Nothing But Reading Challenges discussion
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Rowling, J.K.- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Harry Potter #3); Informal Buddy Read: Starts November 21, 2014 --REVISIT-- May 2018
Ashley wrote: "Tina wrote: "I've managed to listen up to chapter 9. I love noticing what the book has but the movie does not have in it. Like, in the train ride to hogwarts when [spoilers removed]"I agree with ..."
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But I'm happy with who they've ended up with.
Cat wrote: "@Elen 405 - from under spoiler - I agree! having read it for the quaffle I enjoyed the matches more than I normally would :)"I'm finally getting back to this after participating in quidditch and wholeheartedly agree with you. Just got to the end of chapter 15 and it reminded me of our own game. Intense. Pressure. Cheering crowd. Hilarious commentary from Lee Jordan. Was really fun and exciting to read.
JanEyre9 wrote: "A little over 2 chapters in and the Dursley's are as infuriating as ever. Marge is so nasty, I wouldn't be able to handle listening to her either! Jim Dale's voice for her is so grating, it's perfect."The Dursley's are just the pits. Worst human beings ever.
Sophie wrote: "Having read chapter 2, I agree with the comments a few pages back. As far as I remember the only characters that are described by their weight are the Dursleys. It's a bit of a lazy trope to use."I hadn't noticed this until reading through these threads, but I agree. Professor Sprout is described as "squat" in Chamber of Secrets, and I think Molly Weasley is "plump", but there is no moral judgement applied to the weight of the "good" characters in the same way as the Dursleys are "fat".
Of course there is also the portrait of the Fat Lady who guards the Gryffindor common room, so I am undermining my argument right there.
Tina wrote: "Ashley wrote: "Tina wrote: "I've managed to listen up to chapter 9. I love noticing what the book has but the movie does not have in it. Like, in the train ride to hogwarts when [spoilers removed]"(view spoiler)"
Yeah, I hoped that too.
Nicole wrote: "I finished today :)(view spoiler)"
YES! Adult me loves this...like you go tell those kids how to treat others
...Makes me realise how old I've gotten since they first came out haha
The Boggart scene = one of my favorite HP scenes ever!
Cat wrote: "JanEyre9 wrote: "The Boggart scene = one of my favorite HP scenes ever!""
Bahahahahahahaha!!!
Cat wrote: "JanEyre9 wrote: "The Boggart scene = one of my favorite HP scenes ever!""
That's awesome :D
I think of that every time I hear the song!!!
Cat wrote: "JanEyre9 wrote: "The Boggart scene = one of my favorite HP scenes ever!""
So funny!
I'm nearly up to that scene, I will be grinning even more now when I get there.
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On to the third book! Hi all. Joining this BR late, but who knew when I listened to the books in January that I would be joining a Potter based challenge in May? Team Remus Lupin.Continuation of my treadmill based reading of the series...
For whatever reason I was not getting my notifications for this thread. Swell. Go Go Jenny! How many miles is it on your treadmill so far? Keep going!
Honestly, I have no idea about milage so far. My kindle is sitting in front of the gauges, so I am not paying attention to distance or calories or pulse or anything. I am just walking until it hurts, or I have to get ready for work. I think I don't want to know yet, until I get into the habit of doing this, how few miles or calories I am burning up. But, this morning it was 40 minutes or so, and I could have gone on more, so that's good.
Your endurance is building up then! Awesome! I'm so proud of you for continuing and keeping up with it : )
About a third in. Pinky just died. Poor Lavender and her bunny!The dementors are some of the coolest, creepiest creatures that Rowling came up with. I love how they are described, and how they affect everyone who encounters them.
And the intro of Remus Lupin is outstanding. He is one of my favorite characters across all the books.
What is this day 5 of my personal treadmill challenge? About 40 minutes again today, but a bit faster. We'll see what happens tomorrow!
I've always loved Lupin. I had hoped he would become a sort of a father figure to Harry.And absolutely, dementors are absolutely amazing! Obviously they are frightening, however, the sheer amount of creativity Rowling had in thinking them up was brilliant. They are easily a creature you could see existing in the in the real world without Muggles knowing. Causing depression, panic... Imagine, Dementors the cause of mental illness!
