Monday 6 April 2009

The Tales of Beedle The Bard by JK Rowling

Published by The Children's High Level Group

Pages - 105

Challenges - 100+, Once Upon A Time and Library.

I get the impression that even though this only came out late last year, I may be one of the last people to read it. I have my reasons for delaying it, I loved all the Harry Potter books and was there like millions of others on the release date queuing for my highly anticipated copy and giving up on my life for at least 24 hours in order to read each book from cover to cover. I suppose I have to grateful, my children survived unscathed with each new release, each bigger than the last. For 24 hours my children, husband, animals and house would be forgotten and I would feign illness in order to read my book. I was devastated when the last one was closed and put up on the shelf with the rest. So you would imagine that I would have been one of the first to buy this and read it, but alas I wasn't, I didn't even buy it, as I just couldn't believe that it would be the same or as good.

So finally after seeing it sitting in the library, waiting to be read, I caved and picked up, took it home and read it in a couple of hours. My verdict - it is good!

The book consists of five short stories which were often told to the children of witches and wizards to provide them with a moral upbringing. The stories were ancient ones originally told by Beedle the Bard and had been handed down through the generations. The first story is of the Wizard and The Hopping Pot, where the nasty wizard inherits his kind fathers cauldron, but refuses to help the local villagers with their problems. Events occur surrounding the cauldron, which make him change his mind. The second story and definitely my favourite of all five is the story of a journey that three witches take to reach the Fountain of Fortune in order to change their luck.
The third story is a little gruesome and deals with the hairy heart of a wizard, who puts it safely away to save him from feeling love for others.
Babbity Rabbitty is the heroine of the fourth story when she gets the better of a charlatan and a King who both believe they are powerful enough to raise the dead.
The fifth story was more sinister and seemed to tie in the most to the Harry Potter books as it deals with the three objects that feature in the final Harry Potter book,' Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows', The Invisibility Cloak, an unbeatable wand and a stone that can bring people back to life.

Each story was backed up by notes written by Dumbledore over the years, which look at the meaning and origination of each story. These notes are just as interesting as each story.
I found this book to be beautifully written; with the ending of it I was left wanting more. I am forever hopeful that JK Rowling picks up her pen again and writes more books to entertain me.

The book is exquisite in it's design with beautiful illustrations which I was surprised to discover that JK Rowling drew herself. JK Rowling really does give her all to the books she writes. Every detail is carefully thought out and created. It is a beautiful yet simple book which I now will have to buy and add to my collection.

My only unhappiness with this book, was that I wished it could have been longer. After reading her other novels, it was a little on the short side for me. Also I wonder if JK Rowling will find it hard to write a book not connected to Harry Potter as this book is full of the words of wisdom of Dumbledore, which concerns me as one of her avid fans.

If you have not read this book, then be brave and read it as you won't be disappointed. It is a cute, short read, which wets the appetite of starved, decaying Harry Potter fans.

8 comments:

  1. I'm really interested to read something of JK Rowling's that isn't connected to Harry Potter. I can see why it'd be hard and why she hasn't let go and moved on as yet, but I'll be curious to see if she can do it or if everyone will be expecting another Harry Potter type thing.

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  2. I just found your blog for the 1st time and wanted to let you know it is pretty great!

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  3. I've not read this one either, and I think I've been putting it off for similar reasons. I'll have to give it a go.

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  4. You aren't one of the last people to read this -I will be. lol. I got it for Christmas and haven't gotten around to it. Maybe for the read-a-thon? Not sure. Glad you liked it.

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  5. You know, I have this in my TBR mountain and forgot about it until I saw your post...lol.
    Glad you enjoyed it :)
    http://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/

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  6. i adored the HP series and read them numerous times. i even went to radio city music hall to see jk rowling do a reading--she was great! i've wanted to read this book for a while, but haven't had a chance. you've renewed my interest and i'm off to request it from my library. thanks!

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  7. Hubby bought this for me for my birthday and I still haven't gotten around to reading it :(

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  8. Good review! I like the book too. I thought Rowling was very imaginative in her use of "muggle" fairy tales to create these stories. And I loved Dumbledore's notes!

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