Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts One and Two: The Official Playscript of the Original West End Production

Originally posted on my blog at https://rantandraveaboutbooks.com/2016/08/26/rave-review-of-harry-potter-and-the-cursed-child/I pre-ordered this book a few weeks before its release date and held on to it for the past few weeks until the hype died down. I read very few reviews for this book, knowing only a few basic facts before I went into it. I didn’t even read the synopsis when I ordered it on Amazon because I didn’t want to risk any spoilers.Luckily, the synopsis didn’t give away the story. I’ve read some mixed reviews about this book, and I can honestly say that the hardcore Harry Potter fans will have issues with how time travel is handled. I went into this as a new adventure, happy to have another Harry Potter story. That’s it. I didn’t analyze every book in the series or make too many comparisons because I wanted to enjoy this story as if it were the lost novel J.K. Rowling stashed away in some drawer. I don’t care about the loopholes or the inconsistencies or the fact certain characters are missing from the story. Okay, I care a little bit, but I did not let it disrupt my enjoyment of this book.If you’re expecting this book to be a continuation of Harry Potter, you will be disappointed. But if you’re like me and you’re thrilled just to get another glimpse into this world, then you’ll probably rave over it. Another thing to consider is that this is a play adapted to a script book. With plays, the time is limited, and they had to cram a fair amount of information into a short time frame. There are almost always some minor inconsistencies in plays. It’s just how it is and it’s something I’ve come to accept after over twenty years of going to the theater. If you’ve never seen a live production and you’re expecting a full length book with all the questions answered, again you will be disappointed.What I Love About This Book…I forgot how much I missed Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Hermione. I think I missed Ron most of all. I loved him from the second I read about him in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. He’s such a goofball and it was really nice to see him again. He had a few lines that made me laugh and go aww, Ron, I love you.Harry is still Harry just older and sort of grouchy. Even though the books were about Harry, I was more of a fan of the secondary characters. My opinion didn’t change after reading this book, and I was glad the focus of this book is on Albus Severus Potter and Scorpius Malfoy.I really like the dynamic between Albus and Scorpius. From the start, everyone is hating on Scorpius and he was my favorite character from this book. Each scene with him only made me like him more. He could’ve chosen to be the bad guy at certain parts but the underlying story, just like the original books, comes down to friendship. That’s what I always liked about this series and that part remained intact.We get to see Snape again!!! I forgot how much I missed him, too. He was down to help the kiddies and I loved that he was willing to take one for the team once more.We see a little bit of Dumbledore, and there’s a really cute exchange between Harry and him where they discuss their relationship. Harry is very annoying in this book, which is why I was glad he wasn’t the focus. But I liked how his conversation with Dumbledore’s painting helped him to see what was wrong in his relationship with Albus. They constantly butt heads because they think they’re so different but it’s because they’re so much alike.My favorite book in the series is Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire, and for that reason, I was really happy with the plot of this book. I loved being able to revisit parts of my favorite book with the help of a Time-Turner. And without going into detail, that also means you get to see some of the characters from back then, which was really exciting.I have always liked Draco Malfoy, and I guess if I had to choose a house I would’ve been sorted into Slytherin. I never gave much thought to this, mostly because I always thought with my personality this would make sense. I love characters like Snape and Draco. Who cares what house they’re in, right? That’s my thinking.I also liked the development of Harry and Draco’s characters as family men, and even though they’re not going to hug it out and have a sleepover, I did like that they had come to sort of understanding by the end of the book. There’s a secret about Draco that humanizes him a bit by the end, which I think had a lot to do with Harry’s change of heart.The Parts That Made My Heart Hurt…Although Hagrid was not a character in this book, we did see him through Harry’s dreams. For me, Hagrid was the reason I was sucked into the first book in the series. Well, that and the fact the Dursleys were child abusers and I was so angry about it that I kept reading to make sure Harry got away from them. Sorry for the short rant but I really hate the Dursleys. Anyway, hands-down Hagrid is one of my favorite characters in any book. There is a serious tear-jerker moment where we get to see the past, and when Hagrid sees baby Harry, oh my God, my heart melted. It reminded me why I love Hagrid so much. He’s such a sweetie. I just wanted to hug him.There are a few scenes at Godric’s Hollow, and if you’ve read the books, you’ll know what I’m talking about. I don’t want to get into the specifics, but my heart literally hurt for Harry. I was hating on him most of the book until this one particular moment.Harry and Albus’ relationship was painful at times, but I was really happy with their overall character development. Some of the exchanges between them made it feel like they were strangers and not father and son. It was sort of depressing to see Albus feel somewhat like Harry did as a kid when he had a father right there. I thought it made sense to some extent, considering Harry did not grow up with a father. It was also very sad to read about.There wasn’t much I disliked about the book, which is why I gave it 5 Stars on Goodreads. I think I was just too excited to have another Harry Potter book that I was willing to overlook some minor issues with things that J.K. Rowling attempted to fix throughout the series, only for them to reappear in this book. Just writing this review made me miss it even more so I decided to start watching Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. I own all the movies through Amazon, so I couldn’t resist throwing it on just so I could see some of my favorite characters on-screen. And now I need to do a reread of this series, most likely some time closer to winter.I really tried to limit this review to character development, and I didn’t give any spoilers, not unless you count who made a reappearance, even though I didn’t mention all of them, but other than that, I didn’t reveal any of the plot. You’re in for hopefully a pleasant surprise if you haven’t read the book yet.

