For the longest time, I resisted reading the Harry Potter books. One of the reasons was that when they first came out, I was too old to read a children’s book, and later, when the books started maturing, I simply wanted to be different and not become a part of the mania. I’m often a causeless rebel like that. But this past December, when I finished my doctoral degree, I was so exhausted, that I wished to read something easy, entertaining, and non-academic. Since so many people seem to own the Harry Potter books, I didn’t even have to spend money on buying the books. Having stayed away from the movies and from Harry Potter discussions in general, I was also safe from spoilers… so reading the books was really like entering into a new, unexplored world. I started the first book sometime in late January, and I finished in late April. This should explain the long absence from this blog.
At least a short review of each book is due:
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone: A good enough start to the series. Reads more like a children’s book; but manages to endear you to the three protagonist characters – Harry, Hermione, and Ron.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets: Don’t remember much about the book, except that we learn an important thing about Harry in this book. Also important for the introduction of the character of Dobby.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: Arguably, my favorite book of the series, simply because of the character of Sirius Black. That, for me, he went from interesting to annoying as the books progressed, is a sad and unavoidable truth.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: Wonder why it was not called Harry Potter and the Triwizard Tournament, which is a better fit of a title; but a turning point of a book in the series. Since it is so many people’s favorite, I didn’t think it was all that. (Causeless rebel, remember?) The series definitely “grows up” with this book.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix: Easy enough to finish, especially after the previous tome. But, nothing else to report here, oh except, Umbridge is so darn annoying. Moving on…
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: Secretly tells you a lot about an important, yet ignored character. Gets rather dark towards to end, and things start to get serious.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: One complex scene after another. Rowling becomes that good cook that serves you food until you wish to throw it up. A good enough end to the series, but seems needlessly convoluted and unending. I did get teary-eyed at the epilogue.
Overall, I was impressed with Rowling’s story-telling abilities. Her greatest strength, by far, besides her ability to weave the books together, is her creation of three very wonderful central characters, and a list of great supporting characters: Neville, Luna, Snape, and of course, Dumbledore. I might not like her desire to do one too many things in one book, or her sub-plots, but the three friends at the heart of this book will always stay with me. If you, like me, haven’t read the books for some reason, I’d wonder why not. Because really there’s no good reason to not read these books.
This must rank as the shortest reviews ever of the Harry Potter series
That really makes me proud of myself
I agree P
Three months? Pretty toes is a very very slow reader!
For the longest time, I stayed away from the series. I attribute the reason, like you partially did, to my stubborn refusal to follow the crowd. Still. Once I started reading the first book, the rest of the series flashed past, as series are wont to do.
The first three books clicked along quickly and easily. But the rest of them took a wrong turn and headed, with gathering speed, straight for hell. While Ron’s character got fleshed out and Hermione, for her part, slipped into the murky background, Harry turned from a perfectly human person into an obnoxious, self-centered asshole.
Life was still bearable when the series brought Harry Potter to the Order of the Phoenix, but it was a steep downhill tumble starting at Azkaban. The last two books in the series were flat out irritating. The plot was still well imagined, but I got the impression that Rowling was in a massive hurry to go someplace and was pressuring herself into grinding the Half-Blood Prince and the Deathly Hallows into her bank account.
After having swum against the tide and stayed away from the series, and making a huge effort to turn around and read them, the pleasant surprise of finding that it was not half as bad, if not miles and miles better that I would have liked, still amuses me. But as the series progressed past the third book, I began to realize just why an author letting hype get to their head is never good for a series. At least not while it’s still being written.
A series you might find truly enjoyable, is the Temeraire series: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temeraire_(series) Once you’re through with that (they’re still being written by the way..) I highly recommend The Black Company series: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Black_Company The Black Company caught me unawares and turned me into a fan. It’s so distinctly different from the usual run of the mill stuff we get these days, I’ve bonded to the series like a weld between two train tracks. It is engaging, it is at times even awkward.. The style it’s written in is unexpected and refreshing at the same time. here’s a link to a note I jotted down after reading the first book of the series: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/223743601
There are a number of series I would recommend you, but let’s see if you find these interesting first.
Although I didn’t feel as annoyed at the later books, they were definitely examples of Rowling becoming a try-hard. There were parts of the books that needed to be edited out, but really, I’m not a fan of longer books, so…
And yes, I am a slow reader. I’m not perfect
I’m currently reading The Hobbit (Tolkien is so difficult!), and realizing that I might want to stay away from fantasy fiction for a while. However, The Black Company looks very interesting!
I’m not a fan of long books myself. But have nevertheless come across a few long ones that have filled my life and mind with joys uncountable.
Rowling left some holes in her Potter party. There are a number of story arcs that never ended anywhere. If there’s one thing that really pisses me off about a book, it’s the lack of closure on all story arcs. I have a decently good reading speed, so by the time I’m done with the last book, the first is still fresh in my mind and I don’t easily forget arcs that have been left open too long. The final chapter of the Deathly Hallows capped the main arc, but also simultaneously put a full stop to the series and therefore, decided that the rest of the open arcs would remain unfinished.
The Hobbit is a nice book. I read it when I was six and was awed by the imagery. I think it was the book that geared me into the life of an avid reader. LoTR is miles better than the Hobbit, and chronology wise is the next in the progression of the timeline.
I think The Hobbit is more of a childrens tale, while LoTR is for the older reader. I read LoTR when I was about 24.
Black Company is immensely wow! But don’t cast fantasy aside.. Try The Sword of Truth series too. If there’s one fantasy series you ought to read, this is it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sword_of_Truth
All I can say is-you are causelessly rebelling at the review too :p.
I’m not sure what you mean, how can I rebel at the review?
It seems very different from your other Reviews.Almost as if you wanted it to be done and over with
SEVEN books?! I couldn’t possibly review them all into great detail. So yes, perhaps, I wanted it to be done with. Also because everyone and their uncle has already read the books