A Reading List: Harry and Beyond [ Edited ]

[Amanda_R]

The Complete Harry Potter Series

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone J. K. Rowling The book that started it all! Harry Potter has never played a sport while flying on a broomstick. He's never worn a cloak of invisibility, befriended a giant, or helped hatch a dragon. All Harry knows is a miserable life with the Dursleys, his horrible aunt and uncle, and their abominable son, Dudley. Harry's room is a tiny closet at the foot of the stairs, and he hasn't had a birthday party in eleven years. But all that is about to change when a mysterious letter arrives by owl messenger....

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets J. K. Rowling Harry Potter can't wait for summer to end and for his return to the Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. But a message from an impish creature named Dobby says that if Harry Potter returns to Hogwarts, disaster will strike. And so it does, in the form of an outrageously stuck-up new professor, a spirit named Moaning Myrtle, and the unwanted attentions of Ron Weasley's little sister. But these all pale in comparison to the real trouble: Hogwarts students are being turned to stone! Could the venomous Draco Malfoy be behind it? Or even Hagrid, whose mysterious past is finally told? Or could it be the one everyone at Hogwarts most suspects ... Harry Potter himself!

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban J. K. Rowling For twelve long years, the dread fortress of Azkaban held an infamous prisoner named Sirius Black. Convicted of killing 13 people with a single curse, he was said to be the heir apparent to the Dark Lord, Voldemort. Now he has escaped, leaving only two clues as to where he might be headed: Harry Potter's defeat of You-Know-Who was Black's downfall as well. And the Azkaban guards heard Black muttering in his sleep, "He's at Hogwarts ... he's at Hogwarts." Harry Potter isn't safe, not even within the walls of his magical school, surrounded by his friends. Because on top of it all, there may well be a traitor in their midst.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire J. K. Rowling Harry wants to get away from the pernicious Dursleys and go to the International Quidditch Cup with Hermione, Ron, and the Weasleys. He wants to dream about Cho Chang, his crush (and maybe do more than dream). He wants to find out about the mysterious event that's supposed to take place at the Hogwarts this year, an event involving two other rival schools of magic, and a competition that hasn't happened in a hundred years. He wants to be a normal, fourteen year old wizard. Unfortunately for Harry Potter, he's not normal -- even by wizarding standards. And in his case, different can be deadly.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix J. K. Rowling In this fifth volume of the series, fifteen-year-old Harry feels frustrated about the growing public skepticism about the Dark Lord's return. Unfortunately, the Ministry of Magic is also voicing its doubt, and all of Hogwarts comes under the watchful eye of an oppressive Ministry representative. Despite the additional problems of looming O.W.L. exams and Hagrid's inexplicable absence, Harry's main preoccupation is his vivid dreams that take him to places -- and make him witness events -- that horrify and intrigue him. These dreams provide a shocking clue to his very existence, and when eventually they lead Harry to confrontation, the wizard must cope with a tragic death and a telling prophecy about his future.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince J. K. Rowling As they waited for this sixth installment of the Harry Potter saga, readers were full of questions: How would the wizarding world react to the announcement by the Ministry of Magic that Lord Voldemort had returned? Who will choose to side with the Death Eaters? How would Harry handle his feelings after the tragic death of someone close to him? And now that Dumbledore has revealed to Harry the details of the Prophecy, will the burden of the knowledge be too much for him? The ever-darkening latest volume of the Harry Potter epic left readers shocked, stunned, and ultimately satisfied when question after crucial question was finally answered, including the biggest one of all: Who is the Half-Blood Prince?

Harry Potter Paperback Boxed Set (Books 1-6) J. K. Rowling Missing a volume or two from your Harry Potter collection? Why not have them all, right at your fingertips? Not even a pesky Locomotor Mortis spell cast by the evil Lord Voldemor...(oooops, sorry -- He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named) can get in the way of your enjoying all of the mystery, adventure, intrigue, and, of course, magic that Muggles around the world can't seem to get enough of. Hold on tight -- it's a wild ride!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows J. K. Rowling From our editors: "Begun a decade ago and encompassing six shelf-bending novels, the seventh and concluding volume of the international literary phenomenon that is the Harry Potter saga comes to a bombshell-packed -- and oh so satisfying -- conclusion in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, arguably the most wildly anticipated release in modern publishing history.

