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(More customer reviews)A standard for every magic library
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Showing posts with label alchemy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label alchemy. Show all posts
The Encyclopedia of Magic and Alchemy Review
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(More customer reviews)A standard for every magic library
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The Emerald Tablet (Forgotten Worlds) Review
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(More customer reviews)The Emerald Tablet is a science fiction novel, the first of a trilogy for middle grade readers (target ages 8-14, with an emphasis on 11+, I believe). Anyone who enjoyed discovering the world of magic with Harry Potter will enjoy diving into a different magical world with Benjamin Holt and his friends. The group forms after meeting up at a summer school on the hidden, submerged continent of Lemuria. Can you imagine finding out one day that you have amazing "magical" skills - and that you've come from an underwater continent? What a plot line (and for you Potter fans, the experience is TOTALLY different from Harry's)!
In the midst of developing teleportation, telekenesis, telepathy and other new found skills, Benjamin and his friends discover the magical Emerald Tablet and find they must work together to save the world and battle adversaries from Atlantis (Lemuria's rival hidden continent). This is no easy summer school experience!
Filled with adventure, unusual experiences, plot twists and character trials, The Emerald Tablet is a book readers will not want to put down. Readers will find themselves in a new and exciting world, anxious to learn more about Lemuria and the conflict with Atlantis. Though their dialogue is sometimes lengthy, the characters are likable and easy to identify with: the curious bookworm, the competitive best friend, the confident girl, the shy and uncertain yet strong girl, and the confused but determined protagonist. I look forward to seeing how they continue to develop and what they tackle together in the next book!
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Benjamin and his best friend Andy love being different from the other kids. They like being able to read each others minds and use their telekinesis to play tricks. In fact, they are getting set to spend their entire summer doing just that when Benjamin s mirror starts talking. Suddenly, he s looking at eight weeks of summer school someplace that can only be reached by a teleporter hidden in his hallway. And the summer only gets stranger. At school, Benjamin discovers that he isn t really human but something called a telegen. It turns out that the powers he always thought made him special only make him normal. But then the mysterious Emerald Tablet chooses him as its champion, and all chances of a uneventful (well, as uneventful as summer school on a hidden, submerged continent can be) disappears.
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The Sorceress (The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel) Review
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(More customer reviews)I have been wating for this book for about a year now, and it was well worth the wait. I read it in one sitting. This series is fast paced, inventive, and full of very developed characters. As an adult reader, I could obviously tell the book was written for a younger set, but it is just something to remember when judging this book and the rest of the series. The only bad thing I can say is that I am not looking forward to waiting another year for the forth.
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The Magician: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel Review
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(More customer reviews)I happened upon this and the first book in the series (The Alchemyst) just before July 4th and have quickly polished them off. For me the use of real historical characters alongside well-researched mythology is nigh irresistible.
The books move along smartly with plenty of action and a narrative that is propulsive and unrelenting. In many ways these feel more like Jim Butcher's Dresden Files books than Harry Potter.
Note that these books are clearly written to be "safe" for a younger audience. No sex, and fairly restrained violence. These are exciting and tense books, but still PG (or maybe barely PG-13).
I am intrigued by the ambiguity around several of the main characters including Machiavelli and Flamel and am eager to see where these books go. Highly recommended.
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Wizards: A Magical History Tour from Merlin to Harry Potter Review
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(More customer reviews)This is a neat and beautifully illustrated book about the thing we call magic and wizardry. It starts off talking about what magic is and what different types of people use magic. It later talks about wizards in fiction, legends, and history. Each page is fully illustrated. If you enjoy harry potter -- get this.
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Usually perceived as crotchety old men with flowing white beards and pointed hats, wizards in fact take a myriad of guises: there are women - Including Circe, Morgan and Hermione Grainger; children - the most famous being Harry Potter: and those that aren't human - including Star Wars' Yoda. Wizards takes a detailed and highly illustrated look at these fascinating and enigmatic individuals, investigating the most famous wizards of fiction, myth and reality. It also discusses the nature of wizards - how they are distinguished from witches, mystics, occultists and other magical beings, plus the items and habitats they surround themselves with. Quite simply, Wizards is the ultimate reference for all things associated with these strange and fascinating people. Full of inside information, it is a must-have for every Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings fan or for anyone else who is interested in the way of the wizard.
