Showing posts with label Harry Potter Reading Project. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Harry Potter Reading Project. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

Year 7 at Hogwarts
First published 2007
759 pages, 36 chapters + epilogue
# on Top 100 YA Novels Poll (Adele of Persnickety Snark)

Harry's last year at Hogwarts really isn't. He, Ron, & Hermione set off to find and destroy the last of Voldemort's horcruxes in an attempt to render Voldemort powerless and mortal.

Memorable Moments: the wedding, Kreacher's change of attitude, the epilogue

Scenes for the movie: Well, I'm hoping all the scenes I liked make the movie, but I'll have to wait and see.

Reading Reflection: This book was tough to read. Not only is it the last book in the series, but there are difficult situations all the way through it. I liked the ending. Like most fans, I was seriously expecting Rowling to kill Harry off. It seemed like the only way to overcome Voldemort permanently. The Epilogue is nice. I can't wait to see what they do with it in the movie. Three years after reading the last book for the first time, I am still looking for the next Harry Potter. Nothing has quite lived up to the world Rowling created.

Just a reminder that Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows - Part 1 premieres in theaters on Friday, November 19.

I hope you've enjoyed my reflection on the last book in the Harry Potter series. My Harry Potter Reading Project isn't quite complete. I still plan to read and discuss Quidditch Through the Ages, Fantastic Beasts, and Tales of Beedle the Bard.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince by J. K. Rowling

Year 6 at Hogwarts
First published 2005
652 pages, 30 chapters
#29 on Adele of Persnickety Snark's Top 100 YA Novels

With Sirius dead and Voldemort at large, the mood isn't very cheery at Hogwarts for Harry. Dumbledore takes him in hand to teach him more about Voldemort. He discovers the book of someone calling him or herself the "Half-Blood Prince." Harry's next to final year at Hogwarts is filled with change and mysteries.

Memorable Moments: Harry's jealousy over Ginny's other boyfriends

Scenes I wish had made the movie: More of Dumbledore and Harry's travels into Voldemort's past

Reflection: Half-Blood Prince was the only Harry Potter book that I stood in line for. My best friend Vicky and I went to Wal-mart at midnight to get our copies. When they brought the pallet of books out, Vicky went to get ours. I watched her literally get swallowed by the crowd. I read this one in two days. If I hadn't had to work the following day, I would have stayed up to read it. This book was sad for more than one reason. Yes, Dumbledore died, but more than that the series is almost over. Will Harry live or die? What happens to the readers when the series is complete. I'll admit right now that I have yet to find anything to surpass Harry Potter.

I hope you've enjoyed my discussion of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. I'll be back next week to talk about the last book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J. K. Rowling

Year 5 at Hogwarts
First published 2003
896 pages, 38 chapters
#45 on the Top 100 YA Novels poll conducted by Adele of Persnickety Snark

Harry's fifth year at Hogwarts is different from the previous four. Voldemort has returned and is more determined than ever to kill Harry. Dumbledore has re-founded the Order of the Phoenix, a secret society intent on defeating the Dark Lord. After seeing Voldemort return, kill Cedric, and attempt to kill him, Harry is angry about most things as this year starts. As the Minister of Magic refuses to believe that Voldemort has returned, the Order has hard going to convince anyone else.

Scenes I wish had made the movie: Harry at the Dursleys hoping for news, St. Mungo's

The Food: Fever Fudge, Nosebleed Nougats, Puking Pastilles (courtesy of Fred and George)

Reflection: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix was a much anticipated book. It has the longest gap between the books. Three years passed after the publication of Goblet of Fire before The Order of the Phoenix was released. I still maintain this book marks a decided change in the series. We see a whole new side to Harry, he's angry and rebellious, and feels totally deserted by Dumbledore. The loss of the one person who loves him at the end of the book does not do anything to improve Harry's disposition. This book is the one where Harry begins to doubt himself and worry that Voldemort may triumph over him.

