Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is as much a Harry Potter book as The Importance of Being Earnest. Based on a J. K. Rowling “story,” this muddled play lacks all of the Sense of Wonder of the Harry Potter books. Very little magic. Very little mystery. Too much shouting and arguing. The play is set 19 years after the vanquishing of Voldemort. But all is not well in Harry Potter’s world. His son, Albus, could unsettle the Universe. I found the script limp and lifeless. A major disappointment! GRADE: F
They lost me when I read somewhere that this was developed from Harry Potter fan-fix. Although, to be honest, I’ve never been the biggest HP fan anyway. I don’t think any of us are opposed to J. K. Rowling using her creations to maintain an income stream, but she doesn’t need to attach her name to any detritus that floats her way.
Deb, well said! And the publisher is counting this mess as HARRY POTTER #8! No way this travesty should be counted as a real HARRY POTTER book!
My hair stylist was crushed by it. I think that series was the only books she’d ever read.
Patti, HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD will crush the enthusiasm of the most ardent fan. A complete disappointment!
My hair stylist was crushed by it. I think that series was the only books she’d ever read. But maybe it would work as a play. A lot of plays when read seem lifeless.
Patti, this play is lifeless for a good reason. It lacks many of the J. K. Rowling elements that she brought to the HARRY POTTER series. There’s very little magic. There’s very little mystery (many of the HARRY POTTER books had mysteries to be solved at their core). And Harry Potter as an adult lacks the attraction he had as a kid. That’s just for starters.
George, though I read all seven Harry Potter books, I lost most of my enthusiasm for the series after Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” because it ceased to be YA fantasy and Harry became a teenager trapped in a grown-up man’s body. I’m unlikely to read this book.
Prashant, HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN was my favorite volume in the series! I also thought it was the best movie in the series, too.
I have no plans to read this one.
Bill, welcome back! HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD is a money-grab. NBC has purchased the rights to broadcast the HARRY POTTER movies. They also own rights to the upcoming FANTASTIC BEASTS franchise.
I have to disagree. It’s not Rowling but it was a fast read and enjoyable enough for what it was. The basic premise is one you’ve read many times In Stephen King and others – you can’t change the past without major consequences.
The best character was Draco Malfoy’s son.
I’ll be curious to see Potter fanatic Beth Fedyn’s take.
Jeff, I agree with you on Draco Malfoy’s son. And it was a quick read. But I think this is just another attempt to cash in on the HARRY POTTER phenomena.
So, no sparkling vampires then?
Jerry, nary a mystical monster appeared in HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD except for a centaur.
I rarely read scripts, and the cover shows this is a play by Jack Thorne, so I gather Rowling just licensed the characters to Thorne for this attempt. I was fast losing interest in the Potter story by the last three books, and still think the 1st – 3rd are the best, for their innocence and the portrayal of Hogwarts and characters. I think this is the lowest score I’ve seen you give to any book.
Rick, I seldom bother to blog about “F” and “D” books and movies. I’d rather recommend Good Stuff than to pan Bad Stuff. But SUICIDE SQUAD and HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD were so bad I could not restrain myself.
I’ve heard Rowling had some imput, not sure to what extent
Maggie, HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD is based on a J. K. Rowling “story” but the actual story isn’t included as part of this book.