Perhaps mental health professionals should practice summoning up petronuses. I think I spelled that wrong. But I will find out when I read more tomorrow! Wouldn't it be cool if people could be helped that way instead of living with depression and/or lots of drugs? I have been battling my own sense of depression and disappointment, but that is probably just because I keep reading the newspaper. Not Dementors. Damn my need to know what is happening in the world. I know that ignorance can be bliss, but I can't live that way. And my drug of choice to combat depression is reading or watching something entertaining, and the occasional glass of really good scotch!
Finally finished this one, other books kept getting in the way. This is definitely the book that starts the darker theme of the series. It is always interesting to see how different the book is to the movie. Going to try and fit Goblet of Fire in before the end of TT
Just wanted to say hello! I finished book 2 and will be starting in on thsi one tonight. Is it bad that I'm excited to get to the part of the series that starts getting darker?
This is where the series starts to get really good. The "these are meant for kids" aspect of the books goes away pretty quickly in this one. I am just over halfway through this one. It remains one of my favorites. Day six, and still walking like I promised myself I would. Sorry if you guys are getting bored reading about it, but I used to be in terrific shape, and it is a bit of a pleasure to start back towards liking how I fit into my clothes again. If I can keep it up, a few months and a few pounds and happier muscles should do the trick!
Karolyn, I agree with you about liking the darker books. The darker the books, generally the more adult the themes. I've always liked the more serious books myself.Jenny, so happy you are continuing with the treadmill! You're really blowing through the books :)
Thanks Joanne!Another morning workout, and I am done with this one.
The scenes that get to me the most in this book are
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On to book four!
You're doing great Jenny! I finished tonight, really enjoyed the book (of course). I have to think Rowling knew from the beginnnig how she wanted the whole series to play out. I love finding these little details that don't mean much now, but are important later.
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I've always wondered exactly how much Rowling had planned in the beginning of the series. Did she know Dobby would play such an important part? Did she know about the diary? Etc, etc. Those little important things, I would love to know!
BTW, Jenny I never replied to one of your comments about reading the newspaper and feeling like a dementor has swarmed over you/me. You're not alone! I prefer to be informed rather than ignorant, but it really gets you down. I also tend to read or watch movies or TV/movies chill out from the day-to-day drama. That and have a good cuddle with my fur baby. Is that a Siamese in your photo? I currently have a Himalayan and a Ragdoll.
Sarah wrote: "BTW, Jenny I never replied to one of your comments about reading the newspaper and feeling like a dementor has swarmed over you/me. You're not alone! I prefer to be informed rather than ignorant, b..."Yup, Kayso is a siamese, and Aech is orange. I am pretty sure he is part mane coon (spelling?) I have been trying to post a picture of him looking like a lion for the Gryffindor thread, but it won't work.
And thank you for reassuring me that I am not alone. Today wasn't a great day either. So, I am going pet a kitty, and watch season one of Boston Legal. (I have had a crush on Shatner since I was four. Can't help it).
After the challenges done I've decided I'm going to catch up on a lot of TV shows. I still haven't finished season 1 of Westworld and a lot of shows on Netflix need some attention. I should try to get a couple photos of my cats to post. Though there's no way they're Gryffindorish...if anything the Himalayan is a Hufflepuff and the Ragdoll is a Slytherin.
I need to catch up on Westworld as well. I never seem to be in the right mood. I have also been watching a bunch of British crime shows like Luther, and Happy Valley. So good both of them. So is your Ragdoll Slytherin by nature or by looks? I am picturing a beautiful green kitty. Wrong inner picture?
When we got her we were told he was a boy but didn't find out until later that he was a she. But the name Cooper, still stands. She has bright blue eyes with a white coat. So she was named after a he with bright blue eyes with white hair and also named Cooper. Cooper is a Slytherin by nature. She unfortunately is very high energy. So she goes after the sixteen-year-old Himalayan quite often. The Himalayan, Hailey, has always been docile and calm by nature, and wants nothing more than to sleep in my lap. Cooper is just constantly attacking her. Cooper's a nice cat overall but she's not the right cat for this household. If we had young children in the house and/or a lively young cat she would be perfect. Unfortunately, I think she has taken a couple of the nine lives that Haley has left. I have a live/hate relationship with Cooper.