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Grimoire for the Apprentice Wizard Review
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(More customer reviews)The Grimoire for the Apprentice Wizard, in my opinion, is a landmark book. Zell-Ravenheart has taken the popular fiction and fantasy of today to produce a primer for a good life that will appeal to today's video game youth.
In my youth I was introduced to the principals and ideals taught in this book by Glenda the Good, TikTok, the Tin Woodman and all of L. Frank Baum's characters in the Oz books. Today, it's not so easy to get young people to listen. Using popular images from movies such as Harry Potter and the Lord of the Rings the Grimoire presents an astounding amount of educational information in an entertaining way.
It's a combination history book, motivational book, self help book and magickal primer all wrapped up in one.
As mentioned in earlier reviews, I did run into some printing errors. Some of the rune graphics were out of place. They were included as a separate insert sheet that I taped in the back cover. I can only assume that they will be fixed in later printings.
The book is not about Wicca or other pagan paths. One of the other reviews listed this as a problem. I don't believe it is intended to be a lesson in religion. By keeping the religious aspect out of the book, and presenting it in a "Harry Potterish" way it will ease the way for some parents to allow their children to read the book. Remember, some parents believe that any religion except christianity is an evil cult. Many of the "lessons" or "assignments, " some presented as games, will help a young person throughout their life. There are exercises to improve pattern recognition and memory just to mention a few.
This is not a fictional Merlin story. The type of wizard described in this book is achievable. The concepts taught are the same concepts that successful people all over the world have used to become the captains of industry, company presidents and good parents. That's why I purchased copies for both of my grandchildren. (That way they will keep their hands off my copy!)
I cant put it better than Griffin from Lafayette, CA United States did:
I highly recommend this book to both new and old readers alike. It is refreshing to see an author who not only claims the intention to provide an open philosophy that still honors its history and practice, but who succeeds in doing so.
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Besides the main author, the contributors to this Grimoire read like a "Who's Who" of modern magickians, and include such notables as Raymond Buckland, Raven Grimassi, Amber K, and Donald Michael Kraig, among others. These varying viewpoints and expertise make for a balanced presentation and, like a good school, for an ability to maintain interest levels by having changes of pace and style.Designed as an Apprentice-level program of studies, this book is aimed at the same folks who find Harry Potter so fascinating – those young (and young at heart) people who want to be more in control of their world. It is broken down into seven separate "Courses" – Wizardry, Nature, Practice, Rites, Spectrum Part 1, Spectrum Part 2, and Lore. It further contains a set of appendices – A History of Magick Time Line, The Wizard's Library, Credits and References, and an Index. Each of the Courses is further broken down into six or seven "classes" (a total of 45). Be prepared to put in some serious study time and effort if you want to take advantage of the material herein!Like Hogwarts, this book is arranged and scheduled to take seven years to complete. To the younger reader, I must say that there are good reasons for this, not the least being that one needs to become proficient in the basics before moving on. Many youngsters may be put off by the work expected of them in the early going. Where are the charms? Where are the incantations in mystic languages? Where are the rewards? Well, just like having to finish your veggies before getting dessert; just like needing to learn basic math before moving on to algebra; just like laying a foundation before building a home; you need to acquire the basic knowledge of the magickal world before getting into the "good stuff."As you work your way through this book (and make no mistake, you will work your way through it!), you may find yourself longing for the carefree days of school. The concepts contained within are easy to read, simple to absorb, and consuming to understand. If you think "Apprentice" means easy-to-do, think again. You will find yourself being fed a diet of ideas which may well force you to alter your perception of the universe.Oberon covers everything from creating your magickal tools to planting and caring for a garden (Anyone who doesn't see gardening as a magickal act should consider the transformation of a seed into a plant and on to your table.); from learning to survive in the woods to learning to recognize Elementals. And all of that before he even begins to address the actual practice of magick.Course One, Class One, Lesson Three ("1.I.3: Glossary" to use Oberon's notation system) is a handy glossary of types of Wizards which covers everything from Bards and Cybermancers to Wiccans and Wizards. If there is a description of a magick worker in the English language, it is in this glossary.Scattered throughout this book are tables of correspondences. There are a number of them, arranged in a variety of formats, and covering a wide range of topics. There are also a large number of illustrations, many of them (almost half, in fact) from the fertile mind and hands of Oberon.When he actually begins to discuss working magick, he takes the time