Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Authors and publishers are not able to post replies in the review topics.
- Purple Empress
- Posts: 20
- Joined: 17 Dec 2015, 08:42
- Bookshelf Size: 51
- Reading Device: B00I15SB16
Re: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
And it was worth it.
I agree with it feeling a little bit like fanfiction, simply because of the script format. I was a little bit disappointed that certain characters were not in it, but I feel like there was a reason for that. Read it and find out.
I've heard some people say that they could have lived without ever reading it, because it sort of disrupted their view of the characters, I don't know...
For me, I liked the story, I liked the characters and I would give quite a number of things to see the performance of it.
Different strokes for different folks, I guess.
-
- Posts: 346
- Joined: 11 Aug 2016, 20:55
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 1344
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-psychopathycathy.html
- Latest Review: Notes of Sorrow Songs Of Joy by Robert Lauri
Speaking realistically, I'm afraid that I have to say that it could never own up to the original series, and it does feel more like a fanfiction than canon. I also feel like I didn't connect to the characters as much, but I am cutting the book a little slack because it's a script, not an actual novel, and therefore we lack the descriptions and narrations that usually add so much character and depth. I do want to watch the actual play one day, and hopefully I'll have a more positive opinion for that.
- melclarkk27
- Posts: 5
- Joined: 26 Aug 2016, 20:05
- Bookshelf Size: 0
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-melclarkk27.html
- Dr AlienTech
- Posts: 1
- Joined: 05 Sep 2016, 17:22
- Bookshelf Size: 0
It was also good at hinting unexpected things without you noticing, like when you'd find out about Delphini being on Voldemort's side. I think that it did it's job best, it's job being to entertain you, and leave you a bigger Harry Potter fan. It is a great read, and JK Rowling, John Tiffany, and other people who worked on it did a fantastic job.
- YAbooklover
- Posts: 2
- Joined: 09 Sep 2016, 19:02
- Bookshelf Size: 0
- MerryLove
- Posts: 96
- Joined: 10 Sep 2016, 17:23
- Currently Reading: A Court of Wings and Ruin
- Bookshelf Size: 117
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-merrylove.html
- Latest Review: "Coppers Journey" by Julius Green
- Reading Device: B00JG8GOWU
Whether you enjoy this book all depends on your expectations going into it. If you try to think of this as an 8th book to the Harry Potter series, you will be sorely disappointed. It is not at all like the books. I did, however, still enjoy it as a Harry Potter fan.
Harry's son Albus and Draco's son Scorpius both start Hogwarts the same year, and become fast friends. This play is really about them, with plenty of fan service to old characters thrown in. You will hear plenty from Harry and Ginny, Ron and Hermione, and Draco too.
Important to note is that this "book" is really a play script, intended to be performed as a play. You are not going to find rich description like you would in a book, or scenes that would be impossible or very difficult to enact on stage in front of an audience.
Is this a greatly written story? No, but it is fun to relive some new experiences with some old characters. This story is also written as more of an older children's book. It has more of a feel similar to the 1st and 2nd Harry Potter books than, say, the 5th and 6th ones. While the original books grew in maturity with their audience, this is more of a "go back to your roots" story than a continuation into new adult or adult fiction.
Because this is a play, the character development is very different. Characters were not very well developed, and I only found myself caring about characters because I knew so much about them from the previous series. This really felt like a fan service story rather than a fully developed one. I don't think that someone unfamiliar with Harry Potter would enjoy reading or seeing this play. I don't think they could get invested in the characters.
While in many places the script tries to make you feel a sense of dread or worry, it fails horribly at it. Other times it tries to feed off of corny humor, and that works some of the time. The ending was satisfying enough. It didn't leave feeling unfinished, but there wasn't a lot of suspense or unrest on the way there.
Rating
I give this book a 2.5 out of 5. If you're a Harry Potter fan and would like to read a little fan service, it's worth the one time read. I look forward to seeing the play someday too. If you're not, I'd steer clear. You likely won't enjoy it.
- smhawkins
- Posts: 53
- Joined: 11 Sep 2016, 08:27
- Currently Reading: The Art of Racing in the Rain
- Bookshelf Size: 82
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-smhawkins.html
- Latest Review: "Achieve Your Dreams" by Scott Hughes and A. Lynn Powers and Adam Buongiovanni
Off the bat - we know it's written in a script format. Yes, this means it reads differently. It also means it was written differently. Intended audience is huge. As a reader, we also know it's NOT the eighth Harry Potter book. It's not a part of the series. That was made clear from the beginning. To top it all of quite nicely, we also know that two authors accompany J.K. Rowling in writing this book.
If you begin reading the Cursed Child expecting anything else, of course you're going to be disappointed, but I don't think this is supposed to be held to the same standard as the 7-book series.
I really enjoyed it. Admittedly, there were portions that did seem to read as fan-fiction, or seem a little far-fetched. However, there were parts of the Harry Potter series I thought to be a little ridiculous when I read them as a kid. I loved the dream scenes or scenes that would take us back to moments from the series and it was easy to tell when Rowling's pen hit the paper, as opposed to the other two authors.
There were also certain moments I wondered if they were really "in character" for the characters in the book. However, I don't think Rowling would have let this go public if she felt that way. After all, this is her creation. Her world.
Overall, I'd say it's worth the read if you take it for what it is.
- sophieee
- Posts: 4
- Joined: 12 Sep 2016, 05:04
- Bookshelf Size: 0
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-sophieee.html
- Constant Reader
- Posts: 9
- Joined: 13 Sep 2016, 18:24
- Bookshelf Size: 29
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-constant-reader.html
- Reading Device: 1400699169
I thought the storyline was wonderful, and really stretched my imagination. I had several friends that were skeptical of the book, but when I finished it, I called them and insisted they pick up a copy! My only real complaint is that I wish it was a longer story! I miss my friends Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Ginny.
- Lauren M
- Posts: 148
- Joined: 13 Sep 2016, 17:49
- Bookshelf Size: 49
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-lauren-m.html
- Latest Review: "Everything I Need to Know About Love I Learned From Pop Songs" by Laura Roberts
I was good, I really enjoyed the story and the twists. It was nice to catch up with 'old friends' and see how they had grown in the years since Deathly Hallows.
That being said, It was great, mindblowing or amazing. I didn't mind the screenplay set up much. I just wish there was more. I wanted to go deeper into the Cursed Child world, where as I felt I only skimmed the surface of it.
I wouldn't mind seeing the play if it ever comes to the US.
-
- Posts: 221
- Joined: 09 Sep 2016, 21:51
- Bookshelf Size: 18
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-genaaa.html
- Latest Review: "A Messiahs Battle For The Human Realm" by Roberto Torres Rivera
- kjm2009
- Posts: 3
- Joined: 25 Sep 2016, 22:03
- Bookshelf Size: 0
- Rachel1019
- Posts: 108
- Joined: 18 Aug 2016, 11:01
- Currently Reading: A Dance with Dragons
- Bookshelf Size: 46
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-rachel1019.html
- Latest Review: "The Understanding" by Dennis Pennefather
- authorireneholmes
- Posts: 1
- Joined: 30 Sep 2016, 21:35
- Favorite Book: <a href="http://forums.onlinebookclub.org/shelve ... 155">Harry Potter and the curse child</a>
- Bookshelf Size: 5
- alyssamorgan-8
- Posts: 10
- Joined: 30 Sep 2016, 21:35
- Bookshelf Size: 11
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-alyssamorgan-8.html