My Favourite Books: Harry Potter

Copyright: JK Rowling

I have always been a big reader. Even at a young age, you were more likely to find me reading than watching TV (the only rival to my reading would have been colouring books.)

I have loved going on different adventures, falling in love with characters and loving to hate the villains. I’ve been thinking back to the books that have stayed with me even years after I’ve stopped reading the last page and in this new feature, I wanted to share some of my favourites with you.

One of the books that has stayed with me, is Harry Potter & The Prisoner of Azkaban by JK Rowling.

I was late coming to the Harry Potter series. I think the books came to my attention when browsing in a book shop one day around the same time that the first film had appeared in cinemas. As the film had just been released, I’d been hearing a lot about the series (or the books that had been released up to that point,) and I was intrigued so I picked up the first book in the series. Let’s just say, within three days, I had to buy the rest. One of the things I love about this book series in particular is that it appeals to all ages and covers a variety of themes. I am fascinated by how these seven books all interconnect – how a small piece of information in the first book, like the fact that the wands are brothers is the thing that ends up saving his life later on.

I loved The Philosopher’s Stone and Chamber of Secrets, don’t get my wrong but there was something about The Prisoner of Azkaban that I just adored and this is why it’s one, if not my favourite of the series (very closely followed by Goblet of Fire despite the fact that the end scared the hell out of me.)

This book has a great plot. It is a lot darker than the two books which preceded it. In my opinion, the series and plot begin to evolve in this book. It feels a little more realistic (well, as realistic as a story about a magical world can get.) There are resolutions. Questions are answered but it also creates questions too. The ending isn’t as tied up as it was with previous books. There is a proper cliffhanger which pulled me toward the next book.

Everything starts to get a little bit more complicated for Harry. You gain more information about what happened the night his parents died and I just remember not being able to wait to be able to sit and get engrossed in this book.

This book is so atmospheric, heartbreaking and bittersweet all at the same time (the film captures this book really well.) It covers friendship, betrayal and love – a wide range of emotions and I admit that I did cry a little.

I did always love school but I would have adored it if I got to go to Hogwarts and be a witch and learn how to fly and study magic. I want to go to school in this book (minus all the danger, obviously.)

Are you a fan of the Harry Potter series? Which one is your favourite?

by

Laura

I’m Laura. I started Novel Kicks in 2009. I wanted a place to post my writing as well as give other writers like me the opportunity to do the same. There is also a monthly book club, a writing room which features writing prompts, book reviews, competitions, author interviews and guest posts.

I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.