Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows [Re-read]

Actually I have finished this book weeks ago, but…..I already knew that this seventh book of Harry Potter would be the most difficult to review. Why? Because there are so many actions, so many important details, so many touching scenes, and so high tension, that you’d wonder where to begin with…. But, a review must be made anyhow, so, I’ll try to be moderately short. :)

Harry’s separation with the Dursleys is so abrupt, but nevertheless, Dudley’s last words is quite touching. And I think it acts as a consolidation between Harry and the Dursleys. No matter how rude they have been to him all those years, nevertheless, without them, Harry would not have survived from Voldemort. Again, Rowling highlights the importance of home and family to protect you from the world’s evil; and before you come of age, do not leave that protection for your own good.

The trio’s journey to find the Horcruxes is very interesting. It seems to have prepared them to deal with much more dangerous situations later on. I admire their strong friendship; these hard times have tested and purified it. The journey is sometimes rather distressing, when they are in bad mood and don’t know what to do for days (I skipped here and there on this stint), but Rowling could maintain the balance with little news here or new knowledge there, which I think makes the whole story becomes more natural.

Snape’s memory Harry has the privilege to enter via the Pensieve is very intriguing. One thing in it keeps me wondering; it is the scene of Lily Potter saying goodbye to Petunia right before the Hogwarts Express is about to depart. How on earth can Petunia—a muggle—enter the platform 9 ¾ ? Is it another flaw? In the seventh book? Anyway, I can, once again, understand Petunia’s feeling at that time. The separation hurt her so much, that makes her grown as a bitter person. For Lily, it is a new revelation, and being with people of her own kind makes her happy. But for Petunia? It’s as if she had lost someone by death. Happiness for someone could mean sorrow for another.

In this last book, the true characters of (in particular) Harry and Ron is more emphasized, with all of their struggles beneath what they appear to be all those years. In fact, they are more dependent to each other than they think. Harry needs Ron’s reasonable judgment, while Ron needs Harry’s lead; but pride often appears between them. Fortunately, they have Hermione as the counter-balance, as well as the brain (I often think that they need Hermione like we need Google; what can we do without it? LOL!).

From all the characters, I feel sorry to Albus Severus, the second son of Harry and Ginny. I think, bearing three great names: Albus, Severus and Potter must be quite a burden for anyone. Can you imagine if your parents named you like... Alexandre Pompey Caesar; wouldn't it be uncomfortable for you, knowing their reputation, that as if you are forced to do great things too? I think, even in naming his children, Harry still could not resist to do great things. I prefer Ron and Hermione's names choices: Rose and Hugo, making it simple, so the kids have chances to grow up normally with their friends.

And last but not least, I was reminded again of the grand theme which Rowling spare for Harry Potter series. After I read all the seven, I began to understand that Harry Potter was not meant to be a pure fantasy novel. First, it is about how people build their characters through experiences and free choices, like J.K. Rowling says: “It matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be.” It’s not what they are born that is important, but what they do in life, that determines their future being.

Second, and the greatest value Rowling writes about, is LOVE; she wants to remind us of the power of love; to never stop believing it; and that love CAN destroy all kinds of evil—no matter how strong they are. And with that, Rowling actually talks about God, which is the Divine Love. In the world where evil take control, we seem to be weak, and it seems absurd that we are supposed to fight them who are much stronger. But don’t forget that Love is the most powerful agent in the universe, because “Where Love is, God is”; and as God is the Creator of the universe, who can beat Him? So, let us be brave like Harry, stand up against evil, fight like Hogwarts!

Five stars for The Deathly Hallows.

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*I read Bloomsbury hardback edition for:*

*This book is counted as:*

7^th book for Hotter Potter

5^th book for Read Big! Reading Challenge

16^th book for What’s in A Name Challenge 2013

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince [Re-read]

The Half-Blood Prince is where Rowling prepared us to the final and most important mission Harry, Ron and Hermione must have in the Deathly Hallows. Here is also the end of the cheerful and playful atmosphere in Hogwarts that had captured our hearts from the very beginning of Harry Potter series. In fact, the class scenes are already very limited here. Maybe Horace Slughorn’s class is the only one we read quite often about in this book, because it’s related to this book’s title: The Half-Blood Prince. It is the half-blood prince’s old Potion text book that leads Harry to be the star of their potion class and the dearest student of Slughorn.

Speaking about the half-blood prince, I come to think that by giving this book 'The Half-Blood Prince' title, Rowling is actually indicating that Severus Snape has and would have an important key role in Harry Potter stories—although it would have been revealed only at the end, he actually had had it from the first time, undetected. In this book too, I realizes how Snape is really a very talented teacher from the beginning; his only flaw is his unreasonable hatred to Griffindor’s students—thanks to the history of bullying he received when he was a student! I think, rather than Slughorn, I would love Snape to teach me Potion if I was studying at Hogwarts. :) And see how he taught Defense Against Dark-Arts class! I think he is the most suitable teacher to teach this particular subject because of his own passion in the Dark Arts--in this case, I must say that Snape has overshadowed Lupin in this subject.

My respect for Snape has also been growing since this sixth book—of course, it’s after I knew on whose side he really is. For one thing, Severus Snape is a man of steel nerves! Maybe it is an advantage—if you are a double agent—to be lacked of emotion. Snape is always cool, even in front of Voldemort, and that’s why he can cheat on him for years—imagine, cheating on Lord Voldemort! In the early part of this book, Snape is also forced to make an unbreakable vow by Narcissa Malfoy. I don’t know (forget, actually) whether Snape has learned Dumbledore’s secret plan or not at this point; I don’t think he has. And that made him very tactful to act accordingly in that situation.

