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><channel><title>Wizarding World &#8211; Rich Maloy</title> <atom:link href="http://richmaloy.com/series/wizarding-world/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" /><link>http://richmaloy.com</link> <description>Life, The Universe, and Everything</description> <lastBuildDate>Mon, 14 Jan 2019 03:46:57 +0000</lastBuildDate> <language>en-US</language> <sy:updatePeriod> hourly </sy:updatePeriod> <sy:updateFrequency> 1 </sy:updateFrequency> <generator>https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4</generator><image> <url>https://i0.wp.com/richmaloy.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/cropped-richmaloy-vert.png?fit=32%2C32</url><title>Wizarding World &#8211; Rich Maloy</title><link>http://richmaloy.com</link> <width>32</width> <height>32</height> </image> <site
xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">124687649</site> <item><title>Series: Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling</title><link>http://richmaloy.com/book-review/series-harry-potter/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Rich]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sun, 02 Dec 2007 03:07:54 +0000</pubDate> <guid
isPermaLink="false">http://richmaloy.com/?post_type=book-review&#038;p=2076</guid><description><![CDATA[All of these reviews are for the Stephen Fry recording, not the Jim Dale version on Audible. That version on Audible is complete shit.I downloaded the Fry version years ago—around 2007—and recently purchased the Dale version of book 1 in 2018. Jim Dale’s reading was so awful I couldn’t tell the difference between Dumbledore and Hermione. Yes, it was so bad, a 10-year-old girl and a 109-year-old man sounded nearly identical. And yes Albus Dumbledore is 109 in book one.With that out of the way, let's talk Potter. I believe the reason this series is such a part of the modern culture is because it does two things that very few other authors ever do: 1) the plot lines and the main characters grow up and become more serious in each book and 2) no plot lines are recycled from book to book. All the rest of the elements have been done before, yet even these are done well (or at least not overdone). If you have never read Harry Potter—or haven't read it in a while—I highly recommend jumping into the series with the Stephen Fry version, and opening the door to the wizarding world. <div
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class="post-data"><span
class="genre"><strong>Genre:</strong> <a
href="http://richmaloy.com/?genre=fantasy">Fantasy</a></span><br
/><span
class="series"><strong>Series:</strong> <a
href="http://richmaloy.com/?series=harry-potter">Harry Potter</a>, <a
href="http://richmaloy.com/?series=wizarding-world">Wizarding World</a> &#124; </span><span
class="subjects"><strong>Subjects:</strong> <a
href="http://richmaloy.com/?subject=richs-recos">Rich's Reco's</a></span><br
/></div>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>All of these reviews are for the Stephen Fry recording, not the Jim Dale version on Audible. That version on Audible is complete shit.</p><p>I downloaded the Fry version years ago—around 2007—and recently purchased the Dale version of book 1 in 2018. Jim Dale’s reading was so awful I couldn’t tell the difference between Dumbledore and Hermione. Yes, it was so bad, a 10-year-old girl and a 109-year-old man sounded nearly identical. And yes Albus Dumbledore is 109 in book one.</p><p>With that out of the way, let&#8217;s talk Potter.</p><p>I believe the reason this series is such a part of the modern culture is because it does two things that very few other authors ever do: 1) the plot lines and the main characters grow up and become more serious in each book and 2) no plot lines are recycled from book to book. All the rest of the elements have been done before, yet even these are done well (or at least not overdone).</p><p>If you have never read Harry Potter—or haven&#8217;t read it in a while—I highly recommend jumping into the series with the Stephen Fry version, and opening the door to the wizarding world.</p><h3>Series Reviews</h3><ol><li><a
href="http://richmaloy.com/book-review/harry-potter-and-the-sorcerers-stone-book-1/">Harry Potter and the Sorcerer&#8217;s Stone</a></li><li><a
href="http://richmaloy.com/book-review/harry-potter-and-the-chamber-of-secrets/">Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets</a></li><li><a
href="http://richmaloy.com/book-review/harry-potter-and-the-prisoner-of-azkaban/">Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban</a></li><li><a
