[By J.K. Rowling]
We continue our reread with chapters 11-15 of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, wherein Harry encounters his first example of a patently evil book that he trusts implicitly over the advice of his loved ones and the adults entrusted with his protection. Harry’s not the best at learning from his mistakes, is what I’m getting at here.
[By J.K. Rowling]
Comment here on chapters 6-10 of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, wherein Harry starts hearing a disturbing voice threatening to murder people, but doesn’t see any reason that might be important to report to an authority figure.
[By J.K. Rowling]
The Great Harry Potter Reread continues with chapters 1-5 of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, in which Harry meets Dobby, goes to Ron’s house, and returns to Hogwarts in, er, triumph.
[By J.K. Rowling]
We’re back after a brief hiatus. Comment here on chapters 16 and17 of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s/Sorcerer’s Stone, in which Harry and company learn, for the first time, that Voldemort’s favorite time to attack is finals week.
[By J.K. Rowling]
Chapters 11-15 of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s/Sorcerer’s Stone, in which Harry plays quidditch, celebrates Christmas, does quite a bit of snooping, and serves detention with his rag-tag band. Somehow, detention was not scored with “Don’t You Forget About Me.”
By Cinda Williams Chima [LibraryThing – Goodreads]
After a perilous journey back to her homeland, Princess Raisa of the Fells must reclaim the throne that is hers by birthright. But her political opponents want her dead and her more malleable younger sister on the throne, and the Clans are ready to go to war to prevent that from happening. Raisa must figure out a way to live long enough to be crowned, quell civil war, and protect her queendom from the war that is raging just outside her borders.
Meanwhile, ex-thief-turned-wizard Hanson Allister has just learned that the girl he knew – and loved – as Rebecca is the princess he is sworn to protect…and the daughter of the queen he blames for the death of his family. It’s his job to keep her alive, but he’s no longer sure he even wants to.
[By J.K. Rowling]
Chapters 6-10 of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s/Sorcerer’s Stone, in which Harry heads off to Hogwarts, meets Ron(!) and Hermione(!), has an unpleasant encounter with Snape, flies for the first time, and fights a troll. Just like my first week of middle school!
[By J.K. Rowling]
Chapters 1-5 of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s/Sorcerer’s Stone, in which we meet Harry Potter and his unpleasant adoptive family, and Harry meets Hagrid, discovers the hidden truth about his parents, and goes on the greatest birthday shopping spree of all time.
There has been something in the air this month. Or, to be more precise, there has been something on every subway poster, in every commercial break, and all over the entire internet, and it’s this: HARRY POTTER HAS ENDED. The last movie came out, and whoops, we here at AV haven’t seen it yet, but with this feeling of finality all around, we found ourselves with a nostalgic urge to go back to the beginning. Thus, we bring you The Great Harry Potter Reread of 2011.
Our plan is this: every Monday, we’ll put up a post for a five-chapter chunk. We’ll add our thoughts in the comments as we have them over the course of the week — and of course, we hope you all will, too.
Please keep in mind that our comments policy is still in effect. And let’s face it, this is Harry Potter. Emotions run very high. (Seriously, I have been known to shank people who hate on Ron. Orrrr at least I’ve been known to want to shank people who hate on Ron.) Every character is someone’s favorite, up to and including the giant squid; so, while critical analysis is always welcome (and oh boy do we have plenty to say about a certain Potions Master), character hate is not. The same goes for shipping. Discussing why you ship what you do is totally cool! Hating on other pairings is not.
Please also keep in mind, this is a reread for us. People who are new to the series are also welcome! You know, if they exist on the internet. But we may reference later books as we read through, so spoilers will abound.
Okay? Okay! Join us Monday as we begin the first book in this beloved series, The Adventures of Neville Longbottom, Total Badass When Ron Met Hermione Evil Has No Nose Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s/Sorcerer’s Stone.
By Pseudonymous Bosch [LibraryThing – Goodreads]
Cassandra prides herself on being ready for anything, but she’s not ready for the Symphony of Smells – a strange chest full of vials that once belonged to a magician, and that appears one day at her grandfathers’ antique shop. With her new friend Max-Ernest, Cass investigates the magician’s disappearance – and finds herself battling an ancient society, the Midnight Sun, that is seeking the key to immortality. Soon Cass and Max-Ernest join the benevolent Terces Society along with their new friend Yo-Yoji, but the plots of the Midnight Sun grow ever more diabolical, and the mysteries surrounding our heroes grow ever more complex.