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Harry Potter and the Cursed Child review


Yesterday I got my hands on one of the most awaited books of 2016: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child! Written by J. K Rowling, John Tiffany and Jack Thorne, this is a script for a play rather than a novel. Quick googling will inform you that Tiffany and Thorne are theater specialists, more than story writers.
               
                First of all, thank you to one of my friends for lending me the book. And an even bigger thanks for buying a hardcover instead of paperback. The joy of reading a hardbound edition is totally different from a paperback one. The experience is just enriched a little more, irrespective of the contents of the book (Weird, I know!)

                Ah, what do I say about this book? I don’t know what to make of it. If I had to sum up my review in one word, it would be: underwhelming. The book starts of well, with some good dialogues. The start certainly catches your attention that you cannot stop reading. But as the plot develops, we see the flaws in this book. For me, the plot itself was not good enough. Spoiler alert! Time travel, Voldemort rising back from the dead, Amos Diggory are not really strong plot points to build a story around. Maybe in theater it would have been fine, but definitely not in a book. You need a stronger plot than this. Maybe this is just my opinion.

                What I did like about the book was how friendship was portrayed. Beautiful, I have to say. The relationship between Harry and his son was narrated excellently. Also Draco seems to have warmed up to Team Potter. Hermione, Ron, Ginny haven’t changed much. Life after Voldemort hasn’t been easy for wizard kind. There are still scars to heal, some fresh, some old.


                This book does provide some magical moments though. It is not totally a let-down, is what I am trying to say. Overall, I did not like it much. Even Quidditch Through the Ages was better, and I am sure Fantastic Beasts will be too. So, do read the book if you can get your hands on it. But I wouldn’t keep my expectations high.

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