It is in this book too that Rowling provides us with Voldemort’s history, an adequate background of what created a heartless dark wizard like Tom Riddle. Well…again, it was his childhood and family background that has made young Tom Riddle lost his humanity and emotion. I begin to see the big picture Rowling wants to show us; Harry Potter series turns out to be all about love—or the lack of it. Harry Potter survives from the Killing Curse because of his mother’s love shield; Tom Riddle turns up as Voldemort because his mother suffered from a tragic love; Snape betrays Voldemort because of his love to Lily Evans. Now I realize that Rowling is so genius in building her figures’ characters; she wants us to see that every person—good or bad—doesn’t come from nowhere, he is built by family and society, woven by thousands of small incidents and circumstances.

This sixth book also brings us to the first hint of Voldemort’s horcruxes; and Dumbledore's adventure with Harry which finally leads to his death. Just as my first read, and although I know the truth about it now, I was still touched by Dumbledore’s death scene. Not only because he died tragically—it is his plan, it turns out—but more because it means that Harry’s last hope of safety and comfort has gone forever, and now he is forced to do what the wizarding world expected him to do; whether he likes it or not, whether he’s ready or not.

Ah, last but not least, this book also marks the more solid friendship of the trio: Harry, Ron, Hermione. The love between Ron and Hermione is more distinguish now, and how deep is their friendship with Harry that they vow to accompany Harry searching for horcruxes rather than returning to Hogwarts. Coming from Ron, it’s quite understandable; but imagining Hermione sacrificing her school is very surprising. But then, it is not just a friendship, it’s doing what they could for their lives, the lives of people they care for, and for the (wizarding) society. In short, they do it because it’s the right thing to do.

Four and a half stars for the Half-Blood Prince, and I am torn between going directly to the Deathly Hallows after this, or keeping it as long as possible, because… it’s not comforting to realize that it will end up soon, and it might be a long time before I can go back to Harry Potter again; and at that time, I might find Harry Potter slightly different than it is now. What a dilemma!

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*I read Bloomsbury hardback edition for:*

6^th book for Hotter Potter

4^th book for Read Big! Reading Challenge

13^th book for What’s in A Name Challenge 2013

Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix [Re-read]

Things get much darker now as we come to the fifth book of Harry Potter; that even from the beginning Harry must deal with dementors who were coming his way within the Muggle’s territory! It is in this book that I begin to remember why the Dursleys keep taking care of Harry—although begrudgingly—all this time. You know, I begin to have a little sympathy for them, which I didn’t feel at my first reading. I came to think, how my family and I would react if we must take a relative who comes from another world and brings a lot of weird troubles. I can understand how the Dursleys yearn for a quiet and normal life, when they don’t have to think suspiciously whenever they see an owl or when there is something unusual happen in the neighborhood. And I have a respect for Petunia Dursley for keeping her promise to Dumbeldore these five years; anyway she had suffered greatly by the wizarding world, that I wish Harry and his friends could be more sympathetic to her.

The fifth book talks about how Ministry of Magic stubbornly refused the idea of Voldemort’s rising, and instead banning Dumbledore. Stripped from his power, Dumbledore formed The Order of the Phoenix whose main job is to consolidate the wizarding world and to build power against Voldemort. Meanwhile, Hogwarts suffered under Dolores Umbridge who was placed as Head of Inquisitor, or Ministry’s spy as a matter of fact. Here, again, Hermione came with a brilliant idea that students also need to practically learn how to defense against dark arts. So they formed ‘Dumbledore Army’, a group of students who learn to practice charms and jinxes from Harry, as the leader. Here is also where Harry tasted the bittersweet of love for the first time. I’m not disappointed of Harry and Cho’s breaking up in the end, because they were too far different. Cho would never understand the heavy burden Harry must take on his shoulders, while Harry could never understand how someone could take things so simple. Well, there’s nobody to blame, and their relationship was impossible from the first anyway.

The mysterious connection between Harry and Voldemort is slowly revealed in this book; how Harry’s and Voldemort’s mind or emotion could relate each other; how harry should learn Occlumency to shut down the connection—which he took it for granted because Harry was too determined to carry things by himself (typical teenager, of course); and how Voldemort finally trapped him to the Ministry of Magic. And what a deadly fight Harry and his friends had there with those Death Eaters! Hogwarts should be proud of having fifth grade students fought the enemies so bravely! And at the end, someone very dear to Harry must die. I remember years ago, when the fifth book was first published, J.K. Rowling warned us that one of Harry’s dear ‘friends’ was going to die. My friends and I kept guessing, who that would be, is it going to be Ron or Hermione? Dumbledore? Hagrid? Oh…the anticipation was really torturing us back then.

Harry’s real genuine character was revealed in this book, the good and also the bad. Just like his father—and Sirius—Harry is arrogant. He always thought himself on top of others, he was more proud rather than deploring his faith to be the biggest opponent of Voldemort. He liked to think about his own feeling, and was often indifferent of how his friends must have suffered from his raising temper just because he was kept in dark by others for his own good. I think in this book Harry Potter begins to annoy me. However, Harry also showed much bravery here. It’s no wonder that the sorting hat was confused when Harry first arrived at Hogwarts, to which House it should put him to. Harry possessed both qualities to be in Slytherin and Griffindor: he’s arrogant but he’s also brave. Now I begin to think that Snape was right from the beginning, Harry resembled his father a lot, especially James’ negative qualities.