href="http://richmaloy.com/book-review/harry-potter-and-the-goblet-of-fire/">Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire</a></li><li><a
href="http://richmaloy.com/book-review/harry-potter-and-the-order-of-the-phoenix/">Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix</a></li><li><a
href="http://richmaloy.com/book-review/harry-potter-and-the-half-blood-prince/">Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince</a></li><li><a
href="http://richmaloy.com/book-review/harry-potter-and-the-deathly-hallows/">Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows</a></li></ol><div
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class="post-data"><span
class="genre"><strong>Genre:</strong> <a
href="http://richmaloy.com/?genre=fantasy">Fantasy</a></span><br
/><span
class="series"><strong>Series:</strong> <a
href="http://richmaloy.com/?series=harry-potter">Harry Potter</a>, <a
href="http://richmaloy.com/?series=wizarding-world">Wizarding World</a> | </span><span
class="subjects"><strong>Subjects:</strong> <a
href="http://richmaloy.com/?subject=richs-recos">Rich's Reco's</a></span><br
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xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">2076</post-id> </item> <item><title>Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling</title><link>http://richmaloy.com/book-review/harry-potter-and-the-deathly-hallows/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Rich]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sat, 01 Dec 2007 03:56:12 +0000</pubDate> <guid
isPermaLink="false">http://richmaloy.com/?post_type=book-review&#038;p=2058</guid><description><![CDATA[At last we come to the end. Though this is the least Harry Potter-esque of all the books, it is a fantastic work of fantasy. One wild adventure leads to the next and the next and the next. Once it gets going, it's a non-stop torrent of escapades fitting for a trio on the run while the Wizarding World is in chaos. While this book is fantastic, it's not my favorite of the series simply because it's the least Potterish of them all. Nonetheless, you won't be disappointed with it.<div
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class="post-data"><span
class="genre"><strong>Genre:</strong> <a
href="http://richmaloy.com/?genre=fantasy">Fantasy</a></span><br
/><span
class="series"><strong>Series:</strong> <a
href="http://richmaloy.com/?series=harry-potter">Harry Potter</a>, <a
href="http://richmaloy.com/?series=wizarding-world">Wizarding World</a> &#124; </span></div>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>At last we come to the end. Though this is the least Harry Potter-esque of all the books, it is a fantastic work of fantasy. One wild adventure leads to the next and the next and the next. Once it gets going, it&#8217;s a non-stop torrent of escapades fitting for a trio on the run while the Wizarding World is in chaos. While this book is fantastic, it&#8217;s not my favorite of the series simply because it&#8217;s the least Potterish of them all. Nonetheless, you won&#8217;t be disappointed with it.</p><h3 class="bc-heading bc-color-base bc-spacing-small bc-size-medium bc-text-bold">Publisher&#8217;s Summary</h3><div
class="bc-box bc-box-padding-none bc-spacing-small"><blockquote><p><i>&#8220;&#8216;Give me Harry Potter,&#8217; said Voldemort&#8217;s voice, &#8216;and none shall be harmed. Give me Harry Potter, and I shall leave the school untouched. Give me Harry Potter, and you will be rewarded.'&#8221;</i></p><p>As he climbs into the sidecar of Hagrid&#8217;s motorbike and takes to the skies, leaving Privet Drive for the last time, Harry Potter knows that Lord Voldemort and the Death Eaters are not far behind. The protective charm that has kept Harry safe until now is broken, but he cannot keep hiding. The Dark Lord is breathing fear into everything Harry loves and to stop him Harry will have to find and destroy the remaining Horcruxes. The final battle must begin &#8211; Harry must stand and face his enemy&#8230;.</p></blockquote></div><div
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class="genre"><strong>Genre:</strong> <a
href="http://richmaloy.com/?genre=fantasy">Fantasy</a></span><br
/><span
class="series"><strong>Series:</strong> <a
href="http://richmaloy.com/?series=harry-potter">Harry Potter</a>, <a
href="http://richmaloy.com/?series=wizarding-world">Wizarding World</a> | </span></div>]]></content:encoded> <post-id
xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">2058</post-id> </item> <item><title>Harry Potter And The Half Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling</title><link>http://richmaloy.com/book-review/harry-potter-and-the-half-blood-prince/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Rich]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Wed, 21 Nov 2007 03:49:42 +0000</pubDate> <guid
