A great way to improve your french reading

Harry Potter is an exciting story about young witches and wizards at school, and a story that every child knows, and many adults too. Therefore, reading the French translation is a great way to improve your skills at reading in French. Obviously the story is better in the original english, but the French translation is still incredibly well thought out. Words unique to the books are translated by new words that help to capture the feeling of the original, and there are also many examples of idiomatic expressions that you would otherwise never know until you were at a more advanced level. Reading in a foreign language helps you to become confident on your own in the language, and the French translation of Harry Potter is a great way to get started. One word of warning, many verbs are in the past historic, a tense that is only found in literature and not taught until A-level, however, this is more to do with the fact that it is rarely seen rather than because it's difficult, it is in fact pretty simple and so you should find you pick it up while reading.

A delight.

As a Latin student entering my fourth year, I did find this very challenging. However, as a lover of both the language and the story, it was a wonderful read. I found I could easily get the gist of it, and anything too difficult could be solved with a dictionary. This is truly the most enjoyable way to learn Latin!<br /><br />Anyone rating it lower because it is 'too difficult' is being ridiculous. Would you review Harry Potter à l'école des sorciers and say the French is too hard for beginners? It isn't Peter Needham's fault if you can't speak Latin.<br /><br />Favourite pick: page 77, the twins needling Percy for bragging over his prefect badge! Harry Potter is so much more fun when you can quote it in Latin.

Compulsory for anyone serious about their O.W.L exams!

It has to be said, JK Rowling has really thought out the Harry Potter universe well, and these books only support that claim. Simply put, "Quidditch through the ages" gives you everything you could ever wish to know about the magical sport, and"Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find them" is a great fountain of information about creatures in the main books.

Of course, it would be very easy for these books to become something serious, intense and sleep inducing like some of the Lord of the rings publications around... that is, if Rowling wasn't responsible for them.

"Fantastic Beasts & Where to find them" is filled with some of Harry and Ron's personal doodles, sarcastic comments and pen and paper games, definitely funny stuff. On top of this the articles themselves have an underlying sense of humour to them, especially whena creature already seen in the main books crops up.

"Quidditch through the ages" is completely different, and while it lacks the unique doodles of the fore mentioned book (it is official Hogwarts library property you know!) the history of Quidditch more than makes up for this. In no way is this just a tedious account of how the sport developed, but it talks about strange events, customs and peculiarities which will have you chuckling to yourself as you read.

Would I prefer to see a bigger full version? Yes! But at the end of the day, it's for chairty and definitely worthwhile! A must for anyone who loves Harry Potter or is just a charitable person!

19 Years Later

A quite fantastic end to the most enchanting literary masterpeice of our generation. I hope that in 19 years and even in nineteen hundred years this series of books will be appreciated for what it is. <br /><br />Nothing short of perfection!

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince on Audio

The book is really awesome. Don't get me wrong, I just like Harry. <br /><br />Anyway, I found this audio cd collection somewhere and I just can't stop listening to it. Stephen Fry's readings always give the books by J. K. Rowling a little kick. Once you start hearing the story read to you by Mr. Fry you read along, or follow, the text written by the acclaimed novellist.<br /><br />The film is coming out soon, but I think the filmmakers should have chosen an older person to play Dumbledore. Apart from that, the original cast glows like an on-glowing light.

A great ending to a fantastic series

In years to come, these books will be ranked along with the greats of child literature. A modern classic.

A brilliant way to improve your spanish!

I would advise anyone learning spanish to read either this book or any of the Harry Potters. The language in the book isn't very complicated and because I had already read it in english I found that I could easily understand what was going on without needing a dictonary. It's also a more interesting way to improve your vocabulary and grammar.

In my opinion the best in the series

Brief Plot Overview:<br />Times are dark as famous mass murderer, Sirius Black, is on the loose. This notorious muggle killer is not only barking mad, but he was He-who-must-not-be-nameds' most loyal follower (or so we're lead to believe) and is seeking revenge for the fall of his master, in the form of murdering our hero, Harry Potter. <br /><br />Review:<br />This book is probably one of the best children's books I have ever read, not only does it bring together the plot so far in the exciting and dramatic way we've come to expect from Rowling, but it does so in an informative way and allows the reader to gain insight into the future instalments to come, which only engorges the thirst for more from this talented writer. <br /><br />Rowlings' style is well balanced and these books reek of careful planning from the start, there are no inconsistencies in story (and trust me I've tried to find them by re-reading) and everything works together like a well-oiled machine. <br /><br />The Prisoner of Azkaban is my favourite out of the seven because it adds a human touch instead of a whizz-bang finale, by that I mean there is little magic involved in deciding the outcome of the book and it is based around argument, conversation, good old fashioned sneaking about and human decisions rather than an all out brawl with spells and incantations. <br /><br />Followers of the series will not be disappointed with the third instalment and (for those few who haven't swallowed the hype) are definitely recommended to fantasy readers who also enjoy a bit of good-old-English reality. The fact that the base-audience is children but adults all over the world read these books shows their versatility and ability to appeal to a wide range of audiences. <br /><br />I am not the first to say this and I definitely won't be the last, but Kudos to J.K.Rowling!