Any act of bullying is always disgusted me, so I must say that I can never forgive James Potter for his rude bullying against Snape. Dumbledore, Lupin or Sirius might have said that it was only a fifteen years teenage foolishness, but I disagree. Harry, Ron and Neville were also fifteen years but their biggest flaws were perhaps breaking school rules and tempted to have quarrels with Malfoy; they never bullied others just for fun and because they didn’t like the victim. That.Is.Cruel! And I don’t think it’s right for others too to tell Harry that it was just foolishness. I think Snape was right (again); they (Lupin and Sirius) just worshiped James too much, that they failed to see that besides James’ brave and loyal qualities, he also had this bad side.

There are so many things in this fifth book that I can’t describe them all here, one of them is Ron’s being a prefect—with Hermione it’s natural, but for Ron..it’s..wow! I’m glad that Rowling spared chance for Ron to develop a bit here, instead of always being a shadow to Harry. In several occasions, I even think Ron was now more grown up and got wiser than Harry.

Four and a half stars for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

And as always, my favorite Dumbledore’s wise quote as a final treat….

“Harry, suffering like this proves you are still a man! This pain is part of being human— The fact that you can feel pain like this is your greater strength.”

~~~~~~~~

*I read ebook version for:*

5^th book for Hotter Potter

12^th book for What’s in A Name Challenge 2013

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire [Re-Read]

Goblet of Fire turns out to be one turning point for Harry Potter series. It is where Harry Potter is no longer children literature, and from this fourth series on it would become much deeper and darker. Even amidst the splendor and glittering of Quidditch World Cup, Rowling slipped for the first time the Dark Mark signal. Things are now getting serious, especially for Harry when the Triwizard Tournament takes place in Hogwarts. But the real blow is the rising of Voldemort, Cedric Diggory’s murder and the chaos in wizardry world after having been in a prosperous era for thirteen years. No wonder there are people (and most of the wizardry world) who denied the idea that Voldemort has returned. It’s not only about accepting ideas, but Voldemort’s rising would turn over the whole aspects in their world. It’s enormously difficult for greedy people like Cornelius Fudge to admit it, because it would mean a disaster for himself. And that’s why this book should be read by adults or young adults at least, who deal much with the real life, because what happens in this story might happen in the real world.

Like always, I would share my random thoughts during my re-reading of this book. Frankly speaking—except for the Quidditch Cup and Triwizard Tournament—I have forgotten almost the whole story. So, this second reading worked as refreshing and rekindling my feeling about it.

Speaking of the much darker theme of this book, even in the first lesson of the Defense Against Dark Arts class, Harry—in the midst of his cheerful moments in Hogwarts—must have thought painfully about his parents’ die. Here’s a child who never knew and couldn’t even imagine how his parents had died. From the beginning, Harry’s life was already full of violence…. :(

Now speaking about the Triwizard Tournament, it’s a real spicy bonus from Rowling. It’s a pity that the tournament turns out to be only Voldemort’s tool to get Harry, and thus it’s far from fair. I don’t think Harry would even be a strong competitor if he doesn’t always get clues from others before the tasks. One thing I’m wondering though…we know how Fleur and Krum got their clues for the first task—the dragons; but how do they get to know the second one? I don’t think Cedric would tell them, he told Harry only because he owed Harry the first task’s clue. Now, do you think the fake Moody would bother to tell them? I don’t think so, because it’s going to be easier to let Harry win if two of the champions fail. Do Fleur and Krum find it out themselves only minutes before the task? But that would prove they are really good. I can imagine Krum as a talented wizard, but Fleur…. I doubt it, considering her failing on first task. So, is this another Rowling’s flaw or do you have better idea? :)

I consider this book as the Harry Potters turning point, not merely of the dark theme, but also the touch of humanity Rowling sprinkles into this story. I’m talking about Hermione with her SPEW campaign and elf issue. Actually we have been familiar with the similar issue with pure blood and mudblood issue from the previous series, however here we get some action, some momentum to fight the social injustice. More than status, elf issue means slavery. And from how the elfs (except Dobby) resist to be freed, I’ve been thinking that the real human slavery, as well as colonialism, can go on hundreds of years because people get used to the treatment; until someday, only when there would be someone who’s sensible and brave enough to fight for their independence, they would be fully independent.

And then this came to my mind, how hard it is for us to accept transformation; how difficult it is to make us think outside the box. Being in the comfort zone would always be most of our choices, although we also keep complaining of life being so hard, etc. Wizards don’t want to hear that Voldemort is back; Elfs don’t want to be freed; both because they can’t afford to have their comfort zone to be ripped out from them and to be replaced by something new they know nothing about. That’s pathetic!

Now we come to the sentimental aspects of this book :) Although Cedric’s tragic death seems to be the scene that shed tears the most, it did not touch me the way I did on first reading. On the contrary, scenes of Hagrid in the bitterness of being a half-giant, or Ron of being poor, touched me deeper than anything else throughout the book.

Here’s Hagrid’s wise quote:

“Yeh know what I’d love, Harry? I’d love yeh ter win, I really would. It’d show ‘em all…. Yeh don’ have ter be pure blood ter do it. Yeh don’ have ter be ashamed of what yeh are. It’d show ‘em Dumbledore’s the one who’s got it righ’, letting anyone in as long as they can do magic.”

What a lesson that is, ‘You don’t have to be ashamed of what you are!”. Bravo Hagrid!!

And my most heartbreaking scene came from the following passage, this time Ron’s speaking to Harry when they both knew that Leprechaun’s money was fake, it’d disappear after few days. Ron just realized that the Leprechaun’s money he got from Quidditch World Cup, which he gave Harry to pay for the thing Harry bought him (I forget the goods, is it Sneakoscope?), never existed. And Harry never told him about this.

