Book Report: HARRY POTTER AND THE PHILOSOPHER'S STONE

This book is called ‘HARRY POTTER AND THE PHILOSOPHER’S STONE’. It is written by J.K. Rowling . It’s about a boy named Harry Potter who has to live with his horrible relatives because his parents were killed by a Wizard. Yes. A Wizard. Now young Harry is actually a Wizard himself, but doesn’t know it because his relatives treat him even worse than a human. Petunia and Vernon (Harry’s Aunt and Uncle) are trying to keep this secret from Harry and their son because they don’t want anybody to know about their relationship with the Potters. But when mysterious letters start dropping and a big hairy man comes and looks for Harry, it’s going to be almost impossible to keep the secret. The big hairy man’s name is Hagrid. Despite the fact that Pertunia and Vernon have moved thrice to get away from the letters, Hagrid reaches them and manages to get a letter to them. He is the Keeper of the Keys in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Finally, Petunia and Vernon let Harry go with Hagrid to Hogwarts for a year and Harry makes some incredible new friends; Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley are two of his new best friends. Hermione is a very clever girl although her parents are Muggles (not wizards or witches). Ron is quite silly but sometimes makes great conclusions and adds a lot to the story. Together, they solve the mystery of the Philosophers stone and Harry meets his dreaded enemy- Voldemort. (Yes, I actually said his name.) In the end, Harry manages to destroy the Philosopher’s Stone. But, the story doesn’t end there... You’ve got to read Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets to know what happens next.

I LOVE the Harry Potter Series and am a HUGE fan. So instead of sharing what I like (which is everything), I want to share some interesting details and facts today : 

Did you know this about Harry Potter? :

·   That JK Rowling included King's Cross Station in her stories because her parents met there for the first time.

·   That she described the Euston station (instead of the actual Kings Cross Station) in the book.

·   That she made Harry Potter an orphan because her mum died at the time she was writing it so she wanted to make the readers feel the sorrow she was experiencing. 

·   That there is a Harry Potter Studio in Leavesden near London? I have been there and loved it. It is a giant, lovely place with lots of halls, corridors and the real movie sets. At the Entrance, you can see the flying car from the ceiling and you can see Harry's room under the stairs! I bought Hermione's wand but mum says that the only magic it did was make '25 pounds disappear' :) There is also a Harry Potter Walk in London I highly recommend for any Harry Potter fan.  

·   That there are 2 titles for this book: one book is called Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone and one is called Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone.  Well, Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone is JK Rowling’s true writing, with hardly any edits; but Sorcerers Stone has been edited by someone a lot so they changed the title to mark the difference. 

I WOULD RATE THIS BOOK 10 OUT OF 10!

FIND OUT WHAT I MEAN BY READING HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER’S STONE!

YOU CAN BUY IT HERE ON AMAZON FOR $6.74!

YOU CAN BUY IT HERE ON GUARDIAN BOOKSHOP FOR £20.50!

Book Report: JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH

This book is called, ‘JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH’ written by Roald Dahl. It is about a little boy named James who lives with his horrible aunts. Poor James has no choice but to live with them, else, he would land up in an orphanage because his parents were no more. One day, James goes out for a walk. Little does James know that that walk would give him the entrance to a life away from his mean aunts. He meets a man who gives him something magical to drink. In his hastiness to get home, he spills it and it gets sucked into the roots. Oh, how tragic! But, suddenly in the backyard, a gigantic peach starts to grow. James’ aunts get people to see it and earn lots of money. One night when James is cleaning the backyard, he finds a small entrance that leads to the insides of the peach. It seems like a winding lane leading up somewhere. He glances around but his two aunts are nowhere in sight. As he creeps in, he finds a door and inside are insects. No, not teeny weeny insects. Insects who are exactly James’ size. Let me introduce you to these talking insects:

·       Ms. Spider produces lovely silk webs and ropes. She has shiny black skin and is nice to look at.

·       Mr. Centipede has a hundred boots, is quite funny and needs help with taking his boots off.

·       Mr. Old Grasshopper can make lovely, soulful music with his feet.

·       Ms. Glow-worm can produce some light every night.

·       Ms. Ladybug has a majestic scarlet shell- she’s kind and thoughtful and one of James’ favorite crew member.

·       Mr. Earthworm was a long and blind worm who talks a lot and argues plenty. He was also one of the funniest characters in the book.

·       Ms. Silkworm is mostly sleepy and inactive but does play a big role in trying to create silk ropes for James to capture some seagulls.

James and the rest of the insect crew embark on a long journey to somewhere they don’t know and overcome many hurdles before they get to the top of the  Empire State Building- far away from England! When at sea, for example, sharks are trying to peck at the peach and grab a bite of the lush flesh but luckily, James is quick on his feet and asks Silkworm to make some string to wrap around the seagulls legs and then release them so they can all fly away with them. Finally, the people in the US, hear James’ story and consider him  and his companions to be heroes. And all ends happily ever after!  

