Review of “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” by J. K. Rowling

Posted on Saturday, 18 February 2017, 17:15 by Alexandra

Title: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Author: J. K. Rowling
Series: Harry Potter #4
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 636
Published: 2000, Bloomsbury Publishing
My Grade: 5 out of 5 dragons

GOODREADS’ DESCRIPTION

Harry Potter is midway through both 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 with Hermione, Ron, and the Weasleys. He wants to dream about Cho Chang, his crush (and maybe do more than dream). He wants to find out about the mysterious event that 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 hundreds of 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.

MY REVIEW

18 hours of reading doesn’t sound like too much. But this was a thick book. It feels like ages ago I read about when the Weasley’s picked up Harry through the fireplace at Privet Drive to bring him to the world cup in Quidditch (a very funny scene in the beginning of the book, which was something I didn’t remember at all from the first time I read it 14 years ago). More than 700 pages means a lot of content, lot of detailed descriptions which were not present in the previous books, at least not in the first two. The Goblet of Fire feels more alive than the previous ones. Although, I can’t really say that lack of descriptions in the Philosopher’s Stone didn’t make me picture everything which happened, it is a livid story and I have also seen the movies many many times, long time ago though. I guess this is a world which just stuck in my head like no other world would.

I am now 25 years old, I was 12 when I read it the first time. I don’t know if I go back to the age of 12 when reading it, or if the story is just so well-written that I still can relate to it. I understand it better as well, Rowling is very good at foreshadowing and small hints instantly makes sense, like for example in the end when Dumbledore asks Snape to do something for him. I got teary-eyed. It does not have to be mentioned, but she is an amazing writer who not only make the story alive, but the characters. She brings out so many emotions while reading, sympathy for Harry because you understand how hard certain situations can be if you had something similar in your own background. But also hate towards Rita Skeeter and Cornelius Fudge for example. I dislike Rita Skeeter as much as the writers for The Daily Punctilio newspaper of Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events. And that brings forth some feelings towards the media today in our society. I won’t go into it, but Rowling and Snicket’s representations of journalists are very much spot on today!

Some questions arose in my head though while reading. How did Hagrid’s dad manage to get a giant pregnant? How come Harry did not see the horses dragging the Hogwarts carriages at the end of the book when they went to the train to leave school? Or why didn’t he see them before since he faced death as an infant?

There is a reason why the Harry Potter series is a classic after only two decades. Or maybe it is not “only”? Maybe I am just getting old. This story is not old however, it will keep staying alive forever and ever! I can’t wait to read these books to my children in the future, or at least the first ones so that when they are old enough to read by themselves, they will continue to read the books. I love Harry Potter! One of the absolute best book series of all times. Do I even have to write the grade out? (Okey, FIVE, without a doubt!)

Valentine’s Day 2017

Posted on Wednesday, 15 February 2017, 22:07 by Alexandra

img_20170214_215039 Valentine’s Day came and went this year again. My thesis partner was nice and told me to stay home and enjoy it with my boyfriend, so that’s what I did. We had breakfast in town, we bought a bag of red candies and he spent some time with his dad so I could do a little bit of work at home. When he came home he brought me roses. He is so sweet, I love roses, they smell soo good and they are pretty. The cats liked them too so they can’t be on the table unfortunately, but they are pretty high up on the shelf above the TV.

The big plan for the evening was dinner at Fiskekrogen, a seafood restaurant in downtown. I am not an expert on restaurants in Gothenburg (more like the opposite since I rarely eat out), but I have got the idea that it is one of the finer restaurants in Gothenburg. The atmosphere was so romantic, the food was delicious and the service amazing. The price accordingly as well. But it was worth it, we had a night of luxury and shellfish buffet. I felt spoiled. We ordered a bottle of sparkling wine which was delicious, Billabong Wines, an australian non-alcoholic. I know what I want the next time I am celebrating something.