The thing is, although he is very poor (and this applies to the whole family, not only in Ron), Ron never asks for pity or begs from others. This is not just a snobbish proud, but a noble principle. The Leprechaun’s gold coins are perhaps the only treasure he has ever possessed; and yet, he gave it to Harry to pay for the gift so that he’d never owe anything to Harry. Ron is so proud that he can give his treasure to his wealthy friend, whom he always secretly envies. So I can imagine how it feels for Ron knowing that he had given Harry false gold coins; and most of all because Harry never mentioned it that just highlighted Ron’s poorness. It hurts so much when people emphasize the fact that you are poor; even when it’s the truth, really! So, when Harry gives Ron an indifferent answer that he never realized about the missing gold coin, Ron breaks down. These passages scratched my heart deeply….

“Must be nice, to have so much money you don’t notice if a pocketful of Galleons goes missing.”

“I didn’t know Leprechaun gold vanishes. I thought I was paying you back.”

“I hate being poor.”

Oh…poor Ron, and with all you must have gone through, being a friend to a wealthy famous Harry Potter, you are a true friend till the end. Really, it’s you who should be called a great wizard, not Potter! Potter got all of it from friendly circumstances, you do all of you’ve done in spite of unfriendly circumstances!

Four and a half stars for Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

And to end this review, as usual, I’m summoning Dumbledore here to share his wise words…

“It matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be!”

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*I read ebook version for:*

4^th book for Hotter Potter

9^th book for What’s in A Name Challenge 2013

Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban [Re-Read]

The third book in this series turns out to be more mature and much darker than the two previous books. This is where we are introduced to the dementors, the dark signs (Trelawney’s prophecy and the Grimm superstitious), as well as the fear which was pervading in the wizarding and in muggle world from Sirius Black’s escape from Azkaban.

This book was opened, as usual, with Harry’s troubled relationship with the Dursleys, although this year was also his happiest birthday in his entire life; he got gifts from Ron, Hermione and Hagrid. His days in Diagon Alley—where Cornelius Fudge placed him after he had run away from the Dursleys—were perfect too. I am a fan of entertaining myself alone; the freedom of watching or shopping anywhere I like is very enjoyable; and that’s why I could appreciate Harry’s feeling at his last weeks of holidays there. Writing essays while enjoying the flowing ice-cream at Florian Fortesque, isn’t it the most awesome holiday in the world? :) And it was topped by the arrivals of the Weasleys and Hermione to join him before starting their third term in Hogwarts.

However, it is in this third series that my liking of Harry was slightly reduced. Here is the hint of his snobbery, because he was ‘the boy who lived’, because he has escaped Voldemort’s attack thrice before. “Did they think he (Harry) couldn’t look after himself? He’d escaped Lord Voldemort three times; he wasn’t completely useless…” Harry must have forgotten that in those three events, he was helped by others? Other might said he was a lucky boy, but I think it’s not merely lucky, but because he was destined to do big things for his world and humanity.

Obedience—or in this case, disobedience—was also Harry’s weakness. I know that as teenager, we don’t like to be told to do or not to do things, teenagers like to do things in their impulsive and foolish way. But I find that aspect is quite overdose in Harry. It’s not just bravery, but more than that. Harry felt that “I don’t go looking for trouble, trouble usually finds me”,  that might be true at first, Harry didn’t ask to be Voldemort’s sparing partner in the first place, but he was often carried away to meddle in other things that’s not his concerns. Maybe Harry inherited it from his father James—whom, I admit, was one I dislike most of all protagonists in the series. Harry has many great qualities, but those two—snobbery and disobedience—were not in it.

Among his great qualities, his loyalty in friendship is what I admire. But in that case, Ron and Hermione have their equal shares too. When the Hogsmeade’s weekends came, Ron and Hermione put off their quarrel because Harry was sad of not being able to enjoy Hogsmeade’s festivities. I was amazed when the three of them chased Scabbers—who was chased by Crookshanks—then the black dog attacked them, Ron put himself in Harry’s place by pushing Harry aside and let himself being exposed to the dog. It was an impulsive move, where you don’t have even a second to think, and by that, we know that Ron—despite of being always Harry’s shadow, and I know there’s a bit envy in him—cared so much for Harry, that he sacrificed himself to save his best friend. Isn’t amazing? And at the age of thirteen! Well that, I think, that made me liking Ron more than Harry from this series on…

But I think, the friendship of the ‘Moony-Wormtail-Padfoot-Prongs’ group is more distinguished in this series than of Harry-Ron-Hermione’s. It amazed me more how Sirius, James and Peter—when they knew that Lupin was a werewolf—instead of abandoning Lupin, they share Lupin’s unbearable moments by being Animagi. And they have put great efforts to secretly exercise to perform Animagus. Like Lupin said:

“They couldn’t keep me company as humans, so they keep me company as animals.”

What a huge sacrifice they had done for one friend! This was probably the most touching part for me in this book.

If there is one single thing that I can criticize from Prisoner of Azkaban, it is how quickly Harry put trust in Sirius Black. One moment he was so sure that Sirius has killed his parents, and just after Sirius told them the truth, Harry was suddenly trust him? While he was so difficult to trust Snape—it took years for him, till the end actually—despite the fact that Dumbledore trust him so much? Well…I think it’s rather too quick to believe. But apart from that, I love this book! Four stars for The Prisoner of Azkaban, which I must label as to be read for teenagers of 14 years above, and….can’t wait to get to number 4!

Favorite quotes or passages:

"You think the dead we loved ever truly leave us? You think that we don't recall them more clearly than ever in time of great trouble? Your father is alive in you, Harry, and shows himself most plainly when you have need of him." ~Albus Dumbledore

"You know, Harry, in a way, you did see your father last night... You found him inside yourself." ~Albus Dumbledore

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*I read ebook version for:*

3^rd book for Hotter Potter

9^th book for What’s in A Name Challenge 2013

3^rd book for Fun Year Event with Children's Literature

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets [Re-Read]

Of the seven series of Harry Potter, this second series is probably the one I have forgotten the most. I did not remember anything about what is The Chamber of Secrets or what was inside it, so I entered this story quite like a total stranger. Flowing with the story, I began to remember why I loved this story when I first read it years ago, and why—unlike most of serial stories—I didn’t find this second series boring. From the early pages, important things have already emerged, one by one, while Rowling took us to remember few details from the first series.

In this second series, Dobby opened the whole story with his warning to Harry to not going back to Hogwarts, because something dangerous has already waited for him there. I don’t know why I’ve never liked Dobby from the beginning. I know, he ought to be cute and kind, but he annoys me often with his excessive adoration to Harry. Dobby seemed to think only of himself and his own kinds when he created dirty tricks to prevent Harry from going back to Hogwarts; tricks that in the end put Harry in dangers. He did it because the elfs were afraid of their future if Voldemort back to reign the wizardry world, and Harry was their only hope because he’s the only wizard survived from Voldi’s attack. Isn’t it very selfish and narrow minded?

Apart from that, everything goes quite enjoyable until the end—oh, except whenever the pathetic Gilderoy Lockhart appeared! The most amusing part of him was when he lost his memory in the Chamber of Secrets! LOL… Harry and Ron’s adventure with the flying car was my favorite, it showed how it’s only natural for them—as ordinary teenagers—to not wisely think of any other way to go to Hogwarts than flying the car. They didn’t think of consequences, they only enjoyed the freedom of taking their own control, the delight of new adventure, and the exciting chance to show off to the whole school; typical teenagers…

Rowling was quite witty too here, when she narrated Hermione—when teacher asking questions—as ‘sounding as usual as though she had swallowed the textbook’…. :P And of course, the early-term quiz in Defense Against Dark Arts class made me laugh heartily, when Lockhart’s questions were all about him; from his favorite color to ideal birthday gift for him, LOL!!

In this second series Rowling begin to talk about racism issue, by picturing that in wizardry world there are people who think they were the highest species in the world, and to get rid of others than their race would make the world better. The Pureblood, mudblood, and squibs issues dominated the whole story.

Here’s also where Rowling begin to introduce us to Voldemort; she takes us to understand Voldemort’s background that made him the darkest and cruelest cold-hearted wizard. Again Rowling reminds me that one’s character is partly built from his childhood—by education and circumstances—but what he would have become in the future, was also defined by his own choices and decisions. In the case of Tom Riddle, he was an orphan from a mudblood couple, raised in hatred surrounding (his father ignored him because his mother was a witch), and then lived bitterly in an orphan house, and became a solitary child who couldn’t love and—in consequence—didn’t find love in others. I think the ‘hatred’ aspect had made him evil. If we compared Riddle with Potter, Potter was an orphan too, but although he lived miserably with the Dursleys, he was loved by his parents and later on by his friends. And that created a big difference in how they became and how they chose their future. Both Riddle and Potter possessed qualities of being a Slytherin, but Riddle—with his hatred and bitterness—chose Slytherin and dark arts for his future, while Potter insisted to choose Griffindor when the Sorting Hat gave him the alternative of being in Slytherin.

And there are still few other things that caught my attention. First, how brave Harry was when he was face to face with Voldemort (in Riddle’s image) in Chamber of Secrets. He even insulted him when Voldi said that he had become the great sorcerer in the world. And when his life was in danger, Harry showed his loyalty to Dumbledore by defending him, which summoned Fawkes the Phoenix to the rescue.

I also admired the strong bound of Harry, Ron and Hermione’s friendship in their second year. When each of them faced difficulties, the others would stand by and supported their friend. When Ron and Hermione found out that Harry could speak Parsletounge—which was a terrifying fact—they did not accused him of being a Slytherin heir or stayed away from him like others; they trusted Harry of what he was, and concerned about that fact together. When Ron was belching slugs after using his repaired wand, Harry and Hermione did not laugh at him, they helped and took care of him. When Hermione accidentally turned to a cat after drinking Polyjuice, Harry and Ron did not laugh or tease her either. It is so comforting to have friends that always support us, in good or bad.

One thing I’m still wondering though, how do you think the Dursleys sent Harry his gift brought by the owl?

Four stars for Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, a book which is, I think, suitable for 12 years and above teenagers and, of course, adults!

Lastly, I always love these wise quotes from Dumbeldore….

“Help will always be given at Hogwarts to those who ask for it.”

“It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.”

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*I read ebook version*

*This book is counted as*

2^nd book for Hotter Potter

2^nd book for Fun Year Event with Children's Literature

6^th book for What’s in A Name Challenge 2013

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone [Re-read]

After more than ten years, I suddenly craved to re-read Harry Potter series. I wanted to know how I'd think about it now, after my reading interest had been moving to literary and classics books. Then I read the translated version, now I picked the English version (e-book); and I found that nearly everything has changed (in the experience of reading). First of all, while I still enjoy reading it, the book did not fascinate me the way it did ten years ago. Maybe it’s because I have been familiar with the wizarding and Hogwarts world, and with the story? I don’t know… On the other hand, now I could sympathize more with the characters, I spent more time to analyze them, why they became how they were, and how they must have felt. It perhaps had something to do with my being more mature than before.