Relaxing and great easy listening

Fantastic. If you like (or love) Harry Potter then this is the thing for you! Stephen Fry reads it wonderfully and brings the story to life. JK Rowling is a superb author and this is a magical book. I often draw or paint whilst listening to it and enjoy it immensely. It is also good if you don't really have time to sit down and open a book. You can do something else whilst listening to this, which makes it really not very time consuming.<br />Great Audiobook - 10/10!

An outstanding work of fiction

Rowling has proved herself yet again to be a master of fantasy fiction in the second installment of the Hary Potter series. The characterisations initially developed in the 'Philosopher's Stone' are considered in depth by the author, allowing presumptions to be overturned, and the impossible to be considered. From the start of this work, adventure and excitement become codewords, allowing readers of any age to engage with the well written literature. Much recommended.

It's a fine, fine book.

It's been a private observation of mine for a while that the thickness of the book in any fantasy series increases the later in the series you get. Writers have more to say, more ends to tie up, and so on. This book, while very long (and so not really suitable for young children to read to themselves anymore) is a large improvement on the last released, but it is now clearly aimed at the older child. Those children who were the same age as Harry when the first book was released will have been able to keep pace with him in years as he nears adulthood. The book is, despite criticism to the contrary, a profoundly moral work, and I for one think it may help to guide anyone growing up. Well done JK Rowling!

Does exactly what it says on the box

It's a box-set of the Harry Potter special editions that you can buy seperately. It's a nice enough set, very hefty and the books, obviously, have enchanted millions worldwide. Some of the expectations about the box-set confuse me as to what others thought they would get for their money but it is certainly worth what I paid. <br /><br />There seems to be some weird obsession that the Americans have with pictures in the books. Perhaps Harry Potter 1-7 (Comic Edition) would appeal more?

Wow!

I saw the movie before I read the book and I totally regret it. But the book was amazing and I don't get how some people don't like"Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone." And I can't wait till I get the second in the series. (And if you've seen the movies, start reading the books now before more movies come out).

Harry potter and the deathly hallows

Harry potter and the deathly hallows is fantastic, every chapter is ten out of ten. When I started reading it I couldn't stop. It is the darkest yet, but in this book all your questions are answered.<br /> Sam <br /> Age 8<br />

Fantastic

After losing control and blowing up Aunt Marge like a balloon, Harry flees from the Dursley's only to discover that a murderer has escaped from Azkaban, (wizard prison) and is after him. After spending a few weeks at the Leaky Cauldron, Harry returns to Hogwarts with Ron and Hermione where the adventure really begins. As always things are not always as simple as they first appear, but Harry will stop at nothing to uncover the truth.

Crammed with the usual mix of magic and mayhem, this has to be the best Harry Potter book so far.

Having read the book several times in English, I decided to try it in Spanish in an attempt to resurrect what little I could remember from school. I had little difficulty understanding the book, quiddich is quiddich in any language. This has to be the most enjoyable bit of translation I've ever done.

BRILLIANT !

Another brilliant installment from the Great JK Rowling !<br />Gets better with each book as we are led further into the wonderful world of magic ! Great to find out about the other Wizarding Schools of Beaubatons & Durmstrang and loved Viktor Krum !<br /> a bit darker than the rest but it has to move on a bit now they are all getting older !<br />Brilliant !<br />

GENIUS !

I Loved this book !<br />was great to be out of Hogwarts for a while at 12 Grimmauld Place ! indeed it is a Grim Old Place !<br />Loved the idea of the headquarters of the Order of the Pheonix, ie those against Voldemort to be in a family home of the ancient Pure Blood Blacks (big voldemort followers(except Sirius of course!)) with Siruis's mother screaming obscenities at everyone from a Picture on the wall ! JK Rowling is a genius !<br />this is the Darkest book so far and was very sad in parts but fabulous !<br />GENUIS !

Clear and Elegant

Needham's translation of the second title in the Harry Potter series is no less competent than that of the first. He is not afraid to deviate from the original English to create a stylish, authentic rendition: `Harrius Potter et Camera Secretorum' should be of interest to Potter fans and classical scholars alike.