‘The Harry Potter Wizarding Almanac’ by J.K. Rowling

Genre: Adult Non-Fiction – Literature

Published: 2023

Format: Hardback

Rating: ★★★★★

What a brilliant book! It contains so much information gleaned from the stories, and some extras tossed in by J.K. Rowling. I know Rowling is a little controversial at the moment, but these stories saved me during the darkest times of my life and I’m not going to forget that. Falling back into this world is relaxing and cathartic.

I loved the lists at the back of things that are green or purple, price lists, the list of Ministers of Magic, and the order in which characters first appear and in which books. As much as this is based on the Harry Potter stories, there is some new information thrown in which doesn’t appear in the books which is nice, but I always want more new information on this world. Having read The Tales of Beedle the Bard, Quidditch Through the Ages and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, this brings everything together in a lovely collection.

The book is exceptionally illustrated with most being double page spreads, and some pages folding out to create bigger spreads as well. The colours of the pages are chosen to match what is being discussed, whether it’s a particular place, or event, or item. The end papers are also really pretty. It’s just such a beautiful book. Some of the illustrations are eclectic, as there are multiple illustrators, but they seem to meld together well.

It just brings the entire world of Harry Potter together in one book. The only thing I can say is that perhaps I wish it went into the stories themselves a little more and how things connect together. I also wanted to know more about the backgrounds of some of the students like Seamus Finnigan, Cho Chang, and Dean Thomas.

‘Beyond the Wand: The Magic and Mayhem of Growing Up a Wizard’ by Tom Felton

Genre: Adult Non-Fiction – Autobiography

Published: 2022

Format: Hardback

Rating: ★★★★★

This book was just wow. I don’t think I’ve ever read an autobiography that matches up to Tom Felton’s book. This isn’t just the story of growing up on the set of Harry Potter, though there are obviously a good few anecdotes about that. There are stories of friendship, mental health struggles, family, addiction, and self-realisation. It’s beautifully written and poignant.

My favourite chapter I think is when Felton talks about his relationship with Emma Watson – the photo caption in the plate section describes it as “quacking with my favourite duck”. It’s such a beautiful friendship it seems like. With the foreword also being written by Emma Watson, it just shows the depth and strength of their friendship. The other relationship it was lovely to hear about was Felton’s relationship with his brothers, being the youngest of four.

There are hilarious little anecdotes throughout the book, calling Rupert Grint the “Ginger Ninja” and the “don’t step on the fucking cloak” chapter. It was also lovely to hear some insight into some of the most famous names on set i.e., Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, and Michael Gambon, as well as Tom Felton’s position re. fame compared to Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson, and how he is grateful that he doesn’t have the same level as they do and has been able to enjoy some semblance of a normal life.

There are some absolutely brilliant chapter titles that made me giggle before I’d even started reading the chapters. I am also so glad that the Voldemort hug was covered – I always wondered how that came about and how it felt. The last chapters were a contrast to the earlier chapters, being more raw, emotional, and poignant. Difficult to read in places but pushes the idea that talking about mental health is so important. Felton doesn’t shy away from discussing his own struggles and what he’s learnt as a result.

This is my favourite read of 2023 by quite a way, and if you haven’t read it, I would really recommend it, especially if you’re a Harry Potter fan, but just if you want to read a really good autobiography which is funny, emotional, and poignant. It’s beautiful.

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

Genre: Adult Fiction – Fantasy

Published: 2000

Format: Hardback

Rating: ★★★★

In parts, I found ‘Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire’ slower than the previous books. Perhaps, it was because it was so much longer than the previous ones, but I also felt that there were whole chapters where not much happened. This makes it a lot darker and makes the fear more real. A great introduction to the darker feeling that the later books have.

We see the first real breach in the friendship between Harry, Ron, and Hermione, when Ron turns against Harry. It’s also the first book where we really meet Voldemort as a grown man in his own body. It’s also the first real death we see where Harry is directly affected. We didn’t see his parents die and he was a child at the time, so this is the first one where Harry really witnesses the death of a friend, though nothing compared to what is to come.

There are some great one-liners from Ron, and a new sense of what Hermione is capable of with S.P.E.W. Gutted they missed this out of the film as this would have made a great addition to flesh out the characters and give some background to the house elves. Re-reading it you still spot little things you didn’t notice before, and the emotion is just as heightened.

Rowling really does have a fantastic way of building a world and making you feel like you belong in it, even though I have never received my Hogwarts letter – gutted, by the way. It’s a book with friendship at the fore, with all of the ups and downs that brings.

