Saturday 19 May 2012

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Book #3 by J.K Rowling


  • Summary: Harry Potter, along with his best friends, Ron and Hermione, is about to start his third year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.  Harry can’t wait to get back to school after the summer holidays (who wouldn’t if they lived with the horrible Dursleys?).  But when Harry arrives at Hogwarts, the atmosphere is tense.  There’s an escaped mass murderer on the loose, and the sinister prison guards of Azkaban have been called in to guard the school… 
  • Rating:         
  • Pages: 317
  • Publication Date: 8 July 1999
If you haven't seen my review for Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone, Click here. If you haven't read my review for Harry Potter and The Prisoner Of Azkaban, Click here

  • My Review: This book is a phenomenal. To be honest with you, I don't quite remember my first thoughts on this, as I FIRST read it three or four years ago. All I remember is, that I immediately fell in love Hagrid's Hippogriff, Buckbeak (As seen on the cover). It's gentleness with Harry, and the fact that it "broke" Malfoy's arm ;) . You learn so much more in this book! What happened with the "rat" named "Scabbers" (you have to read it to find out why they are in quotations) was a shock that I never expected! New characters are introduced, such as Professor Lupin, the Defense Against The Dark Arts teacher. I loved the Boggart idea that J.K Rowling came up with, who would have thought, a creature, that you do not know it's true form, because when it comes out of a dark place, such as a wardrobe or desk drawer, it turns into the thing you fear the most. I didn't like that Harry was so restricted from doing anything because the escaped "criminal" Sirius Black was on the loose after him. I enjoyed the idea of the dementors, it was very creative, and in the movie they really 'spookied' up the setting!  Hermione's character seemed to evolve, because she was much less up-tight and *spoiler alert* she punches Malfoy! I never would have guessed, Hermione Granger, punches someone!? Harry and Hermione become closer when they use the time-turner together when Ron is not able to come. Hmm... Do you think Hermione and Harry could ever get together in the future? Well, if you really wanted to know, you have to read the rest of the series. When I read this book, I absolutely hated the Potions teacher, Professor Snape. As I continued through the series, my hatred for him definitely decreased, and I respected him.. J.K Rowling seems to be really good at MIXING MY EMOTIONS.
My favourite part would be when Harry sneaks into Honeydukes, the sweet shop in Hogsmeade. His excitement and amazement at all the different, and strange,  sweets rubbed off on me. I was excited to read about the variety of candies such as Every Flavour Beans, shimmering pink squares of coconut ice, levitating sherbet balls, fragile sugar-spun quills, and Cockroach Clusters.

To me, the Harry Potter series IS my childhood. For me, it is probably just how anybody would describe their childhood, classic, timeless fairytale.

Overall, this book was so wacky and entertaining that if you read the first and second, you HAVE to read this one!




This is the movie trailer for Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Yet again, I couldn't find a book trailer, grrrrrr....

- The Elite Book Queen x



Friday 18 May 2012

Harry Potter and The Chamber Of Secrets Book #2 by J.K Rowling


  • Summary:  Harry Potter is a wizard.  He is in his second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The three friends, Harry, Ron and Hermione, are soon immersed in the daily round of Potions, Herbology, Charms, Defence Against the Dark Arts and Quidditch.  Then mysterious and scary things start happening.  First Harry hears strange voices, and then Ron’s sister, Ginny, disappears…
  • Rating:      
  • Pages: 251
  • Publication Date: 2 July 1998
If you haven't seen my review for the Philosopher's Stone you have to read it. Click here to view it.
  • My Review: Usually sequels are not as good as the first, but could I be more wrong! This book was even better than the Philosopher's Stone! More action, suspense, mischief ( Yes, Harry and Ron are both pretty badass to be honest, but that's why Hermione is there, to keep them in line)! I couldn't wait to re-enter Hogwarts and attend Potions, Charms, Divination, Transfiguration, even the boring History of Magic! As Harry drives a flying car ( Holy crap! A flying car!), all the students mysteriously turn to stone, and Harry meets again with a younger Voldemort, things take a twist for the better. I can't get over how astonishing this book was! As I was reading this in my living room, I had to move to the upstairs where it was quiet so I could think properly, all these magical thoughts running through my head. At first, it's hard to wrap your head around but, once you get the concept (this goes for every one of her books) you are amazed by its complexity and true imagination put into this. J.K Rowling is the most intelligent person I know of, and I have no idea how she came up with all these hidden secrets within the books that reveal themselves later in the series or the creative pattern of all her stories!
I would have to say my favourite part was just before Harry defeats the Basilisk. When he finds out what has been creating all these attacks and the murmurs in the walls (which if I thought I heard voices, I would think I was mental!), when realization dawns on you and everything falls into place. 


Overall, I enjoyed this book so much! Be sure to check out my review on Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban!



I couldn't find any book trailer!! Not one bloody book trailer. Not even a crappy one (which I wouldn't post anyways).. So anyways, here is the movie trailer for you! 
- The Elite Book Queen x

Thursday 17 May 2012

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (Sorcerer's Stone) Book #1 by J.K Rowling



  • Summary: Harry Potter thinks he is an ordinary boy.  He lives with Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia and cousin Dudley, who make him sleep in a cupboard under the stairs.  Then Harry starts receiving mysterious letters and his life is changed for ever. He is whisked away by a beetle-eyed giant of a man and enrolled in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.  The reason: Harry Potter is a wizard! 
  • Rating:       
  • Pages: 223
  • Publication Date: 26 June 1997
  • My Review:  Hmmm... Where should I start? This could take hours! This book is so enjoyable, personally I think it could be for all ages. This is the first of seven books of the Harry Potter Series by J.K Rowling. As Harry adventures through the wizarding world, classes, creatures, mischief, you name it, you feel like you are right there with him! It becomes so intense at certain parts that you can't put it down. All the spells, names, everything are so unique that it's very hard not to be interested. Quidditch is a totally different concept I could ever imagine reading about. A Quaffle, Snitch, Bludger, flying broomsticks. It all seems like the average witch/wizard thing to do but it's so much more than that! Who wouldn't want to board the Hogwarts Express after reading it! I have personally read this book 8 times and I still can't get enough! When I was reading this, I finished it in a couple hours, and I tell myself to read it slowly so I can let everything sink in. 


My favourite part would have to be near the beginning when Harry first finds out he is a wizard. Hagrid bursts through the little cottage door, a giant towering over the whole Dursley family, on Harry's 11th birthday. To be honest, I would have been scared shitless if I was Dudley ( For Dudley had sprung a pig's tail when Hagrid hit him with a spell)! I could feel the emotion that Harry is feeling. Relieved, ecstatic, excited. He finally got to leave the Dursleys.

Overall, It's an amazing read and I feel that anyone and everyone should give it whirl.






 

This is the best book trailer I could find.. I did not want to use the movie trailer because they change things up a bit... It's perfect because it doesn't give away any spoilers, so you HAVE to read the book to find out what else happens in the book! 




Here is the movie trailer! Many of you may have watched the movie, but I always
 like re-watching the trailers anyways (:
- The Elite Book Queen x