Barry Trotter and the Dead Horse (Gollancz Sf S.) Review

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(More customer reviews)This book is a rather funny parody of the Harry Potter series. While some of the language is not appropriate for persons under the age of 17, I found it very enjoyable. I would recommend this bool for anyone who likes Harry Potterand does not want a serious read with adults in mind.

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Barry Trotter is pretty disreputable and unpleasant. Imagine what he was like as a teenager. Here's the beginning of the whole sorry tale. Did Barry and Ermine do it? (Their homwork, that is.) How exactly did Lon end up with a hole in his head that whistles when the wind blows? Was Lord Valumart always that crass? And where did that ridiculous German accent come from? As funny and twisted as the first two books, BARRY TROTTER AND THE DEAD HORSE is also as affectionate towards JK Rowling's originals. This has lead to the books gaining a devoted following amongst fans of Harry Potter as well as being a welcome antidote for the over-egging (eeuwww) of the boy wizard. A process that we're not a part of at all. Oh no. Not even a tiny bit.

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Faerie Wars Review

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(More customer reviews)First off, I have to note a complaint towards several of the reviewers who have criticized this book on the grounds that it "is not for children", and is thus too controversial for young children and their parents to enjoy. Well, there's a reason that it's filed under YOUNG ADULT!!! Just because a book has the word 'Faerie' in its title, doesn't necessarily mean it's written for kids. Young adult covers a variety of ages, generally ranging (at the youngest) from thirteen or fourteen all the way up to eighteen years old, however, this book is also thoroughly enjoyable for adults.
With that said, "Faerie Wars" is one of my favorite books, and for a very specific reason. It's unique and funny without straying and becoming overly tongue-and-cheek or childish in the process. This book covers a lot of ground in its 367 pages. The main characters are compelling, one with a fiery heart and strong motivation, the other a person who lacks those very two qualities, which makes for an interesting and fun character dynamic. The atmosphere in the book is incredible. Herbie Brennan cultivates a world so rich in detail, colors, scent, taste, etc. that you wish you were there, despite the evils that threaten to engulf it. (Hey, it's a fantasy book. What would a fantasy book be without the threat of an overwhelming evil on the horizon, right?) However, Brennan even finds a way to twist this, creating villains who aren't what they seem, and change, very realistically and surprisingly, more than once.
Another distinguishing factor that makes this book great, is voice. Herbie Brennan manages to convey the events that are taking place through the eyes of the character while at the same time injecting the thoughts of the narrator skillfully amidst the thoughts of the character. Brennan also manages to deftly juggle the story line from one character to the next, not leaving every break between characters with a cliff-hanger, but with just the right touch of suspense, compelling you to keep reading. The combined effect of these techniques results in a vortex-like effect, sucking you in and holding your attention until either you fall asleep from exhaustion, your light source runs out, or you read all the way through to the end.
All in all, I can't think of hardly anything that weighs this book down, but the pro's go as follow.
PRO'S
*Enjoyable characters and character dynamics
*A world so rich in detail and atmosphere, you won't want to leave.
*Villains whose wickedness holds your attention, and who's unique personalities almost outshine the main characters'. In short: thoroughly enjoyable bad-guys.
*A plot line that keeps you guessing, smiling, tense and enthralled all at the same time, boasting an amazingly minimal amount of plot-holes. Three cheers for Herbie Brennan!
*Skillful transitions from character to character and easy flowing changeovers from voice to voice.
CON'S
***Note: this con will vary from person to person. It all depends on what bothers you***
*Several sadistic scenes involving the villains of the story, as well as a small theme of controversy involving lesbians and a few descriptive scenes of gore involving black magic.
All in all, seeing as the controversy and slight violence/gore of the story doesn't upset me, I look at this book as one of the greatest accomplishments of it's genre, and a book that is so atmospheric and well-written, you won't want to put it down. Now THAT'S the mark of a great book.

