Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Review WITH SPOILERS

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by John Tiffany, J.K. Rowling, and Jack Thorne

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

 WITH SPOILERS

 

Reading Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is not like returning back to Hogwarts; however, you do get to return to this beautifully crafted world that JK Rowling had created so many years ago with Sorcerer's Stone, and that is something that can truly be cherished so long as you are open to the story and the ability to accept things that you may not like. There are so many old characters and friends we get to revisit; new characters that we get to explore; and another twist that can send you into a mild tailspin. I would not say it is as great as the others, but it definitely worth the read. Be open to new ideas, keep in mind that this is a play and therefore, there is a time restriction on it. The actual review of this is 4.25 stars. Could they have done better? Possibly. Did they do a really amazing job as it is now? Yes. Do I still want more? Of course.

SPOILERS AHEAD

 One of the things that I really enjoyed about this book is that we get to see more of Slytherin. Right off the bat, Albus gets sorted into Slytherin and we immediately see the effects of that, along with his friendship with Scorpius. Not only was this incredibly interesting to me, but it also meant that we got to see a story through a Slytherin's eyes and more of their house characteristics by actually experiencing a story first hand with them. It was pretty cool.

Another thing that I thought was really interesting was that we got to see more of the time travel magic and how the time-turners worked. There are different kinds of them and are now "gone", or at least were supposed to be because they can be so dangerous. I did think it was super stupid of Albus and Scorpius to use it and go back in time to save Cedric, but at least they had good intentions, unlike some...

Delphini: B****. I wasn't totally blindsided by her- she made me cautious especially because she seemed to come out of no where and was really enthusiastic about the whole thing. I did not guess that she was Voldy's demon-spawn. Kind of expected now that I think about it, considering Bellatrix's infatuation with the creep. But that didn't really make sense to me how she could have been pregnant somewhere along the lines and nobody noticed it. Draco especially. I mean, now that the world isn't completely sideways, wouldn't he have said something to the Ministry if he had known that his aunt had been pregnant? At least to save his son's reputation and make it easier for him at school? I must say though, her hair sounded like it looked really cool.

Speaking of other things fans have been waiting to see... ScoRose!!!!! I love Dramione, and it still kinda sucks that they aren't a thing, but I was THRILLED when I found out that Scorp had a crush on Rose. Throughout the entire story, we see him pining after her and her just not having any of it. And then when the screw up the future the first time and she isn't there, he goes into full freak out mode. It is A D O R A B L E. I mean, it sucks that she isn't there, but his concern for her is the best. And then at the end of the book, he asks her out!! Go Scorpius! She said no, but it will happen... I can feel it. Dramione is like the Titanic, but there is hope for their children.

Scorpius was one of the most adorable characters in general though. He honestly was not at all what I was expecting, and it was a pleasant surprise. I think he'd be really good for Rose and he is such a good friend to Albus. He is the perfect example of how a Slytherin can be a good man and a good wizard. I love this child. He made my heart break. He made my heart smile. And he made my heart laugh. I think he's going to go down as one of my favorites.

There were some major plot holes in this story. 1. The polyjuice potion. Ummmmm..... doesn't that take like a month to brew? 2. The last scene with the time-turner. From what I had gathered, they had to go back to their original time after the five minutes. But, I guess they could just move back further.... 3. Harry's scar hurting. Maybe this is just something that could have been explained better, but I had absolutely no idea how that worked with the information that we have based on the other books.

Snape. I died when we got to see Snape again. And we get to know more of his story and how he originally worked for the Order in Lily's memory but then started to believe in that side's values. When he told Scorpius to tell Albus that he is proud that he carries his name, I started to tear up a bit. And then he died. Again. And I was a goner- so many tears... so many tears.
 
I could go on and on about this book for quite a while, but I'm gonna stop myself now because this post already seems so much more longer than usual. Bottom line, I can see where fans are upset. BUT, I am really just beyond grateful that we got to see more story and more of the world that we have all fallen in love with. And it was good. It was quick, there were flaws, but that happens sometimes when it needs to be cut short. Like book to movie adaptations. That being said, I would not object to another epilogue. I would actually really love to see more of Scorpius and Rose and I would also want to see Albus find somebody as well. Also, more of James and Lily, and TEDDY. Go ahead and let yourself fall in love with another Harry Potter book. Unlike the others, there are more faults with this love, but that doesn't mean that there isn't love.

Thanks for reading fellow muggles! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did

Review: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child NO SPOILERS

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by John Tiffany, J.K. Rowling, and Jack Thorne

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Reading Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is not like returning back to Hogwarts; however, you do get to return to this beautifully crafted world that JK Rowling had created so many years ago with Sorcerer's Stone, and that is something that can truly be cherished so long as you are open to the story and the ability to accept things that you may not like. There are so many old characters and friends we get to revisit; new characters that we get to explore; and another twist that can send you into a mild tailspin. I would not say it is as great as the others, but it definitely worth the read. Be open to new ideas, keep in mind that this is a play and therefore, there is a time restriction on it. The actual review of this is 4.25 stars. Could they have done better? Possibly. Did they do a really amazing job as it is now? Yes. Do I still want more? Of course.  

