The Tales Of Beedle The Bard

I have to admit…this book was bought purely for sentimental reasons. I was at the tail-end of July’ 11 (unofficially termed as *Harry Potter Month*) and had exhausted all my available resources of Potter memorabilia. I had desisted for long and now, I ordered it with the sole intention of treating it as a cherished keepsake.

I still get a smile on my face when I remember Hermione being handed over the book as per Dumbledore’s will and Ron piping in excitedly “Babbity Rabbity And Her Cackling Stump!”, only to be greeted by vacant stares from both Harry and (surprisingly enough) Hermione. The book was basically popular bedtime reading for young witches and wizards, which explains why the usually gormless Ron was so familiar with it.

The Tales of Beedle The Bard is a fairly thin volume that contains five fairy tales from the Wizarding World. Accompanying them are the tongue-in-cheek notes of Prof.Dumbledore. Having a slightly more morbid edge when compared to normal (read:muggle) fairy tales, the stories still weave in wise homilies. My favourite tale has always been “The Tale of The Three Brothers” (especially after watching the brilliant bit of goose-bump inducing animation in the movie) and I’m embarrassed to say that I read it out loud for the sheer pleasure of doing so.

This is purely an indulgence for Potter fans and must be read in the same spirit.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2

At two hours and ten minutes, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 is the shortest film in the franchise. And within these two hours and ten minutes, Potter fans are treated to a masterpiece of epic proportions.

Harry Potter is now closer to discovering and destroying Voldemort’s remaining horcruxes. Along this journey, he has to deal with devious goblins, fire-breathing dragons, new and untried hexes, guilty ghosts, cursed fiendfyre, old enemies and the promise of a new, hitherto undiscovered, truly terrifying Horcrux. And the poor lad’s work is never done. At the end of these gruesome tasks, he must face his nemesis : The Dark Lord...The most powerful evil magician of all times...the monster who has killed Harry’s parents, his godfather, his mentor and many more who have played a poignant role in Harry’s life. Fighting and vanquishing Voldemort means accepting death gladly. It means stepping into unchartered territory with sheer guts bolstered by hope and a prayer.

Part 2 is the tale of the ultimate battle...the battle between Good and Evil...the battle between ‘The Boy-Who-Lived’ and ‘The Vile-Noseless-Villain-Who-Refused-To-Die’. It is a setting that gathers up the slow threads of Part 1 and flings it headlong into a chaotic battlescene that is awe-inspiring and heart-wrenching in equal measures.

The movie, to put it mildly is *BRILLIANT*

The movie, to put it in the words of a true-blue Potter fan is *MIND-BOGGLINGLY-FANTASTIC*

Concentrating on the ‘Battle of Hogwarts’ meant that the entire movie could have disintegrated into a never-ending round of wand-duelling, muggle-worthy punching and the dire destruction of a set that holds a special place in our hearts. Thankfully, the director (David Yates) has played a beautiful game of explosive action combined with deliciously slow and intense moments.

SPECIAL CHARACTER MENTION:

~ ‘Snape’s Memory’; one of the best chapters in the book was converted into a perfect ten-minute montage that made my vision blurry with unshed tears. Alan Rickman is always a joy to behold and his rendition of the magnificent Snape leaves you satisfied that the movie did credit to the written word.

~ Prof. McGonagall has always been one of my favourite characters. Maggie Smith as the unbending teacher with a heart of molten gold has a few (but just enough) moments that make you whoop with glee (yes, I did indeed whoop with glee)

~ Neville Longbottom (Matthew Lewis) has come such a long way from being a scared student who quivered under the scathing disapproval of a long-suffering teacher. Tall, weary and covered with battle-scars....Neville is an unlikely hero who plays a crucial role. It helps that he has some wicked-cool lines to boot.

~ Oddly enough, I don’t have much to say on Harry, Hermione and Ron. Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) plunges forth with a quiet intensity. Hermione (Emma Watson) is a tad muted but her usual spunky self. Ron (Rupert Grint) has his endearing gormless act in place. Their combination works like a well-oiled spring; courtesy the long-standing familiarity and suffice to say, the trio keep you hooked.