to explain how and why it works. He relates it to things that all teens can relate to, and puts it firmly in the realm of things which are able to be done by anyone willing to put in the time and effort.He explains how to set up altars (both indoors and outdoors), how to construct shrines and henges, and other items as well. He includes basic instructions on a wide variety of healing techniques. He adds constant encouragement, in the form of reassurances that practice is required, and not to get discouraged if you don't get immediate results.This book is aimed at the total spectrum of Wizardry (like Hogwarts). It does not just cover the Ceremonial aspects of magick. It covers the spectrum from invoking angels and demons to doing simple divination; from creating planetary talismans to simple remedies for acne; and from alchemy to conjury (stage magic). Reading this book will provide a thorough understanding of Wizardry. Completing the work within this book will provide a thorough mastery of the basics of Wizardry.He divides magick into the colors of the rainbow and more: Meditation (aqua); Healing (blue); Wortcunning (green); Divination (yellow); Conjury (orange); Alchemy (red); Beast Mastery (brown); Cosmology (violet); Mathemagicks (clear); Ceremonial Magick (white); Lore Mastery (grey); and the Black Arts (black). Thus, by adopting tabards or robes of the appropriate color Wizards who follow this system will be able to immediately identify the specialty of those they encounter.Mythology is covered extensively, as are world religious views. While some may question their inclusion in a grimoire, it is vital for the apprentice to understand all that may be encountered in the performance of magick. Because of the vast amount of energy devoted to these topics over the millennia, they have a valid existence on other planes, and the magickian must be prepared to deal with them.As with any competent teacher, Oberon not only expects you to complete the assigned exercises, but also assigns outside reading and independent research. He lets you know early on that there will be both theory and practice involved in progressing through this work, and both are equally important. He makes every effort to balance his opinions and beliefs, which he is careful to identify as such, with the opinions and beliefs of others covering a wide spectrum.For those with limited cash available, he lists many websites where information may be found. Even the most cash-strapped individuals can (and SHOULD) obtain a library card and avail themselves of the resources available there, in the form of internet access, books, magazines, etc.Pagan Times (pagantimesedfor@neogenesis.com.au)
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The Book of Wizardry: The Apprentice's Guide to the Secrets of the Wizards' Guild Review
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(More customer reviews)This is a cute book that has obviously been designed for a young novice in the magical arts, sort of a Harry Potteresque instruction book. It's hard to tell whether this is a serious book on the subject at first, but it does have real magic and techniques for increasing concentration and such, and half of the book is taken up by a "Choose Your Own Adventure" type of novella.
The only annoying thing about it this book is that it mixes fantasy and real magical techniques, but I suppose that might be fun for a younger reader. It's a bit like telling children about Santa Claus, though.
In short, this is a good book for a young adult who is interested in magic and fantasy (and most likely a Harry Potter fan) but doesn't know where to begin, and/or if you want to teach a young adult magical technique but want to do it in a fun way.
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Tongue-in-cheek and deliciously droll, "Cornelius Rumstuckle" is the fictional narrator of The Book of Wizardry. Now featuring a new cover, this highly entertaining guide to wizardry makes genuine magical ideas accessible to young adults.
Brennan's fun wizard training manual is filled with interactive activities: how to make a wand and other wizard tools, discover your Wizard's name, switch on Wizard's Power, read the future in the Wizard's Oracle, and more. Those who successfully complete the Wizard's Adventure and crack the code in this book can become an accredited member of the Wizard's Guild.
A YALSA Teen Top Ten Title (2003)
The Life, Death, and Resurrection of Harry Potter Review
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(More customer reviews)I admire Killinger's enthusiasm for Christ that comes through in his writing. If you're a Christian looking for a Christian reading of Harry Potter, this one is a good start. It is not true that lots of other myths follow the same template and are also "Christ-Figures"; Harry Potter is filled with symbolism and parallels that make him more similar to Jesus than any other literary character, ever.
This does not mean that JK Rowling was secretly writing a Christian story however - she's mentioned several times that the Christian elements are a testament of her background, but that she wasn't trying to write a secretly Christian tale. Harry Potter is an excellent story about a boy wizard. Christians who fear it incites children to magic are absolutely right: Harry Potter fans wants to become warlocks and use magic. But this can easily be integrated into a theology lesson about how all things are possible in God and how Jesus said we could move mountains with faith. The nice thing about Harry Potter is that they're excellent stories that make people want to read them (the same is never true with most translations of the people, which few adults have actually read).