"As the novel begins, Harry, Ron and Hermione are on the run from Lord Voldemort, whose minions of Death Eaters have not only taken control of the Minister of Magic but have begun to systematically -- and forcibly -- change the entire culture of the magic community: Muggle-born wizards, for example, are being rounded up and questioned, and all "blood traitors" are being imprisoned. But as Voldemort and his followers ruthlessly pursue the fugitive with the lightning bolt scar on his forehead, Potter finally uncovers the jaw-dropping truth of his existence...."

Discover all titles and editions from J. K. Rowling.

Fan Resources and Unofficial Guides

The Hidden Myths in Harry Potter David Colbert Hidden in the Harry Potter stories are references to mythical creatures, legendary characters, real history and J. K. Rowling's own life. This magnificent poster-sized map takes you on a worldwide treasure hunt to uncover those hidden clues. The accompanying book of secrets reveals even more incredible facts behind the magical places and people you will come across on your journey.

The Magical Worlds of Harry Potter David Colbert Rowling's heroic young wizard Harry lives in a world populated by dragons, centaurs, trolls, giants, and a three-headed dog named Fluffy -- among other creatures from ancient myths and legends. Discover the astonishing origins of supernatural beasts, clues to hidden meanings in names, and amazing facts about real-life wizards and magic spells. From Alchemists to Unicorns, Basilisks to Veela, this fascinating compendium brings another dimension to Harry's adventures.

Fact, Fiction, and Folklore in Harry Potter's World George Beahm For fans who want to know about the myths, folklore, legends, and Muggle history embedded in the Harry Potter novels, Beahm's new book is a treasure trove of fun facts and tantalizing trivia covering the fabulous beasts and creatures, the wizards, magical artifacts, and magical places in the Harry Potter world. Covering Harry Potter novels 1-5, this unofficial guide includes sidebars, Internet references, and enchanting art by five-time Hugo Award–winning artist Tim Kirk and newcomer Britton McDaniel.

Unlocking Harry Potter: Five Keys for the Serious Reader John Granger In this insightful and unique guide, writer and scholar John Granger introduces the themes and patterns Rowling uses to write books that resonate with readers of all ages. This book is for "serious readers" but Granger writes in a very entertaining style, as he unpacks the relevance of "postmodernism" to Harry Potter, and looks at how "literary alchemy" is used by great authors from Shakespeare to J.K. Rowling. Unlocking Harry Potter is the only book to examine in depth the importance of what Rowling said in an interview from 1998, that "to invent this wizard world" she had to learn about alchemy "in order to set the parameters and establish the stories' internal logic."

Looking for God in Harry Potter John Granger The author, a teacher and devout Christian, first read the Harry Potter books so he could explain to his children why they weren't allowed to read them. After intense study, however, he became convinced that the books are underestimated as literature -- and reflect important Christian truths.

See more from our selection of Harry Potter guides and resources .

More Great Works of Magic and Fantasy

Eragon Christopher Paolini Christopher Paolini breathes fire into the realm of fantasy -- whisking readers to a world of dragons, magic, and legends -- in his first impressive entry in the Inheritance trilogy. Following in the footsteps of J.R.R. Tolkien and Terry Goodkind, Paolini recounts the harrowing adventure of Eragon, a peasant boy who one day discovers a strange rock that happens to be a lost, coveted dragon's egg. Eragon finds himself raising the highly intelligent creature (which he names Saphira) and bonds with her both mentally and soulfully, but after a team of marauders sent by the land's conniving ruler destroys his family home and kills his uncle, the boy sets out to hone his skills as a Rider and claim his vengeance.

