Rowling, J.K.- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Harry Potter #3); Informal Buddy Read: Starts November 21, 2014 --REVISIT-- May 2018

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

What is a Buddy Read?

This is an "Informal Buddy Read"
An “Informal Buddy Read” doesn’t have a discussion leader and participants are asked to consider some generic questions when making comments about the book. An example is here.

Book synopsis
Harry Potter is lucky to reach the age of thirteen, since he has already survived the murderous attacks of the feared Dark Lord on more than one occasion. But his hopes for a quiet term concentrating on Quidditch are dashed when a maniacal mass-murderer escapes from Azkaban, pursued by the soul-sucking Dementors who guard the prison. It's assumed that Hogwarts is the safest place for Harry to be. But is it a coincidence that he can feel eyes watching him in the dark, and should he be taking Professor Trelawney's ghoulish predictions seriously?

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

reserved

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Look at the covers and how they change to a "darker" version

[❤Stephanie ღ♥ღMrs Daryl Dixonღ♥ღ]

I really want to read this, but I don't know when I can start it, hopefully soon.

[Eni]

this was my fav book in the series. I had the BIGGEST crush on Lupin. So so SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO tempted into re-reading it with you guys >_<

[❤Stephanie ღ♥ღMrs Daryl Dixonღ♥ღ]

Eni wrote: "this was my fav book in the series. I had the BIGGEST crush on Lupin. So so SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO tempted into re-reading it with you guys >_<"

I love Lupin, he's one of my top favourite characters from the series.

[Jex]

Y'all read too fast! I'm still on my re-read of book 1!

[Anita Reads]

Holy **** you guys are fast! If you all keep this pace once we get to the longer books I won't be able to hang on with all the other books I have to read as well.

[Jenn]

Yay! The post is finally up. I'm already on book 4.

I really like Professor Lupin too. I think he's the best (view spoiler)[ defense against the dark arts (hide spoiler)] teacher yet.

There were a lot of things I forgot about from my last read of the series. (view spoiler)[ I forgot about how often the dementers came at Harry. I forgot that Harry could hear is mother's voice. I forgot that Malfoy and his gang dressed up as dementers to scare Harry.

I forgot about the Firebolt, and that Harry ran away and took the night bus. I forgot about all the stuff with Scabbers. Overall, I didn't remember much about this book except for the Time Turner and Hermione/ (hide spoiler)]

[❤Stephanie ღ♥ღMrs Daryl Dixonღ♥ღ]

I just started it and i'm only a couple of pages in (view spoiler)[I totally forgot about Ron calling Harry on the phone and yelling everything he said to Mr. Dursley. (hide spoiler)]

[❤Stephanie ღ♥ღMrs Daryl Dixonღ♥ღ]

Just finished chapter 2 (view spoiler)[Marge so deserved what she got, you don't talk about peoples parents like that right in front of them and just get away with it. (hide spoiler)]

[❤Stephanie ღ♥ღMrs Daryl Dixonღ♥ღ]

Sadie wrote: "❤Stephanie ღ♥ღMrs Styxx Anaxkolasiღ♥ღ wrote: "Just finished chapter 2 [spoilers removed]"

I completely agree! I despise [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[She's a horrible person, she so deserved it and it would have been funny if she popped but then Harry would be in bigger trouble so blowing up like a balloon is good enough, just sucks that she's gonna forget that it happened to her. (hide spoiler)]

[❤Stephanie ღ♥ღMrs Daryl Dixonღ♥ღ]

started chapter 3 (view spoiler)[I would so love to ride on The Knight Bus, it would so cool sitting on one of the beds having to hang on tight as it rolls around the bus. (hide spoiler)]

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Just finished chapter 3.

One thing that has struck me on the re-read is how with book 2 I wouldn't have thought the Dursley's would ever want Harry back (and vice versa) so it is a bit confusing to me that he end sup back there for summer. And even more again that they agree to take him next year.
I can't remember if this is explained in later books, but at the moment it seems a bit strange.

I agree Stephanie, I love the Night Bus.(view spoiler)[ and how lucky was he that he got out his wand to flag it down! I wonder how long the ride was being so bumpy and uncomfortable. Also interesting that Neville Longbottom was the name that came to Harry's mind and not someone closer to him like Ron or even a Dursely (hide spoiler)]

[❤Stephanie ღ♥ღMrs Daryl Dixonღ♥ღ]

Karen wrote: "Just finished chapter 3.

One thing that has struck me on the re-read is how with book 2 I wouldn't have thought the Dursley's would ever want Harry back (and vice versa) so it is a bit confusing t..."

