Muggle Monday: The Complete Set of New Bloomsbury Harry Potter Cover Redesigns

It's time for Muggle Monday, in which I highlight a significant piece of news from the Harry Potter franchise. This is somewhat inspired by the Mundane Monday posts by The Mundie Moms.

But let's be real as to why I made up this feature: I just want the opportunity to post something about Harry Potter.


About a year ago we were treated to brand new redesigns of the US covers of the Harry Potter series (see them here, here, and here) from artist Kazu Kibuishi. Just recently, UK publisher Bloomsbury decided it was their turn. Bloomsbury have now released all seven new cover redesigns from artist Jonny Duddle and they are a sight to behold:

I like these new covers a lot! They are definitely very pretty and detailed illustrations that depict each key scene very well, and I like the representative scene choices that were made for each book cover. Unfortunately, I really don't think I can justify buying a whole new set of HP books for the cost. I still prefer the US cover redesigns though (and of course nothing will ever replace the fondness I have for the original covers). I think the one thing that I dislike about these covers is that Harry doesn't really seem to be aging very much from cover to cover. Harry does NOT look like a seventeen-year-old on the cover for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, for instance. He looks closer in age to the eleven-year-old Harry on the cover of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. So I wish that had been done better, but overall I do like these new covers. Thoughts?

Muggle Monday: The Last of the Newly Redesigned Harry Potter Covers (Plus Artwork for Back Covers and Box Set)!

It's time for Muggle Monday, in which I highlight a significant piece of news from the Harry Potter franchise. This is somewhat inspired by the Mundane Monday posts by The Mundie Moms.

But let's be real as to why I made up this feature: I just want the opportunity to post something about Harry Potter.


There have been a few more photos released for the new US Editions of the Harry Potter series - as illustrated by Kazu Kibuishi - since I last posted about them. And of course, I NEED to share even if you all have probably already seen them by now!:

New 15th Anniversary US Editions of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows:

I think I've run out of ways to say how much I adore these new covers illustrated by Kazu Kibuishi. But yeah, you get the drift - I FREAKING LOVE THEM! (Again, not that I think anything could replace the nostalgia I feel for my old covers). I honestly don't even have a favourite; does anyone? Let me know in the comments!


But that's not all - NOPE, that's not all! Scholastic also recently released the back cover art for all of the new covers, as well as the art for the new box set:

New Back Cover and Box Set Artwork from the 15th Anniversary US Editions:

(Side note: Lupin's moustache amuses me GREATLY)

(Side note: I find the Hogwarts as seen in the movies has completely taken over my image of what Hogwarts looks like in my head, and therefore looks nothing like the Hogwarts seen above, which looks sort of Asian inspired)

So I know I swore that I would not buy another edition of the books to have on my shelves, but I mean REALLY. How am I supposed to resist such pretteh-ness?? My practiced restraint is slipping FAST. QUOTES. Truly iconic ones from each of the books on the back covers. Perfection. And SO tempting. Darn you, Scholastic! As if I have the money and space to spare. Sigh...

Muggle Monday (15): Deathly Hallows Part 2 Movie Review

It's time for Muggle Monday, in which I post a quote, a video, or a significant piece of news from the Harry Potter franchise. This is somewhat inspired by the Mundane Mondayposts by The Mundie Moms.

But let's be real as to why I made up this meme: I just want the opportunity to post something about Harry Potter.


This week, I'm posting my thoughts on the final movie, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2. I have to say, I don't think it's really sunk in yet that it's over. I'm still in shock and don't know what to think. I'll have to watch it a second time to get a full appreciation of what I saw on the screen because I was freaking out so much in the theatre the first time around.