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Switched (Trylle) Review

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(More customer reviews)Hocking has an uncanny ability to write fascinating little stories that are compellingly addicting. Her books are not my typical reading fare - I tend more toward the adult mysteries and suspense type of thing - however ever since I picked up Hocking's My Blood Approves series, I've been strangely addicted to her work. The Trylle series is no exception. Now, I may not fall in the typical readership for Hocking's books, but because I work as a Probation Officer for teenagers, I tend to read a lot of YA fiction to keep "in touch" with what my kids enjoy.
Hocking's three-part Trylle series, of which Switched is number one, is about a girl who has a miserable existance. Her childhood is filled with little oddities that don't make much sense, and her mother, who refers to her as a "monster" goes so far as to try to stab her to death at her own birthday party. Switched is so much a coming of age tale - with a twist - as Wendy soon discovers that she has another life waiting for her discovery and that she is so much more than an angst filled teenager stuck in high school.
I won't give away any more, as part of the joy of reading this book is discovering - right along with Wendy - just what in the heck is wrong with her and why she has all these odd little habits, abilities and thoughts.
This is not a literary masterpiece for your college Women's Literature 101 class. It was not intended to be so. It is not filled with symbolism and fodder for critical discussion. It IS, however, fun, light reading that will keep your attention. It is a sweet story. Hocking has captured a believable and realistic teenage heroine. She's captured appropriate action, adventure, and even romantic tension. For those reviewers who say the teenage angst is overblown...I would disagree. I work with teenagers for a living and the internal and external dialogue is actually quite realistic for the age group. Perphaps not ALL teens think this way, but the ones I work with quite often do. Many teens - especially girls with abusive backgrounds and lack of a stable parent figure like Wendy - DO think and act this way, althought many of them would be hard pressed to publically admit it.
I've given Switched four stars, not because it isn't excellent, but because I save my five star reviews for books that are out of this world wonderful or books that really speak to me emotionally. This one is excellent, but it is not the definition of perfect. There are a few typos, but they are easily overlooked.
Overall, excellent book. Excellent and believable plot. An overall wonderfully creative and engaging book. Nice job, Amanda - I'm off to purchase #2 in the series and I am looking forward to discovering more.


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Switched - the first book in the Trylle Trilogy... When Wendy Everly was six-years-old, her mother was convinced she was a monster and tried to kill her. It isn't until eleven years later that Wendy discovers her mother might have been right. With the help of Finn Holmes, Wendy finds herself in a world she never knew existed - a world both beautiful and frightening, and Wendy's not sure she wants to be a part of it.

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Clive Barker's Books of Blood Review

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(More customer reviews)Clive Barker did not want his Books of Blood broken up into individual volumes when they were published, yet that is what happened. Now, the first three volumes are available in one book, serving as the perfect introduction to Barker's unique style of horror. There are some really groundbreaking stories included here, alongside of a dud or two from Volume Two, but each and every story exhibits the genius and originality of its author's dark vision.
The initial offering, The Book of Blood, stands out as a unique ghost story, but it also serves as a provocative abstract for everything Barker sought to accomplish with these stories. After this enticing introductory tale, we head below the streets of New York to sneak a ride on The Midnight Meat Train. This story is vintage Clive Barker, full of blood and gore. Barker isn't trying to drown the reader in blood as a means to hide any lack of skill on his part, though, because the skill is undeniably there for all to see. In The Yattering and Jack, a dark comedy farce, a poor demon does everything he can think of to make the unshakeable Jack miserable, driving himself almost mad in the process. I think of The Yattering and Jack as an amusing sort of Barker bedtime story. Pig Blood Blues forces the casual reader to once again don hip hugger boots for a trek into gore and depravity. At a certain school for wayward boys, the other white meat is not pork. Sex, Death and Starshine is a good story, touching upon the needs of the dead to be entertained every once in a while, but it lacks a certain oomph.
Dread is a somewhat sadistic tale of one man's obsession with death. His is a hands-on endeavor, as he seeks to look the beast directly in the eye by studying the effects of dread and the realization of imminent death in the eyes of his fellow man. Dread is a psychologically disturbing read, one which succeeds quite well indeed in spite of a rather pat ending. Hell's Event tells the story of a charity race, only this particular contest pits a minion of the underworld against human runners, with the control of the very government hinging upon the outcome. Next up is Jacqueline Ess: Her Last Will and Testament, a disappointing story in which the main character's special abilities to control the things and people around her wind up wasted. The Skins of the Fathers is not a bad story, but it is quite weird. A sometimes almost comical group of inhuman, bizarre creatures comes to a small desert town to reclaim one of their own, born five years earlier to a human mother. A puffed up sheriff and belligerent posse of townsfolk lend comic relief as much as tension to the story's plot of borderline absurdity.
I love the unusual premise and the surreal quality of Son of Celluloid. The back wall behind the screen of an old movie theatre has seen so many famous lives projected upon it that the essence of those screen legends has germinated within it. The only thing needed to bring the screen personalities to life is a catalyst, which comes in the form of a dying criminal. The man himself is of no consequence, but he has within him a force possessing a single-minded drive to grow and thrive. Next up is Rawhead Rex, one of Barker's more violent stories. There are creatures that thrived on earth long before man helped force them to the brink of extinction, and things get pretty gruesome when one fellow unknowingly unseals the prison in which such a monster has been sealed for eons. Murder of a more human kind rests at the heart of Confessions of a (Pornographer's) Shroud. This tale doesn't succeed completely in my estimation, and some might even find it oddly laughable, as the main character is an amorphous blob of a dead man's essence who reconstitutes the form of his human body in a death shroud. Scape-Goats is a little island of death story, the most interesting aspect of which is its viewpoint; it is not often that Barker tells a tale from the first-person perspective of a woman. The final story, Human Remains, offers Barker's typically unusual slant on the old doppelganger motif.
I have saved the worst and best of the collected stories for special mention. New Murders in the Rue Morgue is by far the worst short story Barker has ever written. We are led to believe Poe's classic story The Murders in the Rue Morgue was based on fact, and now the modern representative of the Dupin blood finds himself mired in an extraordinary, eerily similar, and exceedingly ludicrous case of his own. On the flip side, the most impressive story told in these pages is In the Hills, the Cities. Two male lovers touring the hidden sights of Yugoslavia become the reluctant witnesses to a sight few men could ever even conceive of when a unique traditional battle between the citizens of two adjacent towns takes an unexpected and ever-so-destructive turn. If you want to know what the big deal about Clive Barker is, this is the story you need to read. Books of Blood immediately established Barker as a giant in the genre and should be required reading for all fans of extreme and intellectually challenging horror.