isPermaLink="false">http://richmaloy.com/?post_type=book-review&#038;p=2055</guid><description><![CDATA[Book six has the strongest ending of the entire series. I could hardly wait to get through the book for the final few chapters. It is the last door to be knocked down before the final—and the darkest—book. Another great thing about this book is that all the characters become more complex, the purely black and white trappings of previous books is shed. I truly enjoy book six.<div
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class="post-data"><span
class="genre"><strong>Genre:</strong> <a
href="http://richmaloy.com/?genre=fantasy">Fantasy</a></span><br
/><span
class="series"><strong>Series:</strong> <a
href="http://richmaloy.com/?series=harry-potter">Harry Potter</a>, <a
href="http://richmaloy.com/?series=wizarding-world">Wizarding World</a> &#124; </span></div>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Book six has the strongest ending of the entire series. I could hardly wait to get through the book for the final few chapters. It is the last door to be knocked down before the final—and the darkest—book. Another great thing about this book is that all the characters become more complex, the purely black and white trappings of previous books is shed. I truly enjoy book six.</p><h3 class="bc-heading bc-color-base bc-spacing-small bc-size-medium bc-text-bold">Publisher&#8217;s Summary</h3><div
class="bc-box bc-box-padding-none bc-spacing-small"><blockquote><p><i>&#8220;There it was, hanging in the sky above the school: the blazing green skull with a serpent tongue, the mark Death Eaters left behind whenever they had entered a building&#8230;wherever they had murdered&#8230;.&#8221;</i></p><p>When Dumbledore arrives at Privet Drive one summer night to collect Harry Potter, his wand hand is blackened and shrivelled, but he does not reveal why. Secrets and suspicion are spreading through the wizarding world, and Hogwarts itself is not safe. Harry is convinced that Malfoy bears the Dark Mark: there is a Death Eater amongst them. Harry will need powerful magic and true friends as he explores Voldemort&#8217;s darkest secrets, and Dumbledore prepares him to face his destiny&#8230;.</p></blockquote></div><div
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class="genre"><strong>Genre:</strong> <a
href="http://richmaloy.com/?genre=fantasy">Fantasy</a></span><br
/><span
class="series"><strong>Series:</strong> <a
href="http://richmaloy.com/?series=harry-potter">Harry Potter</a>, <a
href="http://richmaloy.com/?series=wizarding-world">Wizarding World</a> | </span></div>]]></content:encoded> <post-id
xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">2055</post-id> </item> <item><title>Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling</title><link>http://richmaloy.com/book-review/harry-potter-and-the-order-of-the-phoenix/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Rich]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sun, 11 Nov 2007 01:38:11 +0000</pubDate> <guid
isPermaLink="false">http://richmaloy.com/?post_type=book-review&#038;p=2052</guid><description><![CDATA[Fittingly, book four is the turning point for the series (and my favorite), and now we turn to dark times in the wizarding world. In this book, my hands-down favorite antagonist comes to roost in Hogwarts:  Dolores Umbridge. She is the most delightfully sinister character in the whole series. Adding her in creates more problems for Harry, but also creates challenges for the faculty of Hogwarts. It makes the story a touch more interesting... and fun. Plus, the seriousness of the whole series steps up another notch as more adult wizards enter the fray between good and evil. This is why I love the Potter series so much: the series grows up each year, just as the main characters do.<div
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class="post-data"><span
class="genre"><strong>Genre:</strong> <a
href="http://richmaloy.com/?genre=fantasy">Fantasy</a></span><br
/><span
class="series"><strong>Series:</strong> <a
href="http://richmaloy.com/?series=harry-potter">Harry Potter</a>, <a
