SPOILER ALERT! (FOR THOSE RARE PEOPLE) The trials and tribulations of the Triwizard Tournament are always fun and fascinating to read. But for me, this is one of the books in the series I enjoy the least. With Voldemort’s return at the centre, The Goblet of Fire becomes a springboard for this uprising to dominate the next three books and things just become a whole lot more gloomy. Cedric’s death is so horrible and sad and still makes me angry when I read it. Not to mention that stupid, annoying Cornelius Fudge and his refusal to believe the truth! Such a defiant idiot who indecently helps to tip the circumstances into Voldemort’s favour. I always dread reading that hospital wing scene as I know it’s only going to serve as a ominous foreshadowing of dark and desperate times in the magical community. The tournament is interesting enough (my favourite task is the maze) but with the introduction of Rita Skeeter, Mr. Crouch, Barty Crouch Jr. and Voldemort at full power, there is a definite dampening of spirits. I even find that the tasks themselves are a very quick read compared to other events in Harry’s fourth year.
A crucial part of the Harry Potter puzzle, but there just seems to be too many depressing elements to make it a favourite of mine. It could be worse though, it could be The Order of the Phoenix…
Is The Goblet of Fire one of your favourite books in the series? Which Triwizard Tournament task is up your alley? Do you think it can be depressing at times? Let me know!
This is, without a doubt, my favourite book in the Harry Potter series! It is a perfect balance of the whimsy and curious nature of Philosopher’s Stone and the darker and more sinister tones of Chamber of Secrets. We also get a much deeper look at the classes that Harry takes at Hogwarts – especially Care of Magical Creatures and Divination, his newest subjects. Harry’s third year at Hogwarts is all about him being protected from Sirius Black, so the classes provide a diversion from the constant investigations he undertakes into the circumstances of this escaped convict. The plot to Prisoner of Azkaban has been strategically structured and it later becomes one of the most crucial elements to the entire series. We are lulled into what seems to be a peaceful contrast to what is happening in the wizarding community, and then in the second half of the book, we are introduced to some of the most epic imagery and sequence of events to come out of the series…
Werewolves, escaped criminals, time travel, Dementors, and no Voldemort!
When I say werewolves, I really mean one: Remus Lupin. And boy, what an awesome and wise character he is. He acts as Harry’s guardian angel for most of the book, protecting him from Dementors (we’ll get to those terrifying things later), detention from Snape, and even from himself during the school term. The scene where he forgets to take his Wolfsbane Potion and transforms in front of Harry’s eyes is frightening and ramps up the action in the otherwise monster-free book. He represents the grounded half of the novel and is hard to dislike, even as a werewolf. Arguably one of the best characters from the series.
The escaped “criminal” Sirius Black is another terrific addition to the book. We are overjoyed to find someone who loves Harry unconditionally, whilst being related (through friendship with his parents) to him! His constant checking in on Harry as “the Grim” is sweet and he values friendship highly, as shown when he declares that he’d rather die for Harry’s parents than to save himself. Not many characters could honestly do that, but we believe it when Sirius says it. It is also heart-breaking that Harry has been separated from someone genuinely good for his whole life up until now, but this brief encounter is one that is truly special.
On to time travel. It seems like it was only a matter of time before it was included in one of these books 😉 This is what makes the second half of the book truly exciting – the ways in which the actions of the observed characters fit together like a puzzle as Harry and Hermione retrace their steps. They have to think quickly and carefully about the sequence of events needed to rescue Buckbeak and save Sirius simultaneously. For example, when Harry is about to be attacked by Lupin, Hermione remembers that Lupin responds to a call from his own kind and howls, becoming the catalyst that draws Lupin away and leads Harry to the lake, all the while avoiding being seen by anyone else. An enjoyable and a stand-out climax.
Previously, I mentioned that the plot to Prisoner of Azkaban was structured strategically. One of the most indicative aspects comes from the inclusion of the Dementors. These bastards were not only creative imagery to represent depression by J.K. Rowling, but they give readers a true taste of a bleak outlook of Harry’s life and utilise this gloominess as a catalyst for one of the greatest and triumphant moments in the series: Harry saving himself via his stag Patronus. It was epic in the movie because it was epic in the book! I remember studying in English in high school and reading the passage where Harry and Sirius are surrounded by Dementors before passing out together. The language and descriptions were memorable and beautiful, even in such a terrible moment. Despite their horrible nature, these creatures are an imperative inclusion, in order to see the lows that bring about the amazing and powerful highs of magic, courage, and daring.
The book also unravels massive pieces of the puzzle of Harry’s survival while digging into the back story of how his parents were targets by Voldemort. It moves the plot along without it being overshadowed by the Dark Lord himself. The four creators of the Marauder’s Map replace Voldemort as the link to Harry’s past. Even though he is still a part of this story, he certainly isn’t in your face as much as the two previous novels. It is the only book without Voldemort being physically present, either as himself or as a teenager.
Also, how could I forget Lee Jordan’s Quidditch commentary? Enough said.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is an emotional read that encompasses all that is wonderful in this magical world. It is my favourite now and will be my favourite forever.