In the meantime, here are a few frazzled and jumbled point-form-thoughts that I did manage to form after watching the movie for the first time:

• The special effects in the Gringotts Dragon Escape scene were stellar. Though I didn't like that they made it Hermione's idea to jump on the dragon when it was Harry's in the book. I think Harry is the only one of the Trio who is stupidly brave enough to think up such a thing.
• Out of my Top 10 Favourite Moments from the book that I hoped would make it into the movie, the only one that was axed was Dumbledore's backstory. So yay! that the majority made it in, but boo! that they left that out.
• Professor McGonagall is my hero.
• Ron and Hermione finally kissed and it was cute and satisfying.
• The Grey Lady scene didn't make my Top 10 Favourite Moments from Deathly Hallows, the Book but it definitely does in Deathly Hallows, the Movie.
• The Prince's Tale scene was my favourite of the movie. Lengthy and involved and crying-ugly-tears-sad.
• Alan Rickman is an Acting God.
• Harry's Walk of Sacrifice was also perfect and crying-ugly-tears-sad.
• The piece of Voldemort's soul in the King's Cross scene was even more creepy looking than it was in my head.
• Some of my favourite lines in the book including, "You've been raising him like a pig for slaughter," "After all this time? Always," "Of course it is happening inside your head, but why on earth should that mean it is not real?" and "NOT MY DAUGHTER, YOU BITCH!" all made it in, so yay!
• Neville Longbottom is my hero.
• The only real WTF scene of the movie was Harry hugging Voldemort and then flinging themselves off the castle and then flying around and then at one point their faces merge together? and it was weird and confusing and didn't make any sense. W.T.F.
• Scratch that: another WTF scene was when Voldemort's stringy robes reached out and wrapped around Harry as if they had a mind of their own. W.T.F.
• All the little kids in this movie in flashbackwards/forwards scenes were super cute. I just wanted to squeeze them.
• The aging process for the men in the Nineteen Years Later scene was well done, but the women looked like they had barely aged at all strangely.

Hmm, I've probably forgot many things worth mentioning. Overall, I am very much pleased with the movie. And I promise I will like it even more after a second viewing once I've calmed down and can absorb more and not be so critical. Have you seen the movie yet? What were your favourite and least favourite moments? Let me know in the comments!

Muggle Monday (14): Review: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

It's time for Muggle Monday, in which I post a quote, a video, or a significant piece of news from the Harry Potter franchise. This is somewhat inspired by the Mundane Monday posts by The Mundie Moms.

But let's be real as to why I made up this meme: I just want the opportunity to post something about Harry Potter.


This week, I'm posted my completely unbiased review of the final book in the Harry Potter Series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling.

WARNING: I usually try my best to avoid spoilers in my reviews however, for this review, I made no such attempt. You should not read this review unless you've read every book in the Harry Potter Series (and if you haven't, then why the heck not?)!

Publisher: Raincoast Books

Published: July 21, 2007

Pages: 607

Source: Bought

Rating: 7 STARS

Harry is waiting in Privet Drive. The Order of the Phoenix is coming to escort him safely away without Voldemort and his supporters knowing if they can. But what will Harry do then? How can he fulfil the momentous and seemingly impossible task that Professor Dumbledore has left him with. In this final, seventh installment of the Harry Potter series, J.K. Rowling unveils in spectactular fashion the answers to the many questions that have been so eagerly awaited. The spellbinding, richly woven narrative, which plunges, twists and turns at a breathtaking pace, confirms the author as a mistress of storytelling, whose books will be read, reread and read again.

I've been staring at the keyboard, wondering what to type for this review, for a very long time now. You see, even though I am a self-confessed Harry Potter Addict and built my blog around that theme, I never actually planned to write reviews of the Harry Potter books themselves. I never thought it was doable and I'm still not sure if I can complete this review. How do I review a book series that has meant the world to me? I simply can't. I could not possibly be able to put into words, put into even the most gushing praise, how I feel about this series and about this final installment. I can't do the books justice. But I will give it a go, I think.

As any self-respecting Potter Super Fan, I lined up to buy Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows at one minute past midnight on July 21, 2007 and proceeded to devour it as soon as I received it. This is one heavy action book. It both starts and ends with intense and epic action sequences, perfectly put together by J.K. Rowling to induce heart-pumping fear for the lives of our favourite characters. Jo had previously stated that book seven was going to be a bloodbath and thus, I spent the entirety of the book more tense and prone to random bursts of crying than I've ever been when reading a book. My copy of this book still has stains from my tears from when Hedwig, Dobby, and Snape died. Though at no time was I more of a sobbing mess than when Harry is walking to his death in the most horribly and beautifully poignant scene in the series.