At the end of it all, it was so much more than just that. It was a magical battle to end all the mini-squabbles. It was a shining symbol of the power of friendship, love and loyalty. It was the befitting end of a glorious era.The director, cast and crew tied up one of the greatest and most successful stories of our time into a fitting conclusion.

Glaring dissimilarities aside, fans will be hard-pressed to nitpick.

I want to write so much more. I want to write eloquent prose that conveys my affection for these fictional characters. I want to write a glowing statement of adulation for the author who can tell a tale like no one else.

Thank you, J.K.Rowling.

Thank you for your imagination that is so rooted in reality.

Thank you for reaffirming my belief that love, friendship and faith can brighten up the darkest corners of our minds.

Thank you for the magic...

Harry Potter and the Order of The Phoenix (Harry Potter, #5)

I am not exactly an unbiased soul when it comes to reviewing a Harry Potter book. My Potter reviews wax lyrical, are full of praise and admiration and rarely do negative words get typed in.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix however was a little roadbock to my motherhen express. Too many pages, too much information and too, too rambling in it’s narrative. Do a vanishing hex on a handful of chapters and it would have been another perfect gem from Rowling’s desk.

The basic premise of the fifth book was that the magical world is now divided into two warring factions :

a) Those who believe that Voldemort is back and are taking the necessary steps to face the possibility of a second war and

b) Those who don’t believe that Voldemort is back and are taking every unnecessary and abysmally foolish step to thwart Team a)

Harry Potter has returned to his fifth year in a troubled state. The wizarding world at large (except for his loyal friends) believe that Dumbledore has gone senile and Harry is nothing more than an attention seeking git. Harry has to deal with people thinking and voicing out loud that the Potter lad has finally gone...to put it a tad inelegantly...potty. He has to face the simpering wrath of Prof.Umbridge, the newest Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher who has been planted by the Ministry to keep her noxious nose in the affairs of Hogwarts. He has to bear the mixed romantic blessing of an interested Cho Chang; who snogs him and weeps all over his cloak at regular intervals.

But all this pales in comparison to Harry’s newest problem. In his dreams, Harry appears to be travelling into the mind of Voldemort. He seems to share an undesired mental link with The Dark Lord. Whether Voldy is ecstatic with joy or bloodthirsty with rage, Harry senses it. While this situation might prove to be useful to Dumbledore and other members of ‘The Order of The Phoenix’, it has a nasty sting at it’s tail. The mental link is reciprocal, which means that Voldemort can also make roadways into Harry’s mind....delve into his darkest secrets and worst of all....actually possess him.

If Rowling would have stuck to this basic plotline, it would have been an engaging read. No meandering, just straightforward story-telling. Sadly, it unravelled into a heavy lo-oong winded read.

On the plus side, new characters like Tonks and Luna Lovegood make an interesting addition. Bellatrix Lestrange is deliciously deranged. Sirius Black, my favourite bad boy, got enough pages devoted to him to exhibit varied nuances of his character. The roles of Ginny and Neville Longbottom are smartly fleshed out, laying the groundwork for future full-fledged appearances.

Harry makes a departure from his perfect-hero portrayal. Gone is the unsure, slightly shy, self-deprecating, wee Potter lad. What we now have is an impatient teenager who exhibits bouts of rage tempered with confused silences. Hermione and Ron provide able support to their grumpy best friend. Sadly, their fledgling romance has been put on the back-burner. Dumbledore is magnificent in his stellar role as “The Only One He Ever Feared”.

The one good thing about this book is that Harry may finally learn why the darkest, wizard ‘moste-eville’ has been hounding him since his childhood.

In all, Harry Potter and The Order of The Phoenix could have been shorter and less of a stomach-crusher. It’s a long tale with flashes of brilliance and one distinctly heart-wrenching moment.

Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire (Harry Potter, #4)

Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows – Part 2 releases on July 15’ 2011. And with it, ends one of the grandest obsessions of our times.