Is this book your favourite in the series? If not, what is your favourite? Do you like the addition of new characters? Feel free to put your thoughts down in the comment section!
SPOILER ALERT (NOT REALLY THOUGH, SURELY?)
Whenever I discuss the Harry Potter series with friends, I can never
understand why they don’t enjoy Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
as much as I do. This book has everything you want in a story: a mystery that
creates thrilling adventures to find the truth, death-defying action scenes,
loyalty, friendship, and an adorable house-elf.
After I had reread the first two books back to back, I couldn’t help noticing how much the stakes had risen. The plot is more layered and Voldemort’s actions are now directly affecting people at Hogwarts, which is good foreshadowing for what’s to come later in the series. Harry’s first year at Hogwarts and his battle with Voldemort for the Philosopher’s Stone has barely sunk in when he is introduced to the reign of Slytherin’s heir. This is one of the reasons why I find this book so enjoyable! Harry is thrown into a dangerous legacy that requires him to step up when he really doesn’t know what to do – something that is indicative of life. It’s comparable to climbing a hill and then being told you have to climb the highest mountain in the world. The Chamber of Secrets and what’s inside it force Harry to be ready for anything, including dealing with monsters on his own, or with very minimal direct help from other characters.
Something else I noticed was all the links between this book and Harry
Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. There are loads! The ones that stood out
to me were the usage of Tom Riddle’s diary and the consequences that came from
opening it, the vanishing cabinet in Borgin and Burkes that will lead to the
Death Eater invasion, Voldemort and his connection to Hogwarts and another
mystery involving someone giving themselves a feared title (Heir of Slytherin,
Half-Blood Prince). These have only been picked up by me after so many rereads
but it always intrigued me to discover the seeds that were planted so early on
to tie everything together. This is enough evidence for me to believe that the
second book is extremely important in setting the tone for the series.
The language is also more sophisticated in this book. Where the vocabulary
was directed to a more middle-grade audience in the first book, this one seems
more advanced and targets late primary and early-to-mid high school students. It’s
a necessary adjustment to partner with the darker and more complicated plot.
I can’t deny that I get slightly creeped out when reading this book (I’m a huge arachnophobe), but I always enjoy the conversation between Harry and Professor Dumbledore after Harry comes out of the Chamber of Secrets. When Dumbledore tells Harry “it is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities”, it allows us to think deeply about who we are, how we go about making decisions and how we act accordingly. It’s a great lesson and a perfect moment for Harry to learn it, as he constantly questions whether he should be in Gryffindor or not.
Needless to say, I love Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and
will continue to love it until the day I die (although I don’t love Lockhart,
he can go bugger off). This book is an important addition to the series that
balances terrifying imagery with satisfying conclusions.
Have you read Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets?
Is it one of your favourites, or not high on your list?
What were your favourite moments? I’d love to know! View all my
reviews
One of the greatest things my mother has ever done for me is to give me this book back in 2000 and say, “Welcome to a magical journey that you’ll never forget!” Since then, I’ve read the series over 10 times and have loved every moment. It has been over 5 years since I’ve read them though, so when I drew out a Harry Potter entry from my reading system (see my Reading System post) I was overjoyed. A much needed catch-up was due.
The result: an amazing read that hasn’t diminished at all from the first time I read it at age 7. It sets the tone perfectly for what is to come later in the series and establishes a wonderful world that can never be forgotten.
To me, this book is protected by the nostalgia factor. I could never find
many faults with it. It just has so many positive elements! Even after a
considerable amount of time away from it, I don’t find the writing style
disjointed or muddled in any way. The pacing is also really well done. J.K.
Rowling manages to find a way to jam-pack content into a novel while also not
overwhelming readers or bogging them down in wizard lore. The combination of
humour and story progression is seamless. The story is really easy to lose
yourself in. The details are incredible and Harry’s view of Hogwarts and wizard
life is so easy to relate to.
Speaking of Harry, I know there is a lot of criticism out there about how he
isn’t the greatest character. To that I say (in the words of Hagrid),
“Codswallop!” He is likeable, innocent and intelligent enough to not
always believe what he is told by adults. He reads between the lines of what is
explained to him and is curious enough to investigate events that other
students at Hogwarts wouldn’t give a toss about. I think he’s a great
character! But as much as I like him, there really isn’t much comparison to
Hermione Granger. She’s fiery, respectful, so bloody intuitive and intelligent,
and can see through people’s bullshit quick-smart. Her introductory scene is
hilarious and she’s a wonderful role model for young readers.
And of course there are the characters you love to hate: Draco, Mr. Filch, the Dursleys and Snape. God, I get so cranky when Snape takes away points from Gryffindor for no reason (how did he get chosen to referee Quidditch?). Obviously, we know that Snape plays an extremely important part in this series, but it is nice to go back and see our first impressions of him. These characters are slimy and add enough obstacles for our heroes to conquer while being immersed within Hogwarts.