Sorry that this post was a week late. The series just gets better from here. I can't believe we only have 2 more books (plus Beasts, Quidditch, and Beedle) to discuss. See you next Tuesday as I discuss Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

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

Year 4: ...the Goblet of Fire
First published July 2000, illustrations by Mary GrandPré
734 pages, 37 chapters

Harry's fourth year at Hogwarts is to a bang. He attends the Quidditch World Cup with the Wealeys and Hermione. At Hogwarts, Harry, Ron, and Hermione find that they can't settle down as usual. This year, Hogwarts is hosting the Triwizard Tournament and thus students from the two other wizard school,s, Beauxbatons and Durmstrang. Harry's name (even though he's too young to enter) is mysteriously added to the Goblet of Fire and he is chosen as a champion. He doesn't know what to do. Clearly, someone doesn't wish him well.

Memorable Moments: S.P.E.W., Dudley with a ton tongue, Neville as a canary

Favorite Illustration: Winky drunk on butterbeer (chapter 28)

The Food (courtesy of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes) : Ton Tongue Toffee, Canary Creams

A scene I wish had made the movie: the time at the Burrow before the Quidditch World Cup

Favorite Quote: "As Hagrid had said, what would come, would come...and he would have to meet it when it did" (last line).

Reading Reflection: Aside from Prisoner of Azkaban, Goblet of Fire is my favorite book. There's so much going on, so many subplots. The movie was okay, but they left out so much--like Hermione's obsession with the house-elves. This book is the pivotal one in the series. Voldemort has regained his body. He's back and what does that mean for all our favorite characters? Harry, Ron, and Hermione were only babies when he disappeared the last time. Adults talk about him in hushed tones. They don't even say his name. Harry doesn't triumph this time fully. Yes, he escaped the graveyard with his life, but Voldemort is back and perhaps stronger than ever. The world as Harry knows it is about to change in a big way. And if you remember, Rowling left us hanging for 3 years before we find out what happens next.

I hope you've enjoyed my discussion of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. I'll be back in two weeks to discuss book 5, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

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

Year 3: ...Prisoner of Azkaban
First published October 1999 in the US, illustrated by Mary GrandPré
448 pages, 22 chapters

The rat that wasn't. The murderer who wasn't. Harry's third year at Hogwarts is one of secrets and contradictions. Will the truth be better than not knowing?

Memorable Moments: the Knight Bus, Hogsmeade visits

Favorite Illustration: Padfoot (chapter 18)

The Food: Pepper Imps, Chocoballs, sugar quills, Fizzing Whizbees, butterbeer, jelly slugs, toothflossing stringmints, ice mice, peppermint toads, exploding bonbons, cockroach clusters

The Pets: Padfoot (Sirius), Crookshanks, the owl Sirius gives to Ron (as yet unnamed)

Favorite Quote: "He was my mum and dad's best friend. He's a convicted murderer, but he's broken out of wizard prison and he's on the run. He likes to keep in touch with me, though...keep up with my news...check if I'm happy..." (Harry to Uncle Vernon, page 435*)

Scenes that should have made the movie: Harry spending a week in Diagon Alley, Snape's Grudge (the Whomping Willow joke)

Activities:
-Wizard's chess
-Gobstones
-Quidditich
-Rat/Cat Tag

Reading Reflection: POA is one of my favorite books in the series for many reasons. The kids are growing up--they're thirteen now. They get to visit Hogsmeade. Their friendship (especially Ron & Hermione's) is tested and tried. Harry discovers more about himself and finds someone who truly cares for him. The air of mystery in the book definitely appeals to my inner sleuth.

An interesting side note: POA came in at #18 on Adele's (Persnickety Snark) Top 100 YA Novels Poll.

I hope you've enjoyed my discussion of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Things will get very complicated in two weeks when I discuss the fourth book in the series, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Until then, happy reading!

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets by J. K. Rowling

Year 2: ...the Chamber of Secrets
First published June 1999, illustrated by Mary Grandpré
341 pages, 15 chapters

Harry's second year at Hogwarts is not off to an auspicious start. First, Dobby the House Elf warns Harry not to return to school. Then, he and Ron cant get through the barrier at Platform 9 & 3/4. They fly Mr. Weasley's enchanted car to school. You can imagine the professors' reaction. The Chamber of secrets has been opened. People (and pets) are being petrified. Can Harry, Ron, and Hermione discover who the Heir of Slytherin is before it's too late?

Memorable Moments: all encounters with Dobby, degnoming the garden, The Burrow

Favorite Illustration: Dobby on page 12--he looks much more appealing than the movie version.

Pets: Mrs. Norris (cat), Aragog (HUGE spider), and the basilisk

Favorite Quote: "It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities" (333, Dumbledore).