The relationship between Jesus and Harry is fascinating and worth comment. Killinger's book is one possible response to this complex issue.
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Does Harry Potter Tickle Sleeping Dragons? Review
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(More customer reviews)This book is a must have for every Harry Potter fan who has an intuitive feeling that there's more to these books than meets the eye.
Author Nancy Solon Villaluz has done a tremendous amount of research, reading every Rowling interview, listening to every podcast and radio interview, and by using Rowling own words and hints, has uncovered secrets and patterns that help the reader to understand what Rowling really wanted to do with these books.
But besides all of the research, Villaluz shows herself to be extremely well read, quoting everything from Dickens, to Monty Python, to John the Baptist, to Dante, to Thomas Aquinas, to Michael O'Brien. She's also very familiar with the other Inkling's books, C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, and can compare and contrast the three with ease.
I found this Sleeping Dragons book, written as a journey in a creatively non-fiction way, to be a confirmation of what I'd only half understood about the Harry Potter series before. I found myself smiling, laughing, and agreeing through virtually every point made.
I believe that if you have an interest in Harry Potter's deeper meaning, if you are concerned about your children reading Harry Potter because of what might or might not be in the series, if you've tried to prove to friends or relatives that Harry Potter is OK, but without really having evidence in hand to prove it: you do now. This is the book. This book has all the evidence.
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What did Harry Potter sneak past YOU?
You've read all of Harry Potter, now what? Is that really all there is? Well.... it just depends on how you look at it.
Considering J.K. Rowling's cleverness, it would be sad -- and also wrong -- to think we've fully deciphered all 4,000 pages of Rowling's Harry Potter books. Far from it! In fact, thanks to Rowling's humble genius, many of Harry's deepest secrets and veiled themes still remain completely unnoticed... by multitudes! Yet Rowling wasn't silent about Harry's secrets oh, no. Unbeknownst to most fans, Rowling spent 10 years fighting off the book-burners, and scattering a plethora of clues about Harry's true nature, and her real intentions. The problem is that they're buried in thousands of pages of interviews, hard-to-find transcripts, documentaries, and a very long trail of obscure clues, if anyone cared to follow them. What's a curious Potter fan to do?
Not to worry! Author Nancy Solon Villaluz already invested 5 years fervently researching it all for you, in ''Does Harry Potter Tickle Sleeping Dragons?'' It's the first Potter analysis actually seeking to help fans view Harry through the most interesting perspective of all: J.K. Rowling's eyes. Inside, you'll plunge into a challenging, in-depth analysis of Rowling's named influences, her interviews, and, of course, all of her Harry Potter books. You'll learn a myriad of surprising things about Harry and Rowling that most people never suspect, all-the-while tackling the long-ignored mysteries of Hogwarts' school motto. (Which is Latin for, ''Never Tickle a Sleeping Dragon.'')
Dull, dry research? Never! Bring your imagination on this thought-provoking journey of discovery. Travel paths, dodge dragons, and have tea as you examine oodlesof compelling evidence. Discover: ++ What surprising things influenced Harry...and how? ++ How does Rowling view herself, her writing, her success, and Harry? ++ Does Harry Potter actually promote witchcraft? How so... or how no? ++ What critical thing did Rowling finally admit was ''always obvious'' to her in the Harry Potter books... and why wasn't it so obvious to us? ++ Does Rowling view herself as an Atheist, a Christian, or something else... and what might that mean for Harry's readers? ++ What incredible secrets does Harry Potter still hold after all these years... and where's the proof? ++ Does Harry actually follow Rowling's no-tickling school motto advice? Or did Rowling have something else up her sleeve?
So whether you've read Harry Potter only once, or a dozen times, there is still so much more for you to discover... quietly lingering in the subtle depths of Harry Potter's own pages where few even suspect. Come look through Rowling's clues, and you will see the hidden treasure trove patiently waiting for anyone brave enough to approach the Sleeping Dragons' lair. Do you dare come along?
