Customer Reviews

Repotting Harry Potter: A Professor's Book-by-Book Guide for the Serious Re-Reader

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book is an interesting exploration of the Potter series. I loved Prof. Thomas' introduction, and his comparison of Rowling's writing to Lewis' and Tolkien's was one of my favorite parts.

I must urge anyone who gets this book to be finished with the series, and you may be thinking "doesn't the title imply that?" Well, yes, it does. Unfortunately, the inroduction implies that first-time readers could use the book, and I believe it would be too spoiler heavy to do so.

Thomas' focus doesn't seem to be on the larger themes of the Potter series (though at the end, I'm sure they will have come through); this is in comparison to, say, John Granger's work or Travis Prinzi's. His focus is more like Connie Neal's: where she focuses on Christian imagery in the series, he ABSOLUTELY focuses on punning, foreshadowing and other literary elements. He points out Rowling's amazing ability as a wordsmith.

The book is a little tedious, because again, you're going book... by... book... and that can be exhausting (as the Potter series itself is), but it's worth the wait. Like the Potter series, each chapter builds on the previous, and the book gets better as you go along.

I urge you to read this book if you want more Potter analysis and if you've completed reading the stories. It's a delight.

Dr. Thomas writes as a 30+ year scholar with a keen literary eye and a brilliant wit that will have you alternating between "Aha!" moments and all-out laughter as you journey with him through a re-read of the seven Harry Potter novels.

This is must-reading for the Harry Potter fan. If you thought you appreciated and loved the books before, you'll be surprised at how much more you love them after letting a seasoned literature professor take you on a great tour through the seven-book series; or, as Dr. Thomas says, the seven-part book. And don't let his 30+ years of being a scholar in academia scare you away. This book is very accessible to all readers.

This is also an important resource for every Potter fan who's had to deal with someone dismissing the novels as trite or juvenile. They're nothing of the sort, and Dr. Thomas makes a solid case that Rowling's seven-part Harry Potter story should be set on the same shelf as the Great Books of the past.

Want a solid defense for your love of Potter and your opinion that the books are great? Buy this book!

Written in a friendly conversational style, this book emphasizes foreshadowing and punning with many specific examples of each. The author also points out bits which he found less than plausible,(and why he found them so), as well as discussing sections he thought especially laudable. One of the things I appreciate is the artful way in which he directs you to other authors...no pressure, but you'll want to take the suggestions! I found this book to be like the Harry Potter series itself- starting off good and progressing to excellence. You'll finish this book with a greater than ever appreciation of the mastery of J K Rowling.

This is the book I was waiting for. Dr. Thomas has a knowledge of literature, mythology and etymology that is just amazing. One of the things I like most about the Harry Potter books is Rowling's sly references, but until reading this book I had not realized how many went right over my head. Reading this book is like having a conversation with a scary-smart fellow Potter fan.

So why only four stars? Because of the appalling number of typos. Honestly, this is a book about careful reading, and I don't think I have ever read a book with so many mistakes. "Gown" for "grown." "D.A.B" instead of "R.A.B." "Stare" rather than "stair." "Privet" misspelled throughout the book. There are dozens of these mistakes, and they are like fingernails on a chalkboard. Does Zossima Press not have proofreaders or copy editors? I hope that before the next printing (and I very much hope that there will be a next printing) someone sits down with a red pencil and fixes this mess. If Zossima truly does not have a copy editor, I hereby volunteer to submit an errata sheet.

That said, I would recommend this book to any serious Potter fan.

This is the best Potter-related book I have read. It is thorough, fun, and thought-provoking. You're hooked from the Introduction and look forward to each chapter's treatment of the next Rowling book. Fortunately, the typos mentioned by a couple of earlier reviewers are not a problem since there's been a second printing of the book. I think you'll really like Repotting Harry Potter.

I enjoyed this book very much. Dr. Thomas gives a thoughtful and scholarly approach to the Potter books, and does it in a pleasantly readable manner. There is ample and fascinating analysis of foreshadowing and wordplay, as well as things such as irony, symbolism, and misdirection.

The work is thorough, but not in the least tedious; the easygoing style used by Dr. Thomas is delightful.

The introduction is a must read. Dr. Thomas successfully tackles the criticism of the Potter books head-on. In fact, Dr. Thomas' admiration for the story, for the characters, and for Rowling's writing runs through the book and should be refreshing for any Potter fan.

As others have said, this book should be saved until all seven books have been read, but is recommended before and during re-readings.

I have purchased many, many commentaries on the Harry Potter Books. I have all of John Granger's books, Connie Neal's books, and many others. However, this book "Repotting Harry Potter" is simply MARVELOUS! I love it and highly recommend it to those of you who want to understand all the hidden parts of the Harry Potter Series of wonderful novels. Buy this one -- it is worth every single penny!!!!

I highly recommend Professor Thomas's reading guide "Repotting Harry Potter," if you, like me, enjoy finding hidden riches in a piece of fiction. I, too, found that Rowling's books seemed increasingly sophisticated and engaging, so coming across Thomas's guide was a welcome, entertaining, and highly educational supplement to my enjoyment of Rowling's works. Professor Thomas's approach is comfortable and chatty, yet offers so much literary knowledge you'll feel you've just been sitting in one of the most satisfying and rewarding classes you've ever attended. This book is a valuable addition to any library on Rowling!

Somebody else said there were a lot of typos/misspellings in this book and they are right. That was annoying. Still, the book was interesting and fun. The author seems very familiar with the material and noticed a lot of good stuff I hadn't thought of. Definitely recommended for people who have read all 7 HP books. Full of spoilers, so don't read it until you have read all 7 HP books first.

I actually took Prof. Thomas' class at Pepperdine regarding Harry Potter, and the intelligence and wit he uses to discuss the subject matter in class comes through as effortlessly and effectively as in the class room. This book is like taking a college course in Harry Potter - which I did, so trust me on that one. He is one of the sharpest literary professors and critics I have ever met, and anything he says is definitely worth listening to, especially if you want to not only learn a lot about Harry Potter, but also just the art of literature in general. So long story short, read his book, and if you go to Pepperdine take his class!

LD