The Golden Compass Philip Pullman In a landmark epic of fantasy and storytelling, Philip Pullman invites readers into a world as convincing and thoroughly realized as Narnia, Earthsea, or Redwall. Here lives an orphaned ward named Lyra Belacqua, whose carefree life among the scholars at Oxford's Jordan College is shattered by the arrival of two powerful visitors. First, her fearsome uncle, Lord Asriel, appears with evidence of mystery and danger in the far North, including photographs of a mysterious celestial phenomenon called Dust and the dim outline of a city suspended in the Aurora Borealis that he suspects is part of an alternate universe. He leaves Lyra in the care of Mrs. Coulter, an enigmatic scholar and explorer who offers to give Lyra the attention her uncle has long refused her. In this multilayered narrative, however, nothing is as it seems....

The Chronicles of Narnia C. S. Lewis C. S. Lewis' classic fantasy series about the bewitching realm of Narnia is now available in an attractive streamlined volume that includes the complete text of all seven books. A Pauline Baynes illustration pulled from the original 1950s editions graces each chapter, and the unabridged text is presented in Lewis' original spelling and punctuation.

The Thief Lord Cornelia Funke Cornelia Funke's international award-winning novel took Europe by storm -- and then landed on this shore with widespread acclaim. Prosper and Bo are orphans on the run from their cruel aunt and uncle. The brothers decide to hide out in Venice, where they meet a mysterious thirteen-year-old who calls himself the "Thief Lord." Brilliant and charismatic, the Thief Lord leads a ring of street children who dabble in petty crimes. Prosper and Bo delight in being part of this colorful new family. But the Thief Lord has secrets of his own.... Filled with plenty of mood and colorful characters, this suspenseful tale marked the American debut of a wonderful talent.

Discover a universe of great works of Magic and Fantasy in our special collection.

Message Edited by Amanda_R on 08-15-2007 10:58 AM

[Bookladt]

I just read a book that I got at my local Barnes and Noble by an Irish author named Michael Scott. It is called "The Alchemyst: the Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel". It is the beginning of another fantasy series and is pretty good. It made me laugh because it does cash in on the popularity of Nicholas Flamel but it does use his actual life within the story line. Some of the other historical characters that are used are his wife Perenelle and another famous man by the name of John Dee who was alive in the time of Queen ELizabeth I.

Another series that is also fantasy that I have enjoyed is by Eoin Colfer called the Artemis Fowl series. It is another great read.

[Nelsmom]

I have finished two books by David Farland that he wrote for younger readers. The books are Of Mice and Magic and the Wizard of Ooze. Both were very good books with no questionable material in them. Another book that I found young people like is The Secert Country by ane Johnson. Both were very good.

Toni

[Bookladt]

Another great series is "So You Want to be a Wizard" by Diane Duane.

[Proper-T]

Yikes, you forgot to list Fantastical Beast and Where to Find Them and Quidditch Through the Ages, the box set for Charity. Can't forget those.

[snider_kr]

a couple of other good books to stop and pick up are The Sight and Fire Bringer by david-clemmings. they are a great fictional story to get into.

[Bill_T]

I was in a B&N store on Friday and noticed that Susan Cooper's classic The Dark is Rising sequence is now out in a spiffy new paperback version.

I highly recommend these to all Potter fans -- they are darker in many ways than Rowling's stories, but have some interesting similarities; in them, a young English boy discovers that he is part of a secret order of wizards (in a manner of speaking: they're called Old Ones in the books) that is deeply connected to the Arthurian legends. There's also a trio of siblings that don't have the same kinds of powers but whose destinies are also wrapped up in the struggle between the Dark and the Light.

Great stuff!

[dcsbelle]

I had forgotten about these books! I read the series a long time ago and they were really good.

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Bill_T wrote:
I was in a B&N store on Friday and noticed that Susan Cooper's classic The Dark is Rising sequence is now out in a spiffy new paperback version.

I highly recommend these to all Potter fans -- they are darker in many ways than Rowling's stories, but have some interesting similarities; in them, a young English boy discovers that he is part of a secret order of wizards (in a manner of speaking: they're called Old Ones in the books) that is deeply connected to the Arthurian legends. There's also a trio of siblings that don't have the same kinds of powers but whose destinies are also wrapped up in the struggle between the Dark and the Light.

Great stuff!

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[Thomas_T]

There was a preview for the Dark is Rising movie at HPatOoTP premiere last night.