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On the Trail of Harry Potter Review
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(More customer reviews)Lee has provided us with a wonderful psychological review of the characters in Harry Potter series as well as a review of how interactions between the characters come about. She also provides us considerable insight into how mystery writers are able to keep our interest by providing successive tidbits of information, some accurate and some misleading pulling us along with the story. Lee calls the misleading ones red herrings.
She closes the book with a chapter critiquing the Harry Potter movies. She dislikes many of the scenes where the movies diverged from the books.
The book is written with a high level of humor, making it easy to read. It is well worth reading by any Harry Potter fan.
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This is the first study to cover all seven volumes of the Harry Potter cycle, to examine Rowling's three spin-offs and to compare the seven books with the seven films. It presents a careful analysis of Harry and his inner circle, their character development and their interrelationships. Further, it demonstrates how Rowling's plotting techniques, her humor and her style contribute to the success of the series.Refuting those critics who have dismissed Rowling's work as "not great literature," the author explains how and why it became a blockbuster and why it will remain a classic, loved and appreciated by children, young adults and adults throughout the world.The book is written in a clear and accessible style and is geared to young adults and adults, both Harry Potter fans and the general public.
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A-Z of Harry Potter Review
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(More customer reviews)The author is using this book to make what she thinks is a political statement. She has spent more energy focusing on Ms Rowling's money and personal life and then only gives one line to important characters. The author continually gives her opinion on how she thinks Ms Rowling feels about the class system. When the author does expand her description of a character she is really giving another criticism of Ms Rowling's work. I have never been more disappointed in a book purchase, I'm going to delete it.
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God, the Devil, and Harry Potter: A Christian Minister's Defense of the Beloved Novels Review
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(More customer reviews)As a fellow pastor AND fan of the Harry Potter novels, I picked up this book with much interest. The introduction was intriguing enough, so I proceeded with the book. There is no doubt in my mind that evangelicals will dismiss this book as blasphemous. Harry Potter as Jesus? Dumbledore as God the Father? Fawkes as the Holy Spirit?? While I recognize the merit of Killinger's basic argument--that many of the themes in the Potter books are themes that have a Christian basis (if not an outright Christian character--I felt that his comparisons are exaggerated or altogether too weak to stand.
Of course, like others, I am totally embarrassed by the Christians who have dismissed the Potter books as "evil." I was hoping this book might be a reasonable, substantive argument against those accusations. Alas, it is not. In fact, it reads more like a synopsis of each of the Potter books in print with some theology thrown in to boot. Killinger's admiration for the Potter books stands out more strongly than any argument he makes for the books not being anti-Christian.
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Unlocking Harry Potter: Five Keys for the Serious Reader Review
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(More customer reviews)Maybe you are a life-long learner sort, or a college professor interested in acquiring an insightful, but thoroughly accessible book about Rowling's series. Maybe you're a thoughtful Christian, who suspects the anti-Potter denunciations are not quite on the mark, but you can't quite articulate why. Maybe you just have a deep affection for the Harry Potter series and would like to discover more about the key techniques and overarching concerns embedded in these brilliant stories. Whatever the case, as long as you've actually read the Harry Potter books, and as long as you have the sort of mind that likes to go beneath and beyond the surface, I believe that you will appreciate Granger's Unlocking Harry Potter.Thoroughly accessible and intelligent, Granger uses a writing style that is a mix of the professor who knows how to communicate credible arguments, and the fan who loves to talk to other fans about Harry, Hagrid, and house-elves (the high destiny of house-elves in number seven? Hmm...).
Because there are a number of books about Harry Potter on the market, let me give you a brief explanation of Granger's goals, and a brief introduction to the chapters. His first and foremost goal is to argue that Rowling's Harry Potter series makes for serious, reflective reading, despite its obvious popular appeal. This he does most compellingly, by demonstrating Rowling's depth of intellect, literacy, and organizational powers. Granger also analyzes several fundamental aspects of both Rowling's storytelling formula and her underlying worldview (he calls them "keys"). Because of Rowling's fidelity to her formula and her worldview, predictions can be made about the upcoming Deathly Hallows, which, of course, Granger goes ahead and makes.
Chapter One discusses Rowling's first key - narrative misdirection. This involves the "voice" of the story. So what, you may ask? Let me tell you, Granger's explanation of narrative misdirection, how Rowling uses it, and what it means in the big picture, is great stuff - really great stuff. I'm not giving anything away here - you'll just have to plunk the money down and read it yourself. I think you'll be glad you spent the cash and the time.
