The most recent of the Harry Potter books presents a continuation of the
story of the boy wizard, but reflecting the increasing age both of Harry and his readers. In this
book Harry and his friends, Ron and Hermione, are teenagers.
For the first time in the series the story starts not with Harry Potter at home with his muggle relatives, the Dursleys, but rather in the office of the prime minister of the muggles, 10 Downing Street. Chapter two introduces the chief plot of the book, with the ambivalent Snape established in a sinister role. Only in chapter three do we meet up with Harry Potter. All
told the story is more adult than the earlier books.
At around 600 pages this is a substantial read, and moves at a cracking pace. Harry Potter spends his sixth year at Hogwarts
School enduring the
life of a British boarding school with its larger than life teachers and colourful students. There are plenty of laughs along the way, but some thought provoking content as well.
The final scenes introduce a sombre note as one of the central characters is killed. Life at Hogwarts can never be the same again, something which Harry himself realises. J K Rowling manages to end the book with all her readers, of whatever age, ready for the next volume. This we are told will be the last, though how the complex plot can be resolved in just one more
volume remains to be seen.
A super read, and remember Drago Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus.
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