No, I’m not mocking it. Far from it. I am an unabashed member of the PotterBrigade. I have read the entire series more times than I can count. I have caught the movies when they hit the theatres (and cribbed about the disparities in plot). I have scoured through exquisite FanArt and imaginative FanFiction. I have followed the wise homilies of the great Dumbledore and treated him as my Spiritual Guru. I have rooted for Hermione and Ron’s almost-there-but-not-quite-yet love story. I have lusted after Sirius and loathed Umbridge, both in equal measures. I have attempted to make ButterBeer (and succeeded). I have done a spot of wishful thinking and hoped that Hogwarts has misplaced my letter (well, not really...but yes). And yes.............I have stuck with Harry till the very end.

So obviously, with the end in sight, I HAD to reread the series. And when I reached ‘Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire’, I realized that alas....alackk....and also, ERK!....I hadn’t written a review on it! *shock* *horror* *convincing Victorian swoon*. Soon I recovered from the fiendish blow and penned down a wholly biased review. Here goes:

The Quidditch World Cup followed by The Triwizard Tournament form the backdrop for the fourth instalment. As The Quidditch Finals culminate in the sudden appearance of THE DARK MARK, a wave of panic spreads through the wizarding world. The Mark is the sign of ‘He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named’; a mark that heralds the return of pure, undiluted evil. Our wee Potter isn’t feeling too uppity either. The scar on his forehead has been ailing him; another indication that ol’Voldy is either very near or he is feeling particularly murderous. Sirius (in hiding) is worried and sends comforting owl mail at regular intervals. Hermione is worried and races to the library at regular intervals. Ron is worried and turns an unbecoming shade of red at regular intervals.

So when Harry is chosen by the magical ‘Goblet of Fire’ as one of the contenders for The Triwizard Tournament, it’s only natural that everyone starts having kittens; left, right and center. The tournament which claims to be an attempt to improve relationships in the Wizarding Community is no game of pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey. Past history reveals that the tasks are dangerous and injurious to health in every sense of the word.

Soon, Harry is battling dragons, merpeople, unexpected jinxes, hexes and the odd Blast-Ended Skrewt. But it’s the end that decides it all. In a startling twist, Harry will soon face a task that will make The Hungarian Horntail Dragon look like a mild-mannered lapdog.

Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire can adequately be summed up in one word : DRAMATIC.

Whether it’s the sporting fervour whipped up at The Quidditch World Cup or the wave of excitement and danger that holds together The Triwizard Tournament, J.K.Rowling is the Mother Monster of Event-Managers. A host of enticing new characters make their entry : Cedric Diggory, Mad-Eye Moody, Barty Crouch (Sr. & Jr.), Ludo Bagman, Madame Maxime, Viktor Krum, Karkaroff, Rita Skeeter and.....The Dark Lord himself.

Despite being a fairly heavy book, the pace never wanes. One endearing quality of Rowling’s writing is that no fact or seemingly odd bit of trivia is ever merely that. Somewhere, somehow, she will dip into her Pensieve, extract the miniscule detail and entwine it with the plot. So while reading her books, remember to be in a state of (as Mad-Eye Moody would term it) “CONSTANT VIGILANCE”.

Endearing sub plots are the fledgling romances: Harry and Cho, Ron and Hermione and Krum and ofcourse, Hagrid and Madame Maxime. Snape continues his reign of unabated nastiness. Malfoy is his usual charming self. Cedric (the future Mr.Edward Cullen) is a wholly likeable character who stays with you till the end. Dumbledore is pitching his perfect performance as usual : whether it’s turning a blind eye to the never ending pranks, or giving a fair listening to an improbable tale or doling out wisdom in his unique way or standing tall, eyes ablaze in the face of dark times.

Tight storyline, shocking twists and throat-clogging moments. In all, a magnificent read.

Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows - Part 1

Writing a Potter movie-review without *spoilers* is next to impossible. True blue fans know exactly what happened to:
a) The Boy who lived
b) The Girl who sniffed disdainfully into her books
and
c) The Other Boy who played second-fiddle to The Boy who lived and didn’t like it one little bit!