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The Late Age of Print: Everyday Book Culture from Consumerism to Control Review

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(More customer reviews)I maintain that Late Age of Print is a must-read for anyone who is interested in the print media, media ecology, or media studies in general.
Striphas investigates the everydayness of books that he claims is intimately bound with: "a changed and changing mode of production; new technological products and processes; shifts in law and jurisprudence; the proliferation of culture and the rise of cultural politics; and a host of sociological transformations" (5). His main argument is that books had been integral to the making of modern consumer culture in the 20th century, as they were one of the first commercial Christmas presents, and today are responsible in part for the fall of that consumer capitalism into a society of controlled consumption, a term that he borrows from Henri Lefebvre. He convincingly shows that book publishing pioneered the rationalization and standardization of mass-production techniques in that the massive quantities of book production required efficient production processes and the move toward an hourly wage. Ultimately, The Late Age of Print investigates how books have become ubiquitous social artifacts entrenched with the everyday. His book successfully proves that book circulation is, and has always been, a political act because the circulation of books embody specific values, practices, interests, and worldviews (13). And as such, the practice of circulating books embody struggles over particular ways of life.
What does this mean for the late age of print (a term coined by Jay David Bolter to characterize the current dynamic era of book history instigated by media convergence where books remain central to shaping dominant and emergent ways of life)? Well, for some, like Sven Birkerts, author of Gutenberg Elegies, this is a crisis, a decline in the quantity (and the quality) of literature being read and it poses a real threat to culture in general.
Striphas explains (and I agree) that this is not a crisis in which familiar aspects of book culture is nearing its end, but rather, late age of print is a dynamic and open-ended era characterized by both permanence and change (175). He cites Elizabeth Eisenstein who contends that those who claim the end of print culture tend to do so by reinforcing modes of thought, conduct, and expression long associated with printed books.
In other words, indeed, this is a political act. It is the old way of life that is being threatened here. And by this I don't just mean how we read, or that one type of textuality is appreciated over others or one type of work (printed books) is valued over others (blogs, videogames, virtual worlds). Explaining that to consume isn't simply to use up, but to make do in unique and unexpected ways, Striphas focuses on how some of the defining attributes of consumer capitalism have been challenged by the emergence of a society of controlled consumption during the late age of print. While he discusses some of the creative ways in which consumers manage to appropriate (or make do) certain books (such as the Harry Potter franchise whose books leaked to the public despite the contractual agreement that the distributors had to agree), his book mainly focuses on how the society of controlled consumption plays out.
So even though the consumers are given leeway to "make do" or appropriate the works that are being released, they are highly regulated or controlled. The boundaries of consumer initiated anything is strictly defined, though sometimes these boundaries are violated by eager consumers who figure out creatively how to trespass the enforced limitations. For example, although Agrippa was programmed to self-erase, the work was successfully hacked and its contents were posted online. But that didn't mean that the work was experienced as it was meant to be experienced. In other words, the materiality of the work had been altered...
The long and short of it is, is that on The Late Age of Print is a very useful contribution to the media field. The best part? It's easy to read. And relevant to the experiences you have had...