href="http://richmaloy.com/?series=wizarding-world">Wizarding World</a> &#124; </span></div>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Fittingly, book four is the turning point for the series (and my favorite), and now we turn to dark times in the wizarding world. In this book, my hands-down favorite antagonist comes to roost in Hogwarts:  Dolores Umbridge. She is the most delightfully sinister character in the whole series. Adding her in creates more problems for Harry, but also creates challenges for the faculty of Hogwarts. It makes the story a touch more interesting&#8230; and fun. Plus, the seriousness of the whole series steps up another notch as more adult wizards enter the fray between good and evil. This is why I love the Potter series so much: the series grows up each year, just as the main characters do.</p><h3 class="bc-heading bc-color-base bc-spacing-small bc-size-medium bc-text-bold">Publisher&#8217;s Summary</h3><div
class="bc-box bc-box-padding-none bc-spacing-small"><blockquote><p><i>&#8220;&#8216;You are sharing the Dark Lord&#8217;s thoughts and emotions. The Headmaster thinks it inadvisable for this to continue. He wishes me to teach you how to close your mind to the Dark Lord.'&#8221;</i></p><p>Dark times have come to Hogwarts. After the Dementors&#8217; attack on his cousin Dudley, Harry Potter knows that Voldemort will stop at nothing to find him. There are many who deny the Dark Lord&#8217;s return, but Harry is not alone: a secret order gathers at Grimmauld Place to fight against the dark forces. Harry must allow Professor Snape to teach him how to protect himself from Voldemort&#8217;s savage assaults on his mind. But they are growing stronger by the day and Harry is running out of time&#8230;.</p></blockquote></div><div
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class="genre"><strong>Genre:</strong> <a
href="http://richmaloy.com/?genre=fantasy">Fantasy</a></span><br
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class="series"><strong>Series:</strong> <a
href="http://richmaloy.com/?series=harry-potter">Harry Potter</a>, <a
href="http://richmaloy.com/?series=wizarding-world">Wizarding World</a> | </span></div>]]></content:encoded> <post-id
xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">2052</post-id> </item> <item><title>Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling</title><link>http://richmaloy.com/book-review/harry-potter-and-the-goblet-of-fire/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Rich]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Wed, 31 Oct 2007 00:25:31 +0000</pubDate> <guid
isPermaLink="false">http://richmaloy.com/?post_type=book-review&#038;p=2049</guid><description><![CDATA[In the summer of 2018, I re-read the entire series (the Stephen Fry version, not the Jim Dale reading on Audible). As I undertook the endeavor, I wondered what my favorite book would be. The "easy" answer is Deathly Hallows—it's kind of like how every Star Wars fan is expected to say Empire Strikes Back is their favorite Star Wars movie. But I wanted to approach my third time through the series—once reading on actual paper and once on audiobook—with a fresh mindset, open to whatever the series brought out this time through. Goblet of Fire is hands-down my favorite Harry Potter book. It's the quintessential Harry Potter experience. He's still at school, getting up to his usual antics with his friends. They start to grow up a little bit, with the introduction of the ball we get our first taste of young love in the wizard world. Dumbledore is still the wise, beloved, distant yet present headmaster. The Malfoy-Snape-Potter story arc is more subdued, replaced with more complex antagonists. The Wizarding World opens up beyond Great Britain to show us there are witches and wizards everywhere. Harry is embroiled in some incredibly challenging wizarding tasks. And while all of this is happening at everyone's favorite setting, Hogwarts, there is a dark wizard lurking in the shadows throughout the whole novel. While Deathly Hallows is dark from start to finish, Goblet of Fire only has the undercurrent of darkness, like storm clouds looming in the distance on an otherwise sunny summer day. It has everything (except quidditch, but I'll take the Triwizard Tournament over quidditch any day). I love this book. <div
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class="post-data"><span
class="genre"><strong>Genre:</strong> <a
href="http://richmaloy.com/?genre=fantasy">Fantasy</a></span><br
/><span
class="series"><strong>Series:</strong> <a
href="http://richmaloy.com/?series=harry-potter">Harry Potter</a>, <a
href="http://richmaloy.com/?series=wizarding-world">Wizarding World</a> &#124; </span><span
class="subjects"><strong>Subjects:</strong> <a
href="http://richmaloy.com/?subject=richs-recos">Rich's Reco's</a></span><br