If you expect me to dart around the places where the plot thickens and boils over, stop reading. Now. For the rest, here goes...

The penultimate instalment begins with a poignant scene where Hermione obliviates the memories of her parents, thereby burning her human bridges. The movie ends with Voldemort desecrating Dumbledore’s tomb and flicking the Elder Wand. And between these two moments, the plot unravels in an engaging collage of rip-roaring action, stagnant scenarios and eye-moistening moments.

The Half-Blood Prince ended with the brutal demise of Dumbledore and left Harry in the unfortunate position of leader-without-a-mentor. Potter and his magical entourage have their work cut out. They now know that the only decent chance that they have of stopping Voldemort (dark-wizard extraordinaire and all-time big baddie) is to find the Horcruxes. Looking for the much-maligned needle in a haystack would have been easier. No one knows where or what all the Horcruxes are. The trio of Harry, Ron and Hermione (with special mention for Hermione’s trusty little purse of unimaginable depths) are soon off on a long, confusing journey.

They make suicidal trips into The Ministry of Magic.....uncomfortable trips down memory-lane....and ghastly trips down the road of friendship. The individual loyalties and collective skills of the three Griffindorians is put to the test. In the course of their wanderings, they also learn about The Deathly Hallows (An invincible Elder Wand, A Resurrection Stone and An Invisibility Cloak); the possession of which makes the owner: A Master of Death.

The battle between Good and Evil dances along the horizon and before you know it, you are sucked into the fantastical world created by the marvellous Madame Rowling.

The movie stayed loyal to the book, with minor discrepancies. Where the book stumbled, the movie plodded along too. Where you gripped the book in terse anticipation, you clutched the unsuspecting arm of your poor friend too.

Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) was cheerily wan. His endearing combination of simmering anger and clumsy boyishness worked perfectly. Hermione (Emma Watson) was her usual gorgeous and articulate self. Ron (Rupert Grint), the weedy Weasley boy has become a buff, blustering, purple-in-the-face, jealous (almost)boyfriend and plays his role to the hilt. We get tantalising glimpses of a close-mouthed Snape (Alan Rickman) and a happily deranged Bellatrix Lestrange (Helena Bonham Carter). Ol’Voldy (Ralph Fiennes) hammed it up a bit in this addition. Somehow he never quite recaptured the insane vein that he aptly displayed in The Goblet of Fire. The rest of the cast makes you smile with their familiar portrayals. Luna Lovegood (Evanna Lynch), The Weasley Twins (James and Oliver Phelps), Mad-Eye Moody (Brendan Gleeson) and Dobby (voice of Toby Jones) stand out in particular.

One singular scene that deserves special mention was when Hermione reads out the tale of ‘The Three Brothers’ from the book: The Tales of Beedle The Bard. The animation that ensues is spell-binding. It swirls and accompanied by the narration pulls you right in.

The sets are grandiose, right from the home-grown charm of Fleur and Bill’s wedding to the sheer vastness of the Ministry to the various breathtaking pitstops that the trio make at regular intervals.

As for the argument over whether two instalments of the movie are justified....maybe not. I would have gladly pinned my tushie to the seat for a straight four hours and rooted for Potter till the very end. But on the other hand, I am also pretty chuffed to have an ultimate instalment to look forward to.

More Mayhem. More Action......and more importantly......More Magic.

July2011...Get.Here.Already!

The Death of Sirius Black (A Montage)

I came across this clip and it brought all the memories of Potter-Mania rushing right back...never was a Book-Series so ably supported by it's movie-franchise. While I did imagine Sirus Black to be played by a younger actor who would be loaded with the lazy charm, the wasted handsomeness and the gothic glory of the paper Black....Gary Oldman still managed to keep viewers hooked with his sheer presence...

Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince (Film-Review)

You cannot NOT love a Potter movie. Watching Rowling’s world recreated in painstaking detail exactly the way you imagined it, is always a fun ride. And yet….. being a Potter-purist might leave you a tad miffed where ‘Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince’ are concerned.

