Sunday, 27 April 2008

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J.K. Rowling - Book Review


"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" was perhaps the most anticipated book ever. It certainly received a lot of media attention this year, before its release. The final book in the series, it was expected to provide an answer for all the many questions Harry Potter fans were speculating about. Would Harry survive? Would Voldemort win? What about Ron and Hermione – would they be alright? Would Harry and Ginny get back together? Was Dumbledore’s faith in Snape justified?

I was amongst those who had pre-ordered the book to find out all the answers. It was with mixed emotions that I received it on the day of its release, because I knew that after this there would be no more Harry Potter novels to look forward to. Of course, that didn’t stop me from settling down with the book immediately.

In this seventh installment of the series, we find Harry once more at Privet Drive, ready to say farewell to it for the last time. This year, he won’t be a student at Hogwarts. He has a task to complete – he needs to locate and destroy the remaining Horcruxes. Harry being Harry, he is determined to go alone rather than risk the lives of his friends. Things work out a bit different than planned, and soon he is on the run from the dark powers of Voldemort with Ron and Hermione at his side.

Like most Harry Potter novels, friendship, courage and hope are at the centre of the storyline. As I followed the characters on their near-hopeless quest, I felt despair on their behalf and I do admit I shed a couple of tears when everything got very bad.

The grand finale of the book and the inevitable confrontation between Harry and Voldemort is like a tightly woven web. Everything comes together in the lead up to the conclusion, and I found myself satisfied with the way it turned out.

Afterwards, we catch a glimpse of the future and get to find out what happened to the various remaining characters. I found this to be a nice bonus and closed the book with a smile.

There are only a couple of negative sides to "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows", in my opinion. My main grievance is the editing. It feels rushed, there are quite a few errors and there are many run-on sentences. I spotted one sentence of more than 90 words in length. This could potentially cause difficulties for some readers. There were a few instances where I felt the lengthy sentences took away from the tension, especially at crucial moments in the plot. Additionally, there was a lot of repetitiveness in description.

The second “issue” I have is that there seem to be some inconsistencies in the plot. Some aspects do not add up. Perhaps, to a casual reader, this will be unnoticeable but the editor in me made me flick back several times and re-read paragraphs. This did somewhat hinder the overall reading experience.

For parents wondering whether or not this book is suitable for younger children, I would advise you to give the book a read first. There are darker moments and a few characters do find their end. Some of them are popular characters, which could cause some upset.

Overall, I did enjoy this installment and I would certainly recommend it to others. J.K. Rowling is an excellent author who knows how to hold a reader’s attention. The plot is interesting and the characters are so believable you can’t help but feel for them and care for their fate.

According to the author bio, J.K. Rowling has written fiction since she was a child. She wrote her first “book” at the age of six. Her Harry Potter series is known throughout the world and loved by readers of all ages. Apart from the main series, Rowling has written two companion books, "Quidditch Through The Ages" and "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them", both in aid of Comic Relief.

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" was first published in 2007 by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, with ISBN 978-0-7475-9105-4.

Kit Marsters is an author on http://www.Writing.Com/ which is a site for Writers.

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Harry Potter Chess Set

Both advanced chess players and complete beginners can uncover the secrets of this very old game of kings because it has been never played before. Every chess piece have the unique characteristics and featured in the film is modeled visually on life-size pieces. The players become the generals and the board a battlefield where the troops are deployed and use their all strength, skill and stamina to have a winning strategy by capturing the enemy king and shouting ‘Checkmate’! and wash out the opposing army.

The issue 1 is on sale at a special introductory price. It also comes with the Magnetic black Rook first piece in addition with the Magnetic ‘Magic’ Wand that allows the players to move the magnetic pieces around the board without touching them.

The White Knight is included in the issue 2 and white ‘Exploding’ Pawn, which self-destructs in addition. The Knight lets out a winning ‘neigh’ while the Knight’s spectacular L-shaped leap is completed. Along with the card playing pieces and a temporary cardboard chessboard this issue comes so that the collectors may start the battle before the completion of their chess armies.

A model of Hermione’s Time-Turner and the original black ‘Exploding’ Pawn are included in issue 3.

For both the beginners (level one) and the more practiced players who are in level two, this chess set is divided in two sections. Harry Potter for ages 6+ are: the chess manual builds step by step in a full chess set as well as guide, along with many beautiful accessories enthused by the Harry Potter magical world, elucidated chessboard and with 32 chess pieces.

Full collection is comprised of:

With two levels the weekly issues of step-by-step guide for perfecting the skills and learning the game are here. The players are taught official rules in the level one: Chess, they are shown when to attack, how they move, where the pieces on the board to be kept, when to defend as well as how to get to the checkmate and check. Those who already know the game or who have finished the first level the level two: Chess Challenger is for them. It gives different opening moves, more tips on strategy, improving their skills and tactics.

