Book review: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

With over 450 million copies sold, Harry Potter is the best-selling book series of all time. An 11-year-old boy who lives under the staircase represents childhood, tradition and magic. Whenever we remember him, we get reminded of the harsh reality of the world – we are growing up. However, J. K. Rowling is here once again to try and stop this aging process.

Previews of the play ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ (written by Jack Thorne, J. K. Rowling and John Tiffany) began at the Palace Theatre, London on 7 June 2016. The story begins nineteen years after the events of ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows’. Harry is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband, and the father of three children. His middle child, Albus, struggles with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted.

Nevertheless, with this unexpected surprise release, there were a lot of unexpected reactions. Many people argue that J. K. Rowling owes her fans a real book rather than a script. They also claim that the plot has gaps; for example, the time turner and Cedric Diggory’s death were created in previous books, suggesting that the writers lacked originality. The majority of people have rejected the play as a novel. However, man do agree that its success on stage is due to its special effects, and amazing casting.

Even if you are one of those who did not like the script, don’t despair, Rowling is preparing two new books: ‘Harry Potter: A History of Magic’ and ‘Harry Potter: A Journey Through the History of Magic’ .But, even if the play or these new books are denounced, it is important to remember that we do not always have to follow the same rules of the canon. It is, after all, the 21^st century, and there is an allowance for experimentation. If we want to go back in time, we can still remember all the things Harry Potter taught us: selflessness, bravery, and even a bit of reckless behaviour. But, if we want to move forward we have to embrace new ideas. As it is said in the ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’: “There is never a perfect answer in this messy, emotional world. Perfection is beyond the reach of humankind, beyond the reach of magic.”. Let’s trust Rowling on this.