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The Potter Quest Review

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(More customer reviews)This book was written by, hands-down, the very best teacher that I have ever had, the kind of teacher who proves that you don't need to go to Hogwarts for a magical classroom. The author loves literature in a way that is consuming and exhilarating, and it came across in each and every class, each and every lecture, each and every interaction.
Now, it shines through in this book, which has all the joy, fun, and insight of the Harry Potter series itself, while also snapping the series into greater focus by pointing out its links and parallels to pieces of classic literature and the Bible. The Potter Quest gives a deeper appreciation for all of J.K. Rowling's subtly brilliant moves and expounds the lessons of the series while also offering lessons of its own - never in a "preachy" way though, more like a discussion about amazing books with a close friend over coffee. There are so many beautiful messages about love and friendship (those people who are physically with us and those we carry in our hearts), about getting through "the dark hour of the soul," about carrying on during life's seemingly unbearable moments and fully reveling in its peaceful, lovely moments.
I was inspired to continue my own "quest" as I read, and pushed to consider Harry's quest in a sharper light. This is an engaging, honest, profound book, and I cannot recommend it highly enough. It has been placed on my bookshelf right beside Rowling, exactly where it belongs ... each writer has her own special brand of magic.

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This book is an examination of the seven Harry Potter novels as classic quest literature, and an examination of the way the Potter stories celebrate some very important values.Among these are persistence, courage, and friendship.Love plays a crucial role in this story--love is the the power that gives Lily Potter the strength to give her life to save Harry, and it is the denial of the power of love that is the most significant and eventually fatal flaw of Harry's nemesis, Lord Voldemort.The book also discusses other important themes--the importance of free will, the existence of evil, and the quiet power of goodness and humility. The book examines thematic connections between the Potter stories and many other great pieces of literature, including allusions to Shakespeare and the Bible.

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Acadia, Book I: The Lost King and the Goddess of Time Review

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(More customer reviews)How would you like being told your father had been dead hundreds of years? Damont, the main character, used to be just your average teen boy until he learns the truth of his ancestry. He is thrown into Haldina, where he is supposed to be king. He begins receiving visions of the future and has fears of whether or not he can live up to the prior kings. The reader will meet the two main secondary characters when Damont is sent off on a quest. Amber, a hot-headed sorceress and Virden, a warrior make for good secondary characters; the reader will enjoy getting to know their quirks and dark pasts. A quality of note, the author skillfully crafts the setting and the language behind this book-the reader will be convinced he/she is in Haldina and can picture the landscape and people easily. This novel is fast-paced and fun to read, a read that some readers may finish in one sitting. This novel is recommended for young adults/teens who enjoy a fun character and a little magic in their reads.


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It was only a nightmare at first, but Damont soon realizes that he can see into the future--a curse he has to live with for being the only son of a king dead for a thousand years, with a mother who is the goddess of time.A man in black armor with a face as obscure as the shadows mantling him laughs wickedly. Who is he and why does he continue to haunt me, Damont wonders. Appearing only in his dreams, the man in the black armor stands alone and laughs high as if to mock him while the world around him burns to cinder. "They are not dreams, my son," a voice calls out to him in a vision after the many nightmares--claiming to be his mother whom abandoned him when he was but a child. "They are shards of a broken world to come if you so take the path of your father." If such a path does lie ahead beyond a throne that sits vacant for centuries, with an empire in the east growling for war, then Damont Langörn realizes he has but one choice: follow the visions and seek out the truth lost to both him and the world behind his lineage--but will he be strong enough to face such a malevolent foe of his nightmares?With a vampire and a sorceress at his side, Damont begins his journey, but such a road is not an easy one to take if the gods themselves do not wish for his return as the king who would unite the world against their existence and bring demise to their very doorstep.

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Sacrifice of the Season (Volume 1) Review

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(More customer reviews)I just finished reading this book and it was a truely enjoyable book to read. It kept me on my toes from the first sentence to the last. I am very much looking forward to the next installment by Daryl. This is a definite must read in my opinion. I give this book and the author two very big and enthusiastic thumbs up.

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An historically rich saga of spell-binding power that grabs the reader and won't let go.When summer was over the faerie would come for the children. Cobbs is a threadbare mining town with secrets and sorrow to spare. The newly arrived Rutherfords choke on their own share of misery when their daughter Abigail suddenly vanishes. Desperate to find his sister, Jack has no one to turn to but Lucius, a mysterious former slave with a few secrets of his own. Together they plunge into the twisting, enchanted landscape of the wicked, the fey, and the grim. Jack will have to unlock the rules of wyrd magic and ancient relics to prevail, but there is far more at stake than either of them can imagine.

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Harry Putter and the Deathly Hairballs Review

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(More customer reviews)I truly enjoyed this book, but the plot just took too many wild twists and turns for me.
I would recommend it to ages 14+ and give it a three star rating, good, but not the best.

