J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Posted on February 21, 2017 Updated on February 21, 2017

Novel Ideas, in a completionist turn, brings you Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling (but really by Jack Thorne and John Tiffany). In this episode we discuss insane bestselling sales, the nature of long delayed sequels, time travel plots, and how plays differ from novels. We also talk about the influence of cocaine (probably none), that Voldemort is likely a virgin, alternate Ron, and the inadequacy of riddle based security measures. And much, much more.

The music bump is “Sybilla Delphica” by Orlando di Lassus in honor of <spoiler of gobsmackingly stupid plot twist redacted>, Delphi.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child – A Thing That Doesn’t Need To Exist

Our recommendation: This sequel was a smashing (financial) success. Otherwise, it doesn’t really feel that much like Harry Potter.

Ben: 4/10. I’ve never been a fan of unnecessary sequels. This falls into that category for me.

Gabs: 4/10 faulty Time Turners. Because it failed to turn back the clock and recapture the magic.

Also, if you have suggestions for future episodes, please share them with us! We’re trying to be a bit more responsive to our six or so listeners this year.

This entry was posted in Episodes and tagged Albus Severus/Scorpio/ASS, alternate Ron, bestseller?, cash grab, cocaine likely not involved, conflict, cross media adaptations, daddy issues, dark magic fuck cult, defending Ron, distant sequels, family, fan fiction, feminism, foreshadowing, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Hermione doesn't need a man, Hillary Clinton's open invite, J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne, John Tiffany, mischaracterization, Mrs. Weasley is awesome, no magic HP, no soulmates, nostalgia remakes, play writing, prophecy, reading plays, riddle based security, Ron is not a doofus, secret pregnancy, Snape riff, suggestions, theater, time travel plots, Voldemort is a virgin.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Posted on July 31, 2013

The Harry Poddercast Extravaganza continues with Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling. I keep expecting someone else to pop in and write a guest novel, but so far, I have been wrong. Very, very wrong. However, Novel Ideas did have a special guest this week. Jessica joined us to talk about Dumbledore as a criminal profiler and Harry as Spiderman. We also talked about war politics, horcruxes, spoilers, and fandom’s misunderstanding of the word “slut.” Not to mention Slytherins who aren’t dicks, how to say “fuck you” politely, Dubledore and Gandalf’s budding friendship, and Draco… not being a dick? Next week, the Harry Poddercast Extravaganza comes to a close, but there’s still time to squeeze yourself into our roundtable wrap up discussion if you contact us immediately.

The music bump is the Potter Puppet Pals in “The Mysterious Ticking Noise.”

Recommendations:

Possibly the best book in the series! Though I can’t imagine that you would be listening to this episode without having read/listened to the previous five…

This entry was posted in Episodes and tagged appearance of action, cat cat cat cat, choice, Draco is... not a dick?, Dumbledore the profiler, editing and pacing, family, Gandalf and Dumbledore are BFF's, Harry is Spiderman, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, horcrux, J.K. Rowling, love, manipulating racism, Maurice references, networking!, paranoia and fear, polite fuck yous, potions theory, rare POV switch, Ron/Hermione shipteasing, sibling dynamics, slut shaming, Slytherins who aren't dicks, spoiler book, Tonks is lame, villains with motivation, Voldemort's hubris.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Posted on July 26, 2013

The Harry Poddercast Extravaganza is back with an extra long episode for the longest book in the series, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling. Holy cow, everything happens in this book. We talk about abuse of authority, thoroughly hateable characters, bullying, feminism, education, and standing up for the truth. We also discuss awkward teenage dating, the wizarding constitution, Neville’s transformation from bumbler into badass, and WHAT THE HELL IS THAT ARCH!? And many, many other things. I feel like I’ve edited two episodes, I can’t even remember how this one started. Our guest star for this episode was recorded over Skype, so there are occasional echoes in the audio, but I think I managed to get enough of it out to not be distracting.

The music bump is Umbridge’s theme from the movie, composed by Nicholas Hooper.

Recommendations:

On a scale of “treacle tart” to “puking pastile,” we give this book a canary cream.

