Harry Potter 1 & 2 / J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter...
(1) ... and the Philosopher's Stone
(2) ... and the Chamber of Secrets

by J.K. Rowling

fantasy, young adult

published in 1997, 1998
read -- not for the first time -- in July 2013

rated 9 / 10: really, really good

We were on holiday. Sure, I had brought books to read. But they were in our hotel room and we were drinking tea in the hotel lounge.

There were magazines. And a few books. Including... the first Harry Potter... May as well start reading it, I thought. Won't matter that I won't finish it before we leave, I know what happens...

Well...

What a great book ! All of a sudden I am caught up -- again ! -- in Harry Potter delight ! As soon as we returned home I found my own copy of The Philosopher's Stone and finished my re-reading. Then found Chamber of Secrets and re-read that one. And I may re-read more...

This is an excellent series. Enjoyable, exciting, entertaining. I read the books -- this time -- with a clearer image of the heroes as young children. It adds just a little bit more to my appreciation of the book. And to my anticipation of the characters developing as they grow older.

If you are one of the very few people who do not know the basic concept of the series -- start reading now ! For the rest of the world... What can I say that has not already been said ?

The movies are, I am sure, fun Hollywood movies. The books -- are terrific.

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Problems ? Solved 

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02oct15: 

And again !

Yes, I have just re-re-read the first Harry Potter book... and enjoyed it. Yet again.

Even better, it was pleasant break from some really... rubbish... books :-( Which I may fail to finish.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows / J. K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

(category: fantasy)
book 7 of Harry Potter by

J. K. Rowling

published by Bloomsbury, original copyright 2007
Nick read a new book, in April 2010
(and before, in 2007)

Nick's rating: 9 out of 10

Nick's opinion:

Interesting. I read this book when it first came out: at last, I thought, the final instalment of a great series! And I was disappointed... Loose ends, irrelevant new ideas, boring stretches of nothing much happening. That's what I thought when I first finished this book.

Shows how wrong I can be!

That first time, I must have read at high speed. When I finished, quite a lot had just been, effectively, skimmed. It's a problem I have -- and a reason why I like to read books (good books) more than once.

This time, I read more slowly. Took a few days. Deliberately stopped reading every so often, just to allow the story to settle in and sort itself out in my mind.

I also tried to keep track of the various items which formed the two major quests. And it all made a lot of sense...

This is a great book! It is a very satisfying conclusion to a great series. The characters have grown, minor characters are allowed to add depth and strength to the plot, major motivations are -- finally -- revealed. The adventures begin right at the start, there are some pauses to take breath, then the last few chapters are hectic battles on a grand scale... though with occasional pauses for explanation.

On this second reading, I found that the pace was exciting yet controlled. It's possible that some scenes were written with a movie in mind -- and some, well, I bet that some scenes will never be filmed. Which is one good reason to read a book in preference to watching a movie.

It was my own too-fast reading which lead to my initial disappointment. This time -- with a little more effort to follow the plot -- I enjoyed the book far more... It all makes sense, new plots and existing plot threads are wrapped up nicely, an exciting and readable book.

Well worth the second read!

..o0o..

These reviews are provided by Agamedes Consulting. For an independent and thoughtful review of your processes & documents, email nick leth at gmail dot com.

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

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

(category: fantasy)
book 6 of Harry Potter by

J.K. Rowling

published by Bloomsbury in 2005
Nick read a new book, in December 2009
(and before, in 2005)

Nick's rating: 8 out of 10

Nick's opinion:

If Order of the Phoenix is Harry being a teenage prat then Half-Blood Prince is Harry getting it all wrong... All part of growing up -- or, perhaps, a reflection of the more serious nature of the action: no more room for simple answers. This book is easier to read than its predecessor -- no more Harry-the-prat -- but it does need tissues near the end. Another successful book... but... I see signs of the plot unraveling. Who is "RAB"? Okay, it's nice to have a carry-over question. Was it ever answered? Was it necessary? It's nice to know that other's are -- secretly -- supporting Harry's efforts but there is too little introduction, not enough made of it. Okay, it's a picky point. Just a minor niggle. And it was a great -- that is, a very enjoyable -- book.

..o0o..

These reviews are provided by Agamedes Consulting. For an independent and thoughtful review of your own documents, email nick leth at gmail dot com.

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

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

(category: fantasy)
book 5 of Harry Potter by

J.K. Rowling

published by Bloomsbury in 2003,
read in September 2009 (and before, in 2003)

Agamedes' rating: 9 out of 10

Agamedes' opinion:

This is the “whining adolescent” volume. My dislike and boredom (on this, my second or more reading) lasted about three pages... Sure, Harry shouts at his friends, doesn’t listen to good advice, leaps where he should have looked -- but he is growing up! He is an embarrassment but if fits. As just one book in a series of seven, the discomfort of adolescence and the less than perfect support of Dumbledore are significant parts of the plot development. Who wants to read seven books all the same? And the surrounding fun and magic -- the background that makes this a great fantasy -- is as much fun as ever.

..o0o..

This blog is supported by Agamedes Consulting. For an independent and thoughtful review of your own documents, email nick leth at gmail dot com.