Paperback, 352 pages
English language
Published May 24, 2016 by Levine/Scholastic.
The Eighth Story. Nineteen Years Later. Based on an original new story by J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany, and Jack Thorne, a new play by Jack Thorne, "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" is the eighth story in the Harry Potter series and the first official Harry Potter story to be presented on stage. The play will receive its world premiere in London's West End on July 30, 2016. It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn't much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband and father of three school-age children. While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places.
I'm still not sold on the format, and I agree with others who wrote this reads like fanfiction. Can something be a disappointment, if you pretty much expected it to be one? Or does that mean it lived up to your poor expectations?
Oh well.
Still, I guess it's not THAT bad. It had some good moments. It's just not really worth it.
Overall an entertaining read. It's not a patch on the series, but then it is a book formed from a different medium, namely a stage play.
I think the most nagging plot hole for me was the polyjuice potion. In the novels it took about a month to make. Here, as far as I can tell, a couple of days.
Overall, glad I bought it, glad I read it, but probably won't read it again (unlike the novels).
Its a decent story for a play, but terrible for the Harry Potter world.
I was on the fence about whether to read this. Since it is a play, ideally it would be seen performed first. Since I know there is no chance of my being able to see it anytime soon, I decided it was better to read the script. Additionally, I was a theatre major. I've read lots of plays, and performed in staged readings. So I was probably more prepared than many who will be opening this book for what to expect.
I just finished reading this. I enjoyed it very much. While it was not the sort of thing I would want or expect in a sequel novel to the Harry Potter series, I think it was a very good Harry Potter play.
SpoilerThe use of time travel and flash back dream sequences allowed us to see familiar moments and characters that we love. The new characters were great stage …
I was on the fence about whether to read this. Since it is a play, ideally it would be seen performed first. Since I know there is no chance of my being able to see it anytime soon, I decided it was better to read the script. Additionally, I was a theatre major. I've read lots of plays, and performed in staged readings. So I was probably more prepared than many who will be opening this book for what to expect.
I just finished reading this. I enjoyed it very much. While it was not the sort of thing I would want or expect in a sequel novel to the Harry Potter series, I think it was a very good Harry Potter play.
SpoilerThe use of time travel and flash back dream sequences allowed us to see familiar moments and characters that we love. The new characters were great stage roles, and there was plenty of lovely dramatic dialogue that I would have enjoyed performing.
As for the story, if it were a novel, I think I would be somewhat disappointed. Since it was a play, I really liked it. With all the time travel high-jinks I felt a little like it was a Harry Potter version of Back to the Future. But that was okay. (note: I love Back to the Future)
The first thing that surprised me was that Scorpius Malfoy was a sympathetic character. I was excited when Albus chose to befriend him. I was not expecting this to be a time travel story, and it very much was. I really liked the portrayal of Draco Malfoy. I think that he was definitely changed by the end of Deathly Hallows, and that is the way he was written. He was definitely not his father. That alternate universe scene where Voldemort had won, while terrifying, was also pretty amazing. Seeing Snape was a treat, and I enjoyed the shock of Umbridge being there. "You're ruining Voldemort Day."
By the way, I thought it was a little strange that in 20 years, no one at the Ministry had made more time turners. Why were they there in the first place? Did they decide it was too dangerous to replace them? Oh, well. Willing suspension of disbelief.
The bit I had the most trouble suspending my disbelief for was Voldemort having a child. I thought the character of Delphi was wonderful, but I just can't get past the idea of Voldemort having a child with anyone. Maybe when he was still handsome Tom Riddle. I half expected a time travel related explanation for her. It was a twinge more believable when it was revealed that her mother was Bellatrix Lestrange. It's still weird, and wait a minute she was married. But the Lestrange were severely twisted in their serving of Voldemort. Radolphus probably volunteered to share his wife with the Dark Lord. So creepy. Also just wanted to point out that this makes Delphi Draco's cousin.
The end scenes were lovely with Harry and company getting to witness his parents' sacrifice. Seeing Hagrid meet Harry for the first time was especially nice.
It looks like a good show, and I hope to be able to see it one day!
