Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts 1 and 2 Playscript (Harry Potter #8) by Jack Thorne, John Tiffany and J. K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts 1 and 2 Playscript
Harry Potter #8
Jack Thorne, John Tiffany and J. K. Rowling

Front cover

Date read: 14 - 21 November 2017
Length: 319 pages (342 including introduction and appendices)


Nineteen years later, Harry Potter is grown up with a wife and three children. His middle child, Albus, is starting Hogwarts, and much like his father, gets himself into some bother. Along with Scorpius Malfoy, he steals a time-turner to go back and save Cedric Diggory from his fate at the Triwizard Tournament. But in doing so, they change the world completely, and not for the better. How can they make things right again?


Before I started reading, I had no idea it wasn't actually written by J. K. Rowling. On the cover it says "Based on an original story by J. K. Rowling" but it's a play by Jack Thorne. I would have liked the return of Harry Potter to be by J. K. herself, but I'm guessing she had some involvement.

Saying that, I did enjoy the story. It was a bit slow to start, but it does pick up and has a pretty good twist! Apart from studying Shakespeare in school, I don't recall reading a play before. It was easy to read and just felt like I was reading a novel.

Although the main protagonist is Albus, I actually didn't like him all that much, and preferred Scorpius. There was too much emotional baggage with Albus, and I felt Scorpius was more fun, though not without issues of his own. I wasn't really a big fan of adult Harry either. It seemed to me that he was a bit all over the place.

I couldn't decide between 3* or 4*. On the one hand I did enjoy the story, but on the other it just wasn't the same. If I could, I would have given it 3.5*.

J. K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany

Overall rating

Thanks,
The Wee Librocubicularist

Flawed (Flawed #1) by Cecelia Ahern

Flawed
Flawed #1
Cecelia Ahern

Front cover

Date read: 4 - 13 November 2017
Length: 402 pages

Celestine North lives a perfect life in her perfect world. Until one day she helps a Flawed man, and is deemed Flawed herself, but not in the usual way. It seems she has started a movement against the Guild. But how can someone under so many rules have any power?


Flawed is very easy to read, and although there is a lot going on it's easy to follow. I like the idea behind the story, that there is a separate criminal justice system and a moral justice system. However the execution of something like that would require a lot of thought and consideration, and would have to be carried out very carefully.

The characters are believable, although the best character isn't Celestine. I like the journalist Pia, who has a bit of a twist herself! As a whole the characters are well thought out and play important roles.

It is a bit annoying when a story ends on a cliffhanger like what happens here! However I am still looking forward to reading the next one in a few books time!




Overall rating

Thanks,
The Wee Librocubicularist

The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

The Diary of a Young Girl
Anne Frank

Front cover

Date read: 24 October - 3 November 2017
Length: 424 pages

Anne Frank and her family are Jews living in Amsterdam during the Second World War. She goes into hiding with her family, the 'van Daans', and 'Mr. Dussel'. This diary, named Kitty, becomes her best friend, and we learn all about Anne's time in the 'Secret Annexe'.


Anne's diary was not what I expected at all. I thought they were all in one small room together, and that the diary would be very dark and depressing. In actual fact they have quite a reasonable space. The Franks share with Mr. Dussel, but the van Daans have a floor to themselves. The diary is mostly positive, with a lot of hopefulness. There are a few entries that aren't so positive, but that's understandable given the circumstances. I was very surprised.

A lot of Anne's diary focuses on the relationships between the various people in the Annexe. I was quite shocked by Anne's blatant hatred towards her mother. To me it seemed there wasn't really any reason for it, but I'm not really one to judge. I just feel kind of sorry for her mother.

Anne get's very close to Peter, the van Daans son who is a few years older than her. They spend many evenings together and have meaningful conversations. This confused me a little because before I read the book, I had heard that she was questioning her sexuality and was perhaps a lesbian. I think I have read the version that has some of these excerpts cut out.

Anne's style of writing is very inclusive, and the way she talks about the people and the events that are happening, it feels like you are really there. You feel like you are also getting to know the people she's living with, and in a way you are experiencing these events with her. It is exceptional writing from a 13-15 year old, and you can tell Anne was very intelligent. Even just knowing about all the subjects she is interested in and studying while in hiding would tell you that. I know I certainly wasn't interested in all that in my early teen years!


A surprising and enlightening account of a Jewish girl in hiding's life. Highly recommend reading.

Anne Frank 1929-45

Overall rating

Thanks,
The Wee Librocubicularist

The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J. K. Rowling

The Tales of Beedle the Bard
J. K. Rowling

Front cover

Date read: 21 - 23 October 2017
Length: 123 pages

Here we have a collection of five short fairy tales for children. The young witches and wizards in the world of Harry Potter grew up with these tales, rather than the likes of Cinderella, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, and Little Red Riding Hood etc. The tales have been passed down the generations and are much loved by all. After each take we have a piece by Albus Dumbledore telling us more about the stories. You need to read it!


I liked all the stories, and cant really decide which is my favourite. Gun to my head, I'd probably say The Fountain of Fair Fortune, but I like them all! Even The Warlock's Hairy Heart, which I will admit is my least favourite. There is a good morale in each story, and you can see why the wizarding families love them so much.

You can tell a lot of work went into this book, including the concept, the individual stories and raising money for the charity Lumos. There is so much content in this small book it actually amazes me. The brain of J. K. Rowling is incredible.


Reading the 3 Harry Potter companion novels was such a nice break from my regular novels, and I'm really looking forward to reading the screenplays now!

J. K. Rowling

Overall rating

Thanks,
The Wee Librocubicularist