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dcsbelle wrote:
I had forgotten about these books! I read the series a long time ago and they were really good.

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Bill_T wrote:
I was in a B&N store on Friday and noticed that Susan Cooper's classic The Dark is Rising sequence is now out in a spiffy new paperback version.

I highly recommend these to all Potter fans -- they are darker in many ways than Rowling's stories, but have some interesting similarities; in them, a young English boy discovers that he is part of a secret order of wizards (in a manner of speaking: they're called Old Ones in the books) that is deeply connected to the Arthurian legends. There's also a trio of siblings that don't have the same kinds of powers but whose destinies are also wrapped up in the struggle between the Dark and the Light.

Great stuff!

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[dcsbelle]

They turned it into a movie? I didn't know that! Thanks for the heads-up, ShadowCougar. We had no previews at our show.

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ShadowCougar wrote:
There was a preview for the Dark is Rising movie at HPatOoTP premiere last night.

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dcsbelle wrote:
I had forgotten about these books! I read the series a long time ago and they were really good.

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Bill_T wrote:
I was in a B&N store on Friday and noticed that Susan Cooper's classic The Dark is Rising sequence is now out in a spiffy new paperback version.

I highly recommend these to all Potter fans -- they are darker in many ways than Rowling's stories, but have some interesting similarities; in them, a young English boy discovers that he is part of a secret order of wizards (in a manner of speaking: they're called Old Ones in the books) that is deeply connected to the Arthurian legends. There's also a trio of siblings that don't have the same kinds of powers but whose destinies are also wrapped up in the struggle between the Dark and the Light.

Great stuff!

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[Madelia]

I strongly suggest Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman and any of his other works. A new book he wrote with Michael Reaves called Interworld came out last month and I'd like to read that, along with his book Stardust which is actually being released as a movie.

[ravensilverlig…]

The Artemis Fowl series was great, I have to agree...and I am absolutely ADDICTED to anything written by Tamora Pierce. Check her stuff out!

[ConnieAnnKirk]

Thanks, ravensilverlight! It's good to see club members recommending other books and series to other HP Book Club members. For some, this was the first fantasy series they ever read, so knowing of others enjoyed by HP fans could be very helpful to them in a few days. There's a let-down period a-comin', I'm afeared...

~ConnieK, 2 days

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ravensilverlight wrote:
The Artemis Fowl series was great, I have to agree...and I am absolutely ADDICTED to anything written by Tamora Pierce. Check her stuff out!

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Message Edited by ConnieK on 07-18-2007 08:38 AM

[PattyBNUChick]

Does anyone know of a book or series of books similar to Rowlings that isnt necessarily magic (would be fine it if was), but has a puzzle aspect to it. I'd like to find similar books but when I search for things like 'If you like Harry Potter...' all I get are references to other magic books, but I'm looking for more of the puzzle aspect than magic per se.

[Psychee]

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PattyBNUChick wrote:
Does anyone know of a book or series of books similar to Rowlings that isnt necessarily magic (would be fine it if was), but has a puzzle aspect to it. I'd like to find similar books but when I search for things like 'If you like Harry Potter...' all I get are references to other magic books, but I'm looking for more of the puzzle aspect than magic per se.

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Do you read many mystery books, Patty? They always have a puzzle in them...

[PattyBNUChick]

Yeah, I know its kind of like mysteries, but they're not as deep as this. These books are so unique, there's really nothing else out there like it and well, I'm having withdrawal ; )

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Psychee wrote:

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PattyBNUChick wrote:
Does anyone know of a book or series of books similar to Rowlings that isnt necessarily magic (would be fine it if was), but has a puzzle aspect to it. I'd like to find similar books but when I search for things like 'If you like Harry Potter...' all I get are references to other magic books, but I'm looking for more of the puzzle aspect than magic per se.

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Do you read many mystery books, Patty? They always have a puzzle in them...