So we have a teenaged Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) flirting with a muggle-waitress (apparently, in a bid to dull the shock of losing Sirius and have some semblance of reality in his life). But before things can get off the ground, Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) whisks the reluctant hero off onto the first of many tasks to come. A retired professor Slughorn (Jim Broadbent) is reinstated as Potions Master. But what about Snape (Alan Rickman), you ask? Hovering like a malevolent bat, he seems to have much more sinister things up his cloak than usual.

Soon, Dumbledore is taking Potter along on trips down Voldemort’s memory lane (courtesy, The Pensieve). These flashbacks, coupled with one elusive memory involving Prof.Slughorn might hold all the clues necessary to bring about the destruction of Voldemort.

So yes, in essence things are moving along at a desired pace. You get glimpses into a young and even then, eerily-evil Voldemort’s life. Harry discovers a Potions textbook of an old student who goes by the pseudonym of ‘The Half-Blood Prince’ and uses it to do splendidly well in potions. There’s sufficient romantic angst what with Ron (Rupert Grint) snogging a tremulous (and irritating) Lavender Brown at regular intervals, much to Hermione (Emma Watson)'s impotent anger. Harry skitters around his new-found infatuation for Ginny Weasley(Bonny Wright). A grown-up Draco(Tom Felton) looks paler than usual, thanks to an impossible task set to him by The Dark Lord. And the Death-Eaters led by the deliciously sadistic Bellatrix Lestrange (Helena Bonham Carter) and an icky Greyback are wrecking havoc in Muggle and Wizard World alike.

Harry is at his wittiest-best…a tad cocky but endearing nevertheless... Ron plays his role of the blustering bloke with ‘an-emotional-range-of-a-teaspoon’ to the tee….Snape is his usual crisply-loathsome self. And Dumbledore is a joy to behold…as always.

On the downside, vital characters (Hermione, Tonks, Lupin etc) look like scenery while Ginny gets centre-stage. If you haven’t read the book (really?!?)….it won’t make a spot of difference. But if you have…well, get prepared for some serious revamping.

In all, spell-binding to watch for the special effects and sheer grandeur of the sets. More screen-time for a few favourites would have been nice. But in the end it’s Harry Potter…and for the loyalty you owe the wee-Potter lad… just for that…you go and watch and keep the whining to a minimum.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Harry Potter, #3)

Life at the Dursleys is the usual merry-hell, accentuated this time around by the presence of Aunt Marge (horrible sister to the terrible Mr.D). Constant barbs make Harry lose his temper and unknowingly inflate Aunt Marge; a serious bit of non-permissive underage magic. Resigned to the fact that he will be expelled from Hogwarts, Harry sets off on his own and unfortunately ends up meeting the Minister of Magic himself (talk ‘bout bad luck!).

But he gets off scot-free. Why? Because a spot of underage magic is nothing compared to the more pressing matter of an escaped convict, Sirius Black. A follower of Voldemort, Black has broken out of the wizard prison Azkaban for the apparently express purpose of getting to Harry.

So another year at Hogwarts starts... Finally there’s a new Defence Against The Dark Arts teacher who seems to know his parchments: Remus Lupin. There are much-awaited trips into the glorious Hogsmeade. But there is also a wee bit of puzzlement for Harry as to why people keep telling him NOT to go looking for Sirius Black. After all, you don’t go looking for your prospective-murderer! But Black’s past is entwined with Harry’s and there’s serious evil underfoot.

Adding to the joyous proceedings are the shudder-worthy Dementors. This was Rowling’s imagination at it’s scariest best. Faceless, cloaked figures with decaying hands who feed on human happiness, they leave despair and depression in their wake.

Infact,Rowling introduced some of her most innovative creations in this book: The Knight-Bus, Dementors, Boggarts, Hogsmeade, The Marauder’s Map, Patronuses, Hippogriffs, Animagi and Time-Turners. She also created two extremely memorable characters in Remus Lupin and Sirius Black.

The book was perfect in every way: narration, build-up and unexpected surprises …all woven together with the trademark British humour.

Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince (Harry Potter, #6)

The movie is releasing in a couple of days and I needed a refresher-course. After all, if I am going to be one of those *p-shaw* *tch*, the book was loads better than the movie types, then I better get my facts right!

Harry is now a full-fledged teen hero. He has heard ‘The Prophecy’ and has resigned himself to the fact that he will ultimately have a showdown with good ol’Voldy wherein one of them will DEFINITELY kick the bucket. All around the wizarding world, the Death-Eaters are wrecking mayhem. Harry, Hermione and Ron are effectively tangled in a rush of hormones and unexpected attractions. And Snape (at his nastiest best), has finally got the much-desired position of 'Defence Against the Dark-Arts' teacher.
Enough to make a normal teenager go barkin’mad.

But Dumbledore, being the supremely cool guardian/ protector/wizard that he is…has decided that it’s time for Harry to know exactly what he’s up against. Trips into Voldemort’s formative years (courtesy, The Pensieve) reveal that killing the former is not going to be a field-trip. His Mighty Big-Headedness had come up with the idea of ‘Horcruxes’. He had split his soul into six fragments and enclosed them in different objects with the seventh fragment residing in his own body. These objects could be anything, anywhere and to kill Voldemort means having to track them down first and destroy them. Ace villain move, that!

So accompanied by Harry, Dumbledore sets off on what the latter would call: to pursue the flighty temptress, adventure.

A relatively snappy read, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is engaging. After wading through the onerous 'Order of The Phoenix'…things finally seem to be going somewhere. The book is a tribute to the brilliance of Albus Dumbledore and is woven with the usual blend of humour, emotion and unexpected surprises.

Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets (Harry Potter, #2)

I always find the second in a long-running series the most-fulfilling. After the first, we have the character profiles down to a tee, have decided on our favourites and our pet-hates and can easily summon up the landscapes and surroundings. So now it’s just a question of belting-up and getting ready for ACTIONNNN!! And...Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets does just that.

Harry knows who’s baying for his blood (Malfoy, Snape and good ol’Moldy-Voldy) He has a clearer picture of his powers and abilities. I won’t mention the plot as most of us already know it by rote and those who don’t, are getting converted...as I speak!

This was the only book in the series, which had a singular, central mystery which effectively intertwined all the other goings-on. Rather than laboring on about Harry’s traumatized past and his future trials…..it dealt with his actual adventures in the present. Mysterious mumblings in the walls, an unknown beast lurking in some obscure chamber and hapless victims, it has all the makings of a classic detective novel. Harry gets a chance to prove that all the adulation and hero-worship is justified, and puts up a knock-‘em dead, magnificent fight. Rowling manages to weave in her wise homilies towards the end (it’s the choices that define us and not our abilities) and yet again, it fits perfectly. Not preachy, not patronizing but tailor-made to clear Harry’s misgivings.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Harry Potter, #7)

I did what an ardent yet lazy fan of Harry Potter would do : As soon as news of the last instalment filtered in, I scurried into my pre-ordering ritual. And then I sat pretty, soaking in the 'Potter-Mania'.....the buzz, the excitement...which was a live and breathing thing.

And along with the rest I gave reality a hard shove and prayed fervently that the good hero.....the self-effacing Harry Potter wouldn't be snuffed out by the end of the series.

When I finally laid my hands on the book, I read it in a blur of feverish excitement. My only aim: to finish it and savour that feeling of mini-achievement that only a speed-reading geek would feel!!

It was only a week back, that I decided to revisit it...sit down and actually read it in full and pain-staking detail. And once again I was left with absolute admiration for the supreme story-teller.

Harry sets of on the quest set to him by the now-deceased Dumbledore : to find and destroy Voldemort's Horcruxes. He also stumbles upon the legend of "The Deathly Hallows" - the possession of which would make the bearer virtually impossible to defeat. And accompanying him on this penultimate adventure are his best-friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger.