/></div>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>In the summer of 2018, I re-read the entire series (the Stephen Fry version, not the Jim Dale reading on Audible). As I undertook the endeavor, I wondered what my favorite book would be. The &#8220;easy&#8221; answer is Deathly Hallows—it&#8217;s kind of like how every Star Wars fan is expected to say Empire Strikes Back is their favorite Star Wars movie. But I wanted to approach my third time through the series—once reading on actual paper and once on audiobook—with a fresh mindset, open to whatever the series brought out this time through.</p><p>Goblet of Fire is hands-down my favorite Harry Potter book. It&#8217;s the quintessential Harry Potter experience. He&#8217;s still at school, getting up to his usual antics with his friends. They start to grow up a little bit, with the introduction of the ball we get our first taste of young love in the wizard world. Dumbledore is still the wise, beloved, distant yet present headmaster. The Malfoy-Snape-Potter story arc is more subdued, replaced with more complex antagonists. The Wizarding World opens up beyond Great Britain to show us there are witches and wizards everywhere. Harry is embroiled in some incredibly challenging wizarding tasks. And while all of this is happening at everyone&#8217;s favorite setting, Hogwarts, there is a dark wizard lurking in the shadows throughout the whole novel. While Deathly Hallows is dark from start to finish, Goblet of Fire only has the undercurrent of darkness, like storm clouds looming in the distance on an otherwise sunny summer day. It has everything (except quidditch, but I&#8217;ll take the Triwizard Tournament over quidditch any day). I love this book.</p><h3 class="bc-heading bc-color-base bc-spacing-small bc-size-medium bc-text-bold">Publisher&#8217;s Summary</h3><div
class="bc-box bc-box-padding-none bc-spacing-small"><blockquote><p><i>&#8220;&#8216;There will be three tasks, spaced throughout the school year, and they will test the champions in many different ways&#8230;their magical prowess &#8211; their daring &#8211; their powers of deduction &#8211; and, of course, their ability to cope with danger.'&#8221;</i></p><p>The Triwizard Tournament is to be held at Hogwarts. Only wizards who are over seventeen are allowed to enter &#8211; but that doesn&#8217;t stop Harry dreaming that he will win the competition. Then at Hallowe&#8217;en, when the Goblet of Fire makes its selection, Harry is amazed to find his name is one of those that the magical cup picks out. He will face death-defying tasks, dragons, and dark wizards, but with the help of his best friends, Ron and Hermione, he might just make it through &#8211; alive!</p></blockquote></div><div
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class="post-data"><span
class="genre"><strong>Genre:</strong> <a
href="http://richmaloy.com/?genre=fantasy">Fantasy</a></span><br
/><span
class="series"><strong>Series:</strong> <a
href="http://richmaloy.com/?series=harry-potter">Harry Potter</a>, <a
href="http://richmaloy.com/?series=wizarding-world">Wizarding World</a> | </span><span
class="subjects"><strong>Subjects:</strong> <a
href="http://richmaloy.com/?subject=richs-recos">Rich's Reco's</a></span><br
/></div>]]></content:encoded> <post-id
xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">2049</post-id> </item> <item><title>Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling</title><link>http://richmaloy.com/book-review/harry-potter-and-the-prisoner-of-azkaban/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Rich]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Sun, 21 Oct 2007 00:19:15 +0000</pubDate> <guid
isPermaLink="false">http://richmaloy.com/?post_type=book-review&#038;p=2046</guid><description><![CDATA[The only thing that holds Book 3 back from being a five-star for me is the Malfoy-Snape-Potter story arc was growing wearisome for me. At a certain point, it became a distraction from the story, which is fantastic. This book does more to setup the end game of the series than any other. <div
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class="post-data"><span
class="genre"><strong>Genre:</strong> <a
href="http://richmaloy.com/?genre=fantasy">Fantasy</a></span><br
/><span
class="series"><strong>Series:</strong> <a
href="http://richmaloy.com/?series=harry-potter">Harry Potter</a>, <a
href="http://richmaloy.com/?series=wizarding-world">Wizarding World</a> &#124; </span></div>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The only thing that holds Book 3 back from being a five-star for me is the Malfoy-Snape-Potter story arc was growing wearisome for me. At a certain point, it became a distraction from the story, which is fantastic. This book does more to setup the end game of the series than any other.</p><h3 class="bc-heading bc-color-base bc-spacing-small bc-size-medium bc-text-bold">Publisher&#8217;s Summary</h3><div
