Tag: book review

  • The Half Blood Prince: When The Movie Makes His Character More Likeable

    It turns out that abusing your students won’t magically motivate them to do better. It’ll probably give them anxiety and unhealthy coping mechanisms. And Harry, especially, cannot exist within a space where he is abused and vilified. And Snape’s presence is a huge source of anxiety for him. Why else would he spend every other…

  • Addressing Harry’s PTSD: Overlooked Trauma in Order of the Phoenix

    Addressing Harry’s PTSD: Overlooked Trauma in Order of the Phoenix

    And in the midst of all of this, poor sweet Harry, a boy that only recently escaped a graveyard with the body of his friend. A boy who blamed himself for said friend’s death. HE, of all people, is accused of being a liar. He’s told he’s mentally unstable and must’ve been imagining things or…

  • Goblet Of Fire: Who’s Scarier? Hermione Or Voldemort?

    Goblet Of Fire: Who’s Scarier? Hermione Or Voldemort?

    If you solely watched the movies and never got to experience the pure joy that is book Hermione, you wouldn’t know what an absolute menace she is. Sure, she may seem sweet while she’s putting her hand up and answering every question in class. But get on her bad side, and she’s not above committing…

  • The Prisoner Of Azkaban: Oh Look More Trauma For Harry!

    The Prisoner Of Azkaban: Oh Look More Trauma For Harry!

    He just saw a threat and immediately put himself between him and his students. Movie Snape can be cruel at times and he definitely cuffs his students (which isn’t great). But all of his vindictive behaviour is toned down in the movies and everything that made him sympathetic in the books is dialled up. You…

  • The Chamber Of Secrets: The Last Book That Allows Harry Potter To Win

    The Chamber Of Secrets: The Last Book That Allows Harry Potter To Win

    Dumbledore failed as a headmaster. Sure, he may appear kindly and provide a funny remark every now and again, but he doesn’t protect his students from what really matters. Sure, it’s all good to be kept alive but life isn’t everything. Sometimes the greater reward is to have a short life filled with happiness rather…

  • Re Reading Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone As An Adult

    Re Reading Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone As An Adult

    So yes, he adores Hagrid for being his saviour. And because Hagrid worships Dumbledore, he does too. He doesn’t notice the flaws in the adults because his standards are shockingly low. And that’s probably why Dumbledore left him with the Dursleys. Dumbledore knew that if he had grown up in the wizarding world, he would’ve…

  • The Kyoshi Novels Are Actually So Good!

    The Kyoshi Novels Are Actually So Good!

    But most importantly, it reveals the avatar to be a truly flawed individual. Maybe they are a bridge between the human and spirit world, maybe they are the saviour of the world. But they’re also, unequivocally, human. And that makes them flawed individuals. It is the nature of the cycle that each avatar will mess…

  • Why Don’t We Treat Books The Way We Treat Movies?

    Why Don’t We Treat Books The Way We Treat Movies?

    People have a right to avoid things that could trigger them. Which means that just as movies and shows have to warn people when they depict excessive violence, there should also be a rating and a content warning page at the beginning of the book.

  • Authentic Storytelling: Is It Genuine Or Manufactured?

    Authentic Storytelling: Is It Genuine Or Manufactured?

    In the end, authentic storytelling is not actually about what is accurate. It’s about what feels accurate. And because a specific picture of high school has been generated through generations of books, it seems more true to life.

  • Diversity Is Crucial To Authentic Storytelling

    Diversity Is Crucial To Authentic Storytelling

    One’s skin colour does not determine how good of a writer they are. But one’s experiences do.