[
One of the things that I really enjoyed about this book is that we get to see more of Slytherin. Right off the bat, Albus gets sorted into Slytherin and we immediately see the effects of that, along with his friendship with Scorpius. Not only was this incredibly interesting to me, but it also meant that we got to see a story through a Slytherin's eyes and more of their house characteristics by actually experiencing a story first hand with them. It was pretty cool.
Another thing that I thought was really interesting was that we got to see more of the time travel magic and how the time-turners worked. There are different kinds of them and are now "gone", or at least were supposed to be because they can be so dangerous. I did think it was super stupid of Albus and Scorpius to use it and go back in time to save Cedric, but at least they had good intentions, unlike some...
Delphini: B****. I wasn't totalled blindsided by her- she made me cautious especially because she seemed to come out of no where and was really enthusiastic about the whole thing. I did not guess that she was Voldy's demon-spawn. Kind of expected now that I think about it, considering Bellatrix's infatuation with the creep. But that didn't really make sense to me how she could have been pregnant somewhere along the lines and nobody noticed it. Draco especially. I mean, now that the world isn't completely sideways, wouldn't he have said something to the Ministry if he had known that his aunt had been pregnant? At least to save his son's reputation and make it easier for him at school? I must say though, her hair sounded like it looked really cool.
Speaking of other things fans have been waiting to see... ScoRose!!!!! I love Dramione, and it still kinda sucks that they aren't a thing, but I was THRILLED when I found out that Scorp had a crush on Rose. Throughout the entire story, we see him pining after her and her just not having any of it. And then when the screw up the future the first time and she isn't there, he goes into full freak out mode. It is A D O R A B L E. I mean, it sucks that she isn't there, but his concern for her is the best. And then at the end of the book, he asks her out!! Go Scorpius! She said no, but it will happen... I can feel it. Dramione is like the Titanic, but there is hope for their children.
There were some major plot holes in this story. 1. The polyjuice potion. Ummmmm..... doesn't that take like a month to brew? 2. The last scene with the time-turner. From what I had gathered, they had to go back to their original time after the five minutes. But, I guess they could just move back further.... 3. Harry's scar hurting. Maybe this is just something that could have been explained better, but I had absolutely no idea how that worked with the information that we have based on the other books.
Snape. I died when we got to see Snape again. And we get to know more of his story and how he originally worked for the Order in Lily's memory but then started to believe in that side's values. When he told Scorpius to tell Albus that he is proud that he carries his name, I started to tear up a bit. And then he died. Again. And I was a goner- so many tears... so many tears.
(hide spoiler)]

I could go on and on about this book for quite a while, but I'm gonna stop myself now because this post already seems so much more longer than usual. Bottom line, I can see where fans are upset. BUT, I am really just beyond grateful that we got to see more story and more of the world that we have all fallen in love with. And it was good. It was quick, there were flaws, but that happens sometimes when it needs to be cut short. Like book to movie adaptations. That being said, I would not object to another epilogue. I would actually really love to see more of Scorpius and Rose and I would also want to see Albus find somebody as well. Also, more of James and Lily, and TEDDY. Go ahead and let yourself fall in love with another Harry Potter book. Unlike the others, there are more faults with this love, but that doesn't mean that there isn't love.

Thanks for reading fellow muggles! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

View all my reviews

Goodreads Updated

Goodreads Updated!!

So I was going onto Goodreads today- like I always do, cause it's an amazing website- and the homepage was totally different!!! The book pictures are bigger, it loaded a TON faster, and there are more recommendations, the feed is in the middle... it's great. And it still shows things like what you're currently reading and your Goodreads challenge. Holy potatoes, I am loving this update. As far as I can tell, only the homepage was updated, but I may also be missing things because I am human. Go check it out!! Here is a link to what Goodreads said about the update: https://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/670-new-goodreads-homepage-now-rolling-out-to-everyone

I'm going to go explore the site a bit more- have fun!
Thanks for reading!

Paul x Sarah (Saul?) from Orphan Black: A Ship in My Fleet

A Ship in My Fleet

Saul (Paul x Sarah)

From: Orphan Black
***Season 1 spoilers are very possible. Read at your own risk***

I don't actually have much evidence to support this ship. I just do.... 

I started watching Orphan Black from BBC America recently and I totally get why there is so much hype about it. Oh. My. Goodness. Freaking amazingness- that's what this show is made of. I've only seen season one so far, but even now, I am totally shipping Paul and Sarah. Luckily, I have absolutely no idea what is going to happen in later seasons, so I can just watch through them and fully experience the episodes provided I don't get spoiled by anyone. 

When I started shipping:

To be completely honest, I think I  started shipping them when Paul came to the precinct to pick up "Beth"/"Sarah" but it was really Helena that made the call. I'm just realizing now that this post may get difficult to follow. Anyway, I loved how he balanced being supportive and concerned in that moment. 

Favorite Cannon Moment:

Of all the moments that these two shared in this season, I think my favorite would be when Paul is tied up in the basement of the Neolution club and Sarah goes to rescue him. He just leans his head on her arm because he can't do anything else and it was just a really awesome moment. It was like they were drawing support from each other and it was also a really defining moment in their relationship in that Paul proves his loyalty to Sarah and places his trust in her.