When we got home, we ate red candies and watched Deadpool. We saw it in the movies last year. Maybe this is a new tradition? It is a very funny movie, but at the same time very sad.

It was a nice Valentine’s and I am glad I had Jesper to spend it with! ❤

Nintendo Switch press release

Posted on Saturday, 4 February 2017, 0:28 by Alexandra

Yesterday was a pretty cool day. Jesper’s mom’s husband had called in to a radio program and won two tickets to the press release of the new Nintendo Switch press release. He couldn’t go (I guess?), so we got the tickets and got to see and play on the new console one day before the public. The real pre launch party is today and tomorrow and I have heard that the lines are sick to get in! Perks of being there yesterday, it wasn’t overly packed, everyone got a goodie bag and we all have a chance of winning one Switch. And Jesper and I have a bigger chance to win than most since we are 2 of 20 (the people from the radio contest) who can win, while the other “normal VIP’s” have a much smaller chance to win. Let’s all cross our fingers that we win.

The new console is a very cool little thing. You can pick it apart and play it in several different ways. Either as its own console, without the TV, or you can connect it to the TV and play on the small hand controls which are normally placed on the side of the screen. Or you can buy external controls, bigger ones and connect it to the TV and play. Or build your own bigger handcontrol with the two smaller one. Many possibilities.

There were not too many games to try yesterday, but the new Zelda was there and set up, Super Mario Kart 8 deluxe, Arms, Splatoon 2, 1-2 Switch, Super Bomberman R, Snipperclips, and another one which I don’t remember. The point of Super Bomberman R was to place bombs and kill the other players on a field. I won once at that one. That game was played on the small hand controls and it was hard, even for me who has small hands. You also used those small ones, but in another angle when playing arms, which was a pretty cool boxing game where the arms could be extended very very much. I had a very hard time clicking on the two buttons on top when you went into frenzy (fury?) mode, and even though you didn’t use the buttons in front of you, I still felt like they were in the way. Otherwise, it was a fun game.

In this version of Splatoon it was possible to play many people together, which you can’t in Splatoon 1 (I don’t think at least, we have tried on our Wii U, but couldn’t get it to work with multiplayer). It was hard with the gyroscope, but still fun.

The weirdest games I have ever seen was one which was in 1-2 Switch (many small party games, kinda like Wii Party). The only thing you did was milking a cow. Very weird and random.

Food was served at the event and we also saw a celebrity, Lasse Kronér, if I am not completely mistaken, haha! It was a fun event, and after seeing the crazy lines which were today, I feel VIP who missed that.

Review of “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” by J. K. Rowling

Posted on Saturday, 4 February 2017, 0:24 by Alexandra

Title: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Author: J. K. Rowling
Series: Harry Potter #3
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 317
Published: 1999, Bloomsbury Publishing
My Grade: 5 out of 5 cats

GOODREADS’ DESCRIPTION

Harry Potter is lucky to reach the age of thirteen, since he has already survived the murderous attacks of the feared Dark Lord on more than one occasion. But his hopes for a quiet term concentrating on Quidditch are dashed 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 a coincidence that he can feel eyes watching him in the dark, and should he be taking Professor Trelawney’s ghoulish predictions seriously?

MY REVIEW

The books are getting longer, that is noticeable now. It is also noticeable that J. K. Rowling is putting more focus on the descriptions on the environments. Still, lots of stuff are happening right after each other, but the descriptions of them are fuller and it is really nice! The longer environment descriptions also followed along with my own reading skills. I was 10 when I read the first one and it was a very easy read, I was 11 when I read the third and had developed my reading skills and could easily read the thicker book. And as the rest of the series was released I also got better at reading. And from what I remember, Rowling’s style of writing followed her maturing readers.

Something that does not change in the books is the connection of all the events. It is so clear that she put a lot of thought into the whole story, and now when I know (pretty much at least) what will happen, it is easy to spot the minor things that Rowling put in the story that connects one thing with another. I love reading something well-written and well-worked through.

I am glad I decided to do this project of re-reading all the books. Not disappointed at all! Like with the first two, there are things that I have forgotten about and was surprised while reading. I am not going to change my grade from 2002, it is still a solid 5!

A mix of pics

Posted on Wednesday, 25 January 2017, 19:30 by Alexandra

Not too long again the river that runs next to our neighborhoos was very very flooded! One morning on my way to school, this beautiful sunrise took place! It took a while for Ramses to get used to the new drinking fountain, at first he was afraid of it, then he slowly started to get near it, then he drank the spillwater Cleo had played with and now he is drinking from the running water like nothing. We redid our hall, looks much nicer now. And Cleo approves! The same week as the sunrise (it might even have been the day after), we had an incredible sunset.

Review of “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” by J. K. Rowling

Posted on Tuesday, 24 January 2017, 7:48 by Alexandra

Title: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Author: J. K. Rowling
Series: Harry Potter #2
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 251
Published: 1998, Bloomsbury Publishing
My Grade: 5 out of 5 snakes

GOODREADS’ DESCRIPTION

The Dursleys were so mean and hideous that summer that all Harry Potter wanted was to get back to the Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. But just as he’s packing his bags, Harry receives a warning from a strange, impish creature named Dobby who says that 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 girls’ bathroom, and the unwanted attentions of Ron Weasley’s younger sister, Ginny. But each of these seem minor annoyances when the real trouble begins, 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?

MY REVIEW

Still as good as I remember it from my childhood. Similar to The Sorcerer’s Stone in that sense that something is always happening. But not quite as much, because this book gives more environmental descriptions. Most of it I remember from reading the book and watching the movies countless times, but I still got surprised here and there. For example, I had completely forgot how Moaning Myrtle died or how Lockhart ended his time at Hogwarts as a professor or what happened to Mr. Weasly’s flying car.

It makes me happy that a story so well-known by me can still surprise me and entertain me like I was 12 again. I am so glad I decided to finally reread these books (in its original language). My original plan was to read one book, read another one between. But these are too darned good to be skipped. I will read all of them in one go! I should be done in the beginning of March or mid-March depending on how much time my master thesis will take. Now it is time for the Prisoner of Azkaban, a rather dark book if I don’t misremember.

Review of “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” by J. K. Rowling

Posted on Tuesday, 17 January 2017, 18:16 by Alexandra

Title: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
Author: J. K. Rowling
Series: Harry Potter #1
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 223
Published: 1997, Bloomsbury Publishing
My Grade: 5 out of 5 owls

GOODREADS’ DESCRIPTION

When a letter arrives for unhappy but ordinary Harry Potter, a decade-old secret is revealed to him that apparently he’s the last to know. His parents were wizards, killed by a Dark Lord’s curse when Harry was just a baby, and which he somehow survived. Leaving his unsympathetic aunt and uncle for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Harry stumbles upon a sinister mystery when he finds a three-headed dog guarding a room on the third floor. Then he hears of a missing stone with astonishing powers, which could be valuable, dangerous – or both. An incredible adventure is about to begin!

MY REVIEW

It has been 15 years since I read this book for the first time. Now was definitely time to refresh my memory. And this time with the original version in English instead of the Swedish translation. But back then, when I was 11, I wasn’t too good at speaking or understanding any foreign languages.

First of all, it was great to read it in English. I have the whole series in hardback in Swedish and that’s what I read growing up. I got too tired to wait for the translation of the 6th, so I read it in English first, and then Swedish as soon as it came out. But that is the only one I have read in English until now. I guess it is good that the Swedish books translates the names on, especially, the animals and things, because it makes more sense to younger readers. But I loved that I finally got the real feeling of the things in this book. The names of the quidditch balls still makes no sense to me though, but I have 6 more books to get used to it.