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There a panic going on at Hogwashes.There's a new threat, a fiendish devil cat roaming the dungeons.After it rends them to death with its sharp claws, it leaves a hairball behind on each of its victims, a sick kind of calling card left at the scene of each murder.The long awaited sequel to "Harry Putter and the Chamber of Cheesecakes" has finally arrived. In this hysterical parody of J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter" series, your favorite characters, places, and past events have been twisted around with devilish wit. You'll follow the adventures of Harry Putter, Ron Cheesley, and Hermione Stranger in their quest to destroy Lord Moldyfart. While some of the encounters are spoofs reminiscent of the original tales, others are new, keeping the storyline fresh and unpredictable. If you like the original Harry Potter series, you'll love this crazy parody.

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Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone Review

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(More customer reviews)After learning Korean, I wanted to read my all-time favourite series in it. Granted, there are going to be quite a few differences due to the language change, but it still paints the picture and drags you into the the fabulous and magical world of Harry Potter.
I wish I could write more, but it's 2011! I'm pretty sure everyone knows Harry Potter and as read the first book by now. X3

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Harry Potter Coffret (French Edition) Review

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(More customer reviews)I really liked the book beacause it was exciting.

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Harry Potter the Exhibition: Official Exhibition Guide Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this book from the WB online store. Even though I haven't had a chance to visit the exhibition (still hoping it will make a stop in Honolulu), I wanted to have the Guide because I like the HP films.
For those who have attended the exhibit, the Guide is a nice souvenir that will bring memories of the many beautifully crafted props and costumes that have been seen in the HP films and were shown at the exhibition. The Guide follows the different sections in the exhibit like the Gryffindor Common Room, Classes at Hogwarts, Quidditch, Hagrid's Hut, Dark Forces and the Great Hall. Color pictures of costumes, creatures, and artifact displays are interspersed with quotes from the designers and a few stills from the movies.
Forty pages make for a thin booklet so some people may find the Guide somewhat overpriced. But if you liked Harry Potter Film Wizardry, you may want to consider adding the Guide to your collection. Both books will look great next to each other on your shelves.


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The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Review

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(More customer reviews)This book included 12 adventures:
1. A Scandal in Bohemia
2. The Red-Headed League
3. A Case of Identity
4. The Boscombe Valley Mystery
5. The Five Orange Pips
6. The Man with the Twisted Lip
7. The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle
8. The Adventure of the Speckled Band
9. The Adventure of the Engineer's Thumb
10. The Adventure of the Noble Bachelor
11. The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet
12. The Adventure of the Copper Beeches
Great classic literature. I really enjoy reading Holmes and Watson's adventures, solving the mystery, and putting the puzzles together.

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Hour of the Witch: Harry Potter, Wicca Witchcraft and the Bible Review

