Harry Potter Companions

So, I'm kind of really into this Harry Potter challenge... that ends in four days and since I am a little farther behind than I meant to be... I read two companion books for some quick points.  I think they are very fun little books that are even better because they were written for charity, but nothing compares with the books and they appeal to me much less as an adult who has definitely missed her Hogwarts acceptance than they did when I was a kid who was still hoping.

Quidditch Through The Ages
Quidditch is interesting enough on its own.  I really do enjoy reading about the sport as if it were real (it often seems like it is... at least I understand quidditch better than football).  My favorite part is how the golden snitch was created to protect the golden snidget... the bird that was the original object of the seekers search.  Yes... I'm a nerd, I like this fake history.

But what makes it even more interesting is the fun ways in which this book relates directly to Harry and Hogwarts.  This is a library book, complete with a sign out card (full of names observant fans will recognize... although I never saw Millicent Bulstrode as much of a quidditch fan, but JK knows best) and a message from the libraian, Madam Pince: A warning: if you rip, tear, shred, bend, fold, deface, disfigure, smear, smudge, throw, drop, or in any other manner damage, mistreat, or show lack of respect towards this book, the consequesnces will be as awful as it is within my power to make them.


I also love the "Praise for Quidditch Through The Ages" which has humorous and true to character blurbs from celebrities from the wizarding world, including the *cough* charming Rita Skeeter.  It's actually a really fun companion to the Harry Potter series (and should reassure those worried that Pottermore will be boring).


Magical Beasts and Where To Find Them
Magical Beasts and Where to Find Them I enjoy a little less.  It is different from QTTA because it is Harry's Personal school copy instead of a library books.  This means we get all kinds of fun notes from Harry, Ron, and Hermione... things like half a game of hangman and short conversations during class time.  Their comments on the magical beasts they've encountered is also enjoyable.

It's a fun resource, but not necessarily a fun read.  I find the topic less interesting that quidditch and the thing reads like an encyclopedia... and who reads an encyclopedia?  I think part of the problem is that magical beasts are very based in mythology and not unique to Harry Potter, so part of me would just rather go back and read the old tales of Greek and Roman mythology.

Overall, these two books are fun additions to the Harry Potter collection and a must-have for a true fan.  They count toward the following challenges: Read Me Baby One More Time, 100+. and Hogwarts Reading Challenge.  Track my Progress on the 2011 Challenges Page.