• Every glowing corner displays Philosopher’s Stone chessboard, exclusive and illuminated Harry Potter - the crests of one among the four schoolhouses of Hogwarts.

• To make two full ‘armies’ 32 chess pieces are there and

• The additional accessories are enthused by Harry Potter’s magical world.

Swati Banerjee is the owner of Writing Ink, a web content management firm based out of India, that services clients from across the globe. Please take a minute to visit http://www.writing-ink.com to experience how the bright young minds here make magic with words!

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Creator of Harry Potter - Rowling In Name And Fame

The book & film series of Harry Potter has left the kids and elders spellbound. J K Rowling (Joanne Rowling), creator of this fantastic character of Harry Potter has written seven books to the date. The marketing strategy of releasing the final Harry Potter book and the fifth Harry Potter film simultaneously has created a magnificently manic response.

Ganesha finds it interesting to reflect on Rowling's last amazing ten years since the first mega-best seller started to roll.

She has Moon (emotional nature), Mercury (mental abilities) and Venus (social skills) in royal sign Leo. These three planetary positions suggest a methodical, pragmatic thinker who is keen to rich details. Leo, the sign traditionally associated with children being the 5th sign of Rasi chakra and the joyful spirit they convey. Also joining her three planets in Leo are Uranus and Pluto-two ethereal influences that stimulate a taste for the surprising and the unusual (Uranus) as well as an interest about that which is dark but deeply enthralling in nature (Pluto).

Neptune in the Ascendant enables the novelist to create entire imaginary landscapes that are strange and dreamlike but still powerful enough to capture the readers' full attention.

The transit of Uranus in 1997 and in 1998 made a very stimulating contact to J.K.'s Sun. This pattern happens once every 84 years. It is known to give certain people, especially those who are innovative and have special talents, name & fame out of the blue. As per Vedic Astrology she was under the influence of Rahu-Mercury Period. In D-10 Chart, Mercury in 9th house with Jupiter and Rahu placed in the 5th house in Gemini, indicate extraordinary success in profession. She has never looked back from that point of time and acquired name, fame and wealth during the whole Rahu Mahadahsa phase.

She is currently under the influence of Jupiter Mahadasha and Jupiter Bhukti. For the future, she's unlikely to retire instantly but will perhaps spend more time promoting her favorite causes. From April 2008, she will be under the influence of Jupiter mahadasha and Saturn Bhukti and Saturn is debiliated in the Navmansa chart and placed in the 8th house of D-10 chart. She will have to take extra care of her health and she may devote her life to the service of humanity and social causes.

Get daily horoscopes for Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces Horoscope at Ganeshaspeaks.com

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The Importance and Value of Books for Children

What’s your favorite fairy tale? Each one of us could answer this question rather easily. Fairy tales are an important part of our childhood. Our parents read them to us at bedtime allowing us to bond with them and meet our favorite heroes in dreamland as well.

Fairy tales and other similar types of stories are frequently found in books for children that are common at home or in libraries and in school. These books can really stir up the imagination of children and teach them good morals and values.

In the past, boy’s and girl’s preference for the kind of stories found in books for children differed. Boys are interested in stories about adventure like those of pirates, explorers, and pirates. Girls n the other hand are mostly to read about ponies or training as nurses.

Modern stories however cater to the interest of both sexes, and while in the past stories revolve around a group the same gender, today’s stories often combine them. The trio of Harry, Ron and Hermione in the Harry Potter series is a perfect example.

Most of the stories in the past also portray a pleasant world were children could wander around safely. In modern books for children however, girl characters like Hermione can get stuck in dangerous situations as much as their boy counterparts.

Nevertheless the mellow flavor of traditional stories is still part of their charm, it allows readers to be reassured by the idyllic world of classics like The Wind in the Willow.

Books for children can be quite lucrative. They can be found in our homes, day cares, and children libraries throughout the world. The characters have even been brought to life in movies. Disney made movies of the classics like, Peter Pan, Aladdin, Cinderella, and Snow White.

JK Rowling is recognized as today’s foremost wirier of books for children. She follows in the light o other writer’s in children’s fiction like Roald Dahl and JRR Tolkien. Her characters, Harry Potter and his friends are now world-famous and her stores have also been immortalized on the silver screen as well.

Her work is so appealing the children who had no attraction to reading are now awaiting the next potter book impatiently. Although her books have been criticized as having no place for religion and are exposing children to potentially harmful realm of magic they also teach values to children.

Courage, loyalty, and comradeship are just a few of the values hat can be learned from books for children Harry Potter.

Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning Books for Children. Visit our site for more helpful information about Books for Children and other similar topics.

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