Chapter Two discusses Rowling's second key - alchemy. Although I first thought this would be the most dreary and esoteric of topics, for me, this was the most eye-opening of the "keys." This is the key I now refer to the most when speaking to people who dismiss Harry either because of intellectual snobbery or bible-based opposition. In both this book, and his previous book, Looking for God in Harry Potter, Granger gives a great corrective about the meaning of alchemy both in history and in the Potter books. From the insights into Ron's red hair and Hermione's chemically-significant initials, to the more systematic explanation of how all the Potter books reflect a deeply spiritual process of personal transformation, Unlocking Harry Potter serves the thoughtful reader very well.
Chapter Three unpacks Rowling's storytelling formula, the third key, while also showing that her stories are not at all flatly formulaic. The beginning, middle, and end of Harry's yearly journeys all echo each other, for very significant reasons. It is also here that Granger predicts how, even though Half-Blood Prince seems to depart from the formula, in fact we will discover in the resolution of the seventh novel that the supposed departure is just another example of narrative misdirection (back to key one!)
Chapter Fours and Five speak to Rowling's position of being "in" the postmodern world (the fourth key) while not being completely "of" the postmodern world (the fifth key). That is, both the things Rowling addresses, and the way she addresses them, speak our language, and thus we resonate with her narratives. On the other hand, as Granger demonstrates, she critiques some of the most destructive and deconstructive and tendencies of postmodernism. Granger points out Rowling's criticisms of institutions (schools, the government, the press), that supposedly embody what we say are our most important ideals. Perhaps even more significantly, Granger systematically demonstrates that Rowling remains faithful to a fundamentally theistic worldview complete with real evil and real good.
Chapter Six is the chapter of predictions. What will happen in Deathly Hallows? These predictions are nothing like random guesses - if Granger is right about Rowling, then certain things should happen in book number seven. Now, Granger has made predictions before in other books and articles - some of the specific predictions were wrong. However (and this is a big however), details in successive Potter books have shown Granger to be substantially right about the Rowling "forest," even if he has mistaken some "trees." So, I'm looking forward even MORE to reading Deathly Hallows, not only to enjoy another Potter novel, but also to see how much of the forest, as well as how many of the trees, the author ultimately did get right.
I highly recommend this book.
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UNLOCKING HARRY POTTER gives you five essential keys for understanding the HARRY POTTER series. Not just who will live or die in DEATHLY HOLLOWS, but how J.K. Rowling created the most successful books of our times. To understand the story behind the stories, John Granger, author of THE HIDDEN KEY TO HARRY POTTER and editor of WHO KILLED ALBUS DUMBLEDORE?, introduces the themes and patterns Rowling uses to write books that resonate with readers of all ages. This book is for "serious readers" but Granger writes in a very entertaining style. If you never understood the term "postmodernism" or how "literary alchemy" is used by great authors from Shakespeare to J.K. Rowling, then this is a fun way to learn. UNLOCKING HARRY POTTER is the only book to examine in depth the importance of what Rowling said in an interview from 1998, that "to invent this wizard world" she had to learn about alchemy "in order to set the parameters and establish the stories' internal logic." - . - . - . - . - Here's what other HARRY POTTER authors and experts have to say about UNLOCKING HARRY POTTER: - . - . - . - . - "I got so hooked I had to stop everything else and just read, read, read. I carried it around the house, read it while using the excercycle, I hid in rooms away from the action of daily life so I could take it all in. I haven't had that reaction to a book since, well, THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE. A spectacular read for all serious fans of Rowling's works. Compelling, well-argued, fun and funny. Engaging. Thought provoking. Erudite." - Tom Morris, author of IF HARRY POTTER RAN GENERAL ELECTRIC and PHILOSOPHY FOR DUMMIES. - . - . - . - . - "John Granger peels back the layers of Rowling's stories and sees patterns the rest of us miss - and he never forgets to be a fan, engaging in fun speculation about what will come in the finale. Once more Granger has shown himself to be second to none among Potter commentators and literary sleuths. Some books are meant to be ingested quickly. Not this one. Serious fans of HARRY POTTER will relish it." - David Baggett, editor of HARRY POTTER AND PHILOSOPHY.
