Once a Harry Potter fan, ALWAYS a Harry Potter fan.
When I found out that they'd be releasing the screenplay (in book form) of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, the wonderful creation of J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne, and John Tiffany, I was beyond excited. I'd already gone through the stage of grief when I realized that I'd probably never be able to see the play unless it went on tour in the United States (and I was able to get tickets before they sell out), so this was great news.
Just like when the books were coming out, I went to the midnight release party at a local Barnes&Noble. This would be my 5th Harry Potter midnight release party, but my first as an adult, so I was excited.
The party was just as nerdy as you'd expect it to be, and when I got the book it was just as new and beautiful as I'd hoped - it brought back some lovely memories from 2007, 2005, 2003, etc… Yeah it's been a long time, guys, I was STOKED.
Now I knew going in that this book had mixed reviews, but I loyally avoided spoilers, curled up with the book and some blankets, and didn't move for 2 hours until I'd finished.
I
Loved
It
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child was an amazing story and I laughed and cried and was scared and confused at all the right moments. It did its job, it made me feel the FEELS, and when I closed the book I wanted to open it right back up and read it again.
Let me address some things:
It was in screenplay format, so all you were given was location, dialogue, and action. Did I miss the paragraphs delving into a character’s thoughts or giving super detailed descriptions of the setting? Yes. Did I miss it so much that it made me like the story less? No.
It was pretty cheesy at times. Yeah. I giggled or rolled my eyes and got over it. People need to remember that this story is meant to be told on a stage with a live audience. Things need to be a little over the top.
It was difficult to wrap my brain around my favorite mischievous world-saving teenagers being in their 30s and complaining about sore feet and having multiple children. That was mad weird. I missed angsty teenage Harry. HOWEVER, that was substituted by angsty teenage Albus and angsty “how-do-I-dad” Harry. So I got over it.
Moving on.
The Harry Potter lovers of the world are pretty much divided in half over Cursed Child - they either love it or they hate it.
And I get it, the 7 books create quite high standards, so it's difficult for some to see this screenplay as worthy, and it's fine.
But I loved reading Cursed Child, I will 100% read it again, it's getting added to my Harry Potter shelf of fame, and I'm really glad it exists.