As the three tread into new and unknown territory.....faith, trust, courage and friendship are tested. Was Dumbledore as pristinely unblemished a character as we were led to believe? Does the unwavering friendship of Ron, Hermione and Harry survive in the face of a seemingly impossible task? Will Harry choose 'The Horcruxes' or 'The Deathly Hallows' to fight Voldemort? Was Snape the loathsome toad we were always led to believe?.... and the biggest query of them all...who will die in the final battle... the battle between "The Chosen One" and " He Who Shall Not Be Named" ?

All these questions and many more are effectively answered. Rowling has managed to tie up all the loose-ends; the niggling queries that remained suspended in limbo. Events, objects and people that appeared to be just a part of the magical scenery are effortlessly woven into the larger picture.

The beauty of this book lies in the fact that long and winding though it may seem... every paragraph, every seemingly tedious monologue is actually crucial to tying up the saga that began eleven years ago.

Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows is a fitting and fantastic conclusion to the tale of one of the most endearing heroes in contemporary literature. And a fabulous treat for all who, as J.K.Rowling puts it in her epigraph, "stuck with Harry until the very end".

The POTTER Parade

A litte treat for all Potter fans......from a brilliant artist...*MAKANI*

J.K.ROWLING - Entertainer of The Year

J.K.Rowling has been declared the Entertainer of the Year by Entertainment Weekly.....and rightly so.

I belong to the formidable legion of J.K.Rowling-fans. I don’t need to launch into an endless litany on her immense talent or her astounding success-story. Reams of newsprint, gazillion sites and a million blogs have already been dedicated to jus’ the thing.

She has been praised and maligned in equal measure. You can love her.....or hate her…but you sure as hell can’t ignore her!!

The original skeptic, I scoffed good-naturedly when a colleague recommended “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone”. It was a ‘children’s book’ for crying out loud……and there I was, a (debatable) adult.

But I overcame my pig-headedness and gave it a shot. Needless to say, I was hooked, booked and ready to be charted off to the world of magic and fantasy!!!

It was a good solid read and had it all…… the proverbial under-dog…..fantastic characters and astounding creatures…. ……a hidden magical world….and an immensely strong story line. The most bewitching form of escapism!

I fully intend giving my two-bit opinion on each of the Potter books….but not right now. I just felt that I had to start off my trip down Potter-lane by writing a bit ‘bout one of my front-running authors.

Snape's Worst Memory......

One more instalment of the Pottermania. Snape's worst moment when he sees the happy Potter family......beautifully captured.

I like the attention to small details like the fact that Prof.Snape is lurking around in dark and sinister Knockturn Alley...and don't miss Lupin's advert, offering private classes. A werewolf and unemployed to boot!! Brilliant!

Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone (Harry Potter, #1)

I was expecting my return trip to be something of a dampener. I had finished the series…. and after all, how many more surprises could the first book reveal? The magic must have faded over time and the characters must surely have achieved the status of house-guests who had overstayed their welcome.

Predictably enough, I was proved wrong. It offered me new avenues of thought. It was interesting to see how the complex and brave heroes of the later years started off as grimy, nervous, ickle-firsties!

It was a time for firsts : neglected, ill-treated Harry’s discovery that he is a wizard – an actual-honest-to-goodness-magic wand-wielding-wizard….that he had a family who loved him and lost their lives to save him……..that there exists a fantastic magical world where’s he much, much more than just an unwanted kid who stays under the stairs. It is also the first time he meets his to-be best friends, not knowng that it would be the start of dangerous but memorable adventures for them.

My personal delight lay in the re-introduction to some of the finest characters I could hope to find sandwiched in one series: Dumbledore, McGonagall, Ron, Hermione, Neville Longbottom, Peeves, Filch, Malfoy,Nearly-Headless Nick, Hagrid, Snape, Voldemort, Fred and George, the Dursleys and of course…..a truly well-crafted hero…The Boy Who Lived.

I also liked the fact that Rowling didn’t patronize her young readers. She spoke about death and other sensitive topics that usually don’t find their way into a children’s book. Minimal sugar-coating…..she created realism in a world of improbability. It’s not all fun and games…..at the end of the day, Harry has to face his demons. He gets his first opportunity to prove that he’s more than just the kid with a glorious and mysterious past.