I will try and upload a couple of pictures soon!
It is hard to get two kitties that get along. The two I had for years before my current monsters hated each other. I am lucky this time around. I had Kayso for about two years before some jackass dumped a box of kitties in the parking lot of my townhouse. My neighbor and I got all seven of them fixed, and found homes for all of them. Aech charmed his way into my house and he and Kayso got along right away. I think Kayso was lonely, and now they are both happy campers. The real plus side is now that my siamese is no longer lonely, he is also much less vocal. Siamese cats do not have lovely voices.
Hi all, to all of you who love this book because it is the beginning of darker things for this series. . . I'm the exact opposite. My favorites are the first book and this third book. Especially this third book, because Lupin is the best DADA teacher Harry had. (I really love Lupin.) :-)
I think I dread the fourth through seventh books so much because not only do we see characters die in them, but perhaps mainly because I am disabled by major depressive disorder and three severe anxiety disorders. So the last four books, when combined with my mental health. . . Well. It ain't pretty. I cry sooo much! :-(
But all are five-star books for me. And all are appreciated for moments of laughter and lightness. Even if those moments are very brief. ;-)
Jen, have you listened to the books? The voices that Jim Dale does are so good. The funny parts are hysterical in the characters' voices. I've heard that the Stephen Fry UK versions are brilliant as well, but I can't get them in the US.
I cry all the time while reading. Or watching movies. Or the trailer for Christopher Robin. And I don't have any diagnosed depressive tendencies. I am just a softy. I am amazed and impressed that you got through the last couple of books intact. Well done.
And, if you like happier books better, pick up anything by Christopher Moore, or Love and Other Pranks by Tony Vigorito. You will laugh and be glad to be alive. At least that's what I felt while reading them.
Jenny wrote: "Jen, have you listened to the books? The voices that Jim Dale does are so good. The funny parts are hysterical in the characters' voices. I've heard that the Stephen Fry UK versions are brilliant ..."
On this most recent reread, I actually listened to all of the books. (I read along for the first four.) Like you, I live in the USA, so wasn't able to get the Stephen Fry editions.
But I thoroughly enjoyed Jim Dale's performances of this series. :-)
I'll have to look into those other books you mentioned. I've heard of Christopher Moore, but haven't yet made time to read anything by him. I'll have to see about correcting that soon. Thanks!
When I started this reread, all I could think is "poor Harry." I'm not sure why the Dursley's would take him back, or why anyone at Hogwarts thought that was a good idea. Despite his blow up, I was happy that he had the chance to go on his own prior to returning to school. This experience seemed to allow him to maybe 'grow-up' a bit. He knows now, more than ever, that he really must take care of himself.
Just finished this book today. I read it for the first time several years ago, and for a while I always thought it was my favorite. The adventure and suspense goes for the whole book. There are several twists and turns; some I'm not sure I find believable, but Rowling does a great job of spinning them into the story to make everything fit.
I love the friendship between Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs that mostly only deepens as they age and mature. Those friendships are few and far between.
A Five star read again. Good stuff!
Joining from Team Bellatrix at the last minute :)Started my reread today. This was my favorite HP book until the 6th one came out so I’m excited to revisit it since it’s in my top 3!
Through Ch 7I always loved the first Care of Magical Creatures lesson. (view spoiler)
I also love the first Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson! Better than the movie at least with the terrifying jack in the box that was the "not" scary thing....
Jenny wrote: "Jen, have you listened to the books? The voices that Jim Dale does are so good. The funny parts are hysterical in the characters' voices. I've heard that the Stephen Fry UK versions are brilliant ..."
I love Jim Dale! I haven't heard Stephen Fry, but Jim Dale's narration is amazing.
Nothing But Reading Challenges
Books mentioned in this topic
Love and Other Pranks (other topics)Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (other topics)
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (other topics)
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (other topics)
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
J.K. Rowling (other topics)Jim Dale (other topics)
I agree with ..."
I never expected (view spoiler)[ Harry to end up with Ginny! My teenage self always assumed that Harry would end up with Hermione. Also, I didn't think Ginny's character was that interesting. Let's see what I think now. (hide spoiler)]