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(More customer reviews)Months ago, I got into an e-mail discussion with Steve Wohlberg, the author of this book "Hour of the Witch" about Harry Potter. He then e-mailed an advanced copy of this book to me saying he hoped I would find it more convincing than a little booklet he wrote on the subject.
This book is mostly second hand research from a biased source. (See my book review of "Harry Potter and the Bible" by Richard Abanes.) Steve Wohlberg takes misinformation from Richard Abanes's book and transfers it into "Hour of the Witch."
How do I know this? Because in so many areas in Wohlberg's endnotes he acknowledges that many of his research basis are "Quoted by Abanes."SECTION ONE
Here are some errors which Wohlberg transfered from Abanes's book:
#1. Wohlberg, like Abanes, cites 2 interviews which J.K. Rowling gave to prove that she transfered occultism in her series. In one interview mentioned, given on October 12, 1999 for WBUR, a Wiccan told Miss Rowling that she did her "homework quite well." Wohlberg then continues to say that the Wiccan loved the books because they portrayed his beleifs positively and made his daughter comfortable with his involvement in the occult. This is misleading. I have the transcript of the discussion. The Wiccan did indeed tell Rowling, "You do your homework quite well," however, any unbiased researcher will be able to tell you that the only "homework" in the series is nothing more than folklore. And to top it all off, the Wiccan never said that the series portrayed his beleifs and made his daughter comfortable with his involvement in the occult. All he said was that he had Rowling's books and his step-daughter had in interest in them as well. He said it brought the family together. That's all----- The next interview mentioned was given on October 20, 2000 for WAMU's Diane Rehm. Wohlberg says that in this interview that Rowling addmited that one-third of her Harry Potter series was based on actual occultism. I have the transcript of this conversation as well. This never happened. All Rowling said was that one-third of her series was based on folklore from Britain. She said "Folklore." Not "Occultism." The two are not one and the same.
In his e-mail to me, Wohlberg told me to especially read Chapter 7, "The Potion," to see how J.K. Rowling weeves fantasy and reality togather. After reading the chapter my mental responce was "Oh, yeah. And your point is...?" His chapter is basically how Rowling weeves British Mythology in her books. So What? Weeving fantasy with reality or mythology is not a new or necesarily a dangerous idea. Even Christian authors do it. What makes Rowling so special? Because she writes books that kids actually like? (And by the way, J.K. Rowling is a Christian of the Church of Scotland). But, I digress, none of the mythology in Rowling's books are Occultic. If his definition of occultism was reality then wee would have to rid ourselves of "Lord of the Rings," "Narnia," and others.
#2. He cites an article from "This is London" entitled "Potter fans turning to witchcraft." However, this article (and I read it) give little or no proof to back up its claim. It's bassically an "I feel this is happening" piece. There is a small area of that article which Harry-Potter-Haters avoid (which I forgott to mention in my review of Abanes's book.) This article points out that minors under 18 are not allowed to join the Wiccan craft. So, it actually defeats its own case. It doesn't prove anything against Harry Potter.
Wohlberg also appears ignorant that polling data says that despite a large following that Harry Potter, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Charmed, and other magical shows, the occult in the U.S. and Europe, according to a ZENIT survey on cesnur.org, remains under 0.1%. That survey also mentions that despite a huge following of Harry Potter in Europe, the occult there is in decline.
SECTION TWO
The following are not Abanes Errors
#3. Wohlberg makes connections between Harry Potter and Wicca which do not exist. In one place he tries to make a case that Harry Potter teaches Wicca because it mentions Witch Burnings.
He also says that both Wicca and Harry Potter Witches are seen as gifted souls. Unfortunately for Wohlberg's case, this is not even mentioned in Harry Potter. It doesn't exist in the series.
He also says that Harry Potter teaches Wicca because Wiccans beleive using Magick to do good and to protect. This is a bogus connection. This makes the "Wizard of Oz" and "Lord of the Rings" look evil because the same thing happens there.
#4. Wohlberg then says that Harry Potter paints most Muggles (non-magical folk) as stupid because Harry's non-magical relatives abuse him. News to Wohlberg, Rowling is talking about one family here. Saying this shows Harry Potter is anti-muggle is like saying a movie about Pearl Harbor is anti-Japanese.
A common misconception that Wohlberg and other "harry Haters pass on is that Harry Potter contains the Wiccan beleifs. I have researched Wicca and this is not true and Wiccans agree with me. Allow me to cite reliable sourses which back me up:
The Following is an exerpt from a news article written by Ben Roy entitled "Wiccans Dispute Potter Claims." It is available at Cesnur.org:
"While an Alexandria woman is trying to ban the readingaloud of Harry Potter books at Bristol Elementary School because she says they promote Wicca, practicing members of the religion disagree.
Local Wiccans have come out against the claim the books promote their religion. They said the book is fiction, and does not represent their beliefs in any way.
" 'It really doesn't have anything to do with us,' said Peter Mather, an initiated Wiccan priest who lives in Plymouth.
Mather said he has examined the books and found nothing having to do with his religion.
" 'I've bought these books myself for my kids,' Mather said.
He said he finds no problem with them. He said a person who would ban them because they think the books promote Wicca is 'another intolerant person.'
" 'I've read these books, since I wanted to see what was in them before I gave them to my kids, and I must say that these books no more promote witchcraft than `Anne of Green Gables' promotes moving to Nova Scotia,' Mather said.
END OF EXERPT.
Dana Corby, a Witch on "Witchvox.com says, "Then the media wanted to talk to 'real witches' about it. And in every interview we told them that Harry Potter was a charming fantasy and a great read, but that (1) it does not even vaguely resemble real magic, (2) it does not encourage (much less teach) witchcraft or sorcery, and (3) it has nothing to do with satanism. And by the way, (4) neither do we."
Terry Paajanen, a witch at "paganwiccan.about.com says on her Harry Potter web page, "Wiccans worship both a God and Goddess, though there is no mention of any form of Deities at all in the Harry Potter series. Wicca is a religion after all, not just the act of casting spells. Why, there is no spirituality in these books and movies at all!"
She continues to say, "As I searched the Internet looking for pro-Potter sites, I was absolutely overwhelmed by the number of articles and sites dedicated to "exposing the evil truths about Harry Potter". What surprised me even more was the blatent lies and false information they contain. The biblical references used to back up their claims are questionable at best, and all of them are focused on the evils of magick and Witchcraft. The connection between J.K Rowling's books and Witchcraft is all in their heads. The 'experts' don't really know anything about Witchcraft at all, and it's a shame that they are the ones yelling the loudest."
Not proof enough? How about Wiccan Kerr Cuhulain telling anti-Potterite Jack Roper who said that HP is full of Wiccan concepts that it was "only full of what he thinks are witchcraft concepts" but are far different from "the reality of Wicca"? (Comment available at witchvox.com)
These are the Witchcraft/Wiccan practitioners talking. Don't tell me non-practitioners know more than they do.
There is so much more evidence which vindicated Harry Potter. if you want to know more, e-mail me at krissmith567@hotmail.com
____________________________
I cannot recommend this book, but I want to recommend "Looking for God in Harry Potter" by John Granger.