The book sets an adequate pace, unsolved questions and a strong foundation for the rest of the series. It engages, it thrills, it satisfies. Needless to say……the rest is history.

Quotes from the Harry Potter Series

Lady Rowling had some pretty impressive thoughts thrown in at regular intervals in the midst of all that witching and warring!! Here are some which I especially liked.......

***It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, just as much to stand up to our friends ~ Prof. Dumbledore (Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone)

***…to the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure. ~ Prof. Dumbledore (Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone)

***Fear of a name increases fear of the thing itself. ~Prof.Dumbledore (Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone)

***Ah Music.....A Magic beyond all we do here. ~Prof.Dumbledore (Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone)

***“It is our choices, Harry, that show what we are, far more than our abilities.” ~ Prof. Dumbledore (Harry Potter And The Chamber of Secrets)

***That suggests that what you fear most of all is—fear. Very wise, Harry. ~ Remus Lupin (Harry Potter And The Prisoner of Azkaban)

*** Curiosity is not a sin... But we should exercise caution with our curiosity... yes, indeed. ~Prof. Dumbledore (Harry Potter And The Goblet of Fire)

*** You place too much importance... on the so-called purity of blood! You fail to recognize that it matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be! ~Prof. Dumbledore (Harry Potter And The Goblet of Fire)

*** If you want to know what a man's like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals. ~Sirius Black (Harry Potter And The Goblet of Fire)


*** You sort of start thinking anything's possible if you've got enough nerve. ~Ginny (Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix)

*** Dumbledore says people find it far easier to forgive others for being wrong than being right. ~Hermione (Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince)

*** We must try not to sink beneath our anguish, Harry, but battle on. ~Prof.Dumbledore (Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince)

Good - Writer Karma

I have developed a new-found penchant for book-reviewing. I won’t call it ‘critiquing’, because I cringe at the idea of slashing someone’s hard work to bitchy l’il bits and pieces!! My take is that....if u can’t say something nice, don’t say it all!! So for people out there expecting mean, nasty, claws-unsheathed and venom-dripping rantings….this is where the Blood-Fest ends!

Since my genre of choice is ‘Children’s Fantasy’, I tend to gravitate towards the books filled with parallel universes, brave young heroes with supernatural powers, eepy-cray monsters and general all-round chaos and mayhem!! I have a shelf teeming with the crème de la crème of children’s literature and yet, I find myself reaching for my well-thumbed Harry Potter collection.



This is my third trip around Harry’s world, so the cynicism hasn’t crept in yet. I decided to start off with “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets”. For me, this was the best of the series, followed closely by “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.


I always find the second in a long-running series, the most-fulfilling. After the first, we have the characters down to a tee...have decided on our favourites and our pet-hates and can easily summon up the landscapes and surroundings. So now it’s just a question of belting-up and getting ready for ACTION-NNN!!


And….Chamber of Secrets does just that. Harry knows who’s baying for his blood (Malfoy, Snape and good ol’Moldy-Voldy!) He has a clearer picture of his powers and abilities. I won’t mention the plot as most of us already know it by rote and those who don’t, are getting converted…as I speak!


This was the only book in the series, which had a singular, central mystery which effectively intertwined all the other goings-on. Rather than labouring on about Harry’s traumatized past and his future trials…it dealt with his actual adventures in the present. Mysterious mumblings in the walls, an unknown beast lurking in some obscure chamber and hapless victims........it has all the makings of a classic detective novel. Harry gets a chance to prove that all the adulation and hero-worship is justified, and puts up a knock-‘em dead, magnificent fight.


Rowling manages to weave in her wise homilies towards the end ~ ("it’s the choices that define us and not our abilities") and yet again, it fits perfectly. Not preachy, not patronizing but tailor-made to clear Harry’s misgivings.

So that’s it…my shining, squeaky-clean review. Read the book, watch the movie and relive some of that ol’Potter magic.