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[Psychee]

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PattyBNUChick wrote:
Yeah, I know its kind of like mysteries, but they're not as deep as this. These books are so unique, there's really nothing else out there like it and well, I'm having withdrawal ; )

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Psychee wrote:

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PattyBNUChick wrote:
Does anyone know of a book or series of books similar to Rowlings that isnt necessarily magic (would be fine it if was), but has a puzzle aspect to it. I'd like to find similar books but when I search for things like 'If you like Harry Potter...' all I get are references to other magic books, but I'm looking for more of the puzzle aspect than magic per se.

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Do you read many mystery books, Patty? They always have a puzzle in them...

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Maybe this one seems so much deeper because it is evolving over 7 books -- that's a lot of text! I don't really know of anything else in book form like that... but maybe you'd enjoy the Riven/Myst computer games -- they are all about puzzles and you could spend a good year trying to figure each of them out... they are very addicting.... too much so, actually, if you love puzzles...

[Thomas_T]

Well, the Redwall series, whil not having the huge puzzle across multiple books tends to always have some long poem/riddle that the main chatracter have to solve over the course of most of the book, and they tend to leave me with a warm fuzzy feeling when I am done.
(Like I just ate a kitten)

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PattyBNUChick wrote:
Does anyone know of a book or series of books similar to Rowlings that isnt necessarily magic (would be fine it if was), but has a puzzle aspect to it. I'd like to find similar books but when I search for things like 'If you like Harry Potter...' all I get are references to other magic books, but I'm looking for more of the puzzle aspect than magic per se.

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[PattyBNUChick]

Well, i think it seems deeper because it is. I have read them 7 times or whatever, and I could read them again and again and pick up more clues and more depth than the first times. Its like those russian egg or people things (dont know what they're called), but you take off the top and a smaller one is inside and you keep opening them and there are more and more smaller ones inside. Only with these books, the more you open them, the bigger it gets.

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Psychee wrote:
Maybe this one seems so much deeper because it is evolving over 7 books -- that's a lot of text! I don't really know of anything else in book form like that... but maybe you'd enjoy the Riven/Myst computer games -- they are all about puzzles and you could spend a good year trying to figure each of them out... they are very addicting.... too much so, actually, if you love puzzles...

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[Bill_T]

This is a really good question, Patty. That combination of intricate plot and engrossing fantasy-adventure is part of what makes these unique. One series that I think bears comparing is Neal Stephenson's Baroque Cycle. This was originally published in three hardcover volumes (Quicksilver, The Confusion, and The System of the World), but in paperback they broke it down into multiple smaller books.

The feel is really different -- it's historical fiction, set in the late-17th century, but with a kind of a humorous, freewheeling tone to much of it. There's a big cast of characters, some real figures from history (like Louis XIV and Sir Isaac Newton), and some fictional, and a kind of crazy but ultimately sweet love story (between a vagabond who is always getting in over his head and a genius aristocratic girl who comes back from nothing to be a formidable spy and businesswoman). The whole thing is way too complex to explain but once you get involved, you just want to keep going. And there is a kind of a mystery about "Solomonic Gold" and whether the vagabond -- who everyone wants dead, it seems -- will ultimately escape with his life.

Like HP, it's got lots of mysteries about the real motives of various figures, exciting battles, comic touches, and really memorable characters. It is NOT for kids; too intricate and pretty violent (the era it depicts was a tough time). But it's not about broad-chested warriors or fainting damsels or any of those hokey cliches.

Anyway, pick it up in the bookstore and try it. It took me a bit of a while to get involved, but after the first hundred pages of Quicksilver, I was hooked.

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PattyBNUChick wrote:
Well, i think it seems deeper because it is. I have read them 7 times or whatever, and I could read them again and again and pick up more clues and more depth than the first times. Its like those russian egg or people things (dont know what they're called), but you take off the top and a smaller one is inside and you keep opening them and there are more and more smaller ones inside. Only with these books, the more you open them, the bigger it gets.

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Psychee wrote:
Maybe this one seems so much deeper because it is evolving over 7 books -- that's a lot of text! I don't really know of anything else in book form like that... but maybe you'd enjoy the Riven/Myst computer games -- they are all about puzzles and you could spend a good year trying to figure each of them out... they are very addicting.... too much so, actually, if you love puzzles...

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