class="bc-box bc-box-padding-none bc-spacing-small"><blockquote><p><i>&#8220;&#8216;Welcome to the Knight Bus, emergency transport for the stranded witch or wizard. Just stick out your wand hand, step on board and we can take you anywhere you want to go.'&#8221;</i></p><p>When the Knight Bus crashes through the darkness and screeches to a halt in front of him, it&#8217;s the start of another far from ordinary year at Hogwarts for Harry Potter. Sirius Black, escaped mass-murderer and follower of Lord Voldemort, is on the run &#8211; and they say he is coming after Harry. In his first ever Divination class, Professor Trelawney sees an omen of death in Harry&#8217;s tea leaves&#8230;. But perhaps most terrifying of all are the Dementors patrolling the school grounds, with their soul-sucking kiss&#8230;.</p></blockquote></div><div
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class="genre"><strong>Genre:</strong> <a
href="http://richmaloy.com/?genre=fantasy">Fantasy</a></span><br
/><span
class="series"><strong>Series:</strong> <a
href="http://richmaloy.com/?series=harry-potter">Harry Potter</a>, <a
href="http://richmaloy.com/?series=wizarding-world">Wizarding World</a> | </span></div>]]></content:encoded> <post-id
xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">2046</post-id> </item> <item><title>Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets by J.K. Rowling</title><link>http://richmaloy.com/book-review/harry-potter-and-the-chamber-of-secrets/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Rich]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Thu, 11 Oct 2007 00:12:20 +0000</pubDate> <guid
isPermaLink="false">http://richmaloy.com/?post_type=book-review&#038;p=2043</guid><description><![CDATA[Book two teeters on the edge of Young Adult and... not YA, which I guess would be just mainline fantasy.  Now that the Wizarding World has been established, the books start to have a lot more fun. And yet, like all of them, they turn slightly darker with each new novel. I love the introduction to Dobby, and Lockhart is a great buffoon. I thought the ending was a little weak, but I won't say more for risk of spoiling it. And, if you haven't read Harry Potter—what are you waiting for? <div
class="post-meta"><span
class="rating"><a
href="http://richmaloy.com/?rating=four-stars/"><div
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class="post-data"><span
class="genre"><strong>Genre:</strong> <a
href="http://richmaloy.com/?genre=fantasy">Fantasy</a></span><br
/><span
class="series"><strong>Series:</strong> <a
href="http://richmaloy.com/?series=harry-potter">Harry Potter</a>, <a
href="http://richmaloy.com/?series=wizarding-world">Wizarding World</a> &#124; </span></div>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Book two teeters on the edge of Young Adult and&#8230; not YA, which I guess would be just mainline fantasy.  Now that the Wizarding World has been established, the books start to have a lot more fun. And yet, like all of them, they turn slightly darker with each new novel. I love the introduction to Dobby, and Lockhart is a great buffoon. I thought the ending was a little weak, but I won&#8217;t say more for risk of spoiling it. And, if you haven&#8217;t read Harry Potter—what are you waiting for?</p><h3 class="bc-heading bc-color-base bc-spacing-small bc-size-medium bc-text-bold">Publisher&#8217;s Summary</h3><div
class="bc-box bc-box-padding-none bc-spacing-small"><blockquote><p><i>&#8220;&#8216;There is a plot, Harry Potter. A plot to make most terrible things happen at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry this year.'&#8221;</i></p><p>Harry Potter&#8217;s summer has included the worst birthday ever, doomy warnings from a house-elf called Dobby, and rescue from the Dursleys by his friend Ron Weasley in a magical flying car! Back at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for his second year, Harry hears strange whispers echo through empty corridors &#8211; and then the attacks start. Students are found as though turned to stone&#8230; Dobby&#8217;s sinister predictions seem to be coming true.</p></blockquote></div><div
class="post-meta"><span
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class="post-data"><span
class="genre"><strong>Genre:</strong> <a
href="http://richmaloy.com/?genre=fantasy">Fantasy</a></span><br
/><span
class="series"><strong>Series:</strong> <a
href="http://richmaloy.com/?series=harry-potter">Harry Potter</a>, <a
href="http://richmaloy.com/?series=wizarding-world">Wizarding World</a> | </span></div>]]></content:encoded> <post-id
xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">2043</post-id> </item> <item><title>Harry Potter and the Sorcerer&#8217;s Stone, Book 1 by J.K. Rowling</title><link>http://richmaloy.com/book-review/harry-potter-and-the-sorcerers-stone-book-1/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Rich]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Tue, 02 Oct 2007 03:25:10 +0000</pubDate> <guid
isPermaLink="false">http://richmaloy.com/?post_type=book-review&#038;p=2036</guid><description><![CDATA[Note: This review is for the Stephen Fry recording, not the Jim Dale version on Audible, the latter of which is complete shit.1If you haven't read Harry Potter and you're over the age of 18, then this first book may be a bit difficult to get through. After all, it is about a 10-year-olds. However, it is worth dealing with the young adult story, which goes by quick enough, to get into the main story of Harry Potter and introduces you to the wizarding world. The beauty of this series is that each book grows more mature in terms of plot and depth, just as the characters grow.Power-listen through Book 1 (the Fry version, please) and consider it your ticket to ride the Hogwarts Express into the best fantasy universe on the planet.1 I downloaded the Fry version years ago—around 2007—and recently purchased the Dale version in 2018. Jim Dale's reading was so awful, I couldn't tell the difference between Dumbledore and Hermione. Yes, it was so bad, a 10-year-old girl and a 109-year-old man sounded nearly identical. And yes Albus Dumbledore is 109 in book one.<div
class="post-meta"><span
class="rating"><a
href="http://richmaloy.com/?rating=four-stars/"><div
class="genericon genericon-star"></div><div
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class="post-data"><span
class="genre"><strong>Genre:</strong> <a
href="http://richmaloy.com/?genre=fantasy">Fantasy</a>, <a
href="http://richmaloy.com/?genre=young-adult">Young Adult</a></span><br
/><span
class="series"><strong>Series:</strong> <a
href="http://richmaloy.com/?series=harry-potter">Harry Potter</a>, <a
href="http://richmaloy.com/?series=wizarding-world">Wizarding World</a> &#124; </span></div>]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>Note: This review is for the Stephen Fry recording, not the Jim Dale version on Audible, the latter of which is complete shit.<sup>1</sup></em></p><p>If you haven&#8217;t read Harry Potter and you&#8217;re over the age of 18, then this first book may be a bit difficult to get through. After all, it is about a 10-year-olds. However, it is worth dealing with the young adult story, which goes by quick enough, to get into the main story of Harry Potter and introduces you to the wizarding world. The beauty of this series is that each book grows more mature in terms of plot and depth, just as the characters grow.</p><p>Power-listen through Book 1 (the Fry version, please) and consider it your ticket to ride the Hogwarts Express into the best fantasy universe on the planet.</p><p><sup>1</sup> I downloaded the Fry version years ago—around 2007—and recently purchased the Dale version in 2018. Jim Dale&#8217;s reading was so awful, I couldn&#8217;t tell the difference between Dumbledore and Hermione. Yes, it was so bad, a 10-year-old girl and a 109-year-old man sounded nearly identical. And yes Albus Dumbledore is 109 in book one.</p><div
class="bc-col-responsive bc-col-12"><h3 class="bc-heading bc-color-base bc-size-medium">Publisher&#8217;s Summary</h3></div><div
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class="bc-box bc-box-padding-none bc-spacing-small"><blockquote><p>Harry Potter has never even heard of Hogwarts when the letters start dropping on the doormat at number four, Privet Drive. Addressed in green ink on yellowish parchment with a purple seal, they are swiftly confiscated by his grisly aunt and uncle. Then, on Harry&#8217;s eleventh birthday, a great beetle-eyed giant of a man called Rubeus Hagrid bursts in with some astonishing news: Harry Potter is a wizard, and he has a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. An incredible adventure is about to begin!</p></blockquote></div></div></div></div><div
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class="post-data"><span
class="genre"><strong>Genre:</strong> <a
href="http://richmaloy.com/?genre=fantasy">Fantasy</a>, <a
href="http://richmaloy.com/?genre=young-adult">Young Adult</a></span><br
/><span
class="series"><strong>Series:</strong> <a
href="http://richmaloy.com/?series=harry-potter">Harry Potter</a>, <a
href="http://richmaloy.com/?series=wizarding-world">Wizarding World</a> | </span></div>]]></content:encoded> <post-id
xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">2036</post-id> </item> </channel> </rss>