Monthly Reading Summary – August 2022

A much better reading month for me! I’m not sure what pushed me to read so much; maybe it was being able to sit out in the sun! Our book club read for this month was ‘The Love Hypothesis’ by Ali Hazelwood, which I’m not actually quite finished with yet.

Books Read This Month:

John Jenkins – The King’s Chamberlain: William Sandys of the Vyne, Chamberlain to Henry VIII ★★★

• Hardback, 2021, Amberley Publishing
• Adult Non-Fiction, Historical Biography

Irvin Khaytman – Dumbledore: The Life and Life of Hogwarts’s Renowned Headmaster ★★★★

• Hardback, 2021, Media Lab Books
• Adult Fiction, Literature

John Edwards – Mary I: The Daughter of Time ★★★

• Paperback, 2016, Penguin Books
• Adult Non-Fiction, Historical Biography

Ben Aaronovitch – Whispers Under Ground ★★★★

• Paperback. 2012, Gollancz
• Adult Fiction, Fantasy & Sci Fi

Jennifer C. Wilson – Kindred Spirits: Regal Retribution ★★★★★

• eBook, 2022, Darkstroke Books
• Adult Fiction, Historical

Derek & Pauline Tremain – How to Solve a Murder: True Stories from a Life in Forensic Medicine ★★★

• Audiobook, 2021, HarperCollins
• Adult Non-Fiction, True Crime

A.J. Pollard – Edward IV: The Summer King ★★★★

• Paperback, 2016, Penguin Books
• Adult Non-Fiction, Historical Biography

Richard Osman – The Thursday Murder Club ★★★★

• Paperback, 2020, Penguin Books
• Adult Fiction, Crime & Mystery

Tony Riches – Raleigh: Tudor Adventurer ★★★★

• eBook, 2022, Preseli Press
• Adult Fiction, Historical

Books Bought This Month:

• Jennifer C. Wilson – Kindred Spirits: Regal Retribution
• Robert Galbraith – The Ink Black Heart

Statistics:

• Books Read – 9
• Currently Reading – 3
• TBR – 144

• Fiction – 4 (44.44%)
• Non-Fiction – 5 (55.56%)

• Male Author – 7 (77.78%)
• Female Author – 1 (11.11%)
• Multiple Authors – 1 (11.11%)

• Paperback – 4 (44.45%)
• Hardback – 2 (22.22%)
• eBook – 2 (22.22%)
• Audiobook – 1 (11.11%)

• Total Pages Read – 2,087
• Average Pages Per Book – 260.88
• Hours Listened – 8.5

• Average Star Rating – 3.78

‘Dumbledore: The Life and Lies of Hogwarts’s Renowned Headmaster’ by Irvin Khaytman

Genre: Adult Non-Fiction – Literature

Published: 2021

Format: Hardback

Rating: ★★★★

I picked this up in Forbidden Planet on a trip to London last year. Dumbledore has always fascinated me as a character in the Harry Potter series, and I was looking forward to this deep dive into his motivations and what he knew at different points. The book didn’t disappoint. Khaytman has obviously read and re-read the books incredibly closely and has read more widely of fan theories through the likes of MuggleNet and The HP Lexicon.

Although I don’t agree with all of his conclusions, and I’m sure not everyone will, it opens up many further paths for exploration and thought. I doubt we’ll ever know all of the answers, as Jo Rowling seems determined to keep some to herself and allow the fans to explore without knowing exactly what she intended. Many of Khaytman’s theories are backed up by information in the books or comments made by Jo Rowling in interviews over the years.

However, it is well-written and engaging, though the American spelling and use of the title ‘Sorcerer’s Stone’ rather than ‘Philosopher’s Stone’ rankled while reading, but maybe that’s just me. The book is arranged in chronological order, from Philosopher’s Stone through to Deathly Hallows, giving insight into what Dumbledore knew when and why he might have acted as he did. There have been questions raised over the years of Dumbledore being negligent allowing an 11-year-old boy and his friends to go after Voldemort and even helping them to do so, and then setting them up aged 16 to risk their lives on the run to destroy him.

Dumbledore seems to represent good in the books as opposed to Voldemort’s bad, to put it simplistically, but it’s never that black and white and Dumbledore made some questionable decisions. His background came out through the course of the Deathly Hallows, and Khaytman discusses this as well as his decisions and search for the Horcruxes to destroy Voldemort.

For any fans of the Harry Potter series, this is a must-read! I will be searching out some of the fan essays Khaytman references to find out more.