What I like about the book:

• This book is yet another from the famous author, Roald Dahl. Though it doesn’t have any funny words, all his humour and creativity has gone into the insect characters and their style of talking. Did I mention that Roald Dahl is also an amazing poet? Well, the Centipede comes up with entertaining poems to recite to the crew and those were composed by Roald Dahl.
• Roald Dahl hated punishments and cruelty and so he talks about it sometimes in his books. In this book, it is displayed in Aunt Spiker and Aunt Sponge who locked James up in the cold attic. I too don't like strong punishments!
• This is a fun, feel good book and an easy, quick read. I finished it in a few hours while my mum was shopping!If you are looking for a simple, easy read, James And The Giant Peach is perfect. 
• Finally... FUN TIME! Read the book and answer the questions:

1.    James Henry Brogtrotter is not James’ full name. True or False?

2.   James’ parents were eaten by a Kangaroo in the zoo and James lives with other people. True or False?

3.   Who is the person who got blinded in the story- one of the insects?

4.   James and the Silkworm become writers in the end, don’t they?

I WOULD GIVE THIS BOOK A 7 OUT OF 10 RATING!

FIND OUT WHAT I MEAN BY READING JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH!

YOU CAN BUY IT HERE ON AMAZON FOR $6.00!

YOU CAN BUY IT HERE ON GUARDIAN BOOKSHOP FOR £5.73!

Book Report: THE FARAWAY TREE

This series is called, ‘THE FARAWAY TREE’ written by Enid Blyton. It is a series of three books set in a mystical place called the Enchanted Wood with a  tree that’s called the Faraway Tree. This tree is not just any normal tree, it is home to queer and unique characters. And at the top of the tree, there is a ladder leading to many different worlds. Come, let me introduce you to the residents of this queer tree and to some of the magical lands:

If you were going up this magical tree, watch out for the Angry Pixie! He is a grumpy old pixie who hates anyone peeking into his tree house. He pours water onto passer-byers if they do. Consider yourself warned! Go a little further and you’ll come across the loveliest little pixie called Silky who helps anyone in danger. She stays in a quaint, tidy house in the middle of the tree. Let’s go higher, shall we? You’ll probably come across Dame Washalot. As you might have guessed, Dame Washalot loves to wash! Imagine her with a checkered brown and white dress along with a dark brown apron scrubbing away at her clothes and dishes and draining her soapy water down the tree every single day, drenching those who rest underneath. How terrible must they feel! Then there is funny old Saucepan Man who wears saucepans all over his clothes and is a little bit deaf with all the clanking. He makes the most funny hearing mistakes! And finally  you’ll meet my favourite character, Moon-Face.  Moon- Face is a jumpy little elf with a face like the moon. It’s bright and much bigger than the rest of his body. He lives near the top of the tree in a shady tree house and even has a Slippery-Slide that leads from his house straight to the bottom of the tree! How cool!

Oh, wait! I think some other people are coming up the tree too : its the main characters of the book- Joe, Beth and Frannie - making their way up the tree to see Moonface and Silky. And of course to go on yet another adventure. Let’s join them on their adventure, shall we?

Frannie and Beth look very excited and Joe looks very brave. Today, they are going to The Land of Dame Snap- bad luck! She runs a school for naughty brownies and pixies! She comes up with such terrible punishments such as, no supper before bed or locked up in the very dark cupboard. Who in the world would do that? Next, it’s Beth’s birthday. They’ll certainly be coming with us to the Land of Birthdays! It’s a glorious place full of treats and balloons. I wish I could be there too! Where are we off to today? The Land of Spells, you say? Oh, oh. We better be prepared. The Land of Spells is a land where witches and wizards live.  I do think this is just a bit scary.

I have really enjoyed going on the adventures with the Folk of The Faraway Tree and I hope you will enjoy them too!                    

What I feel about this book:

• I like how the book is old-fashioned, but yet so creative and fantastical. Enid Blyton has done a great job depicting all the mythical characters and fun adventures the kids go on. Well done to her for this!But, I still prefer Roald Dahl’s style of writing.
• Enid Blyton moved away to live with George and Emily Hunt and she stayed at Seckford Hall. Seckford Hall was a spooky and mysterious place, probably giving her lots of inspiration to create new lands of her own and to include it in her stories. She got inspiration for The Faraway Tree series because Norse mythology (mythology of North German people) intrigued her. Norse mythology includes tales about heroes and bravery. It was possible that Enid Blyton lived near the woods and one day, found a tree that was tall and suitable for a story.
• While I was reading the book I observed that Enid Blyton was a little biased towards the boy characters: all the great and brilliant ideas came from them while small and foolish ideas came from the girls! I don’t like it when people are biased towards a gender because I think that all of us are equal- no matter how different we may think we are.

I WOULD RATE THIS SERIES 8 OUT OF 10!

FIND OUT WHAT I MEAN BY READING THE FARAWAY TREE SERIES!

YOU CAN BUY THE MAGIC FARAWAY TREE HERE ON AMAZON FOR $0.01!

YOU CAN BUY THE SERIES HERE ON GUARDIAN BOOKSHOP FOR £7.37!