Anyway, I’ll break down here all I have felt and thought during my reading, but now and then you might find some spoilers of the rest of the series, I warn you!—although I think most of you must have read Harry Potter; if you haven’t, what are you waiting for? Grab and read them! :)

One thing has never changed, I always love how Rowling started this story, with the peculiar things happened around Privet Drive number 4, McGonagall sat as a stiff cat, Dumbledore came and turned out the street lamps, the witty dialogue between McGonagall and Dumbledore, Harry’s first trip to Diagon Alley, and the first years’ sail to Hogwarts; it all had a magical sense that had never ceased in me. I feel that somehow Harry was never too surprised to find the peculiarity about wizarding world and the fact that he was a wizard. I think this helps the readers too to be absorbed into the story quickly, never feel it too strange to be true.

From this second reading, I also realized how Harry’s life has always been hard, even from he’s a baby, Harry must struggle through his whole life. He was nearly dead because the greatest dark wizard wanted to kill him. After that he must live with a family who hated him so much and never treated him properly; must go to school where he didn’t have any friends and must went through bullying nearly everyday. In short, Harry’s whole life was miserable…until he found what he was: a wizard.

But still, from the moment he entered Leaky Cauldron, Harry had been burdened by people’s high expectation on him—the boy who lived—while he was nobody. In Hogwarts, people scowled at him when he did a mistake—a hero should bring them something good, not doing something careless that hurt them. Do you realize that Hagrid was the first person who showed his care for Harry, the first time in his life he felt a touch of love, that he was not alone in this world? Remember when Harry received a letter from Hogwarts (the summon to enter the school), a letter that was addressed to him? How—for the first time—Harry knew that he belonged to something, that he was accepted and expected, someone has sent him a letter!

I was very touched by the scene where Harry ‘met’ his parents and relatives through the Mirror of Erised; it must be a lonely life when you did not have parents and relatives who loved you; how Harry must have longed for her mother’s touch of love, that he risked being caught by Filch or anybody for wandering at night, only to meet his parents. And speaking of risks, who wouldn’t risk breaking school’s rules when you know that the most feared wizard who had killed both your parents was somewhere out there wanted to kill you? So, it’s not just because Harry wanted to meddle with things he shouldn’t in the first place, it’s because he was so connected to Voldemort; it was he who Voldemort was after. It became personal for Harry at first, but I think Harry also have concerns for the wizarding world and Hogwarts particularly. In some way, it’s about humanity too.

Other thing I have never thought I’d think about was Aunt Petunia. Really, I felt sorry for Petunia Dursley; I can understand why she became that bitter woman who hated Harry and was so irritated everytime her sister’s name or world had been mentioned. It must have been tough for her; Lily, who at first her loving sister, with whom she had spent a lot of time growing together, was suddenly taken away from her by the wizarding world. I can understand that she hated that world now, more than anyone else.

One thing left unanswered for me after I finished this book is about Voldemort. If all those times Voldemort had been taking part of Quirell’s body, why hadn’t he given any signs to Snape—everytime Snape got suspicios to Quirell—that it was his master’s business and that he shouldn’t stand up against Quirell? And if Quirell knew that Snape had protected Potter all those times, didn’t Voldemort knew it too and got suspicious of Snape being disloyal? Or was it because Voldemort hadn’t been strong enough and he knew that his followers wouldn’t return to him unless he regained his power, that he kept silence? Well, it’s most likely so, anyway, it’s typical weakness of men for being loyal only to the strongest party from whom they can earn a comfortable life, isn’t it?

Speaking about Snape, only now I realize how he—despite of his obvious disliking of Harry—always protected Harry from the beginning. Dumbledore mentioned it as a way Snape got even with Harry’s father for saving his life once, but we all knew why Snape did it. I just only realized it now that it has started from the beginning. I’m just wondering how it feels for Snape when he caught Harry’s green eyes for the first time after eleven years….

Last but not least, I’m always fond of J.K. Rowlings’s wisdoms, I’ll quote some of them…

“The mirror (the Mirror of Erised) will give us neither knowledge nor truth. Men have wasted away before it, entranced by what they have seen, or been driven to mad, not knowing if what it shows is real or even possible.” >> “It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.” ~Albus Dumbledore

“The two things—money and life—most human beings would choose above all—the trouble is, humans do have a knack of choosing precisely those things that are worst for them.” ~Albus Dumbledore

“Your mother died to save you. If there is one thing Voldemort cannot understand, it is love. He didn’t realize that love as powerful as your mother’s for you have its own mark. Not a scar, no visible signs…to have been loved so deeply, even though the person who loved us is gone, will give us some protection forever.” ~Albus Dumbledore (Oh, how deep and beautiful Rowling’s interpretation of love is!)

This one is from Firenze, the Centaur. I’m sad at the scene of Voldemort killed the innocent Unicorn to drink its blood.

“You have slain something pure and defenseless to save yourself, and you will have but a half-life, a cursed life, from the moment the blood touches your lips.” ~Firenze

I think it’s a good lesson for us to not doing bad things to the weak and innocents, I always believe that it will return to us somehow.

Well, in the end, I cannot say that I’m fascinated by this book the second time, but I got so many moral lessons and a deeper understanding about human being from it. Four stars for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, and I can’t wait to reread the second sequel next month!