Dumbledore probably talked to them (view spoiler)[probably told them that they are the only people standing in the way of him being killed, he's protected there and that's the only place besides Hogwarts that Harry is safe from Voldemort until he comes of age, so even know they hate him I don't think even they could kick him out knowing that doing so would lead to him being killed. (hide spoiler)]

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

I guess you see them as nicer people than me. I really don't think they would care. (view spoiler)[ what I would believe is that Dumbledore scared them into continuing to take Harry. Although, again, why wouldn't they have him stay with Ron or Hermoine or someone? In the back of my mind there is a reason, and I think it may come out in later books<. or it may have just been a lot of theories I read at the time on fan sites! (hide spoiler)]

[❤Stephanie ღ♥ღMrs Daryl Dixonღ♥ღ]

Have you read the books before Karen, or is this the first time for you?

[[deleted user]]

Karen wrote: "I guess you see them as nicer people than me. I really don't think they would care. [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[There is a reason why Harry has to regularly stay with the Dursleys and why they (or more specifically Petunia) have him to stay. The reason is revealed in lat er books. (hide spoiler)]

[❤Stephanie ღ♥ღMrs Daryl Dixonღ♥ღ]

Pigletto wrote: "Karen wrote: "I guess you see them as nicer people than me. I really don't think they would care. [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Yeah, that was what I was trying to say, He's safer staying with them than with the Weasley's even if they are horrible. Dumbledore wouldn't have had Harry stay with them unless it was for his protection. (hide spoiler)]

[❤Stephanie ღ♥ღMrs Daryl Dixonღ♥ღ]

Chapter 4 (view spoiler)[I totally forgot that Hermione only got Crookshanks in book 3, even know I watch the movies all the time I still don't know how I managed to forget that. (hide spoiler)]

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

❤Stephanie ღ♥ღMrs Styxx Anaxkolasiღ♥ღ wrote: "Have you read the books before Karen, or is this the first time for you?"

No, I've read them all before, but not since they were released so my memory is fuzzy

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Pigletto wrote: "Karen wrote: "I guess you see them as nicer people than me. I really don't think they would care. [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

That's what I thought... I just can't remember why :o

[❤Stephanie ღ♥ღMrs Daryl Dixonღ♥ღ]

half way through chapter 5 (view spoiler)[Just met Professor Lupin, one of my favourite characters in the series. (hide spoiler)]

[❤Stephanie ღ♥ღMrs Daryl Dixonღ♥ღ]

Just finished chapter 5 (view spoiler)[So happy for Hagrid for becoming the new teacher of Care of Magical Creatures. (hide spoiler)]

[❤Stephanie ღ♥ღMrs Daryl Dixonღ♥ღ]

Just finished chapter 6 (view spoiler)[Poor Hadgrid, he had a great first lesson planned and then Draco had to go and ruin it by being a turd. (hide spoiler)]

[❤Stephanie ღ♥ღMrs Daryl Dixonღ♥ღ]

(view spoiler)[Hahaha, just got the the Boggart scene. Professor Snape in Neville's grandmother's cloths, you can't help but laugh

(hide spoiler)]

[Ari]

Just finished chapter 2, the dursleys continue to be horrible.

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

lol thanks for the image Stephanie ;)

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

@Sadie

I'm at chapter 12 too. I also think I remember who sent it, but I'm not 100%. Clearly my poor mind is failing me in my later years... haha

Whole of series spoilers ahead
One thing that I have found in re-reading this is that the first time(view spoiler)[ I always thought Harry was wrong about Snape, but it never occurred to me that everyone may be wrong about Sirius. Now I know what happens and I'm re-reading it seems impossible to me that Sirius could ever be a "good guy" and I'm noticing more about Snape's behaviour - especially with the introduction of Lupin - that all comes together later. The re-read also makes me even sadder about Dumbledore (hide spoiler)]

[[deleted user]]

This is my favorite book out of the whole entire series. Just something about the way the kids transition into more serious people. They are becoming more knowledgable about how cruel the world can be, which sounds horrible, but is really an eye-opening experience for them. I LOVE this one!

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Yes I think this is my favourite one too Taryn. Similar reasons, it is the book where they really start to transition out of childhood, but the world isn't quite dark yet

[Ari]

I was just thinking about that. In chapter 4, (view spoiler)[ the first part has Harry exploring diagon alley and happiness and friendship and ice cream, and then it ends in him hearing that sirius is out to kill him, and the whole series is like that, I think, the juxtaposition of funny or joyful moments with really dark moments, and the proportion of dark moments increases as the series continues, but there are always moments of joy and humor. (hide spoiler)]

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Good point Ari!

