Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay by JK Rowling | Review

Title: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay 
Author: J.K. Rowling 
Pages: 293
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Book
Goodreads rating: 4.44 Stars
Published:  November 18th, 2016

Source: Hardcover/bought

Description:

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.


My Thoughts:

I really enjoyed HP and the Cursed Child, but Fantastic Beasts was above and beyond the other screenplay. Maybe because I could picture it a little more vividly since I'd seen the previews for the movie (though I still haven't actually watched the film yet). After reading this and getting sucked into the world of Newt Scamander and his brilliant case of creatures, I truly hope the rumors of a 5-movie installment are true - I'd love to read the screenplays for all of them! I'm normally not the biggest fan of screenplays, since they tend to leave almost gaps in what's going on, and aren't too incredibly descriptive (at least not compared to a novel!). I will, hands down, read any subsequent Fantastic Beast screenplays. Newt is a wonderful, trusting character who sees the beauty in all magical creatures (even the really scary ones). You can just feel his love for them through the pages, and the world in his suitcase sounds amazing! He is respectful and kind, but will do what he needs to in order to save the creatures he cares for. This was a wonderful, quick read. The only downside: I wish it was longer!!

She returns!

Yes, I'm back... but, more importantly, J.K. Rowling is coming back!  No, not another Harry Potter.  This time she's writing for adults {although I'm honestly not sure what liberties that means she'll be taking... hoping its just stylized for adults, but not "adult", if you know what I mean}.  Don't believe me?  The NY Times is usually pretty accurate with their info.  I can't wait to see what she's going to be writing.  And she does seem to have a way of making every human out there fall in love with almost all of her characters.  Now if only she could get another writer *cough*stepheniemeyer*cough* out there to start up on a series she abandoned...

“Although I’ve enjoyed writing it every bit as much, my next book will be very different to the Harry Potter series, which has been published so brilliantly by Bloomsbury and my other publishers around the world. The freedom to explore new territory is a gift that Harry’s success has brought me, and with that new territory it seemed a logical progression to have a new publisher. I am delighted to have a second publishing home in Little, Brown, and a publishing team that will be a great partner in this new phase of my writing life.”

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

Description:

Sixth-year Hogwarts student Harry Potter gains valuable insights into the boy Voldemort once was, even as his own world is transformed by maturing friendships, schoolwork assistance from an unexpected source, and devastating losses.

Harry struggles to uncover the identity of the Half-Blood Prince, the past owner of a potions textbook he now possesses that is filled with ingenious, potentially deadly, spells. But Harry's life is suddenly changed forever when someone close to him is heinously murdered right before his eyes.

I really enjoyed this HP book... while the other took me weeks to read, I had this one done in about a week! Some of this review will include the movie, as I did go see that, and how the two pair up.

This is the "year of love" as many have described it for Hogwarts students. Some of the book focuses on that, as I think it should. One of the main ideas emphasized throughout the series is that Harry Potter was saved because of the love his mother had for him. Its only natural that it should explore other forms love can take. You see the relationships hinted on in other books come (and go). But one thing stays constant: friendship. Minus Hermoine's fits when Ron and Lavender hook up for a bit, but that all gets better.

One thing that's interesting about the books is the fact that Ron and Hermoine are both Griffindor Prefects, which gets lost in the movies. They have been since HP5, I believe. But, when you think about it, that fact is kind of moot. But I still like it nonetheless. Another part that's lost from book to film adaptation is the fact that the students are beginning the Apparation lessons and getting certified. This is HUGE at the end of the book, as Harry, even though he is not certified, apparates both him and Dumbledore back to Hogwarts, as Dumbledore is too ill to do so.

Another interesting thing that happens is Harry's "special classes" with Dumbledore, in which he learns much about Tom Riddle, AKA Voldemort. He gets an insight to Riddle's past, and begins to understand what makes Riddle the way he is. Part of it has to do with the various horocruxes Voldemort has, and what that does to a person.

