[Review] NaoReads Harry Potter and The Cursed Child

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Special Edition from Wikipedia cover

Author: Jack Thorne
ISBN: 9780751565355
Price: RM119, depending on where you get it
Rating: 7/10
TL;DR: A fast read, for Harry Potter fans and completionists

The Cursed Child reads like a novella than a full-length novel. It’s short, simple and rather sweet. You can see traces of J.K. Rowling’s style, but overall, the book is a really good script that demands to be seen live rather than read.

Part of this is due to its format; it is really that easy to read. It’s also really light on details, simply because it’s supposed to be a play. If you grew up reading the books and the movies, then your mind will fill in the empty spots, and it’s an easy fill.

As it’s also supposed to be a play, there’s far more emphasis on the characters rather than the spectacle we got from the movies. We substitute our own ideas for what “Harry reins in his anger” means, rather than watching Daniel Radcliffe clench his fist, making it a more personable and relatable story.

Which brings me to the next point, the characters here are simply fantastic. Of course part of the fun is seeing Harry and Ginny and the rest of the Harry Potter cast all grown up. But what I loved reading most of all, was the friendship between Albus and Scorpius.

I personally love the friendship between Albus and Scorpius the most. It is very reminiscent of Harry’s own, but there are a lot of subtle differences that make it much more meaningful especially in this day and age. I also love the little touches that revealed how the characters, especially the older ones, have grown throughout the years.

We saw Draco for instance, reveal that he has a love for his son as much as his mother did. We see how Hermione still calls the shots even after all this time and how Ron is happy to be a henpecked husband. And I think, we see most of all, how Harry is not perfect and how Ginny, like Molly, understands her children very much.

Overall I would recommend Harry Potter and the cursed child only to fans and those who grew up on the series. If you’re just stepping foot into the world of Harry Potter, you might want to start off with the books first, or maybe the movies. If you are a fan, then you should get this book. It’s simply magical.

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