[❤Stephanie ღ♥ღMrs Daryl Dixonღ♥ღ]

I forgot how (view spoiler)[viscous Crookshanks is towards Scabbers in the book compared to in the movies. (hide spoiler)]

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Yes Steph, he is pretty mean!

[❤Stephanie ღ♥ღMrs Daryl Dixonღ♥ღ]

Half way through chapter 8 (view spoiler)[I feel bad for Harry that everyone else gets to go to Hogsmeade and he can't. (hide spoiler)]

[❤Stephanie ღ♥ღMrs Daryl Dixonღ♥ღ]

Karen wrote: "Yes Steph, he is pretty mean!"

I love cats and the type of cat that they got to play him in the movies are really cute with there squished in faces.



I can just imagine him saying "I'm not in the mood" in the voice of Severus Snape.

[❤Stephanie ღ♥ღMrs Daryl Dixonღ♥ღ]

Sadie wrote: "❤Stephanie ღ♥ღMrs Styxx Anaxkolasiღ♥ღ wrote: "Half way through chapter 8 [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I think that if Sirius Black wasn't on the lose and after Harry than they might have given him permission, they just didn't want him vulnerable by being out of the school which I totally understand, there first priority is to look after the students welfare even if that means being the bad person. (hide spoiler)]

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Re: Hogsmeade
(view spoiler)[ I agree that I think it was for the belief of Harry's protection, and also to not show favouritsm that they wouldn't agree for him to go
(hide spoiler)]

[❤Stephanie ღ♥ღMrs Daryl Dixonღ♥ღ]

Sadie wrote: "❤Stephanie ღ♥ღMrs Styxx Anaxkolasiღ♥ღ wrote: "Sadie wrote: "❤Stephanie ღ♥ღMrs Styxx Anaxkolasiღ♥ღ wrote: "Half way through chapter 8 [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"


..."

(view spoiler)[I feel the same way, and as you said at least he has Hogwarts and he has his friends. (hide spoiler)]

[❤Stephanie ღ♥ღMrs Daryl Dixonღ♥ღ]

(view spoiler)[I'm reading about who there first Quidditch match is against and I didn't know that Cedric Diggory was the seeker for the Hufflepuff team, I didn't even know he was on the team. (hide spoiler)]

[❤Stephanie ღ♥ღMrs Daryl Dixonღ♥ღ]

I'm half way through chapter 9 but if you haven't read the whole book don't read (view spoiler)[Peeves just woke Harry up on the day of the Quidditch game and he decided to give up on going back to sleep and as he was leaving his room Crookshanks tried to get past him to go after scabbers and then it hit me, I remember from reading the book before that Crookshanks is trying so hard to attack Scabbers because Sirius Black befriended him and he has been trying to help him ever since. (hide spoiler)]

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

I'd forgotten about him (Cedric) in this book too!

[❤Stephanie ღ♥ღMrs Daryl Dixonღ♥ღ]

Sadie wrote: "❤Stephanie ღ♥ღMrs Styxx Anaxkolasiღ♥ღ wrote: "[spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

Same (view spoiler)[I thought he wasn't mentioned until book 4 (hide spoiler)]

[❤Stephanie ღ♥ღMrs Daryl Dixonღ♥ღ]

Just finished chapter 9 (view spoiler)[Poor Harry he lost the Quidditch game and his broom. (hide spoiler)]

[❤Stephanie ღ♥ღMrs Daryl Dixonღ♥ღ]

Just finished chapter 12 (view spoiler)[It would have sucked so much for Harry having the Firebolt for only a couple of hours before it being taken away for weeks. (hide spoiler)]

[❤Stephanie ღ♥ღMrs Daryl Dixonღ♥ღ]

Start of chapter 13 (view spoiler)[Like Cedric Diggery I didn't know that Cho Chang was in this book or that she is the Seeker for the Ravenclaw team. (hide spoiler)]

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

@Steph
re: chp 12 & 13
(view spoiler)[ Yes, I agree. The firebolt being taken away would've been just awful!
And it is cool how Cho and Cedric are just mentioned in this book, so now we recognise them for later ;)
(hide spoiler)]

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Chapter 14

(view spoiler)[ I love the end of this chapter and how Lupin remind Harry of his parents sacrifice to keep him safe and then he is just disregarding it in order to go to sweets and jokes shops. I know that Harry's actions are age appropriate (and Hermoine didn't get anywhere trying to stop him going), but I thought the way Lupin did this was sobering and really hit home (hide spoiler)]

[Ari]

Karen wrote: "Chapter 14

[spoilers removed]"

I totally agree! (view spoiler)[ Lupin is such a great mentor for Harry. (hide spoiler)]