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

Genre: Young Adult Fiction – Fantasy

Published: 2003

Format: Hardback

Rating: ★★★★★

Rowling’s writing has really developed in this book, and new characters like Bellatrix Lestrange and Luna Lovegood are introduced, making for new discoveries. We see a darker side of the characters, and just what they are capable of. In this one we really see how the main three are growing up. Harry Potter as a series is essentially a book about growing up through some of the most difficult years a child will go through, but with the added pressure of Harry being the one that will save the wizarding world, which is a lot of pressure to put a boy under.

‘Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix’ is one of my favourite Harry Potter books, along with ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows’. I just find the later books to be more engaging than the earlier ones, and darker, which makes them more exciting. I also love that we get to see a bit more of Dumbledore and what he is actually capable of, which really comes to a head in the next book. Dumbledore has always been one of my favourite characters because he seems so mysterious but so clever and strange. He’s like a Pandora’s box in that you don’t know what will come out when you open him up.

There is more mystery in this book, as Harry begins to discover his fate, which will lead to the ultimate showdown. This book marks the beginning of the end, and also marks the point where some mysteries begin to be solved while other, bigger, mysteries reveal themselves.

I’ve read this series so many times now and it never becomes old. If you’ve seen the movies but not read the books then you’re missing out on so much of the background and emotional nuances in the relationships that isn’t portrayed on screen. Despite all of the controversy surrounding J.K. Rowling at the moment, no one can deny that she has a thoroughly engaging writing style, and her wizarding world has captivated children and adults alike.

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

Genre: Adult Fiction – Fantasy

Published: 1999

Format: Hardback

Rating: ★★★★

In spite of recent controversy surrounding J.K. Rowling and some people boycotting her books, and the upcoming ‘Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore’ film, I don’t think anyone can deny that she created an amazing world with powerful characters and a commentary on good and evil, demonstrating that people aren’t entirely good or entirely bad, but that they have the capability to do or be either. ‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban’ is where the series starts to take a decidedly darker turn.

In this book we see for the first time the problems in the wider wizarding world, not just at Hogwarts. And we meet some of the darker creatures and elements that will make up the later books. This is the first, and only, book in the Harry Potter series where Voldemort doesn’t play a key part. Yes, he’s there in the background and in memories, but he isn’t the main ‘enemy’. For most of the book, we understand it to be Sirius Black, but he’s actually a very important friend to Harry in the later books. This introduction of another father figure, like Dumbledore, sets Harry up for two of the most devastating losses he will face.

Rowling’s writing develops nicely through this book and the following one, leading into the more grown-up elements of the later books. As the characters grow up the writing seems to mature as well, which is quite a nice touch, even if it’s not intentional. It’s a wonderful and addictive book, a fantastic addition to the series, setting up the darker elements without it being a complete change from the lighter previous books.

If you haven’t read Harry Potter, do it now. Read it to your children or with your children and take them into a new world.

‘Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince’ by J.K. Rowling

Genre: Adult Fiction – Fantasy

Published: 2005

Format: Hardback

Rating: ★★★★★

What makes ‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince’ so engaging is that, after five books, we finally begin to find out about Lord Voldemort’s past, how he’s still alive, and how to defeat him. This one, along with Deathly Hallows, are the most grown-up of the books, as there are a lot more entanglements created, and loyalties questioned.

The penultimate book in the Harry Potter series is amazing. We begin to feel emotions that Harry does – shock, fear, sadness – and we begin to truly believe that Harry can defeat Voldemort, rather than by fluke. Severus Snape forms a key part of this book, though we don’t know how much until the end, and we don’t find out his true loyalty until the end of ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows’.

There are also some profoundly philosophical moments and quotes in this one as the series nears its conclusion. One of the most profound is “it is the unknown we fear when we look upon death and darkness, nothing more”. It is the unknown that I find scary so it is a sentiment I can wholly sympathise with. Rowling’s writing and the depth of her writing has improved massively since the first book in the series and there are several tiny little moments in the later books that hark back to earlier books and hint at what is to comes, but that you don’t notice until you reread and pick up things you missed the first time.

Harry as a character I do find annoying at times, but the likes of Ron, Hermione and, especially in this book, Dumbledore, act as a balm to that annoyance. The trio’s friendship finds more depth in this book as they really seem to be torn apart but come together stronger than before.

Monthly Reading Summary – March 2021

March has been quite a good month for reading with some longer books. Our book club read for this month was ‘The Midnight Library’ by Matt Haig. I’m trying not to buy so many books until I am more up to date on my TBR list.