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Millions of children across the globe are enjoying the magical adventures of Harry Potter. Are these harmless fantasies or is a sinister spirit lurking behind the best-selling books? Hour of the Witch: Harry Potter, Wicca, Witchcraft, and the Bible scrutinizes these popular tales from a spiritual standpoint. Sorcery, séances and the supernatural are essential to Harry Potter's escapades. So parents should be aware of how all this wizardry influences their kids. Does being immersed in images of witchcraft have a lasting impact on an impressionable mind? Learn the truth behind Harry Potter and how to protect your children from being bewitched.

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MuggleNet.com's What Will Happen in Harry Potter 7: Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Falls in Love and How Will the Adventure Finally End? Review

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(More customer reviews)MuggleNet.com is probably one of the most comprehensive Harry Potter fan sites availabe today. If you are a Harry Potter fan and haven't checked this site out yet...you need to!
This book is Mugglenet.com's labor of love. The site is so devoted to Harry Potter, that it has produced this book as an answer to some of the questions stewing inside fellow Harry Potter fans after the close of Book 6, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince". Topics this book explores include Dumbledore (is he *really* dead, or isn't he?), life debts (how is the life debt that Wormtail owes to Harry going to come into play?), the identity of R.A.B. (they deduced the same thing I had, and thats that the identity of R.A.B is none other than Regulus Black, Sirius's younger brother!), Questions surrounding the Horcruxes, Professor Snape (good or bad?), and so much more!. There is even a section that discusses each character in relation to their odds of living or dying in Book 7 -- each character receives a well-thought out statistic as far as what are the odds that they will not survive through Book 7, and then a short but detailed reason is given for that character's score. Why would they be a prime target, or perhaps, why *wouldn't* they be a prime target...
Like most unauthorized books discussing various aspects of the world of Harry Potter, this book is truly pure speculation -- albeit well-thought out and researched speculation. Let your imagination go wild, and ponder some of these nagging questions with all the zeal and fandom you can muster!
Admittedly, there isn't much in this book that can't be found on their website, or in a multitude of other Harry Potter "whats going to happen?" theory books -- but I'm a firm believer that half the fun is in researching each and every theory possible! While this book does repeat a lot of information previously produced, it also helps give a little extra insight into the world of Harry Potter. True Potter fans will enjoy it, even if most of it is either steadily repeated information, or ideas they have already thought of or theorized for themselves.
Bottom line, if you're an avid devotee to the website, then the purchase of this book probably isn't worth it. If you're not, you just might enjoy this book, which may possibly be one of the last of it's kind before J.K. Rowling publishes book number 7, and ends the mystery and suspense for us all!
Bottom line, I solemly swear I am up to no good...

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In this New York Times Bestseller, the experts at MuggleNet.com analyze the first six Harry Potter books and search for hidden clues to predict what the final book might reveal:
What are the Deathly Hallows?
Is Dumbledore really dead?
Whose side is Snape truly on?
Will Harry live and defeat Voldemort?
Who is the mysterious R.A.B.?
Will Harry and Ginny get back together?
Is Harry a Horcrux?
Will Ron's and Hermione's relationship last?
Are the Weasleys Voldemort's next target?
Will we ever see Sirius again?
Will Hagrid survive?
What and where are Voldemort's Horcruxes?
Might Wormtail save Harry?
What does Aunt Petunia know?
Will Draco flee the Death Eaters?
Does Snape love Lily?
Why are Harry's eyes so important?
What happened to Mr. Ollivander?
Do Ron and Hermione live to see the end?
What does Dumbledore's "gleam of triumph" mean?
Is there a connection between Godric's Hollow and Godric Gryffindor?