~~~~~

*I read e-book version for:*

1st book for Hotter Potter

1st book for Fun Year Event with Children's Literature

1st book for What's In A Name Reading Challenge 2013

The Last Secret

"Cotton Stone tidak sama seperti kita," kata Tyler. "Dia adalah..."

"Dia adalah keturunan malaikat," kata Sri Paus.

"Maaf?" Wyatt berkata, menghembuskan napas.

Dan seperti itulah juga reaksiku, berkali-kali sepanjang membaca buku ini, "maaf..?"

The Last Secret adalah sekuel dari The Holy Grail yang mengisahkan Cotten Stone--wanita muda jurnalis yang mengkhususkan diri pada liputan-liputan berbau keagamaan. Di Holy Grail ia menjadi pahlawan karena mematahkan rencana sebuah organisasi yang hendak mengkloning Kristus dengan menggunakan DNA dari darahNya yang tertinggal di Cawan Suci. [Errr..maaf...?]

Bagaimana Cotten bisa sehebat itu? Seperti sudah kuungkap lewat dialog awal tadi, Cotten adalah putri malaikat. Tepatnya salah satu Malaikat Jatuh, yaitu antek-antek Lucifer yang dulu memberontak terhadap Tuhan lalu dibuang dari surga. Saat ini para Nefilim (sebutan malaikat jatuh) sedang merencanakan pembalasan terhadap Tuhan, lewat agen-agen (manusia) mereka. Yang bisa menggagalkan mereka hanyalah Cotten yang harus menemukan tablet kristal berisi tulisan tangan Tuhan sendiri [sekali lagi..maaf...?] tentang cara menyelamatkan umat manusia dari kiamat. Hingga di sini jelaslah bahwa, seperti biasa, ini adalah pertempuran antara si jahat (legiun Lucifer digambarkan lewat kabut hitam tebal dan sekawanan kunang-kunang) dan si baik.

Sementara itu dunia sedang dilanda wabah bunuh diri yang kian mencemaskan, yang jelas adalah pertanda dan ancaman dari setan. Cotten dan orang-orang dari Vatican harus berlomba-lomba menemukan tablet kristal itu dan memecahkan rahasianya sebelum kekacauan melanda umat manusia.

Terus terang saja aku orang yang memegang prinsip yang tegas tentang masalah iman. Anda boleh menganggapku fanatik atau apa, tapi menurutku ada batasan tegas antara sesuatu yang pantas dan tidak pantas diutak-atik bila berkaitan dengan iman dan Tuhan. Sampai sekarang aku masih tak mengerti bagaimana para penulis macam Dan Brown dsb itu bisa mempermainkan iman mereka demi sensasi. Maka maaf saja kalau aku sama sekali tak mampu menikmati buku ini (atau buku-buku lain sejenis) yang isinya absurd bagiku. Bagaimana aku bisa mengagumi sebuah karya kalau aku tak mampu menghormati penulisnya?

Usaha mengkloning Kristus dari darah yang ada di cawan suci, errr...maaf, bukannya isi cawan itu anggur ya? Tapi mungkin saja ceritanya memang diubah karena penulis fiksi toh bisa menulis apapun, lagipula aku memang belum membaca Holy Grail, jadi aku pun tak bisa berkomentar banyak.

Kalau dimaksudkan sebagai kisah thriller, The Last Secret termasuk biasa-biasa saja. Mungkin yang membuatnya lumayan menghibur adalah settingnya yang mengambil peradaban yang telah lenyap, yaitu Macchu Pichu sehingga kita sempat melihat sedikit budaya mereka. Sedangkan penggambaran tentang tiga orang antek setan yaitu Eli, Mariah dan Richard...yah, cukup membuatku muak. Untunglah untuk endingnya, Sholes dan Moore menggiring pembaca untuk melihat kebenaran, bahwa satu-satunya cara menghindari 'kebinasaan' adalah kembali ke jalan yang benar alias bertobat. Semoga saja sang penulis juga 'bertobat' dan menulis hal-hal yang lebih bermanfaat dan membangun. Semoga!

Ada satu quote yang bisa kupetik dari buku ini:

"Jika kau tergesa-gesa, banyak yang akan terlewatkan dan kau akan melaluinya tanpa pernah melihatnya. Semua masalah--semua jawaban--diberikan kepads kita bila kita telah siap menerimanya." ~hlm. 121

Dua bintang untuk The Last Secret.

Judul : The Last Secret

Penulis: Lynn Sholes & Joe Moore

Penerjemah : Istiani Prajoko

Penerbit: Serambi

Terbit: April 2012

Tebal: 505 hlm

Harry Potter 7: The Deathly Hallows

Dapat dikatakan ini adalah ulasan yang tertunda. Yah...amat tertunda. Karena, aku telah tamat membaca seri terakhir Harry Potter sekitar 3 tahun lalu. Itu yang pertama kali. Baru-baru ini aku membaca buku seri ke 7 ini untuk yang kedua kalinya. Dan menulis ulasan ini pada saat ini rasanya pas sekali, karena saat ini sedang heboh-hebohnya film bagian pertama The Deathly Hallows diputar di bioskop-bioskop di Indonesia.

Sebenarnya aku sudah pernah menulis tentang Harry Potter di sini, namun tulisan itu menyoroti Harry Potter secara keseluruhan, dan pesan terbesar yang terkandung dalam kisah fiksi yang digandrungi dari anak-anak hingga orang dewasa ini. Nah, di tulisan kali ini aku ingin menulis khusus tentang bagian terakhir yang penuh ketegangan, yang sudah mulai terasa bahkan pada halaman pertama. Selain itu, pesan tentang kemanusiaan, cinta, persahabatan serta kesetiaan begitu kental terasa di buku ini. Bagi yang belum pernah membaca, semoga akan mulai terpikat membaca buku Harry Potter, dan bagi yang sudah membaca, semoga tersegarkan ingatan anda setelah membaca ulasan ini...

Harry Potter. Menyebutkan nama ini, tak lengkap rasanya kalau tak menyebutkan juga Lord Voldemort, musuh bebuyutannya. Harry dan Voldemort bagaikan dua kutub yang berbeda, meski kalau didekatkan juga akan saling menarik satu sama lain, persis seperti dua kutub magnet. Harry dan Voldemort sama-sama yatim piatu dan sama-sama sekolah di Hogwarts. Harry mewakili sosok manusia yang baik, Voldemort semenjak kecil memang punya sifat jahat. Dalam buku ke-7 ini Harry mengemban tugas dari Profesor Dumbledore untuk mengenyahkan si duri-dalam-daging di jagad sihir ini: Voldemort.

