Review- Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay by J.K. Rowling

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay on Goodreads

 BOOK SUMMARY:

J.K. Rowling's screenwriting debut is captured in this exciting hardcover edition of the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them screenplay.

When Magizoologist Newt Scamander arrives in New York, he intends his stay to be just a brief stopover. However, when his magical case is misplaced and some of Newt's fantastic beasts escape, it spells trouble for everyone…

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them marks the screenwriting debut of J.K. Rowling, author of the beloved and internationally bestselling Harry Potter books. Featuring a cast of remarkable characters, this is epic, adventure-packed storytelling at its very best.

Whether an existing fan or new to the wizarding world, this is a perfect addition to any reader's bookshelf.

Release date: November 8th 2016

Published by: Arthur A. Levine Books

Page numbers: 293

REVIEW: 

Any book of the Harry Potter franchise always makes me happy. Always.

When I read J.K. Rowling's library collection, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander a long, long time ago, I was always curious to know more because it developed in me, a greater love for the incredible magical creatures. Then when a movie based on the book came out last year, I had the most magical time revisiting my home and the place that I belong in- the magical world. So when I saw that there was a Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay written by the Queen herself, I had to get a copy and read it. 

Reading the screenplay after months of watching the movie was one the coolest ideas I've ever had because not only did I read and get to experience the written world which Rowling does so bloody brilliantly, but I also got to revisit the movie, which I loved to bits. One of the biggest advantages of reading the screenplay is all the side action that is, albeit in brief, explained meticulously which sometimes doesn't portray so particularly well on screen because it's not explicit. Revisiting the movie and meeting the wonderful Newt again was just so amazing. 

Aside from Newt, however, I loved how close a look I got into the life of this dark but very poor and likeable child, Credence, who is one of the most important characters of the movie. It was also beautiful meeting curious and funny Jacob, sweet and sexy Queenie and lovely and strong Tina again. Not just that, but visiting the American wizarding world again was a fantastic experience. I could imagine everything so perfectly and it felt good to go back.

As always, with any magical world book by Queen Rowling, I find myself incapable of doing her writing and storytelling justice, so I will leave it up to you to buy a copy, read and devour the screenplay of which we have the privilege of reading.

Buy the book: AMAZON

Review- Very Good Lives by J.K. Rowling

Very Good Lives on Goodreads

 BOOK SUMMARY:

In 2008, J.K. Rowling delivered a deeply affecting commencement speech at Harvard University. Now published for the first time in book form, Very Good Lives offers J.K. Rowling’s words of wisdom for anyone at a turning point in life, asking the profound and provocative questions: How can we embrace failure? And how can we use our imagination to better both ourselves and others?

Drawing from stories of her own post-graduate years, the world-famous author addresses some of life’s most important issues with acuity and emotional force. 

Release date: April 14th 2015

Published by: Little, Brown and Company

Page numbers: 80

REVIEW: 

Before I begin writing about Very Good Lives, I just wanted to point out that I read this book on an epic day in magical history, and that's 31st July, 2016 which aside from marking the birthdays of my hero Harry Potter and my Queen J. K. Rowling, also happened to be the release of the most awaited book that had Potterheads all over the world go mad, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Well, I read it more in honour of the Queen's birthday, but it was a special day overall. 

I have never reviewed a J.K. Rowling book before, and frankly, I don't need to; because no matter what she writes, it's gold, it's always going to remain etched in my heart and it's going to get five out of five bright and shining stars. Nonetheless, I decided to write something about Very Good Lives because I honestly feel that this book deserves to be read as much as Harry Potter, because it is very important. I don't know how she does it, but JKR makes me cry every time with her powerful writing, that conveys so much. 

Very Good Lives is barely a half an hour read, which gives us the opportunity to read the speech JKR delivered at the Harvard 2008 graduation. I so wish I had graduated from Harvard in 2008, but that's when I got done with school, so I feel it's easy to pretend this was written for me. Anyway, the speech is packed with so much power and influence that it really touched me and had me thinking how is it that we Potterheads haven't made a big deal out of this beautiful piece of art? Because it certainly deserves that. 