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Harry Potter, Narnia, and The Lord of the Rings: What You Need to Know About Fantasy Books and Movies Review

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(More customer reviews)Harry Potter, Narnia, and the Lord of the Rings by Richard Abanes is a dissection of three of the greatest fantasy phenomena around today. Is fantasy harmful? Can we learn from it? Are there different types? How does fantasy affect us?
These are just a few of the questions Abanes answers in his informative book. As a mildly interested reader and watcher of fantasy, this book surprised me as it disclosed the impact that reading or observing fantasy can have on a person--especially a child or teenager. Yet parents are often very lax in supervising what their children read or watch, resulting in a decline in morals as well as an increasing interest in the occult.
Abanes compares the three above-named fantasies to show what each is preaching or teaching. With the Narnia and Lord of the Rings series, he shows how Christian values and morals can be taught through the fantasy medium.
With Harry Potter, he raises a few questions. Some in the Christian arena have said it teaches Christian morals. Abanes disputes this by asking: Do we have a clear-cut example of good and bad in Harry Potter? How can we call the hero "good" and yet watch Harry lie, cheat, and steal? What about all the occult spells and paraphernalia explored in the books?
In the last chapters, he shows how television and movies are delving more and more into the occult, including horror movies and even prime-time weekly television programs. "Children are big imitators," asserts Abanes. Many of the crimes being perpetrated today--especially by children and teenagers--are copycats of scenes watched in movies or television.
Harry Potter, Narnia, and The Lord of the Rings is enlightening while remaining highly readable. Abanes challenges Christian authors and pastors in a friendly way, but calls us all to be discerning of what we put before our children and grandchildren. ..

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Award-winningjournalist Richard Abanesclears away the confusion many readers experience over fantasy books and films.He delves into the differences between various forms of fantasy and digs outanswers needed by every parent, youth worker, teacher, and student.

The stories of Tolkien, Lewis, and Rowling-and films based on them-have touchedmillions of lives. How are these authors similar...and different? Where do theyfit into today's ever-growing desire for the mystery and magic fantasy provides?Abanes-himself a fantasy and science-fictionfan-helps shed light on this form of entertainment and its effects on today'syouth.

Readers will come awaythoroughly equipped to differentiate between stories and films that areharmless, even inspiring-and those containing spiritual dangers.

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Papercutz Slices #1: Harry Potty and the Deathly Boring Review

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(More customer reviews)As a 26-year-old woman, it's been difficult for me to become too invested in any of the graphic novels being released by Papercutz--and rightfully so. The nearly six-year-old company is a graphic novel publisher for tweens and teens, and though Harry Potter has supposedly crossed all age groups, I never became a fan. So needless to say, Papercutz's Harry Potty and the Deathly Boring, a parody of the ultrapopular book series/move franchise, wasn't necessarily my cup of tea, but even I could appreciate some of the subtle social commentary and tongue-in-cheek references that your average kid wouldn't have picked up. Also, just to be fair, it should be pointed out that my two young nieces, ages six and seven, thought Harry Potty was hilarious.
Apparently, this is just one of what will become a long line of parodies produced by Papercutz's Slices, a parody imprint "dedicated to cutting up your favorite pop culture icons." All of the familiar characters are here, though renamed in snarky fashion. There's Harry Potty (Harry Potter), of course, and Don Measley (Ron Weasley), Whiny Stranger (Hermione Granger), Dumb-as-a-Door (Dumbledore), and Frappe (Severus Snape), etc. The Deathly Boring is writer Stefan Petrucha's take on the tale of how Potty found his way to "Nosewarts," becoming one of the school's most beloved students, while also becoming embroiled in a battle after the killing of his mentor Dumb-as-a-door by the "traitorous barista" Frappe.

The title of Papercutz's parody would seem to imply that the entirety of the story will be based on Rowling's final tome, but that's actually incorrect. Harry Potty and the Deathly Boring provides a look back at each of Rowling's books, but of course all of them have been cleverly renamed (Omelette of Fire and The Border of Phoenix, among others). The retelling is cleverly done by Petrucha. Rather than break the book into sections for each of Rowling's books, it's presented as a flashback by Whiny Stranger, who uses the spell "rememberallthisstufficis" to recap all seven books in rapid succession.

My favorite feature of The Deathly Boring was the fact that all of Harry's rivals' names were based on big business, such as the incredibly creepy villain Value-Mart (Wal-Mart) (also known as He Whose Prices Can't Be Beat), Horbucks (Starbucks), and Odor Eaters, all of whom he defeats with his motley crew of crazy friends in this bizarre take on the much beloved series. Admittedly, many of the jokes are hit or miss and geared toward the younger set, but there's no denying that it's a take on Harry Potter that you won't read anywhere else. Plus, only in a Papercutz parody would Potty avenge the death of his parents and mentors with (prepare yourself) a toilet plunger.

-- Tina Vasquez

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The creative team behind the hit Tales from the Crypt #8 "Diary of a Stinky Dead Kid" team up again to launch this new parody series from Papercutz! Following the killing of their mentor Dumb-as-a-door by the seemingly traitorous barista Frappe, Harry Potty, Don Measley and Whiny Stranger must find a way to defeat the nose-less dark lord Value-Mart (He-Whose-Prices-Can't-Be-Beat) and his followers, the Odor Eaters in order to avenge the death of Harry Potty's parents and bring balance to the world of magic.

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