Namun tugas itu tidak gampang karena Voldemort telah membagi dan menyimpan jiwanya ke dalam 7 benda yang disebut Horcrux. Tak ada yang tahu benda apa saja Horcrux-Horcrux itu, dan di mana letak persembunyiannya, selain Voldemort sendiri. Harry Potter bersama kedua sobatnya: Ron dan Hermione harus menemukannya sebelum Voldemort dan pasukan Pelahap Mautnya menguasai dunia sihir dan membawa bencana bagi, bukan saja para penyihir, namun juga para Muggles (manusia biasa yang bukan penyihir).

Aku membayangkan begitu besar dan beratnya beban yang ditanggung oleh seorang remaja berusia 17 tahun. Ia tak punya keluarga, menjadi buronan Kementrian Sihir karena Kementrian itu sudah dikuasai Voldemort yang ingin membunuhnya, sementara ia harus melakukan sebuah tugas maha berat dengan hanya sedikit sekali petunjuk akan apa yang harus ia cari, dan di mana ia harus mulai mencari.

Putus asa tampaknya adalah reaksi yang logis. Pada titik tertentu bahkan Harry sendiri mulai meragukan "kewarasan" Dumbledore. Mengapa ia memberikan tugas tanpa petunjuk yang memadai? Namun tampaknya sang takdir memang membawanya ke berbagai peristiwa dan tempat yang berbahaya, yang berkali-kali membawa Harry, Ron dan Hermione pada petualangan yang mendebarkan tapi sekaligus mencerahkan. Satu persatu Horcrux itu mulai terungkap, dan makin dekatlah mereka pada tujuan akhir. Namun, tentu saja semuanya tak begitu saja dengan mudahnya terungkap.

Yang paling menarik bagiku, terutama saat membaca kedua kalinya ini, bukan lagi pada perburuan Horcrux itu sendiri, tapi lebih pada pergolakan batin Harry, Ron dan Hermione ketika menghadapi segala masalah. Yang paling ekstrim adalah ketika Ron kecewa setelah (ia merasa) mereka tak mengalami kemajuan sedikit pun, lalu pergi meninggalkan Harry dan Hermione. Betapa nampak di situ emosi sekaligus pikiran Harry dan Hermione menjadi kacau. Bagaimana reaksi mereka bertiga saat akhirnya bertemu kembali, dan bagaimana perpisahan sementara itu lebih mengentalkan persahabatan mereka, pantas kita ukir dalam sanubari kita. Sahabat yang baik bukan sahabat yang terus menguntit kita walaupun mereka tak sependapat dengan kita, tapi mereka yang tetap kembali pada kita setelah berselisih paham, karena mereka menyayangi kita.

Harry Potter juga mengajarkan pada kita untuk memperlakukan semua orang, baik yang sama maupun yang berbeda dari kita secara sama dan sejajar. Perhatikan di buku ini, sosok-sosok lain di dunia sihir: peri rumah dan goblin tetap diperlakukan sama oleh Harry, meski secara umum mereka adalah masyarakat kasta rendah di dunia sihir. Bahkan saat salah satu peri rumah itu meninggal, Harry dengan susah payah menggali kubur untuknya, padahal sesama penyihir saja biasa menggunakan mantra sihir untuk menguburkan teman mereka. Harry menunjukkan bahwa ia menghargai sahabatnya bukan karena siapa dia, tetapi karena apa yang telah diperbuatnya.

Kita juga belajar tentang ekses yang ditimbulkan oleh ejekan, pelecehan dan semua bentuk perilaku yang merendahkan sesama. Severus Snape adalah contoh penyihir berdarah campuran yang miskin dan ‘aneh’ sehingga menjadi obyek bullying oleh James Potter & the gang. Lihat bagaimana Snape menjadi demikian benci pada James sehingga kebencian itu akhirnya ditimpakan pada Harry. Lihat pula bagaimana peristiwa masa lalu itu dapat menjadikan kegetiran pada seseorang, yang bahkan akan membuat seorang yang sesungguhnya berhati emas dapat tampak menjadi begitu jahat. Kalau anda bertanya padaku, siapa yang baik dan siapa yang jahat: James Potter atau Severus Snape? Maka aku akan menjawab: James Potter itu si jahat dan Severus Snape itu si baik. Karena mempermainkan orang lain dan menjadikannya tertawaan menurutku adalah perbuatan jahat yang kejam. Sedangkan melakukan perbuatan baik secara diam-diam meski harus disangka jahat, itulah ‘the real golden’ !

Kita juga belajar tentang kekuatan terbesar yang mampu mengalahkan kejahatan yang sejahat apapun: CINTA. Cinta mampu membuat seorang dengan keterbatasan seperti Harry berani menghadapai penyihir paling pandai: Voldemort >> Cinta itu berani. Cinta juga mampu membuat seorang yang dilahirkan dan hidup di lingkungan hitam tetap setia menjalankan tugas demi kebaikan >>Cinta itu setia.

Akhirnya kita belajar, bahwa dalam hidup ini selalu ada yang putih dan yang hitam, yang baik dan yang jahat. Manusia selalu memiliki kesempatan untuk memilih. Seperti juga halnya si kecil Albus Severus yang kebingungan menghadapi The Sorting Hat. Tak ada Sorting Hat manapun yang bisa menjadikan kita baik atau jahat. Hanya kita sendirilah yang memutuskan, apakah kita mau menjadi baik atau menjadi jahat. Severus Snape sudah memilih jalannya, dan pasti begitulah juga yang terjadi dengan si kecil Albus Severus…

*sudah tak sabar untuk menonton filmnya dalam minggu ini…*