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BOOK CLUB: November (Harry Potter Edition)

 
 
This month I was constantly telling myself that I would read something different, but I kept going back to Harry Potter. My mind was just drawn to the series, I couldn't help it. I just wanted more and more. So, I kept going with it and managed to read three of the books this month. November Book Club is a Harry Potter edition.
 
The reason why I've been so drawn to these books is due to my poor mental health, I believe. Just like Twilight, the Harry Potter series is a comfort for me. I already know what's going to happen so there're no surprises, and it almost feels nostalgic. 
 
Before I go on, I would like to mention that I in no way support the author after her comments on transgender people and issues. This Book Club isn't me affiliating myself with her, but me being honest with what I have been reading this month. It's in my opinion that the Harry Potter books have no author, they just magically came to being one day. I fully support the transgender community, as an LGBT+ member and as a human being. Every single person deserves equal rights, there's no question about it. 

With that being said, let's get on with this month's Book Club. 

A Surprising Like: The Chamber of Secrets
 
 
I remember The Chamber of Secrets being my least favourite of the series, so I was quite surprised by how much I enjoyed it this time around. It was hard to put down as I found myself glued to it. However, if I'm being quite honest... I'm struggling to remember much about it. 

The chapters flowed well and I didn't find that anything was dragging too much. I was hooked on the story, even though I know it quite well from reading it all those years ago and watching the films multiple times. Of course, there are some things that are left out of the films and you learn a lot more. And who couldn't love Dobby? I was so happy when he was freed. 

Even though I'm familiar with the story, I was absolutely hooked and excited to find out what happened next. 
 
Overall, I give it a 4/5 stars. 
 

A Firm Favourite: The Prisoner of Azkaban 
 

By far my favourite in the whole series, The Prisoner of Azkaban was a delight to read. My favourite characters: Sirius Black and Professor Lupin make an appearance and I felt genuinely sad when they both left at the end of the novel. In fact, a lot of the novel had me feeling quite emotional, especially when Harry and Ron turned on Hermione when she reported the broomstick Harry received as a Christmas present from (whom we later find out) Sirius Black. She was only acting out of love for her friend.

What surprised me was my hatred for Draco Malfoy and Professor Snape. Focusing on this book alone, they are very unlikeable characters. Both seem too interested in their own inflated egos to care about the innocent lives of others. I've never wanted characters to fail more than when I was rereading this book. Of course, my mind changes later on in the series (as far as I know, it's been a long time since I've read the rest of the books, I'm just going off the films here).

Overall, I really enjoyed reading the third edition of the Harry Potter series again. It's full of loveable characters I found myself connecting with. I found it hard to put down and was excited as I turned each page. By far the best in the series, in my opinion.

5/5 stars.
 

It Gets Rocky: The Goblet of Fire
 

Now, here's where we get a bit rocky: The Goblet of Fire. I won't lie... I was disappointed. 

It's not that it's a bad book, it really isn't. However, the books start getting a lot bigger now and my brain just couldn't hack it. I couldn't sit there and read the whole thing, it felt like it was never ending. So, I didn't finish it. Guilty as charged. 

Whether it was the length of the book, I don't know, but I just felt like it dragged. We were over 100 pages in, and we still weren't back at Hogwarts. It felt like the Quidditch World Cup dragged on way too long. Although, let's just bear in mind that I find long books and text difficult to read. This is just a personal preference: it was too slow. 

However, I did find myself giggling at parts of the book. And the events at the World Cup were messed up, I was quite shocked. As for Draco Malfoy: I still hated him. He just stood there all smirk and calm whilst people were being attacked. The films definitely paint him in a better light than the books do. 

Overall, the book was good, it was just too long for me. 

3/5 stars. 


Those were all the Harry Potter books I read this month. I have moved on to different and newer books now so there will be more variety in next month's Book Club. Perhaps I will return to the Goblet of Fire when my brain is feeling less foggy. For the time being, however, I think I will leave it there.

Do you agree with what I've said about the books? Let me know in the comments.

Until the next time,

Char.
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