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The Deathly Hallows Lectures: The Hogwarts Professor Explains the Final Harry Potter Adventure Review
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(More customer reviews)It seems like the majority of Deathly Hallows critique and analysis has focused on what Rowling got wrong -- the opportunities she missed, the issues left unresolved, etc. Mr. Granger's book of essays/lectures points out what Rowling got right and makes a very persuasive argument that Deathly Hallows is the artistic capstone of the series, and not just a cop-out. Mr. Granger's arguments are written in a clear and entertaining way that makes them accessible to casual readers. But there is also a lot of meat to his ideas -- enough to intrigue even jaded lit majors such as myself. Mr. Granger makes a wonderful analogy between the game of Quidditch and literary analysis and invites us to become seekers. His book is a demonstration of the riches that await someone willing to delve deeper beyond the storyline into the symbols and structures that underly the story and that give the story its emotional and moral impact. Mr. Granger's book is also helpful for anyone wishing to cut through the kerfuffle regarding Christianity and occultism in Harry Potter and the debate as to whether Harry Potter has literary merit. His discussions of these issues are thoughtful and balanced. I definitely have a greater appreciation of Deathly Hallows having read Mr. Granger's book and I am newly inspired to keep seeking to find new treasures in Ms. Rowling's work. Thanks to Mr. Granger, Dante on my short list of works to re-read.
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The fastest-selling book in publication history, HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS was a critical success and is loved by fans around the world. In THE DEATHLY HALLOWS LECTURES, John Granger reveals the Potter finale's brilliant details, themes and meanings. Even the most ardent of Harry Potter fans will be surprised by and delighted with the Hogwarts Professor's explanations of the three dimensions of meaning in DEATHLY HALLOWS to include why Ms. Rowling chose to make Lily's eyes green, why Harry buried Moody's eye where and when he did, and why Ollivander prefers the three wand cores he does. Ms. Rowling has said that alchemy sets the "parameters of magic" in the series; after reading the chapter-length explanation of DEATHLY HALLOWS as the final stage of the alchemical Great Work in THE DEATHLY HALLOWS LECTURES, the serious reader will understand how important literary alchemy is in understanding Rowling's artistry and accomplishment. The other seven chapters explore, among other things, the five writing tricks Ms. Rowling uses to work her story magic, the deciphering of the "Triangular Eye" symbol for the three Hallows, Harry's "struggle to believe" in Albus Dumbledore, why Ms. Rowling revealed that she "always thought" of the Headmaster as gay, and the more than 25 echoes of her first book, PHILOSOPHER'S STONE, in DEATHLY HALLOWS. Did you wonder why Fred died in the end? Why Harry went underground seven times in Deathly Hallows? Granger explains how Ms. Rowling's story formula required these twists - - - as well as two trips to King's Cross and two meetings with Albus Dumbledore at story's end. John Granger, the Hogwarts Professor, has spoken about the meaning and magic of Harry Potter at major universities from coast to coast and as a Keynote Speaker at fan conventions in the United States and Canada. Enjoy these lectures to learn the ins and outs and fascinating depths of DEATHLY HALLOWS - - - information unavailable anywhere else!
How Harry Cast His Spell: The Meaning Behind the Mania for J. K. Rowling's Bestselling Books Review
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(More customer reviews)Harry Potter has captured the imaginations of millions of children and adults from every walk of life. The series has possibly experienced more popularity than any other book of the last fifty years having sold millions of copies around the world. With this in mind many have asked "Why is Harry Potter is so insanely popular?" As a fan of the Harry Potter series I already knew the answer, but this book has wrought to light many of the Christian aspects of series which I over looked. How Harry Potter casts his spells is an interesting look in to the Christian aspects of the Harry Potter Book series.Below is the Table of Contents taken from the book. I like the way the Author wrote an explanation of each chapter in such a informative and humorous way. Through this book the Author adds a touch of humor to his writing.
Acknowledgments Publisher's Preface Introduction
1: Magic, Fantasy, and Transcendence
The magic in Harry Potter is traditional literary spellwork that acts as a counterspell to the materialism of our times.
2: Cosmic White Hats and Black Hats
The Harry Potter Novels revolve around the central conflict of good and evil
3: The Hero's Journey
Harry's adventures take him through life, death and resurrection
4: The Alchemy of Spiritual Growth
The story of cycles are built on the stages of transformation
5: One Person, Two Natures
Doppelgangers point to the struggle of dual natures- and their resolution in the God-Man.