This entry was posted in Episodes and tagged abuse of authority, arch to oblivion, awkward teenage dating, bad teachers, badass Neville, being 15, bullying, communication, cultural context, Department of Mysteries, echoes, education, emo or trauma Harry?, facism, father figure fatality, feisty Ginny, femininity is bad, guest star, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, hated characters, Hermione the terrifying, in all seriousness what is up with that arch, J.K. Rowling, magical mechanics, Neville's the tank, O.W.L.S, prophecy, right v. legal, sad girl is sad, school isn't for everyone, SHOUTY CAPITALS, teenagers are idiots, thestrals, this book is long, umbrage with Umbridge, weirdly charming, what hit Sirius?, WHAT IS THAT ARCH!?, where are the Lady Death Eaters?, wizard constitution, wizard racism, wizard telly, wizards are crappy journalists.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Posted on July 23, 2013

Novel Ideas Harry Poddercast Extravaganza continues with Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling. (Turns out all of them are by J.K. Rowling, go figure.) In this episode, we discuss the longest (thus far) book in the series, covering some topics we’ve already visited, such as wizard racism, and some topics that you would assume we’ve covered, such as feminism. Not to mention editing errors, elaborate villain schemes, the importance of world building, and whether 700 pages is too long. And that’s before we get into Draco’s secret pain, shaving mishaps, face punching, and whether Voldemort would be even creepier with a weird mustache. We hope you enjoy!

The music bump is Mike Relm’s “Harry Potter Remix of Death,” one of many Harry Potter remixes floating around the internet.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Recommendations:

I probably don’t even have to mention that we highly recommend this book, but just in case, we highly recommend this book.

This entry was posted in Episodes and tagged bad journalism, cartoonish personalities, creepy Volemort-stache, Draco's secret pain, editing errors, elaborate villain schemes, face punching v. hexing, feminism, gender balance, Harry and Ron are 14, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, hooray for Hufflepuffs!, human-giant sex, J.K. Rowling, kid time is over, magical angles, missed calling, more Draco!, quidditch fatigue, research skills, shaving mishaps, ships ahoy, slavery?, special guest, too long?, turning point, wizard prom, wizard racsim, wizardpedia, world building.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Posted on July 11, 2013

Welcome back to Draco Malfoy Talk, a podcast devoted to analyzing Draco Malfoy and his hilarious antics. Or maybe it’s just starting to feel that way. This week on Novel Ideas, we discuss Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling, the third book in the Harry Potter series. In this episode we don’t just talk a whole bunch about Draco and his continued status as a dick, we also talk about good teachers, possible metaphors for discrimination, overcoming fear, and holy crap plot twists. We also discuss the logic of divination, alternate universe Snape, ideas for improving the Hogwarts curriculum, and the plight of those poor flobberworms.

The music bump this week is “Seven Potters” by the Remus Lupins, a Harry Potter tribute band. They are nerdy as hell and probably more enthusiastic than talented, but I can appreciate the principle behind them.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Recommendations:

Best of the series so far! Also, if you’ve gotten this far and you’re still not convinced that you like this series, it probably isn’t for you…

This entry was posted in Episodes and tagged alternate Snape, bad guy fake out, bullying, chocolate as a restorative, complexity, cowardice, debt, Dementors may be unreliable, Dementors suck (souls) for serious (Sirius), discrimination, Draco Malfoy Talk, friendship, good teachers, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Hogwarts curriculum, J.K. Rowling, Lupin the laid back, no nonsense, overcoming fear, paradox, persecution of the innocent, poor flobberworms, revenge, Scabbers is... a rat!?, Sirius ethical challenges, Sirius/Lupin?, the logic of divination, werewolf metaphors, werewolves.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

Posted on July 1, 2013

The first of July is here; it’s time to kick off the Novel Ideas Harry Potter Extravaganza. We open, of course, with the first book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling. In this episode we discuss child abuse, friendship, and standard juvenile/YA themes. We also cover untagonists, wizard racism, and possible benefits of having sly people on your side. Fan geeking is relatively low this week, though we do delve into reasons why Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff probably should be more competitive for the house cup and Ben’s irritation with the rule of quidditch.

The music bump is “Goin’ Back to Hogwarts” from A Very Potter Musical. The music and lyrics are by Darren Criss and A.J. Holmes.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

Recommendations:

Read it! If you’ve managed to somehow avoid it this long, check it out. It will read a little kid-ish, but it’s fun and easy to read.

This entry was posted in Episodes and tagged alternate titles, broken riddle?, child abuse, classical racism, complex characters, courage, Dumbledore the jackass, family, friendship, Harry Potter, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, house politics, immortality, J.K. Rowling, magical systems, orphan tropes, philosopher's stone, plot twists, quidditch issues, real life Hogwarts, the plural form of cerberus, title protagonists, untagonist, uses for sly people, wizard ignorance, wizard racism, wizard-T-F.