A Mixed Bag: My Thoughts on Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Hello everyone!

I'm still reeling from the Harry Potter craze that swept me up about twenty years ago. I'm not alone - many of my generation were just as obsessed. We'd devour the books, eagerly await new releases, and watch the movie adaptations. Fast-forward to today, and we're all grown up, but still huge fans of the series. We occasionally catch up on podcasts and short videos featuring new discoveries from the Harry Potter universe.

I think this play and book, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, was created specifically for people like us - those who are now in their thirties and beyond.

Now, let's dive into the book:

I've got almost all the Harry Potter books, and they're all published by the iconic Bloomsbury. When the Cursed Child came out, I was intrigued. It's not the final book, but rather a companion piece that explores one of the possible storylines for the main characters.

The book's cover is a real showstopper. It's got a glossy finish, and the artwork on it is just stunning. The colors seem to shift and shine in the light. It's a bit darker than I'd expect from a Harry Potter book, but that's actually a good reflection of the story inside. The paper's a nice white, mellow finish, but it's a bit thin and prone to showing through. Still, it doesn't detract from the reading experience. The text is a comfortable size - not too big, not too small. There aren't any illustrations, but that's actually a good thing - our brains are better at visualizing the scenes than any artist could be. There are a few inserts in the same style as the cover art, though. I really liked the insert at the end, which gives you a detailed rundown of the main characters' family trees and the key plot points of the whole Potter universe. The book's in play format, which can be a bit of a pain, but if you're a die-hard Harry Potter fan who's already read the rest of the series, you'll probably find yourself devouring this one in the same format. And let's be real - who didn't have to read plays in school? It's a useful skill to have. The writing style is completely different from the main Potter series. If you got completely lost in the world of Hogwarts and forgot about time while reading, you might find it harder to get immersed in this one. The text just doesn't have the same depth and richness as the main series.

Plot of the book:

It's been nineteen years since the epic finale, and this time around, it's not the same trio we're following. Instead, it's their kids who take center stage. I have to say, I was a bit surprised by the friendship between Harry's son and Malfoy's son. It's not exactly what I expected, but I think it's a great way to show that people can put aside their differences and start anew. After all, we saw in the last book that Malfoy's son wasn't as bad as everyone thought, and people can change for the better.

Throughout the book, they travel through time, trying to alter the past - sometimes out of spite, and other times for more meaningful reasons.

It's interesting to see how the original characters have changed and what they're up to now. I'm not sure if I'll spoil anything by mentioning their professions, but I'll share my own fantasies about what they might be doing. Personally, I think Harry and Ginny would be happy living a nomadic lifestyle with a cozy home in the wilderness that they'd return to periodically. They'd spend most of their time in that magical tent, tracking down bad guys. As for the other characters, I'm pretty much on the same page. To avoid spoilers, I'll just say that I liked the overall storyline and ending, but I wish it could have been more of a starting point rather than a final conclusion. Some elements of the plot resonated with me, while others seemed a bit off. The thing is, J.K. Rowling's world is incredibly detailed and immersive, and this book just doesn't quite live up to that standard. It feels like a different author wrote it, and it doesn't quite fit with the rest of the Potter universe.

My thoughts:

It's possible, but I'm not ready to accept this as the official continuation - it feels like it's not quite part of the same world and was written by a different author.

I'd give it four stars. It's not a total disaster, but it's not exactly a masterpiece either.