[Book Review] Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter is midway through his training as a wizard and his coming of age. Harry wants to get away from the pernicious Dursleys and go to the International Quidditch Cup. He wants to find out about the mysterious event that's supposed to take place at Hogwarts this year, an event involving two other rival schools of magic, and a competition that hasn't happened for a hundred years. He wants to be a normal, fourteen-year-old wizard. But unfortunately for Harry Potter, he's not normal - even by wizarding standards. And in his case, different can be deadly.

[Book Review] Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter's third year at Hogwarts is full of new dangers. A convicted murderer, Sirius Black, has broken out of Azkaban prison, and it seems he's after Harry. Now Hogwarts is being patrolled by the dementors, the Azkaban guards who are hunting Sirius. But Harry can't imagine that Sirius or, for that matter, the evil Lord Voldemort could be more frightening than the dementors themselves, who have the terrible power to fill anyone they come across with aching loneliness and despair. Meanwhile, life continues as usual at Hogwarts. A top-of-the-line broom takes Harry's success at Quidditch, the sport of the Wizarding world, to new heights. A cute fourth-year student catches his eye. And he becomes close with the new Defense of the Dark Arts teacher, who was a childhood friend of his father. Yet despite the relative safety of life at Hogwarts and the best efforts of the dementors, the threat of Sirius Black grows ever closer. But if Harry has learned anything from his education in wizardry, it is that things are often not what they seem. Tragic revelations, heartwarming surprises, and high-stakes magical adventures await the boy wizard in this funny and poignant third installment of the beloved series.

[Book Review] Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

The Dursleys were so mean and hideous that summer that all Harry Potter wanted was to get back to the Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. But just as he's packing his bags, Harry receives a warning from a strange, impish creature named Dobby who says that if Harry Potter returns to Hogwarts, disaster will strike

And strike it does. For in Harry's second year at Hogwarts, fresh torments and horrors arise, including an outrageously stuck-up new professor, Gilderoy Lockhart, a spirit named Moaning Myrtle who haunts the girls' bathroom, and the unwanted attentions of Ron Weasley's younger sister, Ginny.

But each of these seem minor annoyances when the real trouble begins, and someone -- or something -- starts turning Hogwarts students to stone. Could it be Draco Malfoy, a more poisonous rival than ever? Could it possibly be Hagrid, whose mysterious past is finally told? Or could it be the one everyone at Hogwarts most suspects . . . Harry Potter himself?

[Book Review] Harry Potter and the Sorcerers's Stone by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter's life is miserable. His parents are dead and he's stuck with his heartless relatives, who force him to live in a tiny closet under the stairs. But his fortune changes when he receives a letter that tells him the truth about himself: he's a wizard. A mysterious visitor rescues him from his relatives and takes him to his new home, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

After a lifetime of bottling up his magical powers, Harry finally feels like a normal kid. But even within the Wizarding community, he is special. He is the boy who lived: the only person to have ever survived a killing curse inflicted by the evil Lord Voldemort, who launched a brutal takeover of the Wizarding world, only to vanish after failing to kill Harry.

Though Harry's first year at Hogwarts is the best of his life, not everything is perfect. There is a dangerous secret object hidden within the castle walls, and Harry believes it's his responsibility to prevent it from falling into evil hands. But doing so will bring him into contact with forces more terrifying than he ever could have imagined.

Full of sympathetic characters, wildly imaginative situations, and countless exciting details, the first installment in the series assembles an unforgettable magical world and sets the stage for many high-stakes adventures to come.

[Book Blogger Hop] June 30-July 6th

 Book Blogger Hop

Book Blogger Hop's purpose is to give bloggers a chance to discover and follow other blogs, learn about new books, befriend bloggers, and gain followers. Each week the hop will start on a Friday and end on Thursday where there will be a weekly prompt following a bookish question.

Question:
Name a book that changed your life.

Answer: 

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling.

When I was young, my Nanny gave me my first Harry Potter book. We had read them on our own time and would quiz each other on everything we could. And then we'd do it with the movies when they started coming out. I was bullied a lot when I went to a Catholic school (kindergarten to about fifth grade) and when I was feeling lonely I would read Harry Potter. I remember there was a boy in my class who was also bullied who loved Harry Potter too and we would sit in recess and talk about it. I remember the nuns at the school also didn't like that I brought Harry Potter to school, because they promoted magic, and I remember thinking my mom was so brave and so tough when she told the nuns that she wasn't going to punish me for reading. In that moment, my mom was magic. The stories and themes the Harry Potter series focus on were so important to a little Heather. I have no doubt that I would be a different person if I never picked up the books.

I actually did a post about 20 lessons I have learned from the Harry Potter series 20th Anniversary of Philosopher's Stone, I'd love if you checked it out. It means a lot to me. 

Thanks for reading! 

Which books changed your life?

20 Lessons From Harry Potter

It has officially been 20 years since Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was published. I got Sorcerer's Stone when I was about seven. My Nanny got me the books and read them with me as they were published and we were hooked. In honor of her, and the 20th anniversary, I decided I would list 20 lessons I have learned because of the Harry Potter series.

[Book Blogger Hop] June 9-15th

 Book Blogger Hop

Book Blogger Hop's purpose is to give bloggers a chance to discover and follow other blogs, learn about new books, befriend bloggers, and gain followers. Each week the hop will start on a Friday and end on Thursday where there will be a weekly prompt following a bookish question.

Question:
If you could have lunch with any living authors and/or book bloggers, who would you choose and why?

Answer: 

There are a lot of authors I'd be honored to talk to, but (and this is something I've mentioned before) I think I would be so unsure of what to ask. I love to write, but I don't feel comfortable calling myself a writer. I think I would love to sit down with either J.K. Rowling or Becky Albertalli. I also wouldn't mind hugging Patrick Rothfuss, who seems like a literal sweetheart. I think instead of bombarding them with the normal questions about their career I would just want to talk to them about their lives, maybe current events, maybe get some inspirational advice from them over coffee or tea.

For book bloggers, honestly I would love to sit down with any book bloggers. Talking books and eating good food is always a great time. I am always up for more bookish friends. However, The ones that immediately come to mind are:

Erica from The Literary Apothecary 
Elizabeth from Silver's Reviews
Amy Nikita from A Magical World of Words

and of course Erica from Erica Robyn Reads. I know Erica in real life and I love being able to hang out with her. We went to high school together, but we now live in separate states and it really sucks to live in a different state away from your best friend! So going out for lunch with her would be an awesome treat!

 

Thanks for reading! 

What about you? Are there any authors or bloggers you'd love to go out to lunch with?

[Top 5 Wednesday] Gryffindor Books

It's time for this week's Top Five Wednesday! This has been created by gingerreadslainey and it also has a Goodreads group. I am hoping to do these posts (or other weekly Wednesday posts) more often as long as I am interested in the current prompt! This week's prompt is the top five books I think best represent my Hogwarts House traits, which would be Gryffindor.