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Seeker's Guide to Harry Potter, The
The Seeker's Guide to Harry Potter offers 'seekers' of all kinds profound and fascinating insights into the narrative themes, symbols and mythic elements encountered in the Harry Potter books. Drawing from diverse spiritual and scholarly sources, it is an open-minded guide to the rich layers of meaning and symbolism we encounter in all seven of the novels.The Seeker's Guide doesn't try to 'read' J.K. Rowling's mind about the symbolism she may or may not have meant to put in the books, but to read the symbols as they appear, with some of the layers of meaning that they have traditionally held. Drawing from anthropology, theology, psychology and the history of the human experience of the Sacred, The Seeker's Guide to Harry Potter offers fans of any or no spiritual faith a deeper sense of magic and meaning in the novels and in their own lives.
- GenresHarry PotterNonfiction
272 pages, Paperback
First published February 19, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 8, 2010
The book explains how harry travels thru the chemical stages and becomes his own philosopher's stone and what it means to himself and the wizarding world that he does this.
It is full of different myths that Rowling may have consciously or unconsciously put into her books. Voldemort dies the day after May Day, so Harry performs his sacrifice on May Day, significant in cyclical light vs dark times of the year. How Harry's different wands symbolize different parts of his journey.
I liked how the author used the 4 houses in Hogwarts.She tells us that we need the knowledge of Ravenclaw but knowledge alone doesnt always lead to action, sometimes it can paralyze us, or make us depressed, then like Harry act anyway using the daring of Griffindor. You may also need the Will found in Slytherin to push forward. An aim, goal or purpose keeps us pointed in the direction to go. And then there are the plodding, acting, just-keep-going days where you need the hufflepuff qualities of hard work and loyalty. I liked that it isnt the idea of seperating us into our most dominant or 'favourite' house that will help us to attain the seeker's rewards, but an integration of all houses. None are 'evil' just by virtue of it's existance.
Now i understand why the potter books have such an attraction to me. They are full of myths and symbols and archetypes that i didnt pick up or even know about during my first few readings. So i will keep reading them and this book deserves more than a single read also!
It is full of different myths that Rowling may have consciously or unconsciously put into her books. Voldemort dies the day after May Day, so Harry performs his sacrifice on May Day, significant in cyclical light vs dark times of the year. How Harry's different wands symbolize different parts of his journey.
I liked how the author used the 4 houses in Hogwarts.She tells us that we need the knowledge of Ravenclaw but knowledge alone doesnt always lead to action, sometimes it can paralyze us, or make us depressed, then like Harry act anyway using the daring of Griffindor. You may also need the Will found in Slytherin to push forward. An aim, goal or purpose keeps us pointed in the direction to go. And then there are the plodding, acting, just-keep-going days where you need the hufflepuff qualities of hard work and loyalty. I liked that it isnt the idea of seperating us into our most dominant or 'favourite' house that will help us to attain the seeker's rewards, but an integration of all houses. None are 'evil' just by virtue of it's existance.
Now i understand why the potter books have such an attraction to me. They are full of myths and symbols and archetypes that i didnt pick up or even know about during my first few readings. So i will keep reading them and this book deserves more than a single read also!
June 21, 2011
The author engages the reader (seeker) in an exploration of the Harry Potter novels using character development, choices, symbols, and more. These features can be applied to the reader's (seeker's) own life experience. I found it to be fascinating and informative. I appreciated the quotes and insights.
I borrowed this from my library through inter-library loan. (Thank you Phoenix, AZ library for sending your copy). I'm thinking I might need to own this one. Reading it made me want to pull out my set of HP and dive in again!
I borrowed this from my library through inter-library loan. (Thank you Phoenix, AZ library for sending your copy). I'm thinking I might need to own this one. Reading it made me want to pull out my set of HP and dive in again!
December 31, 2010
It's really good, and from a much different perspective than what I'm used to. The author is a professor of anthropology and psychology and her insights supplement nicely the literary and philosophical perspectives I've taken while reading and analyzing the series. The qualms I do have with the book are her sometimes annoying style and the book's poor editing.
September 16, 2020
It was hard to follow, the flow of the story wasn't to my liking.
December 22, 2021
So bad. Nothing really relevant or interesting to Harry Potter.
June 16, 2023
This was weird, but had some interesting parts. Compares Harry Potter to the modern-day witch/wizard culture.
August 13, 2023
waste of time..half of it was musical babble chanting. move along
December 26, 2012
This is a definite must read for any Harry Potter fan.
Geo Trevarthen points out hidden meanings within the books that I can guarantee even the most avid fan would have overlooked or been unaware of. I was amazed to learn just how much research JK Rowling must have done, and how every little detail of surroundings, character names etc. have meaning or history in alchemy and magic. The author really makes you question how the issues raised in the Harry Potter books can teach us a lot about our day to day life. This was a real page turner and I bookmarked quite a few pages on my Kindle because I felt they were so profound and true. A brilliant read, however it is just shy of 5 stars as at times the references to the history of magic seemed to overshadow their link to the Harry Potter books.
Geo Trevarthen points out hidden meanings within the books that I can guarantee even the most avid fan would have overlooked or been unaware of. I was amazed to learn just how much research JK Rowling must have done, and how every little detail of surroundings, character names etc. have meaning or history in alchemy and magic. The author really makes you question how the issues raised in the Harry Potter books can teach us a lot about our day to day life. This was a real page turner and I bookmarked quite a few pages on my Kindle because I felt they were so profound and true. A brilliant read, however it is just shy of 5 stars as at times the references to the history of magic seemed to overshadow their link to the Harry Potter books.
August 28, 2012
This is a really neat book for anyone who wants to explore some of the deeper meanings in Harry Potter. I really enjoyed reading it and connecting all the dots!
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August 10, 2016Really loved it .. I would have to reread it but it gave me a different point of view of Harry Potter
November 3, 2010
Another cute book to accompany the series.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews