by wizarding standards. And in his case, different can be deadly.

Purchase from:

Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository

Review

Guess who’s finally finishing the Harry Potter series? This girl! I read the first three books and started Goblet of Fire years ago but never finished it and I have no idea why because I loved it the second time around. This book was everything I expected based on the hype. Filled with adventure, a smidgen of romance, and some twists (that I knew about going in but were still very exciting) I was glued to this book. I was worried that because I’ve seen the movies it’d be hard for me to get into reading the books but I loved this book. I just wanted to sit down and read the whole thing in one sitting but I couldn’t because I’m a grown-up with a job.

Even so, I went through this book pretty quickly and I loved it. The only thing that bothered me was Ron. His fight with Harry was so silly but then I reminded myself that they’re only 14 in this book and so the maturity isn’t really there yet. Also, Hermione is amazing. I loved her organization for the house elves and I can’t believe that’s not included in the movies. That’s such a big deal! Also, I can’t remember but I don’t think Dobby and Winky were in the Goblet of Fire movie either, which is just ridiculous. They were so great in this book.

Honestly, I was very nervous the books wouldn’t be worth all the hype. Not to say that I thought they’d be bad but everyone kept telling me, “You have to read the books! You can’t just watch the movies!” which is something I tell people all the time but I loved the Harry Potter movies. I thought to myself, “How could it possibly get better?” but they really were. I truly enjoyed reading this book even though I knew what was going to happen and I’m currently loving the Order of the Phoenix. Hopefully I can finish these books before Cursed Child comes out. Wish me luck!

Stars:

Favorite Line:

“It matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be.”

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