There's not much I want to say aside from the fact that JKR knows how to tell stories AND influence people better than anyone else. She keeps saying that all the magic we need is within us, but really, she is magic. Everything she does is wonderful. I don't care when everyone reads this book, but I sure hope they do, because they might not know this, but they need it. Read this book. Please. 

Buy the book: AMAZON/ FLIPKART

Review- Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling

 BOOK SUMMARY:

The Eighth Story. Nineteen Years Later.

Based on an original new story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, 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. 

Release date: July 31st 2016

Published by: Arthur A. Levine Books

Page numbers: 328

REVIEW: 

Well, to have never reviewed a single Harry Potter book simply because it's impossible to put feelings into words, and then to plan on writing a review for a book that has mixed reviews, is quite a task. There is no denying the fact that J.K. Rowling is a magician because her magical words and world made us feel belonged. But like Dumbledore once said, "magic creates more problems than it cures"; then again, magic works and perhaps that's what matters. 

Before reading: 31st July, 2016 was the most epic day in magical history as the day marked the release of the new 19 years later Harry Potter book, which coincided with the birthdays of our goddess and our hero. I was so overwhelmed that a new Harry Potter book was coming out, and I couldn't contain my excitement. I could not wait for my preorder to arrive and dive back into the world that made me fall in love with reading. 

While reading: Nostalgia is mad, but it's also adorable because it brings tears to your eyes and a smile to your face. That's exactly what happened with me while reading the book, but the very many glitches and potholes had me question the existence of it, because I, for one, was satisfied with the way Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows ended. Nonetheless, going back to and adventuring with my first ever fictional and (let's be real) real friends was the most incredible feeling ever. 

After reading: The books that make me smile once I shut them are the ones that stay with me forever, and no matter what happened while reading, I smiled after reading, and in the end, that is what matters. While I did want the adventure to end, I did not want the story to end; I wanted to know more about my friends because I had no idea it would be so magical to meet them again. All negative points aside, this book was actually quite nice. 

Now that the stages are done, let's get onto the actual book. 

Plot: We all know that all was well, and most of us were happy with it. But when there was something new coming our way, we couldn't help feeling exhilarated and excited. Plot wise, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child was very interesting because it retained magic as we first knew it, but it also had plenty of new stuff to learn and understand. There were many tiny errors which could lead to major confusion, but in the end, all was well. 

Writing: Being a student of literature, I have learned to appreciate various forms of writing over the years. So whether Harry Potter comes back in the form of a novel, a play or even a poem, it does not matter to me; because it is the content that does everything. I was just happy that Harry Potter was back. Also, it's interesting to know that while reading plays, it's important to understand what's not written rather than what is. The writing seemed rushed, but it was quite great. 

Characters: I cannot even begin to tell you how happy I was to meet Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Draco again. While the story wasn't really about them, they were a major part of it and they rocked. Albus Severus Potter wasn't too bad, but it was Scorpius Malfoy who stole my heart, just like his father once had. It was like meeting your friends after a long, long time but realising that nothing has changed. I mean, these guys are my life! 

Overall verdict: I was very apprehensive to write this review, but I had to do it; to gather my own thoughts, if nothing else. I honestly couldn't care less how they come back, but so long as Harry Potter and his gang come back, I will read the book(s) and end up loving them. Always. 

Buy the book: AMAZON/ FLIPKART

Fan Art #5

So... It's been a really long time since I put up some Fan Art and I'm going to change that today and display two book covers I've tried to copy redraw. 

The first is... I don't know if I can call this "Fan" Art since I'm not the biggest fan of the series but the covers of author Lauren Kate's Fallen series are super pretty and here's my drawing of the first book, Fallen. It's not well edited as you can still see some of the pencil marks here and there, but I hope you like it anyway. It's just an interpretation of sorts. Actually getting the whole cover drawn right would be really difficult since the cover is so gorgeous! 

The second one I have for you is... The cover of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. This is the cover we got back then in India (we have a new one out now), so that's the only one I have. It's such a colourful and  realistic cover for Harry and Ron do take the Weasley's car Ford Angela to go to Hogwarts in their second year. Everything about this cover is special because all those minute details are both in the book and the movie. And I only hope I got it right! As you can see, I did this way back in 2009, so... Yeah, please be forgiving of any errors!

Okay folks, that's all I got for y'all. See ya around later!