Sarah:

Sarah may be one of my favorite fictional characters of all time, across all books, movies, and TV shows, I think she is one of the most impressive. Since the first episode, she has had to make impossible decisions, think on her feet, and act a thousand different parts and roles. She is incredibly smart and strong. 

Paul:

He's a bit of a mystery for a while. But then, learning of his past by the end of the season and seeing throughout the season how he proves himself to Sarah through his actions makes him super interesting and I can't wait to see more of him in the next season. What I find super interesting is that he didn't love Beth. But I feel like he's falling for Sarah.

Saul:

I actually have no clue if they have a ship name... because Saul is an actual name in itself. Parah? Either way, I think they should end up together. I feel like they're already drifting in that direction, but mostly just on Paul's part. Sarah is sort of busy at the moment and has bigger priorities that she needs to straighten out. But she can trust Paul! I want her to trust Paul more and let him in!!!!

Again, this is all based on season 1, but I cannot wait to watch the other seasons and see how this progresses. 

Thanks for reading!    

Batman vs Superman Movie Review

Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice Movie Review

3.5 out of 5 Stars

I love superhero movies, both from DC and Marvel, so I was really looking forward to this one. And it was pretty good. But it seemed a little overwhelmed with details and it took quite a bit of time to set up all of those details. That being said, I actually really loved the ending. I think that this movie was overall a really great set up for other potentially amazing movies.

The acting was good- it certainly had some really great actors and actresses in it. And being someone from outside of the comic-book-reading community (I know... shameful) I thought that the characters fit in well with each other and how they interacted. I did get slightly confused when Lex called Superman's mom Martha, but then I realized that both his and Batman's moms were named that. Batman was the one character were I was slightly confused for a bit.... he just seemed even darker and more merciless (?) than what I was used to. Other than that, I have nothing else to say. They did good staying in their characters and bringing them to life.

I know that there are people who say the scoring wasn't that great and made the movie seem even broodier than it already is, but I actually really enjoyed it. In general, I am a huge fan of Han Zimmer, and I loved the music that he helped create in this movie. I though it fit well and was dramatic enough to bring home certain points of the story. Yes, it was dark music, but it was also a dark movie... fitting then right?


The only major thing I didn't like about this film was how long it was. The set up took ages.... and I know that all those details were necessary to make sure the content and extent of what was happening was clear, but I was still losing focus after awhile. At a certain point though, it does pick up and from that point on things are moving and moving spectacularly. Like I said, I loved the ending. I thought that it was really interesting and while a part of me wishes that Wonder Woman had been there sooner (as Wonder Woman), I think her role was played well and I am looking forward to the next DC movie. Which happens to be Suicide Squad. >:) I AM SO EXCITED FOR THAT ONE!

Back to this movie, 3.5 stars mostly because of the extremely long set up. I would still recommend seeing this though because I feel like it is going to be a cornerstone for many more movies to come, and there were some really great scenes in it.

Thanks for reading!

HARRY POTTER EXCITEMENT

WE GET ANOTHER HARRY POTTER STORY TOMORROW!!!!!!

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child 

By: JK Rowling, John Tiffany, and Jack Thorne

Releases: July 31, 2016

THAT IS TOMORROW

I will admit, I may have actually cried when I found out that they were publishing the script for the play. Because, sadly, I cannot afford to fly to London and see it in person. But now I can buy it and I will probably be up bright and early tomorrow to make sure that I get my hands on a copy asap!!! 

From what I understand, this is sort of like book number 8, but not book number 8, because it is when Harry's kids are in school and he's working and it follows all of this post-war stuff. I super excited to get to see all of the characters again though, and all of their babies too!!!  **Squeals**

(I hope Scorpius and Rose are a thing, because Dramione never really happened :/ ......)

Tomorrow is going to be a big day for all of us muggles. July 31... any0ne else get the date? Hehe- it makes me smile. I hope you guys are just as excited for this book as I am!! Good luck tomorrow and may it be with all of us as we try to control the feels!

Thanks for reading! 

My Top 10 Historical Fiction Books

My Top 10 Historical Fiction Books

10. Distant Waves by Suzanne Weyn
          Time period: 1914
          Where: Titanic

9. The Diviners by Libba Bray
          Time period: 1926
          Where: New York

8. The Lost Wife by Alyson Richman
          Time period: WWII
          Where: Prague, Czech Republic

7. Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys
          Time period: 1950
          Where: New Orleans
6. In the Time of Butterflies by Julia Alvarez
          Time period: 1960
          Where: Dominican Republic

5. The Physick Book of Deliverence Dane by Kathrine Howe
          Time period: Modern, but about 1692
          Where: New England

4. Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
          Time period: 1945
          Where: Baltic Sea

3. The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
          Time period: 1964
          Where: South Carolina

2. The Kitchen Boy by Robert Alexander
          Time period:  1917
          Where: St. Petersburg
 
1. Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
          Time period: 1941
          Where: Lithuania, Russia

Thanks for reading!