Well firstly, I felt a bit tenuous about ordering Cursed Child after some of the reviews I read here....afraid I'd end up disappointed or left wanting and couldn't bear that. But then my Harry Potter mania took over and I knew I'd never be able to NOT read it!I LOVED the story premise, it gathered up loose strings I felt at the end of Deathly Hallows, wondering what might become of our three heroes, what would become of Hogwarts in a post-Voldemort world, what legacies would or would not continue.....what struggles would occur in a not-perfect world, especially that of raising children and coming to terms with one's own "unfinished or unsorted business".I started reading, wondering why on Earth JKR would consent to this story only being presented in script/screenplay form......but then as I got into the Acts, could clearly see why! And it supports her statement - (Taken from Wikipedia) In response to queries regarding the choice of a play rather than a new novel, Rowling has stated that she "is confident that when audiences see the play they will agree that it is the only proper medium for the story". I "get it" and won't put a spoiler here. It's richer to discover the reason yourself and feel the honor in it!As with all the Potter books, subtexts and valuable life lessons and messages are not far beneath the surface. I did GREATLY miss what I believe book-form "could have" been with JKR's delicious narrative and descriptions, but I'm a writer and could fill-in with my imagination, was resigned before I opened the first page that I had to embrace that this was a SCRIPT, not a JKR BOOK! So many seem to be rating and judging the story on it's format despite being warned...so to each their own on that point. My imagination and familiarity with the saga was able to *go there* and fill in the empty spaces. A book could be (maybe already *IS* written ::fingers crossed) but would then demand another expected movie, and there was absolutely no way this movie could be made and possess the same level of magic & *authenticity*. You'll see why when you read it. I recommend Cursed Child, *if* you are able to recognize and digest that this is a script, don't expect a tasty JKR tome. And JK, if you're reading? Your version of the full book would be so perfect, thank you! I hope it happens, even if the movie can't. ;)And now for spoilers..........SPOILER ALERT! SPOILER ALERT! SPOILER ALERT! SPOILER ALERT!You've BEEN WARNED!Some of the major JUMP-OUTS to me as far as criticisms of the book.....It seemed NOT like Harry's personality, especially given all he'd been through as a child himself, to ever, Ever, EVER tell Albus that he sometimes didn't want to be his father...that just seemed totally out-of-character. I get it that it's intrinsic to the story *conflict*....but seriously? You NEVER say anything like that to your kid unless you're a pretty horrible person or parent, .....and Harry isn't.I also found it difficult to swallow that with as honorable a guy as Cedric was when he was alive, that being humiliated during the tournament-time-revisit would be "enough" to piss him off or depress him so much that he'd go into a tailspin and become a deatheater.....um, nuh. Not Cedric. Not *my* Cedric...heh heh. Just didn't jive.It seemed like cruel and unusual dredging-up to make Harry have to witness his parents being killed, as an adult. That's like inflicting a whole new horrible wound and mental scar to never get over. Or maybe that was the point? Forever make Harry feel and be reminded of how many deaths he's associated with, guilt-him-to-death?And was it just me, or did you sense an undercurrent on a few occasions/situations where it almost seemed like Albus and Scorpius might be discovering their gay selves?!?!?! Seemed like it was veering that way. This isn't a criticism of that. But it almost seemed like Albus and Scorpius had more almost romantic *truly connected* moments than Scorpius and Rose, which then made the Scorpius and Rose so-called attraction seem disingenuous, or just some forced after-thought to include (?) The relationship between Albus and Scorpius was effectively SHOWN, not told. The relationship between Scorpius and Rose was TOLD, not shown. That bit of poor writing seemed like NOT-JKR-writing.And when did Bellatrix have sex with Voldemort to produce Delphi? Guessing that must have been hinted-at at the Deatheaters meeting in Deathly Hallows? Of course that could only be insinuated and keep a PG rating in the movie anyway.And then these questions can't help but make me wonder "Who's ideas were these, ANYWAY?" If it was just one author, no question. But with three contributors, you wonder (if) who influenced who and why? Motives can become slightly suspect. I don't like that feeling,. I wish *just* JKR had written it. I believe she felt Cursed Child was a gift to her hungry loyal Potter fans, to tie up loose ends.....and done under the only circumstances it could have been given. Afterall, with no Snape, any substitute would seem sacrilegious. STILL, a BOOK COULD BE WRITTEN!!! (Even if the movie couldn't happen.)But overall....I was still glad for the story and the possibility it presented of their world continuing..... Despite my criticisms, I still gave it a 5-star rating because I'm willing to accept it as the gift I *think* it was supposed to/intended to be, and also because I felt equipped and able to fill-in-the-descriptive-and-historical-blanks that a script format left vacant. However I would caution JKR to never let anyone else ever hold or help raise her babies again. Read with an open mind & heart. Reviews of the play seem SO favorable, I have a feeling that much is lost in only *reading* the script vs. seeing the play, which I very much look forward to seeing, either the actual play, or a DVD of it! The play sounds to be booked already well into 2017, so hopes for a DVD may be a long ways off.....