Hogwarts. What an awesome place! There isn’t a part of that castle that isn’t worth exploring and there’s so much to love about it that this review would probably go on for years if I tried to list all the exciting parts of it. Rowling got the setting downpat. I’ve yet to meet a child who doesn’t want to get their Hogwarts letter.
I can’t play devil’s advocate in any way because, to me, there’s nothing to criticise. As a proud Hufflepuff, I am loyal to the book through and through. If, by some miracle, you have not yet read this book (first of all, what?!), you need to read it immediately. Stop whatever you’re doing and read it NOW, because I guarantee that you will need to figure out what house you’re in! In fact, go check out the Pottermore quiz if you haven’t already to know for sure! I’ll include the link at the end of this review.
I hope Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone changes your reading life forever, like it did mine.
So, what do you think of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone? What house do you identify with? Who are your favourite characters and do you think Harry is a great lead? Is this your favourite book in the series? Or did you not enjoy it? If you didn’t, I’m intrigued to hear your reasons! Pottermore house quiz: https://my.pottermore.com/sorting View all my reviews
If you’ve read one of my previous posts: “What I read in January 2019”, you’d know that I managed to read eight books in one month! I was really hoping and expecting to do the same in February. However, I unexpectedly got asked to work some extra days towards the back half of the month and lost a chunk of my reading time. As a result I only managed to read five books and they are as follows:
“The Outsiders”- S.E. Hinton “And the Mountains Echoed”- Khaled Hosseini “The Shifting Fog”- Kate Morton “The Ones You Trust”- Caroline Overington “The Girl on the Page”- John Purcell
I had some mixed ratings this month with a couple of books that missed the mark and some that hit it out of the park. Overall I can’t say I was bored! If you’re interested in these titles, feel free to check out my individual reviews that I’ve posted previously on this site.
Looking forward to what March has in store for me…
Do you have any books you’ve been dying to read but haven’t yet? Are there some new releases you’ve got your eye on? Thinking of trying to read a new genre? Why not tick some books off that “To Read” list in March?
To me, being organised is one of my best traits. I love stationary, calendars, diaries, and keeping tabs on my reading. So when I was working at my local bookstore a couple of years ago and saw we were selling these cute little book diaries, a new love was born. Thus, my reading system became an imperative tool in my organisational belt and I haven’t looked back since. Pictured above are the two diaries that I record every book that has been recommended to me or books that I’ve always wanted to read in. Once I’ve read them, I put a different coloured highlighter through it.
The different colours don’t represent anything, I just use my twelve different colours and repeat the cycle with each new book. As you can see, it pops more on the page as opposed to using the same colour throughout. Plus, it’s always fun to cross something off a list!
Once I’ve highlighted the latest book I’ve read, I turn to the author section and record the author and the title. The author section is organised alphabetically, much like an address book. So adorable!
This is a simple way for me to remember what I’ve read by different authors, so if anyone at a dinner party (should I ever attend one) or over a cup of coffee asks me what specific books I’ve read, I’ll be ready! After writing the author and the title down, I go to my bedroom door where the list of books that I have in my possession that also appear in my diaries are located, and cross off that book respectively.
Again, my obsession with ticking things off lists comes into play here. It’s also a great way for people visiting me to see my progress (if they’re ever interested) so they know what books to buy for future birthdays (hint hint). And don’t be alarmed by the lack of sharpie over the “HP Series” entry! I’ve read the Harry Potter series roughly ten times, I just haven’t read it in the last four years which means I’m due for a catch up. The same goes for the “Lord of the Rings” series!
As you can see, having this much on my “To Read” list can be overwhelming at times. I’m interested in so many genres and I always have trouble picking which book to read next. Being a Libran means I’m rubbish when it comes to decision making so I let fate decide for me…
The same list of books as the one on my door are written individually and put in the “To Be Read Box” and shuffled around. I reach in without looking and whatever entry I pull out is what I read next. If I pick something out that I immediately feel hesitant towards, such as James Joyce’s “Ulysses”, I put the entry back in for another time when I know I’ll be ready to read it and repeat the process until I pick something I’m excited for. If I pick out an entry that is part of a series that means I read the entire series. If I have multiple entries in the box by one author (e.g. Jodi Picoult) and I draw one of her books, I return it to the box and draw/read her first published work that I haven’t read yet. This way my mind can stay focused on what I’m currently reading rather than looking ahead to the next book, which is something I used to struggle with when I drew out entries before I’d finished the book I was reading.
And of course immediately after I read a book I give it a rating out of five and write my immediate thoughts on my Goodreads page! My thoughts aren’t always coherent and structured, but they reflect the emotional state I was in upon finishing which I personally think can be indicative of the story I read. I take that review, tweak it a bit, and post it here on my blog so I can remember my experience. So there you have it, my personal reading routine! If you would like to check out my Goodreads page for past reviews and ratings, you can click here to grab some great recommendations: https://www.goodreads.com/readingreviewingloving
Do you have a specific reading routine like me, or do you just wing it? Does the thought of crossing things off a list make you giddy with happiness? How do you go about choosing what to read next? Was there anything on my list that you’ve read before or have always wanted to read? I’d love to know how you organise your reading life!
Read, Review, Love. 