J.K. Rowling - Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

I'm a self-confessed Potterhead. I've lost count of how many times I've read the books, heard the audio books (narrated by Stephen Fry), and even watched the movies despite hating them. I've been wary of Pottermore, and the stuff that's continuously churned out, but hey – more Harry Potter's a Good Thing, right? So, I went to the midnight launch yesterday (today?), and got the book, and obviously, the Decent Thing to do in that case is to finish the book straightaway. And, I did.

Note: spoilers ahead. Many spoilers ahead.

I was left confused and unimpressed. And no, this wasn't because it was written in a play format (more on that later).

The plot was easy. Uncreative. Almost like fan fiction, where you roll your eyes, but keep reading anyway, because hey – more Harry Potter.

Harry and Hermione hold high positions in the Ministry of Magic, and are still married to Ginny and Ron respectively. Their kids go to Hogwarts, as does Draco's son: Scorpius. Scorpius is widely believed to be the offspring of Voldemort himself, and hence, there's stigma against him.

Against all odds (or maybe not), Harry's son, Albus Severus Potter, gets sorted into Slytherin and befriends Scorpius, and the duo don't have any other friends. The other kids (Hermione and Ron's daughter: Rose, and Harry and Ginny's other two kids: James and Lily) don't make much of an appearance.

So, two kids are left to themselves (Scorpius because of the rumour about his parentage and Albus because he's not naturally talented or charismatic; he's called the "Slytherin Squib" early in his Hogwarts life). Further, as Albus doesn't really settle into Hogwarts life and has a massive inferiority complex, his relationship with his father is strained. In contrast, Draco and Scorpius are very close, and you can see Draco adopting the parent-of-the-year role, when he reaches out to Harry to quash rumours about his son's parentage or when he threatens Harry due to how events unfold. This Draco is almost likeable compared to Harry.

The years come and go, and somewhere in the middle of his Hogwarts life, he overhears his father talking to Amos Diggory (Cedric's father) about using a time-turner to go back in time to ensure that The Dark Lord didn't kill Cedric. Yes, even I thought that all the time-turners had been rendered useless in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries, but a new version had been created by Death Eaters, and confiscated by the Ministry.

And so, Albus decides that he must be the one that undoes Cedric's death, by getting the time-turner and going back in time. Scorpius and a new character, Delphi, join him on this adventure. At one point, there's that sense of deja vu, when they take Polyjuice potion to enter the Ministry. You can see where this is going: multiple alternate universes unfold, including one where Harry dies in the Battle of Hogwarts, Voldemort takes over, and Hermione is on the most-wanted list. All this because Neville was killed, and consequently, no one killed Nagini. At each point, the trio keep going back in time again to fix their previous mess.

For me, the plot seems absurd: would an untalented wizard who couldn't even pull off the Expelliarmus spell really go back in time to change history? Or, was he just that foolish and naive? Perhaps I'm being harsh? Maybe he just thought that those are the lengths a son will go through to gain acceptance from his father: the famous, never-wrong, always-courageous Harry Potter?

Harry and Albus are both quite unlikeable in this book.

Harry strongarms Professor McGonagall (who's still a great character) into spying on his son using the Maraduer's Map to ensure that Scorpius and Albus don't hang out. His rationale: Bain, the centaur, told him a dark cloud was looming over his son, and he assumes that it has to be Scorpius. For me, that goes against everything the first seven books taught Harry: that look beneath the surface. It's hard to believe that after everything – after Snape – he still jumps to conclusions. And, that Ginny doesn't have enough influence to change his mind. Maybe being a protective father means that you can't see clearly when it comes to your own son, and hence make rash decisions and are downright obnoxious to professors like McGonagall?

Albus, on the other hand, well: you can see why the Sorting House put him in Slytherin: ambition. At least he doesn't turn out to be evil?

Scorpius, on the other hand, is a pretty good character: the anti-Draco if you will (but for one of the alternate universes where he's called The Scorpion King). He's faithful, nerdy (like Hermione), and courageous. Here, I'm admittedly nitpicking, but wouldn't it be really nice if he had Neville's "will stand up to friends" attitude?

The book, winding through multiple alternate realities, is more a testament to how perfectly the events unfolded in the original series. It goes to show that it was the only way in which a happy ending could have occurred.

But, creating time-turners again, to just keep going back in time, as the main premise is weak and unimaginative. And, the way the ending unfolds, is incredibly disappointing, if I compare it to the original series of seven.

Here's the problem: this is written as a play, which means that a lot of the detailed, descriptive and imaginative writing has to be forfeited, and new concepts (or magic) cannot be introduced. And, hence, the plot feels dumbed down. But even so, think back to the Philosopher's Stone – the first book, the leanest book. The ending was so vivid, and definitely not dumb: the chess game, the flying keys, the three-headed dog.

Also, a lot of the typical favorites get what seems to be an obligatory nod: Dumbledore, Snape, Petunia. But, what about Ron and Ginny's other siblings: nothing about George? And, nothing about why Ron is running the Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes? Not even a mention? And, nothing about Tonks and Lupin's kid? No house elves? And no Trelawney (although there's another prophecy? But where does this prophecy come from? Or rather, from whom?).

Again, I appreciate that it's a play so it needs to be simplified, but, in my opinion, this is just capitalizing on the Harry Potter brand, without giving the fans a story that is worth resuscitating the brand for.

And, as a Potterhead, that disappoints me.

J.K. Rowling - Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix {Audio Book}

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is the fifth book in the popular Harry Potter series. I've read the book thrice: when it first came out, before the release of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Price, and of course, prior to the final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, hitting the stores. One of my friends insisted I hadn't lived until I heard the Harry Potter audio books, and she proceeded to lend me six of the seven.

Needless to say, I was a tad bemused when I imported this to iTunes, and saw that the audio spanned twenty-eight hours. Reading the book took about seven hours. Four times more for the audiobook? However, I did finish it in five days, and, I enjoyed every second of it.

Stephen Fry narrated the story, and he did a marvellous job! He handled the emotions, the voices and the arias scenes incredibly, and actually brought J.K. Rowling's book to life. My imagination was running wild with his narration, and I was totally floored. What made the experience even better was, a couple of hours into the book, and I could actually pinpoint the voices, without having to wait for the "Hermione said quietly", or "Harry groaned" which ends most of Rowling's dialogues. Maybe reading the book helped with that, but, I was still impressed.

Order of the Phoenix takes off where Goblet of Fire ended, and the content of the book is much more mature, and significantly darker. At the end of Goblet of Fire, The Dark Lord rises again, and his followers, the Death Eaters rush to serve him again. Harry battles him, and somehow manages to survive - again! He returns to Hogwarts, and breaks the news to everyone, before school ends for the summer holidays.

In Order of the Phoenix, Harry is stuck with his Muggle family, with no word from the wizarding world whatsoever. He subscribes to the newspaper, Daily Prophet, but the front page is always bland and doesn't mention the return of Lord Voldemort at all. Even worse, the letters he's sent by his friends are superficial, with no real news about what's going on. And then - one night, his cousin and he are attacked by Dementors, who he manages to drive away, using an advanced spell. What follows is a note from the Ministry of Magic, saying Harry has been expelled from school, due to practicing magic outside school premises. Soonafter, this is rescinded, and instead, Harry has to appear for a hearing, which will deem whether he's expelled or not.

Within a few days, some Aurors (wizards who fight dark arts) come to pick up Harry and take him to his godfather's place, which is also the headquarters for The Order Of The Phoenix - a secret organisation that fights the Dark Arts, and protects the innocent who might be the target of the Dark Lord. When Harry arrives there, he is informed that the Ministry is turning a blind eye to the return of You-Know-Who, and instead, trying to undermine the efforts of Dumbledore - the only wizard that Voldemort has ever feared - as well as discredit Harry.

Despite the Ministry's best efforts, Harry is cleared of all charges, and returns to Hogwarts, to find that the Ministry has decided to impose its authority on the school as well - employing Dolores Umbridge as the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. In my opinion, Umbridge might be one of the most villainous characters in the Harry Potter series (and, in fact, in children's literature). In fact, she makes Miss Trunchbull from Matilda seem angelic!

Not only is Umbridge the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, but she is also the High Inquisitor, and with help from the Ministry, passes new rules and regulations, which essentially gives her supreme dictatorial power over every teacher and student at Hogwarts bar Dumbledore.

Harry is miserable back at school, due to the new changes, and tries to find happiness in the smallest things - which, Umbridge revokes one by one. Being the year of their OWL examinations, academic pressure is high as well, and of course, there is the small matter of Harry's scar hurting, and the teenager feeling the same emotions as Voldemort - and, even seeing some of the things that Voldemort does. As per every Harry Potter book, a battle scene is mandatory at the end, and Harry and his friends are forced to take on the Death Eaters and Voldemort once more... with the added pleasure of dealing with Professor Umbridge.

As I've said before, this book is far darker than any of its predecessors. Not only in terms of the magical world, but, also, in terms of the dictatorial regime that seems to be cast over the whole wizarding world. When Harry gives an interview to a newspaper, recounting the events of the previous year, he is handed with a week's worth of detention. Free speech isn't allowed, apparently. Not only that, but, the newspaper is banned from the school premises and, Umbridge has threatened severe action if she sees anyone with the newspaper. All societies, teams, groups, and organisations that have more than three students needs to be signed off by Umbridge - including the Gryffindor quidditch team. And, when Harry gets into a spat with Malfoy, who insults the Weasleys as well as his dead mother, Harry is the one who bears the brunt of the punishment, while Malfoy walks away scot-free.

The fear of losing power (to Dumbledore) is what keeps the Ministry going - not the welfare and safety of the "subjects" of their kingdom. Spies are everywhere, and, no one knows who to is trustworthy, and who will turn out to be a sneak. It looks like Voldemort has successfully managed dividing the wizarding community, without even trying, and at the end of the day, that's the kind of thing he does best : divide, conquer, rule.