The Horocrux is also a very interesting twist to the plot! Those reading this who don't know HP speak, a horocrux is something that can contain part of a person's soul. It can be any object, but is usually something significant to that person. What they do it they split their soul, each time losing a part of their humanity. The only way to split a person's soul is to commit murder, so no honorable person would do this. We learn in this book that not only has Voldemort split his soul, but he's done so 7 times... and no one knows what he put those peices of his soul into. There are speculations, as Dumbledore knows different things Voldemort would want. And two of which have already been destroyed by the beginning of the book (Tom Riddle's diary and the Slytherin family ring). Dumbledore promises to take Harry with him the next time he goes to find and destroy one of the horocruxes. Which, ultimately, ends in Dumbledore's death (his weakened state leads for strength to protect himself).

We also find out that *gasp* Snape really is a Death Eater! No surprise there. Really, if you were surprised, you obviously haven't been paying attention while reading the books. And, the filthy bugger is the one to ultimately kill off Dumbledore! (Hey, I told you there would be spoilers!) What is interesting is the fact that Draco Malfoy couldn't. Do I sense a change of heart? Will he go over the the Light Side of the Force when Darth Vader is dead? Um, I mean Voldemort. Yeah...

I'm sure I missed other such important things (such as Neville Longbottom actually getting good as wizardry), but its hot and I'm upstairs without any refreshments.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Description:

In his fifth year at Hogwart's, Harry faces challenges at every turn, from the dark threat of He-Who-Must-Not-Be- Named and the unreliability of the government of the magical world to the rise of Ron Weasley as the keeper of the Gryffindor Quidditch Team. Along the way he learns about the strength of his friends, the fierceness of his enemies, and the meaning of sacrifice.

Well, its been slow goings for me getting through these books. The first 3 flew by, as they really were not that different from the movies at all (kudos to the screenwriter[s]). The fourth book was much more detailed than the movie, but remarkably similar with not too much pertinent information left out of it. But this review isn't about those books. Its about The Order of the Phoenix.

I have to admit, when I first picked up this book, I was thinking I have to skim through this as quickly as possible so I can read The Half Blood Prince before the movie comes out (at this point I've seen all the movies before reading the books). However, with my work schedule and my free time being taken up by other things, this book took me well over a month to read! So, you'll have to excuse me if I leave things out.

I was rather impressed by the detail and depth that went into this particular HP book (can I call it a novel? It's somewhere in the 800 page-range...). I was also a little surprised how dark the book got. Yes, The Goblet of Fire started getting there, but with You-Know-Who now in full physical form it seems to be getting darker (I've started reading HP6, and wow). I'm also seeing things in the book that I didn't really notice in the movie. Ron and Hermoine? Harry and Ginny (it seems to be hinted at a couple times in HP5)?

I love how the DA meets several times in the book, and the character of Neville is heard from much more. For an "Independent Reader" or "Young Adult" type book, this is an exceptionally good read. I was slightly startled at the darkness shown in young Harry during the last 100 pages or so - my beloved, young Harry is being so mean? Thinking such evil things? Not to mention throughout the whole book is actually seeing things You-Know-Who is doing, and feeling things he's feeling. How interesting. My only qualm here is this: wouldn't such a powerful wizard know that was going on and nip it in the bud? I mean, you can't be one of the most powerful wizards and not know something as simple as that. Especially when you already know that you are connected to this person mentally (as we found out in HP4). Does this make sense to you? I didn't think so. Also, if the Dark Lord was in his full power however many years ago when the prophecy was made, why didn't he storm the Hall of Prophecies and steal it? Did he not know it was there? Because that seems to be the only reason he wouldn't have been able to get it. So maybe that's more than one thing...

Overall, I suggest this to anyone I know who's read the Twilight Saga and loved it (and is looking for something else that is a rather easy read). Quite a bit of detail was put into this book... the most so far. It should be interesting to see what the last two have to give me! I think I'm going to have to read HP5 over again once I'm done with the series.