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.
So it's been less than half a year since we've had news about a new Harry Potter Edition being released... so now's a good time to introduce yet another one, yes? Well, the announcement of a fully illustrated edition of Harry Potter is actually old news, but just recently,
Bloomsbury released brand new photos from this new edition illustrated by the very talented
Jim Kay (also the illustrator of
A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness):
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| Draco |
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| Hagrid |
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| Hermione |
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| Ron |
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| Harry |
And if you've never read
A Monster Calls before (
okay, first of all you SHOULD), here are some samples of Jim Kay's work from that:
So yes, as you can probably tell, Jim Kay's illustrations tend to fall on the dark, creepy side. I really love how, in the portraits we've seen so far, the characters aren't movie-star-good-looking like in the movies, nor are they cutesy-looking like on the covers of previous editions of the series. They're not exactly how I imagined the characters to look like when I first read the books, but they're a damn sight closer to my imagination than the actors in the movies, I'll tell you what! Also, J.K. Rowling has approved these illustrations herself, so that's always good to hear. This edition will be released October 6, 2015 and already I'm pondering if this is something I should own. I mean, if I were rich you got to believe I would own ALL the editions. But realistically, as much as I would LOVE to own ALL the pretties, I really can't justify it when I already own a perfectly good - and much-loved - set of my own. Plus, this illustrated edition will cost the equivalent of £30!! Damnnn, why can't I be rich?? Ah, oh well. I will just have to borrow it from the library if they get a copy in. I'm SO curious to see what the rest of the illustrations will look like! How about you, what do you think of these illustrations?
As a movie-lover over book-lover of this series, I was surprised at how different they made the drawings, but I think it's a wonderful idea that they ARE so different (otherwise, what would be the point I suppose!).
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing these - but wow, how expensive for this edition.
I think a lot of people were surprised because the actors have come to represent what the characters should look like in their minds. But yes, extremely expensive... I guess they know that us Potterheads will shell out the money anyway.
DeleteOh yes, the news about these editions go back to 2013, I think. I'm very excited about the new editions because of how dark and creepy they look. I love that! Just think about how creepy would Voldemort and even Dolores Umbridge look. He he.
ReplyDeleteI do want to own a little Harry Potter library but while go about achieving that, I'll just sit here and wait for the covers of this editions to kickass.
Oooh, yeah just think of the other, creepier characters! All the images we've seen so far have been the good guys. But there are plenty of slimy characters in the series that I would love to see illustrated in Jim Kay's hand.
DeleteAnd yes, I would like to see what the cover is going to look like for this one - I would be surprised if they just used an already made one.
I'm debating about whether or not I can afford the illustrated version too (WHY DOES IT HAVE TO BE SO EXPENSIVE? AHHH)...maybe I'll simply put it on my Christmas list next year and hope for the best!
ReplyDeleteAgreed about the images - it's kind of nice that they seem less movie star, more realistic. Not quite how I imagined them, but close. Hopefully they'll release more images!
Yup, thinking of putting it on my wish list, as well. That's the only way I can envision it happening, if some kind soul takes pity of me...
DeleteI definitely can't wait to see more images, as well! And not just characters, but places, objects, entire scenes, whatever! It's exciting to think about!
I didn't realize it was the same illustrator as A Monster Call's! That's awesome! :D His work is definitely on the darker side, but I like it. I do think that Malfoy's head shape is a little strange...but that could just be because everyone else's hair makes their heads look fuller and his is slicked down. He totally looks kinda like an alien to me though! haha I'm definitely excited to see more though! :D
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing, Eilidh! :)
haha, Draco does look a bit alien-ish, doesn't he? Well I like that he has a pointed ferret-y look because that's the look I associate with him, but I do agree that Jim Kay has exaggerated his features a bit. He looks proper creepy!
DeleteGah! WHY must they torture us with soooo many pretty new editions of HP?! Why must they illustrate them?! WHY are we not all rich and able to buy them ALL?! *cries* I didn't realize it was the same illustrator as A Monster Calls - all the more reason for me to get familiar ASAP :D His Draco and Hermione are my favorites of the ones you shared^^ I can't wait to see more!
ReplyDeleteHeehee it's like WHY must they do this to us, but GAH want them allll. But yes, you MUST MUST read A Monster Calls!!
DeleteIf I were rich, I would throw all my money to them in order to get them, but that is so expensive. I want to own all the new box sets too, why do they keep doing this to us? Haha. Gotta get them all!
ReplyDeleteGotta catch them all!! haha, I would love to have an entire shelf devoted to all the editions of HP :D
DeleteI am so, so excited for these. I will definitely shell out the money for them. Harry looks almost perfect to my imagined vision - although in my imagination, his face is a lot thinner than in the image or of Radcliffe.
ReplyDeleteCool, I will think about buying them as well, but I will at least put them on my wish list :) I think this image of Harry is good for an eleven year old Harry, but I agree that my image of Harry more grown up has a thinner face.
DeleteOh my gosh, it's been such a while since I last visited your blog, Aylee -- I'm so sorry! But yay, I'm still glad that you're going strong with blogging! And also, I think this must be one of my favorite Muggle Monday posts so far. So super excited for this new edition of HP... even though I probably won't be able to afford it when it's first released. *weeps forever*
ReplyDeleteBut still. The illustrations are gorgeous, though my favorite is the one of Hermione. I love the attention to detail -- especially the white flecks coming from the light in the jar! And it's funny how Draco looks exactly like Tom Felton. Looks like he really WAS the perfect Draco, after all. :D Harry is a cute little thing with amazingly messy hair, too.
Confession, but... I haven't read A Monster Calls yet. >< I've been meaning to, especially since it's the favorite book of a very good friend of mine, but for some reason I've just never gotten to it! Maybe this will give me the initiative I need, though, because this illustrator's work is just full of beauty. *O*
Aww, well that's okay - it's been a while since I actually visited your blog as well. I've been reading your posts through my reader instead. So don't apologize!
DeleteYeah, these illustrations are SUPER detailed. It must've taken Jim Kay a looong time to do each and every one of them... I wonder how many illustrations will actually be in the edition.
Heh, and yes Tom Felton was one of the better castings, I think. The illustration here really exaggerates his features cartoonishly, but otherwise it's pretty much spot on ^^
BUT YOU MUST! Guaranteed you it will kill you and you WILL love it. Both the words and the pictures.
Draco looks so handsome! Harry looks cute, and so does Hagrid. But Ron and Hermione look so different from what we're used to seeing and imagining. Anyway, this looks incredible. Thank you for sharing, Aylee.
ReplyDeleteSarika @ The Readdicts
Hee, you think so? I guess he looks like he could be handsome once he grows into his skin :p I hope you don't mind the change in Ron and Hermione from the movie actors too much.
DeleteOh I do love this feature. Takes me all the way back into the world of HP, and it’s nice hearing the new news that’s happening there. I’m not actually overly fond of these illustrations. They really don’t fit my imagination of the characters, don’t really feel right for what the story is to me, but it’s not to be expected that everyone will love them, is it? I’ll check out a copy of the book if my library gets it, too, or I see it in a bookstore, but I don’t think I’d buy it, not unless I was completely blown away. It’s interesting to see how it’s being bought forward for new generations, though!
ReplyDeleteThey're much closer to my image of them then the actors are, but you are absolutely right: they certainly can't please everyone with these. Library seems like the way to go!
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