Second, this book was only 230 pages long, and there were so many events in it! Going from reading a rather heavy book with long descriptions, it was a relief to read a very straightforward, but still very well-written story. It was noticeable that this is a children’s book, but 25-year olds can enjoy it as well, obviously. I wish I had more time to read so I can sit longer times at a time to read. It took me a week to read this. Too much else going on right now.

I grew up with this story, and I know it almost completely by heart, but I got minor surprises here and there (including the full first chapter, I remember the book starting right away with Harry in his cupboard, not following the Dursley’s before Harry joined them?), things I forgot or wasn’t included in the movies (which I saw more recently than I read the books).

This is truly a book everyone should read! And this is definitely something I will read to my kids when they are old enough to understand longer stories. Can’t wait!

Kittens kittens kittens

Posted on Tuesday, 10 January 2017, 18:09 by Alexandra

Since we bought the game Munchkin and got it from my mom the very same day last week, we went back to Science Fiction Bokhandeln to exchange it to something else. The zombie version of the game is a whole new game and can’t be combined with the base game, so we decided to get extra cards instead, we got steeds, sounded funny. We also got a whole new game called Exploading Kittens. Crazy game. We played it and it turns out that it is really fun. It is a card game and you are basically suppose to just lay down cards with actions on them, and then draw a new card. You lose when you get the card with an exploading kitten on it. They have a lot of interesting-looking games at that store, we might go back soon, hehe.

And speaking of kittens, mine are also crazy. We turned the couch upside down the other day. No wonder they have no toys to play with! This time we tried a not-so-permanent-solution and put duct tape along the floor between the feet of the couch. Hopefully that works! So far there are actually still small toys not under the couch, yay!

A couple of days in Sala

Posted on Saturday, 7 January 2017, 22:04 by Alexandra

It was a while ago now that I visited my grandparents in Sala (middle of Sweden). Dad, Karin, Jesper and I drove up there on Thursday and spent two nights and came back tonight. On Thursday it was extremely cold everywhere and when we arrived at 8pm it was -19°C (-2 °F). That was cold, it hurt in my nose when I breathed. The cold was still there the day after, so when we went for a walk around the lake it was -12 and the wind made it even chillier. It was not fun! The lake, Långforsen, was frozen over and people went skiing on it. With the snow it was pretty though.

We also took the car to show Jesper what was worth showing in the small town of Sala. The silver mine, obviously. A little bit of downtown, but that is it, nothing else up there, haha! I think Jesper wants to go there in the summer to go down in the silver mine. I kinda want too, it was so many years ago I was there.

The day ended with a good dinner, a burning fire in the living room and some time spent in their sauna.

Today was much warmer, only -2 °C. The sky was blue and the walk around the lake was so much nicer today. I was only cold after a while, and that was only my hands after taking too many pictures. So here are basically the same pictures as above, but with a blue sky in the background.

Jesper, me, dad, and grandpa. On the way home it was extremely foggy, sometimes it was impossible to see the road ahead. While the sun was setting it was sooooo pretty!

Spontaneous book purchase

Posted on Thursday, 5 January 2017, 13:07 by Alexandra

Yesterday Jesper and I went to my favorite store, Science Fiction Bokhandeln (~The Science Fiction bookstore). I think it actually might be his too, since he always wants to go there. I have a long list of my favorite books that I want to have on my shelf (I have most of my library in the .epub-format), and yesterday I ticked one whole series off. Throne of Glass, one of my favorite series of all time. Next on my shopping list is Silo by Hugh Howey.

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The book bag also contained the main game of Munchkin. So we are prepared for game nights at our place from now on. A funny thing happened later when mom came over to pick up the keys (so she can feed our cats when we are away at my grandma’s for the weekend). She also brought the game of Munchkin since her group of friends couldn’t figure out (or was it something else? Can’t remember) how to play it, so I was promised it. What are the odds that she brings it over on the same day we decide to buy it? I really like coincidences, they are fun! Anyway, so now we have to return the oen we bought, and get another version instead so we have twice as many cards. I think Jesper wants to get the Zombie version. No surprise there.