6:Don't Judge, Lest You Be Judged
Surprise endings suggest a remedy for the evils of prejudice
7: The Triumph of Love over Death
The mystery of death meets the ultimate answer
8: The Question of Identity
Harry defines himself through choices, change, and destiny
9: Evidence of Things Unseen
The symbols in Potterdom are powerful pointers to spiritual realities
10: Fun with Names
The character names are delightful puzzles with hidden spiritual meanings
11: The Purification of the Soul
Spiritual keys to Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
12: Dangerous Books and Edifying Books
Spiritual keys to Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
13: Despair and Delivery
Spiritual keys to Harry Potter and Prisoner of Azkaban
14: Girded with Virtue
Spiritual keys to Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
15: Dark night of the Soul
Spiritual keys to Harry Potter and the the Order of the Phoenix
16: Baptism into a Sacrificial Death
Spiritual keys to Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
17: Choosing to Believe
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows as the stuggle with faith in story form
18: Christian Birth through Baptism
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows as the alchemical adventures of a Christian Everyman
19: Victory Over Death
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows as the Passion gospel of Christian Everyman
20: FAQs
The other big questions on the minds of Harry Potter reader's
NotesMy Personal Opinion
"How Harry Cast His Spell:The Meaning Behind the Mania for J. K. Rowling's Bestselling Books"
is an interesting read for any Christian fan of Harry Potter, this book shows that Christian symbolism is easily found in the Harry Potter series for those willing to search for it.
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The Seeker's Guide to Harry Potter Review
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(More customer reviews)If you liked any of the Harry Potter stories even a smidgen, you'll thoroughly enjoy The Seeker's Guide. Well and engagingly written, this book brings together Dr. Geo Trevarthen's vast knowledge of Celtic spirituality, ritual magic, myth, and the timeless themes from spiritual traditions across the globe and through the ages to show us why Rowling's Harry Potter touches us at such a deep level.
Whether you lovingly read every book or just caught the movies, The Seeker's Guide is a delight to read and chock full of fascinating information. It's like getting your own course at Hogwarts -one that reveals how grounded this story is in ancient wisdom and, if we practice, just how we all might live the magical and mythical life.
This is not just a rehash of Potter trivia or play list of characters and events. In this book a respected expert on Celtic shamanism and spirituality, in solid overview and with thorough endnotes, explains how the many details and larger themes in the Harry Potter series are supported by the wisdom teachings of the ages.
The depth of information in the book is nicely balanced by Trevarthen's humor and deep appreciation of Rowling's work. For the spiritual seeker this book is an absolute treasure chest of esoteric wisdom lovingly wrapped up in a delightful "unauthorized course". And if you just plain loved Harry and want to learn more about why that might be, then check out this book.
I highly recommend The Seeker's Guide to Harry Potter.
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Mapping the World of Harry Potter Review
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(More customer reviews)This is probably the most enjoyable of the several different books of essays on the Harry Potter books that I have read. Perhaps it's because the contributors are, themselves, fantasy and sci-fi authors, which may give them a unique insight. Another possibility is that this is also the first collection to cover all of the books through Half-Blood Prince.
As with any compilation of work by several different authors, the quality of the essays is uneven at best. The contributors stretch to come up with original ways to look at the series and, inevitably, they sometimes fail. The ones that fell the flattest, in my view, were "The Proper Wizard's Guide to Good Manners" (Roxanne Longstreet Conrad) and "Harry Potter and the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Counselor" (Mercedes Lackey).
At least, however, those two essays were near the end of the book. Throughout my reading, I never changed my view that the first essay, "Harry Potter and the Young Man's Mistake" (Daniel P. Moloney), was the one with the profoundest insight and most thoughtful probing of the pitfalls that Harry faces in his final struggle against Voldemort. Honorable mention also goes to "Harry Potter and the End of Religion" (Marguerite Krause) and "It's All About God" (Elisabeth DeVos), which should be mutually exclusive but, surprisingly, don't seem to be; "Hermione Granger and the Charge of Sexism" (Sarah Zettel), which should (but won't) dispose of that one once and for all; and "Why Killing Harry is the Worst Outcome for Voldemort" (Richard Garfinkle). All in all, a very enjoyable and satisfying read.
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