Book Review: The Tales of Beedle the Bard

The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J. K. Rowling

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Synopsis: “The Tales of Beedle the Bard contains five richly diverse fairy tales, eachi with its own magical character, that will variously bring delight, laughter and the thrill of mortal peril.

Additional notes for each story penned by Professor Albus Dumbledore will be enjoyed by Muggles and wizards alike, as the Professor muses on the morals illuminated by the tales, and reveals snippets of information about life at Hogwarts” (taken from the back of the book because it was too good not to)

My Thoughts: This is the only Harry Potter book after Prisoner of Azkaban that I didn’t stalk the post box or wait in line at midnight for. I think that when it came out I was glutted for Potter. It was just to much to soon without being the real thing. But with the release of the final film where the book does play a large part I felt that I had to read it.

It was a very easy read, but I really appreciated the commentary around the different stories. Especially the part where Dumbledore comments on the banning of books. My current students are of the generation that grew up with Harry Potter (they were born in 1995) and I was already planning on talking about Banned Books Week and this book will provide me with an excellent introduction to the idea of book banning.

As far as the Potterverse this book doesn’t add anything earth shattering but it goes some way to rounding out both the final book and the life that wizards live. As with Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them and Quidditch Through the Ages this book donates parts of its profits to charity.

Copyright ©2011 Zee from Notes from the North. This post was originally posted by Zee from Notes from the North. It should not be reproduced without express written permission.

Book Reviews: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them & Quidditch Through the Ages

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander and J. K. Rowling

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Synopsis: Fantastic Beasts & Where to find them is written as if it was Harry Potter’s school book. It talks, as the name says, about the different beasts that exist in the magical world of J.K. Rowling.

 

Quidditch Through the Ages by Kennilworthy Whisp and J. K. Rowling

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Synopsis: Quidditch Through the Ages describes the Wizarding game of Quidditch.

My Thoughts: These are Harry Potter books that I rarely read but always make me laugh when I do. They were perfect for the charity they were written for: Comic Relief, because they offer just that, some comic relief. I read them during what was a very tough summer workwise (psychological warfare was mentioned several times) and for the two or so hours it took me to read they helped keep that at bay.

Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them is written as Harry’s school book and has humoristic comments in the margin, like many school books do (I teach high school, I see many comments in the margin). The book itself is funny at times but it is really the comments that are the highlight of the book.

Quidditch Through the Ages is less funny (although I giggle at times) but it does provide an insight into the wizarding game that one does not get from the “regular” Potter books. It also clearly shows that Rowling had thought through her universe very thoroughly.

These books are not necessary to understand the Potterverse but they certainly add a bit of flavour to them, and while us Potterphiles sit around waiting for our Pottermore e-mails these books can provide a nice fix.

Copyright ©2011 Zee from Notes from the North. This post was originally posted by Zee from Notes from the North. It should not be reproduced without express written permission.

Harry Potter Re-Read: Translation Edition (Translation Thursday)

As many of you probably know by now I speak and read both English and Swedish fluently. I’ve always spoken Swedish fluently and understood English fluently but didn’t start speaking English regularly until I was in my teens, the same goes for reading in English. What does this have to do with Harry Potter? Well, one might think that I would be able to comment on the translation of the books into Swedish. I can’t. I’ve only read one short passage out of a Harry Potter book in Swedish and that was for a translation module in grad school.

Anymore I actively avoid reading books that are originally published in English in Swedish translation. Translation is great. It is an art in itself. But things can change in translation. There is a reason why we have the expression “lost in translation”. I fully agree with Laura Watkinson in the interview I posted on June 27th, words can have many meanings and unless you know what the author intended then translation can be tricky. My classmates and I could have pitched battles regarding our interpretations of words and translations. I occasionally take on some translation work. It. Is. Hard.

However, despite knowing that it is hard, poor translations annoy the living daylights out of me. Often when watching American tv shows the character will say one thing, and the translation will be the opposite. And this is my fear about reading the translated Harry Potter books. I love these books so very much. What if the translator has done a poor job?! (Absolutely not saying they have. I’ve read two pages and they were fine, I have no rational basis for my fear…but you know ). One day maybe I will be brave enough

Copyright ©2011 Zee from Notes from the North. This post was originally posted by Zee from Notes from the North. It should not be reproduced without express written permission.

Harry Potter Re-Read: Cover Art from Around the World

Because it is interesting to consider what went into the different cover art choices here is a random selection from around the world. Keep an eye out for a post in a few days where I discuss the different covers from a selection of publishers

Copyright ©2011 Zee from Notes from the North. This post was originally posted by Zee from Notes from the North. It should not be reproduced without express written permission.