Tag Archives: J. K. Rowling

Review of “Short Stories from Hogwarts of Power, Politics and Pesky Poltergeists” by J. K. Rowling

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pottermore-presents-02-short-stories-from-hogwarts-of-power-politics-and-pesky-poltergests-j-k-rowlingTitle: Short Stories from Hogwarts of Power, Politics, and Pesky Poltergeists
Author: J. K. Rowling
Series: Pottermore Presents #2
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 71
Published: 2016, Pottermore
My Grade: 3.5 out of 5 ministers

GOODREADS’ DESCRIPTION

No Muggle Prime Minister has ever set foot in the Ministry of Magic, for reasons most succinctly summed up by ex-Minister Dugald McPhail (term of office 1858-1865): “their puir wee braines couldnae cope wi’ it.”’ – J.K. Rowling
Pottermore Presents is a collection of J.K. Rowling’s writing: short reads originally featured on pottermore.com with some exclusive new additions. These eBooks, with writing curated by Pottermore, will take you beyond the Harry Potter stories as J.K. Rowling reveals her inspiration, intricate details of characters’ lives and surprises from the wizarding world.

These stories of power, politics and pesky poltergeists give you a glimpse into the darker side of the wizarding world, revealing the ruthless roots of Professor Umbridge, the lowdown on the Ministers for Magic and the history of the wizarding prison Azkaban. You will also delve deeper into Horace Slughorn’s early years as Potions master at Hogwarts – and his acquaintance with one Tom Marvolo Riddle.

 

MY REVIEW

Very similar to the first book from Pottermore Presents, Short Stories from Hogwarts of Heroism, Hardship and Dangerous Hobbies. You got a timeline with all the Ministers for Magic there have ever been and what they were famous for and what theyaccomplished. It was then focused on Horace Slughorn which was the most interesting part in this book. I think I knew lots of the information, but it has been ages since I read the books and only got a feeling of “oh right, that’s what happened”. This one was more on giving information about cauldrons, potions and materialistic things, and the first one was more on characters. Both still interesting and worth a read!

Like with the first one, I give this one a 3.5 out of 5 because it was entertaining and I enjoyed reading it, but it is not something you don’t have to read, unless you are a Harry Potter-fan like me and want to know everything there is to know about the wizarding world. It took me about one hour to read, 71 pages, so no one can really say that they don’t have time to read it. It is an easy read in between other reads.

Review of “Short Stories from Hogwarts of Heroism, Hardship and Dangerous Hobbies” by J. K. Rowling

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pottermore-presents-01-short-stories-from-hogwarts-of-heroism-hardship-and-dangerous-hobbies-j-k-rowlingTitle: Short Stories from Hogwarts of Heroism, Hardship and Dangerous Hobbies
Author: J. K. Rowling
Series: Pottermore Presents #1
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 71
Published: 2016, Pottermore
My Grade: 3.5 out of 5 childhoods

GOODREADS’ DESCRIPTION

‘Minerva was the Roman goddess of warriors and wisdom. William McGonagall is celebrated as the worst poet in British history. There was something irresistible to me about his name, and the idea that such a brilliant woman might be a distant relative of the buffoonish McGonagall.’ – J.K. Rowling

Pottermore Presents is a collection of J.K. Rowling’s writing from the Pottermore archives: short reads originally featured on pottermore.com with some exclusive new additions. These eBooks, with writing curated by Pottermore, will take you beyond the Harry Potter stories as J.K. Rowling reveals her inspiration, intricate details of characters’ lives and surprises from the wizarding world.

These stories of heroism, hardship and dangerous hobbies profile two of the Harry Potter stories’ most courageous and iconic characters: Minerva McGonagall and Remus Lupin. J.K. Rowling also gives us a peek behind the closed curtains of Sybill Trelawney’s life, and you’ll encounter the reckless, magical-beast-loving Silvanus Kettleburn along the way.

 

MY REVIEW

I can’t really say that I was curious about the story behind some of the professors at Hogwarts when I read the original books growing up. Maybe except for Dumbledore since he seemed to have such an adventurous one. But it was nice to read the long storys behind Professor McGonagall and Remus Lupin. I guess I now have a better understanding to why they are like they are. The storys behind Sybill Trelawney and Silvanus Kettleburn were very short, but enough in my opinion. Neither are very interesting characters in my opinon.

It was a very enjoyable read today, short for once. And I really like that the world of Harry Potter is always expanding with stories from Pottermore.com even if the main series have been finished since long. I give it a 3.5 since I am not encouraging everyone to read it. It was however enjoyable, but not a typical 4 that I would have given another book, Lord of the Flies for example.

Review of “Magic in North America” by J. K. Rowling

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History of Magic in North America - [J. K. Rowling]Title: “History of Magic in North America” + “Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry”
Author: J. K. Rowling
Series: –
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 16 + 32
Published: 2016 (on http://www.pottermore.com)
My Grade: 5 out of 5 snakes

GOODREADS’ DESCRIPTION

 

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MY REVIEW

I recently rediscovered pottermore.com and I am not dissappointed. I did not know that Rowling wrote stuff on there related to the Harry Potter universe, but she does, and it is so great! Short stories about everything. So far I have only read two of the things posted there (two bigger writings) and they are both about the wizardry world over in America. History of Magic in North America is a short description of, well, the history of magic in North America. It was too short in my opinion, it seems like a very interesting history and I would love to know some more! Maybe Rowling eventually will write a series that takes place at Ilvermorny? Because that sounds like a really cool place. That would be the greatest thing ever.

The second thing I read was the history of Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Longer than the first text and written like a short story. I haven’t really read Rowling’s original writing (since I read all the Harry Potter books in Swedish) before, but after reading this, I really really want to read the original series in English. Is that a project I will take upon myself next? Probably.

These are short texts, but if you love Harry Potter, you should most definitely check them out. On pottermore.com there are also writings on the other schools. 5 out of 5, since, well.. it is J. K. Rowling.

 

Review of “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” by J. K. Rowling

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Title: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child – Parts One and Two
Author: J. K. Rowling, John Tiffany, Jack Thorne
Series: Harry Potter #8 (of 8)
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 343
Published: 2016
My Grade: 5 out of 5 love potions

 

GOODREADS’ DESCRIPTION

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.

 

MY REVIEW

A new Harry Potter story? I was ecstatic when I learned about this fantastic piece of news a while ago. I had no idea what this new book was about before though, I like having no expectations on.., anything really. I did know that it was about Harry’s son, 19 years after the Deathly Hallows, but nothing more than that. So after reading four pages of this book I had to open up Google in the dark of our bedroom and look up if I really had the right version of this book (since I am reading it on my eReader – a Kobo GLO HD if anyone is wondering, the best thing I have ever bought). Turns out, this book is the script for the play. That was a surprise I did not enjoy. I was expecting a new amazing story written by J. K. Rowling, like the old books were written. So I was hugely disappointed at first. But once I got into the story I enjoyed it very much and finished it in two days. The story is amazing and very easy to read, the pages just fly by in that format. And I think that the reason I could get so into the story is because I have read the previous books and know the environments and could picture it all while reading the short environment descriptions and dialogues. My plan was to reread the seven books before this one since I haven’t read them in English and I read them when they came out many years ago. But I got impatient and it worked out well anyway. But now on the other hand, I really really want to reread the original seven.

If you have read the previous Harry Potter books, you will love this story where Albus Potter and Scorpius Malfoy (who is my favorite character by the way, he makes the book even better) tries to do something heroic but it obviously doesn’t go that way. Even though I was disappointed at first, it won’t take the grade down from a crystal clear 5.