Play Book Tag discussion

Lisa wrote: "What can one add to the discussion about one of the most iconic debut novels of all time? As of July 2024 there are 166,245 posted reviews on Goodreads. Originally published in 1997 and translated ..."

I really love Stephen Fry's narration of this series!

In my house ( and always in the car) we were firmly in the Jim Dale camp.

I still remember how I first got into this series; my 5th grade teacher recommended it to me and it started a life-long obsession and love of all things HP. I have such good memories of this series.

I have all the Stephen Fry versions and love them, but I can’t seem to get the Jim Dale versions at all.

Totally a comfort read for me as well! So looking forward to the Cursed Child film!

I need to do a reread of the series - I started one like 5 years ago, but I didn’t get to the 6th and 7th. Maybe I’ll just read those at some point so I can complete my first reread finally haha.

From 3rd grade to 6th grade I read the entire series with/to my daughter-some wonderful memories of this time spent with her.

Lisa asked (rhetorically, I presume) "What can one add to the discussion about one of the most iconic debut novels of all time?"

Well, I've read many studies of Rowling's work (and don't mean to boast or sound--as some called Hermione--like a know it all), but I've posted in the past about what seems overlooked inspiration for JKR--"forgotten" classics she either read as child (am not talking about LITTLE WHITE HORSE) or as research when writing her own books.

Rowling has said GOBLET OF FIRE was inspired by Jane Austen's EMMA, in which perceptions of "clueless" main character turn out to be very different from what really happened. Alicia Silverstone movie CLUELESS is also based on EMMA .

And of course there's powerful magician in Shakespeare's TEMPEST--ever wonder why there's storm around island where Uncle Vernon takes family to hide from owls?

Intriguing to compare & see how she transformed books that may also be enjoyed by her own fans. Listing a few here--- tho without links--as when I tried to format that way, everything accidently disappeared. All pre-date HP series by at least decades.

To start off, try CARBONEL, THE KING OF THE CATS and THE KINGDOM OF CARBONEL by Barbara Sleigh, with Horcrux (or Deathly Hallows?) style quest for triangular hat, flying broomstick & round cauldron.

GONE-AWAY LAKE and RETURN TO GONE-AWAY by Elizabeth Enright (niece of architect Frank Lloyd Wright) have character Pindar Payton who just happens to have been born same year as Albus Dumbledore, among other striking likenesses.

At least one of Enright's other books includes other unusual similarities, such as "secret chamber" of FOUR-STORY MISTAKE, in which is long hidden life-like portrait of young person who later became famous under an invented name & identity.

Author E. Nesbit is credited with pioneering many aspects of modern fiction for children (see book by noted British children's librarian Marcus Crouch, THE NESBIT TRADITION). An acquaintance of H.G. Wells, Nesbit's PHOENIX & THE CARPET seems inspiration for name of Fawkes the Phoenix, as vain golden bird (hmm, Gilderoy Lockhart?) arrives with flying carpet as result of fireworks accidentally set off in preparations for Guy Fawkes Night celebration.

Not so incidently, popular book THE INGOLDSBY LEGENDS (consulted in P&TC by children who wish they were taught magic in school) has poem "The Nurses Tale" describing how to make a "hand of glory" like one in Borgin & Burkes shop on Knockturn Alley.

Character in title of novel MARA, DAUGHTER OF THE NILE by Eloise Jarvis McGraw (with eyes that are unusual color in Egypt), is likened to a lily, acts as double agent for one master she describes as having smile "like a magician's potion"--remind you of Lily Evans & Severus Snape?

This story set in Ancient Egypt includes tomb treasure raid for good cause. Another scene, where someone turns the tables by accusing an enemy of something he did himself may be inspiration for Peter Pettigrew's attack on Sirius Black.

JKR has mentioned a childhood favorite was MANXMOUSE by Paul Gallico, but have you heard of THE MAN WHO WAS MAGIC by same author?

Some scholars have noticed basic similarities between HP & popular 1857 Victorian boarding school story TOM BROWN'S SCHOOL DAYS by Thomas Hughes, based on Rugby school under revered headmaster Dr THOMAS ARNOLD, associated with philosophical movement "Muscular Christianity". The Harry Potter books also illustrate Christian tenets such as self-sacrifice, repentance and re-birth.

However, HP scholars don't mention sequel, TOM BROWN GOES TO OXFORD (the name Hogwarts sounds to me like mash-up of famous schools Harrow, Harvard & Oxford). In novel about Tom as a young man, there's character forbidden to enter Oxford--because of gambling--named Joe MUGGLES.

(Also triangle between a Tom & Harry and young woman betrothed to latter seem parallel to one involving Ginny Weasley.)

Copies of other books with possible "literary ancestors" of HP are harder to get, so will just mention WICKED ENCHANTMENT by Margot Benary-Isbert who lived in Germany during Nazi regime which she did not support. Her book published shortly after WWII is fantasy in which song birds represent people that evil tries to eliminate. Wicked Earl owl may be source for name of Weasley family's owl Errol. Gregory Goyle might be namesake of gargoyle son who comes to life. Brave girl protagonist Anemone has unusual flower name, like many characters in HP series.

I believe JKR intended her readers to recognize such references, but apparently people either don't read these any more, or don't recall from when they read as child long ago.

(Also check out Nesbit's memoir LONG AGO WHEN I WAS YOUNG for description of childhood fears of the dark triggered by seeing mummies at Bordeaux. This became adult depression, in her words "where the sun is darkened always.... he does not speak soon nor lightly of what befell in the dark, in the evil days, in the Castle of the Enchanter". After great struggle, she overcame this so her own children would not suffer--sort of her summoning a patronus.

So there still may be something "new" to say about HP--perhaps by going Back to the Future.