I hate the Harry Potter phenomenon. I hate the merchandise, toys, films and spaghetti. However, I have to concede Rowling has succeeded in doing something many authors can't do. Make my son read and for that I am truly thankful. Being the Worlds Greatest Dad (that’s what the mug says anyway) I have recently made the great effort to read this book to see why my ten year old son is so enthralled with the whole Harry Potter experience.
I have chosen the Goblet of Fire as my first Harry Potter novel simply because we have two copies in the house and have to admit I approached it with considerable scepticism. The reviews are always so favourable but surely it can't live up to the hype?
The book centres on Harry Potter and unsurprisingly is told through his eyes. This particularly novel is peculiar as it is almost like a murder/mystery novel. Following the Quidditch World Cup (kind of like water polo on broomsticks) the wizard's see an ominous symbol known as "The Dark Mark". This symbol heralds the return of the most evil and powerful wizard whom has ever existed, Lord Voldemort. He was responsible for the
death of Harry's parents and Harry's zig zag scar, which he has emblazoned on his forehead. Has Voldemort returned? Why are muggles (non-magical folk) and wizards disappearing? So the Goblet of Fire is really a sub plot to the story. It is the object, which selects entrants in the Tri-Wizard tournament. A dangerous trial for the champions of three schools Hogwarts, Durmstrang and Beauxbaton.
Anyway enough plot onto the characters. Harry Potter himself is a confusing character. Portrayed by Rowling as a bespectacled geek that has no idea as to why everyone thinks he is so special. He is capable of remarkable feats of courage and appears almost superhuman compared to other supposedly more capable wizards. Perhaps it is these flawed yet heroic characteristics that appeal so much to my son. For me it just seems almost comical how characters around him are dying or in mortal peril and he always escapes not only unharmed but also the hero of the piece. However, suspending my disbelief as a character he is nonetheless likeable and has a human quality that is endearing. Like all teenagers he is insecure and stroppy and it is good to see Rowling approach such topics such as his first crush in this novel with sensitivity.
Ron Weasley provides some welcome comic relief as Harry's bumbling friend although it is nice to see Rowling does not simply use him as the Robin to Harry's Batman. He shows jealousy at Harry's fame and notoriety and this adds depth to what would otherwise be a rather pointless character.
Hermione Granger is the token female of the group and it is disappointing to see this character wasted by Rowling. Granger is used as a research tool and has little role throughout other than to turn from an ugly duckling into a swan, which is woefully patronising to any female readers. The previously career driven Granger slowly turns into the feeble little girl who starts to become interested in God forbid... boys.
Among the other characters in the novel Voldemort is surprisingly scary even for a seasoned King reader such as myself. I was surprised how gruesome he seemed to be although it was disappointing to see a clear borrowing of ideas from Lord of the Rings in the inclusion of his slimy assistant Wormtail (not at all like Wormtongue HONEST!). Snape, Harry's Potions teacher is a great anti- hero who you love to hate and leaves you longing to know more of his history and why he hates Harry so much.
I was surprised how readable this novel really was. Although there is a distinct lack of characterisation which is disappointing this is more than made up for by the plot and its many twists and turns. There is so much going on it is hard to keep up with a main plot of stopping the rise of Voldemort woven neatly with sub plots of the Tri-Wizard cup and Harry's progression through puberty. It is nice to see Rowling approaching such topics and even racism is tackled in the form of Hermione's attempts to free the house elves (unpaid slaves) of Hogwarts and the resistance she meets as well as the purity of her wizarding blood being an issue.
On the negative side you can feel there is too much going on. There is a lot of back tracking presumably covering previous books and the history of characters can be laboriously described. This may be necessary due to the twists in the plot throughout. This runs perilously close to Scooby Doo farce towards the end.
At three hundred and sixty three pages and a mere £6.99 in paperback this is a long but enjoyable read which is worth persevering with. I am now enlightened as to my sons love of Harry Potter as he is what every boy would love to be the average Joe hero. I don't think I can join him in his enthusiasm but I now understand it. If you can ignore the hype and suspend your belief for a while it is certainly worth a look.
And now for the stuff people never read.
ISBN 0-7475-5099-9 Published by Bloomsbury Author J.K Rowling First Published in 2000
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Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire CD Set, Part 1 tells the first half of Harry's fourth ... more
year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in nine CDs. Part 2, also containing nine CDs, tells the second half, or you can get the complete story on 18 C...
Postage & Packaging: £2.75 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire CD Set, Part 1tells the first half of Harry's fourth ... more
year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in nine CDs. Part 2, also containing nine CDs, tells the second half, or you can get the complete story on 18 CD...
Postage & Packaging: £2.75 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire CD Set, Part 1 tells the first half of Harry's fourth ... more
year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in nine CDs. Part 2, also containing nine CDs, tells the second half, or you can get the complete story on 18 C...
Postage & Packaging: £2.75 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Advantages: Vivid characters, exciting plot, unpredictable right to the end Disadvantages: Huge book! Makes it difficult to hold, and the story is slow at times
Advantages: Gripping read where the whole Harry Potter world really starts to gel together. Disadvantages: Possibly a little too complex and long for little ones.
Aug 30th, 2004
exceptional by (2%):
very helpful by (98%):