Scenes I wish had made the movie: the Deathday party, Valentine's day (I can just see the dwarf sitting on Harry!)

Activities:
-Find the Heir (memory game)
-Rogue Bludger Dodge (Dodgeball)
-Guess the Creature trivia game (use Fantastic Beasts as a reference)

Favorite new word: mudblood (I know it's not a nice word, but it is unique.)

Reading Reflection: Chamber of Secrets is not my favorite book in the series, but I do like seeing how the characters and their relationships develop. Harry must be the luckiest boy around--he almost died again in this book. I can see that Harry, Ron, and Hermione will likely be friends for life. They have been through so much together already.

I hope you've enjoyed this post in my Harry Potter Reading Project. In two weeks, I'll be back again to discuss Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Until then, happy reading!

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Harry Potter & the Sorcerer's Stone by J. K. Rowling

Year 1: ...the Sorcerer's Stone
First published September 1998 in the US, illustrated by Mary Grandpré
309 pages, 17 chapters

Eleven-year-old Harry Potter is transformed into an unlikely hero when he discovered he's more than the Dursley's much put upon nephew. Harry enters Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to train as a wizard. He makes new friends (Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger), uncovers a mystery, and almost dies again.

Memorable moments: Hagrid knitting, Harry's first visit to Diagon Alley, the troll, quidditch

Favorite illustration: Fluffy (p. 262)- he looks much friendlier than he does in the movie.

The food: Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans (I've tried these!), Droobles Best Blowing Gum, chocolate frogs, pumpkin pasties, cauldron cakes, licorice wands, pumpkin juice, lemon drops

The pets: Hedwig, Scabbers, Trevor, Fluffy, Norbert, Fang (Hagrid has 3 pets. That doesn't seem fair to the other characters.)

Favorite Quotes:
"But from that moment on, Hermione Granger became their friend. There are some things you can't share without ending up liking each other, and knocking out a twelve-foot mountain troll is one of them" (179).

"'People will insist on giving me books'" (Dumbledore, p. 214)

Scene I wish had made the movie: Hagrid getting sick on the Gringotts cart

Activities from Sorcerer's Stone:
wizard chess
quidditch
Parties (Halloween & Christmas)
Dark Forest Scavenger Hunt
Shopping in Diagon Alley

Favorite new word: muggle

Reading Reflection: I first encountered Harry Potter in the summer of 1999. A friend of my uncle sent me the book. I was enchanted. I read the book quickly with enjoyment and put it on my bookshelf. Months later I was going to trade it in at a used bookstore. I decided to re-read it first. I still have my first copy of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. I started reading the other books, hooked my friends on the series, made Gryffindor scarves, and the rest is history. I usually re-read the books once a year. The magic is still there. Watching the movies usually starts me off on reading the books again. The books are always better.

Now that I'm a youth services librarian, I'm looking forward to hosting my first ever Harry Potter party in November. Re-reading the books is part of my preparation.

I hope you've enjoyed my first Harry Potter Reading Project post. I'll return again in two weeks to discuss Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

If you want more information on all things Harry Potter, check out the Harry Potter Lexicon.

Saturday, July 31, 2010

Happy 30th Birthday, Harry Potter!

J. K. Rowling's beloved character Harry Potter celebrates his 30th birthday today. This is seven years before we see Harry put his kids on the train for Hogwarts in the epilogue of Deathly Hallows.

I have enjoyed the Harry Potter books for a number of years. As the 1st part of the last film releases on November 19th, I thought it fitting that I re-read the books for the occasion.

Thus, I am pleased to announce my Harry Potter Reading Project. My goal is too read all seven of the Harry Potter Books plus Quidditch through the Ages, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and The Tales of Beedle the Bard.

Things you can look forward to: memorable moments, favorite quotes and illustrations, the pets, the food, scenes I wish had made the movies, and much more.

Here's my tentative schedule for the project:

...the Sorcerer's Stone- August 3
...the Chamber of Secrets- August 17
...the Prisoner of Azkaban- August 31
...the Goblet of Fire- September 14
...the Order of the Phoenix- September 28
...the Half Blood Prince-October 12
...the Deathly Hallows- October 26
Quidditch Through the Ages- November 9
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them- November 23
The Tales of Beedle the Bard- December 7

I hope all my readers enjoy the Harry Potter Reading Project!