Rating : A+ {for Stephen Fry's narration}

J.K. Rowling - Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

Background: I saw the penultimate Harry Potter movie on Wednesday, and was quite astounded that I did not recall most of the book, which I had read in summer 2005. It slowly came back to me, as the movie progressed, but I couldn't help feeling I was missing a fair bit. So, I dug out the book from the back of my bookshelf, to re-read it, and much to my surprise, I really enjoyed it, this time 'round (I had been fairly disappointed with my first read). This post is not going to be a book review, but, more of a book vs. movie post, as there were a fair few interesting discrepancies, which I'd like to explore.

Review: There is always a lot of excitement, when the movie adaptation of a popular book is released, specially when the movie in question is Harry Potter, which has had a cult-following world-wide. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince is no different. Packed with adventure, romance, and suspense, this adaptation follows Harry Potter and his friends (and enemies) into their sixth year at Hogwarts, where academics are tougher, quidditch more important, and the quest to find out more about The Dark Lord superseding almost everything else.

Death Eaters have become more powerful, and are wreaking havoc in both: the Muggle and wizard world. Harry Potter is still struggling to cope with the death of Sirius Black, his godfather, but avoids talking about it to anyone. Like most other parents, Ron Weasley's mother is paranoid about the safety of the children, and is being more protective than usual. Her 'special' clock, which shows the location of each family member, as opposed to the time, has all its hands on 'Mortal Peril' (this bit is missed out in the book).

Just before term starts, and Harry and his friends are in Diagon Alley, picking up their books and other materials for school. They see Draco going into Borgin & Burkes, a shop famous for its involvement with Dark Magic, and they try eavesdropping on the conversation going on inside. Based on it, Harry is convinced that Draco has become one of Voldemort's latest recruits, but, Hermione and Ron disregard this theory.

There is a new Potions teacher at school now, Professor Slughorn, and Snape finally gets the role he's been eyeing for a long time: Defense Against The Dark Arts. Dumbledore, the Headmaster, tells Harry he's going to give the teenager private lessons this year, which turns out to be sessions looking into the memories of various people involving Voldemort: from the time Dumbledore went into the orphanage to tell him that he is a wizard, to before his birth.

And of course, the reason why the book is called The Half-Blood Prince: Harry hasn't bought his Potions text book, and ends up picking one out from the cupboard in the classroom. The book he picks out has instructions over and above the texts, which makes him seem like a gifted Potions student, causing Hermione to be envious and Slughorn to think Harry is a natural. The book also has some spells written by its previous owner, and they seem like harmless fun to Harry. Hermione, of course, has another view: the book is dangerous! In the book is scrolled: This book is the property of The Half Blood Prince.

Finally, the  romantic element: first off, there's Hermione and Ron. When Ron has an exceptional quidditch game, and Lavendar kisses him, Hermione walks out, and avoids Ron, making things increasingly uncomfortable for Harry. The whole time, when Ron and Lavendar are going out is dotted with Hermione's blatant envy and she goes as far as going to a Christmas party with a despicable student, just to make Ron jealous. Simultaneously, Harry has feelings for Ginny, but as she's going out with Dean, he cannot do anything about it... specially, as she's his best friend's sister.

So, now, book vx. movie:

Due to the numerous sub-plots in the book, the movie was always going to be a tough one - trading off between time, and story. My main gripe with the movie was that it focused way too much on the teenage romance, as opposed to the plots that made the book gripping, i.e. Volemort's history. The book has about six memories, involving Voldemort. The movie, only two.

The book is also considerably darker than the movie, as various characters are under the Imperius curse, and act on it. They show Dumbledore's arm as burnt, but they never explain why in the movie either, whereas the book does say it was to do with finding and destroying Voldemort's ring. While explaining some of these concepts would make the movie more complicated to a Harry Potter novice, it probably gives a better insight into how things worked in the wizarding world, how bad things had become, and the sacrifices that needed to be made.

The final scenes of the book: the great fight, and the funeral of an important character were completely omitted from the movie, and I struggled to understand why. The final fight is one of the most gripping parts of the book, and the funeral in the book is described so vividly, that I can imagine it being incredible on the screen.

Many of the important characters either have a miniscule role, or aren't existent in the movie, at all, with Tonks and Lupin coming to mind. However, Luna still exists in the movie, which makes the whole thing slightly bizarre.

The movie has an additional scene, where some of the Death Eaters attack the Weasley's home during Christmas, but, I still am unable to determine what this adds to the plot, other than making Mrs. Weasley more paranoid and scared. The graphics though, were amazing.

Actually, the graphics throughout the movie were far superior to some of the other movies (barring the Chamber of Secrets chess game). This might have something to do with not that many magical creatures being displayed on the screen. Even in the opening scene, when the bridge breaks, I was amazed at how well they had directed it. The dialogue was fast, and witty, and while it's always tough to capture the essence of the book, I thought the movie did a reasonably good job. Think the movie was aimed more towards children, whereas the book targeted at young adults.

The language in the book did depress me somewhat, with the characters using words like 'prat', or, 'making rude hand gestures'. Maybe I'm old-fashioned, but I still think children's books should steer clear of these elements.

Movie rating: 3 Book rating: 4