Books Read This Month:

• M.C. Beaton – Agatha Raisin: Hot to Trot ★★★
  • Hardback, 2020, Constable & Robinson
  • Adult Fiction, Cosy Crime

• J.K. Rowling – Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix ★★★★★
  • Hardback, 2003, Bloomsbury Publishing
  • Young Adult Fiction, Fantasy

• W.C. Sellar & R.J. Yeatman – 1066 and All That ★★★
  • Paperback, 1930, Methuen
  • Adult Non-Fiction, History

• J.K. Rowling – Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince ★★★★★
  • Hardback, 2005, Bloomsbury Publishing
  • Young Adult Fiction, Fantasy

• Matt Haig – The Midnight Library ★★★★★
  • Paperback, 2020, Canongate Books
  • Adult Fiction, Drama

• Terry Deary – Incredible Incas ★★★
  • Paperback, 2000, Scholastic
  • Children’s Non-Fiction, History

• Julia Chapman – Date with Danger ★★★★
  • Audiobook, 2020, Pan Macmillan
  • Adult Fiction, Cosy Crime

• Helen Cox – Murder on the Moorland ★★★★
  • Paperback, 2020, Quercus Editions
  • Adult Fiction, Crime / Mystery

Books Bought This Month:

• None

Statistics:

• Books Read – 8
• Currently Reading – 5
• TBR – 121

• Fiction – 6 (75%)
• Non-Fiction – 2 (25%)

• Male Author – 2 (25%)
• Female Author – 5 (62.5%)
• Multiple Authors – 1 (12.5%)

• Paperback – 4 (50%)
• Hardback – 3 (37.5%)
• eBook – 0 (0%)
• Audiobook – 1 (12.5%)

• Total Pages Read – 2468
• Average Pages Per Book – 353
• Hours Listened – 11.33

• Average Star Rating – 4

Monthly Reading Summary – January 2021

I’ve had a good reading month and have read 10 books, split 50/50 between fiction and non-fiction, which is unusual. The book club book was ‘The House in the Cerulean Sea’ by T.J. Klune. I keep reading but my TBR list never seems to go down! We’ll see what February brings.

Books Read This Month:

• Ben Tippet – Split: Class Divides Uncovered ★★★★
  • Paperback, 2020, Pluto Press
  • Adult Non-Fiction, Sociology

• Heather Morris – Cilka’s Journey ★★★★★
  • Audiobook, 2019, Zaffre
  • Adult Fiction, Historical

• Julia Quinn – The Duke and I ★★★★
  • Paperback, 2000, Piatkus Books
  • Adult Fiction, Historical Romance

• Shaun Bythell – Seven Kinds of People You Find in Bookshops ★★★★
  • Hardback, 2020, Profile Books
  • Adult Non-Fiction, Literature

• Terry Deary – Stormin’ Normans ★★★★
  • Paperback, 2001, Scholastic
  • Children’s Non-Fiction, History

• Julia Quinn – The Viscount Who Loved Me ★★★★
  • Paperback, 2000, Piatkus Books
  • Adult Fiction, Historical Romance

• Kirsten Claiden-Yardley – The Man Behind the Tudors: Thomas Howard, 2^nd Duke of Norfolk
  • Hardback, 2020, Pen and Sword Books
  • Adult Non-Fiction, Historical Biography

• Terry Deary – Vicious Vikings ★★★★
  • Paperback, 1994, Scholastic
  • Children’s Non-Fiction, History

• T.J. Klune – The House in the Cerulean Sea ★★★★★
  • eBook, 2020, Tor Books
  • Young Adult Fiction, Fantasy

• J.K. Rowling – Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire ★★★★
  • Hardback, 2000, Bloomsbury Publishing
  • Young Adult Fiction, Fantasy

Books Bought This Month:

• T.J. Klune – The House in the Cerulean Sea
• Tom Vanderbilt – Beginners: The Curious Power of Lifelong Learning
• Tim Darcy Ellis – The Secret Diaries of Juan Luis Vives

Statistics

• Books Read – 10
• Currently Reading – 3
• TBR – 126

• Fiction – 5 (50%)
• Non-Fiction – 5 (50%)

• Male Author – 5 (50%)
• Female Author – 5 (50%)
• Multiple Authors – 0 (0%)

• Paperback – 5 (50%)
• Hardback – 3 (30%)
• eBook – 1 (10%)
• Audiobook – 1 (10%)

• Total Pages Read – 2462 + 11 hours listening time
• Average Pages Per Book – 273.6

• Average Star Rating – 4.1