There were no really big surprises in this book for me. Again, like any self-respecting Potter Super Fan, there wasn't a day that passed from 2005 (when Half-Blood Prince was released) to 2007 when I wasn't pondering about what was going to go down in the final book. I correctly predicted that R.A.B. was Sirius' brother, that Slytherin's locket was the same one they found when cleaning Grimmauld Place in Order of the Phoenix, that Snape was ultimately Dumbledore's man and the two of them had planned Dumbledore's death together, that Snape was in love with Harry's mother, that Harry was a Horcrux that would need to be destroyed, and that ultimately, Harry would make it through the battle to marry Ginny, and Ron would marry Hermione.

But I admit I was taken by surprise by the reveal of Dumbledore's past. Of course I should have known better. J.K. Rowling excels at writing complex characters that do not fall under the too easy "good guy" and "bad guy" categories. I had been fooled once before into thinking James Potter was an all around good guy only to have been rudely awakened to the reality in Order of the Phoenix, so I feel dim that it didn't once occur to me that Dumbledore could be anything but the complete anti-Voldemort. But if anything, the realization that he is susceptible to the draw of power, and therefore not perfect, makes me love the character oh-so-much-more. With the inclusion of his flaws, he ironically becomes the perfect character in my view.

There are some amazing character moments in this final installment. Not only do we get to see the return of many characters that we hadn't seen for awhile, but our most beloved characters of the series receive shining moments to showcase their audacity and nerve one last time, one last hurrah, for the last book. Neville really comes into his own, becomes a badass, really, and leads the cause against the Death Eaters that have taken over Hogwarts. We see for the first time a man who could have been The Chosen One, as he truly might have been had Voldemort chose him as his equal instead of Harry. Molly Weasley also has one of the most brilliant showcases of badassery in her showdown with Bellatrix Lestrange. "NOT MY DAUGHTER, YOU BITCH!" will forever be one of my favourite lines of the series.

Jeez, I just looked up and realized how long-winded this review is. Sorry guys. I guess that's why it's good to plan out what you want to talk about in a review first before just writing willy-nilly all of your thoughts. I think I'll stop here even though I could probably go on for several more paragraphs. If you're interested, I wrote a guest post for The Book Addicted Girl talking about my Top 10 favourite moments from the second half of Deathly Hallows.

I guess I'll just say that in summary, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling is the perfect ending to the perfect series. But I think you all probably could have guessed that I would say as much.

Guest Post and Related Announcements

Today I guest posted for The Book Addicted Girl's Fortnight of Guests! In my guest post, I talk about my Top 10 favourite moments I hope to see in Deathly Hallows Part 2, the movie. Thanks for having me Megan!


As we are fast approaching the release of the last Harry Potter movie EVER, the hype surrounding it has been building up like crazy! I'd like to share with everyone several HP related events that will be happening around the blogosphere and on TV:

• Akua Harris of ICED Media has asked me to pass along a reminder to tune into the extremely exciting media event: a Larry King Special - Harry Potter: The Final Chapter, airing July 10 at 8pm ET on CNN. Be sure to tune in to catch a glimpse of exclusive interviews with the cast and never before seen footage from the film and behind the scenes!
• Jillian from Random Ramblings is putting together a Harry Potter Video Tribute Project! Cool, right? Well, you can become apart of this project by providing a video or pictures. For more information and to fill out the form, check out Jillian's post.
• Lauren from Shooting Stars Mag is going to be highlighting some hot Harry Potter products that fans should know about. I know I love me some HP merchandise, especially ones that are worth my money like the ones Lauren will be highlighting!
• Brodie from Eleusinian Mysteries is hosting Harry Potter Week with three other bloggers! The event will run from July 10-17 and you will for sure want to take part as there will be giveaways! RSVP to the Goodreads event here.
• The Deathly Hallows Part 2 World Premiere took place in London. It was the largest premiere to ever take place in London, spanning both Trafalgar and Leicester Squares! I just needed to share this video with you: get your tissues out and watch the Trio and Jo talk about how much the books and movies have meant to them: