There is no secret that, just like any other significant successful franchise, Harry Potter has already gone far from being just a book series. Aside from the popular films, theatre production, adventure parks, and an enormous amount of fanfiction and fanart produced over the last 20 years, there is a relatively underestimated genre of Harry Potter-themed podcasts which gained traction in recent years. Here, we will present all Harry fans as well as those who are just beginning their journey through the Wizarding World with nine entertaining, exceptionally interesting podcasts that feature Harry Potter as a major topic of a discussion.

Harry Potter and The Sacred Text
With Vanessa Zoltan and Casper ter Kuile
Approximate length of an episode: ca. 30-45 min.

This podcast features intriguing, meaningful conversations about events and feelings in the Harry Potter book series. Every episode is themed according to a dominating emotion or phenomenon in a chapter, whether it is loneliness, responsibility, love, or wonder. Moreover, bringing laughter to such serious discussions, Vanessa and Casper have a competition, trying to recapture the basic events of a chapter faster than the other one at the beginningof each episode.

One may be piqued with the continuously repeated word “bless” in the podcast. However, no need to worry: although having a naturally religious connotation, here, it is used in a sense of “paying due respect to a character, a feeling or an event”.

Listening to it and gaining lots of insight, one cannot stop re-evaluating ideas and views of the story. In fact, this as well as the two following podcasts are created by the same production organisation called Not Sorry Productions. The main goal of this committed team is to produce entertaining and educational content with incredible care and devotion to their audience. You can find out more on their website.

The Women of Harry Potter
With Vanessa Zoltan and Ariana Nedelman
Approximate length of an episode: ca. 20-30 min.

Women play one of the central roles in the Harry Potter series. In this feminist podcast, Vanessa and Ariana try to “lift up the successes and struggles of the women in [their] favourite book series”, according to the bio of the podcast on Spotify.

Indeed, focusing on the in-depth discovery of the women in Harry Potter and dedicating each episode to a certain significant female from the novels, Vanessa, Ariana, and their guests celebrate the characters achievements and pay close attention to their motivations. Furthermore, each episode is provided with an exciting and, in many cases, enlightening quiz which not only considers a topic of an episode but also sheds light onto particular chapters of American and world history, stories of the famous personalities and much more.

Witch, Please
With Hannah McGregor and Marcelle Kosman
Approximate length of an episode: 60-110 min.

This is another Harry Potter-themed podcast from Not Sorry Productions, where two lady scholars share their thoughts and views on the books, movies and all the Wizarding World. The quality of structure and content give the scholarly-creative natures of its makers with each episode consists of the segments with a thematically underlined discussion.

Since 2015, Hannah and Marcelle are discovering and discussing the pitfalls, meanings, and messages. However, returning from a two-year break in 2020, they started a whole new run on Hogwarts day, September, 1st. Differently shaped and re-boosted, the podcast now has several episodes dedicated to one book from a series at a time with the topics and events looked on through the prism of literary criticism and research. “We research so many things in our work already that we are relying 100% on the actual Harry Potter texts to provide us with the answers to the questions that we are asking. And if those answers are not there, we are just going to speculate back and forth at this table”- they were laughing, recording their first episode back in 2015, meaning not to be quite concerned with the textual evidence. Although that is also not totally true, this time Hannah and Marcelle decided to have a look on Harry Potter from some serious scientific perspectives such as Orientalism, Queer Theory, Feminist Theory, Class and Status etc.

S.P.E.W.: Serious Potter in an Everyday World
With Seth and Justin Quam
Approximate length of an episode: ca. 40-60 min.

In each episode, two brothers, Seth and Justin, discuss and debate their views on Harry Potter, with the major theme of the podcast: how Harry Potter and the real world we all live in mirror each other in all possible ways and forms, from a phenomenon of journalism as a social and political tool to the idea of unrequited love and the notion of self-care. Sometimes joined by their guests, the pair share their interpretations of the text and show how much one can “learn from the Harry Potter universe in social justice struggles”. 

Some topics might seem too controversial in terms of politics, cultural differences, or social activism, but it does not make the episodes less noteworthy. Actually, it only gives more desire to discuss the subject further, which in the case of Harry Potter is usually an inevitable outcome.

#WizardTeam: A Harry Potter Podcast
With Bayana Davis and Robyn Jordan
Approximate length of an episode: 60-100 min.

This podcast is one of the creations of a project Black Girls Create, a media space established by and for Black creators and critical fandom. They call themselves a “unique intersectional hub” with an aim of encouragement and representation of Black women and people of colour overall in media, culture, fandoms etc.

In their podcast #WizardTeam, apart from a thorough “chapter-by-chapter” reading of Harry Potter novel series, Bayana and Robyn also examine Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and the Fantastic Beasts series, reconciling the whole Wizarding World for their listeners. Moreover, their recent “What if…?” rubric, featuring a milestone of each Harry Potter fan, deserves a separate mention. Here, the podcasters and their guests together seek the answers to the questions every Potterhead asked themselves at least once: “What if Dumbledore had never been cursed with the Resurrection Stone?”, “What if Remus Lupin joined the Golden Trio in the seventh novel?” or “What if Hermione never got the Time Turner?”.

Wizard Studies: Perusing All Things Harry Potter Podcast
With Katie and Audrey
Approximate length of an episode: 60-100 min.

Two times a month since March 1st 2019, Katie and Audrey meet up to peruse all possible things from the magical world of Harry Potter novels, contributing each episode to a character, his/her personality type and features, the way of communication with other figures, major and minor events, items, places and other important topics and issues about the books and the wizarding universe.

Likewise, there are very witty pop quizzes at the end of every episode, and a Facebook group, Wizard Studies Podcast Group, arranged for everybody who would like to answer occasional pop quiz questions and eventually get their voices heard on the podcast.

PotterStudy: A Harry Potter Podcast
With Zahra Pain
Approximate length of an episode: 50-60 min.

This podcast is a creation of a Middle East-born American living in Britain who dedicate each episode to a separate character, examining his nature and everything that surrounds him/her, how this influenced figure’s development and growth, if it does.

Each episode has a special guest with whom Zahra talk about Potterian characters as if they are real people: what would they feel, how they behaved or would behave if a certain situation turned out differently. Why Draco is an “almost character”; is Luna really much more mature than the majority of figures in all 7 novels; would Dudley Dursley vote for Brexit, or where does Hermione’s sense of justice leads her – all these are the topics debated here.

Tales From Godric’s Hollow
With Josh Brown (a.k.a. The Muggle) and Matt Sonnenberg (a.k.a. The Professor)/Joe Slionski (a.k.a. The Dean) and Marissa Dorado (a.k.a. The Boss)
Approximate length of an episode: 90-210 min.

Initially, the podcast starts with Matt “The Professor” leading Josh “The Muggle” through the whole Harry Potter novel series for the very first time. For a fan and a constant re-reader (which is practically the same thing), it is amazing to listen to the process of someone else step by step exploring the magical universe, you are so keen on; for a first-reader, it’s a great opportunity to read and amuse yourself along the way! After each book, there comes a movie and a detailed discussion of its distinctions from an original written story.

Although both of them step out later in the show, there is always nature that abhors the vacuum. Therefore, Joe and Marissa a.k.a The Dean and The Boss step into to enjoy the Wizarding World with the podcast’s listeners, taking them on the journey not only through the books but way further. They discuss each and every little unit of Harry’s world, from the primary narrative to Fantastic Beasts, Cursed Child, Tales of Beedle the Bard, Orlando adventure park, fanfiction, breaking news and a lot more. If you are interested in knowing more, check out the podcast’s own website.

Swish and Flick: An All Potter Podcast
With Tiffany O’Malley, Sarah O’Malley, Megan Petras, Katie Petras
Approximate length of an episode: 90-135 min.

The infamous expression of one of the loveliest characters of the whole series, Professor Filius Flitwick, could not even possibly indicate a bad thing. And indeed, it does not. This podcast is led by four friends, each representing a Hogwarts House. Designed as a book club, the chapter-by-chapter travel through the magical world goes along multiple ideas and hypothesis based on never-ending interpretations. “We explore unknown areas with fan theories and even come up with some theories and ideas of our own” – write the hostesses on the Swish and Flick’s website.

Dynamic friendly discussion and tons of various opinions, it’s a perfect match for either a cup of cocoa with marshmallows or a glass of dry red. The podcast also has its own collection of merch: mugs, sweatshirt, pins are presented on its website.

At first glance, all such podcasts might seem quite similar, considering a relatively limited amount of topics and issues to discuss. However, the ideas and thoughts that Harry Potter evokes in every single one of the podcasters and their listeners are absolutely diverse. This variety is where the beauty of podcasting lies in. Such conversations make it clear that there is no one particular right or specifically wrong point of view on a single story, every theory, concept or notion is valid as long as one can prove the position.

Sincere Recommendations And Important Disclaimers:

• Consider reading (not watching a movie!) before listening as it can inevitably influence your perception of the story and characters.
• The chapter-by-chapter type of podcasts is perfect for those who encounter Harry Potter for the first time.
• There are too many good podcasts on such a popular topic as Harry Potter. Those presented in this article are a personal choice of the author, hence, there are as well the other fabulous works that, unfortunately, did not make their way here. If you know some, we would be happy if you share in the comments below!
• There is no ranking logic in placing of the podcasts the way they are situated in the article.

The post 9 Harry Potter Podcasts To Check Out appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

The new year has come and gone and we already find ourselves in February, so what better way to keep track of 2020 speeding by than this selection of nerdy calendars; for every procrastinator who meant to buy one in November!

Buffy the Vampire Slayer 2020 Calendar | Amazon

Even though the TV series finished in 2003, it’s still as popular as ever, especially after five seasons of comics after the show. This calendar has an image of a character from the show each month, as well as three small images below of awesome scenes from the show. There’s even comic art every month!

Origami Calendar | Amazon

Love origami? This desk calendar gives you the instructions and paper to make a different paper creation every day. The only issue is once you’ve made the origami, the instruction sheet will be made into the next day’s creation, meaning you can’t make it again.

Rise of Skywalker Calendar | Amazon

This Star Wars calendar is awesome; there are Rise of Skywalker characters portraits on every month, resplendent in all their glory. And lightsabers.

Fractal Cosmos 2020 Calendar | Amazon

For something a little different, this psychedelic calendar has bright, multicoloured computer generated images each month. Warning: if you look into it for too long, you might end up in another dimension…

Harry Potter Calendar | Amazon

Who can say no to a magical calendar? While it doesn’t flip the pages for you or write all your arrangements in automatically, at least it has all your favourite characters!!

365 Days To Spanish / French 2020 | Amazon

If you’ve always had a hankering to learn a language, this calendar will teach you 700 words of French or Spanish, with pretty pictures of France and Spain to add to it. As this year is a leap year, it is actually 366 days, so maybe you get a break from language learning on February 29th!

Wondrous Workings of Planet Earth | Amazon

If your fandom is science, then this is the best calendar for you. Arty cartoons of animals and plants in their natural biomes decorate each month.

Deadpool Calendar | Amazon

The Merc with a Mouth will be on your wall, with Deadpool’s classic humour on each month’s comic panel or Deadpool centred image.

Donald Trump Out of Office Countdown Calendar | Amazon

In a purely jokey manner, this Donald Trump calendar showcases his best and funniest quotes.

Lonely Planet Toilets Calendar | Amazon

To end on something very, very weird, the Lonely Planet’s toilet calendar shows views from various random… toilets? Whatever floats your…er… bowl, I suppose. If toilets don’t strike your fancy, Lonely Planet do another calendar, the Travel Book.

Any other suggestions? Tell us in the comments below!

The post 10 Nerdy 2020 Calendars If You Still Don’t Have One  appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Former American President, Woodrow T. Wilson, once said that: “Friendship is the only cement that will ever hold the world together.” This quote does well in successfully capturing and highlighting the importance of friendship as a concept. which exists both in reality and in the fictional worlds which are created.

Within the world of fiction, the theme of friendship is perhaps just as crucial as the plot of the story is in the telling of the tales which we are told. The characters who we are introduced to in the stories we read, face not only the trials of the journey ahead but the joys and difficulties that come with interacting with other characters who they are introduced to, as well as the impact which these interactions have upon the evolution of their characters in turn.

Just as they do in reality, friendships in fiction spark and evolve in a variety of ways and this makes for an intriguing sight to bear witness to whether it’s on page or on screen. Some friendships are already or easily established between characters, whilst others take some time for the bond between the characters to form. No matter how the friendship came about, the trials which the friends face over the course of their journey acts not only as an obstacle to the individual(s), but to the friendships made between them. These challenges which the friends face are much like the challenges faced by friends in real life in that they – no matter how fantastical they are – help to either strengthen the bonds between them or, unfortunately, succeed in driving or tearing them apart… And so, from the undying loyalty shown by Samwise Gamgee to Frodo Baggins in Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings series to the deterioration of the friendship between Guinevere and Morgana in the BBC TV show Merlin, this exploration of a few popular fictional friendships sets to highlight just why they are in fact the most memorable.

Much like Frodo and Sam’s friendship, another dynamic duo which exists in fiction is none other than Scott McCall and Stiles Stilinski from MTV’s Teen Wolf, these two partners-in-crime are inseparable for the most part of the six seasons of the show.

Throughout the show, Scott and Stiles experience various trials and tribulations which lead to disputes of varied consequences. However, these two may not be brothers in blood but they have a connection that is impossible to miss throughout the show as they continuously resolve their differences and manage to come together again to prove that the power which the bond of friendship holds is strong enough to overcome the deadliest of obstacles.

Indeed one of the most memorable friendships from fiction known for their undying loyalty to one another during times of hardship is the friendship which exists between three iconic characters: Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley.

Known as the ‘Golden Trio’, what makes this friendship work – oddly enough – is not the similarities between these three friends, but the differences. They balance one another perfectly and are the ‘ultimate friendship goals’ both for readers of the series and even the characters, as shown in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child when Draco Malfoy, Harry’s very own school nemesis, recalls how he felt about the trio’s friendship:

Of course, when it comes to friendship, if you think three is a crowd then what about the groups who share that friendly bond in fiction? Whilst it is often portrayed on page and screen, one would think that the clash of so many personalities coming together to form a group of friends may make the strength of the bond between them weaker… how wrong that belief would be.

Take for example the Losers Club – the given name which this band of misfits adopted as their own in Stephen King’s novel IT.

If you’ve read Stephen King’s IT then you’ll know that whilst it is a horror novel telling the events surrounding the killer supernatural being known as IT, it is also a tale of friendship and strength, which bonds the characters and allows for them to overcome the most deadly of adversaries. The seven of them create a force to be reckoned with and even in adulthood, it is their friendship which shines through most of all as they return to their childhood town to battle their foe once more together.

And it’s not just the Losers Club who recognise the power which their friendship holds…

From the duo friendship of Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes to the unbreakable bonds formed between each of the Avengers’, Marvel is a fandom which explores a variety of friendships in many forms! The comic books and movies alike explore the individual characters flaws and strengths and how this in turn reflects on their interaction with those around them – particularly how friendships are formed, challenged, and even broken… One thing that Marvel does well at is also showing how those broken friendships can also be mended.

After all, friendships are no fragile thing and more often than not the people who come into the lives of the characters we read about in books and watch on screen often do for a reason and are most likely there to stay, much like the friendships formed in our reality.

Do you have a favourite fictional friendship? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Friendship In Fiction appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

From films to TV characters to food, sorting things into Hogwarts Houses has become something of a cultural norm. The notion of giving anything a magical animal identity has permeated the very fabric of society with a person’s House being a somewhat trademark telling of their characteristics and personality. But what about books? Find below a curated list of some of the best books based around those all-important House traits. Maybe dabble in another House’s reading list; after all, if Harry can choose so can you.

Hufflepuff

Geekerella by Ashley Poston
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

If retellings are your jam, then this fandom inspired, comic convention novel based on the Cinderella narrative is a decadent treat. This book is bright and sparkly but doesn’t shy away from themes of loneliness and fear. It shines a light on toxic family relationships and shows the importance of equality, friendship and togetherness. There are haters to lovers, a vegan food truck, and lots of nerdy references; a perfect mixture for any Hufflepuff heart.

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

“No mourners, no funerals”, one Dreg says to another. The Dregs are, of course, the rag tag band of misfits featured in this heist duology. While steeped in espionage and betrayal, one theme runs stronger than any other: loyalty. Each of the characters pull from very different backgrounds and it is in these differences that the cast find home with one and other. Even though this series is set in a high fantasy world, the characters are as real as those featured in any contemporary story.

Darius the Great is Not Okay by Adib Khorram
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A young boy travels from America to Iran on a family vacation in this heart-warming novel about identify, heritage, and the loyalty of family. Darius is a bit of an outsider, enjoying watching Star Trek, and selling tea in the local store rather than exploring any real form of social life. When he lands on ancestral soil, he connects with his grandparents and befriends the boy next door, Sohrab, who challenges everything Darius thought about himself.

A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A year after 9/11 and Shirin, a teenage Muslim girl, is trying to navigate an extremely politically unsettled America. From her love of break-dancing to the new boy, Ocean James, this book demonstrates the very worst of humanity in order to celebrate the love and uplifting nature of its best parts.

Ravenclaw

Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Lazlo Strange sets out on a quest to uncover the mystery surrounding the lost city of Weep. This book captures the intelligence and creativity often ascribed to the Ravenclaw house; Lazlo’s determination to solve the puzzle through intense learning and research is perfect for those self-sufficient Ravenclaw’s.

Scythe by Neal Shusterman
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In a world where humanity has conquered everything – war, hunger, disease – apprentices Citra and Rowan are thrust into the world of the Scythes: a highly respected society of cloaked individuals who are tasked with population control. For the protagonists, navigating this tricky world is all about being inventive, learning the politics, and adapting to the environment.

The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August by Claire North
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The title of this book screams Ravenclaw. Harry August is a man who cannot die; he lives and dies, and then comes back with all the memories and experiences of his previous lives. On top of the relationships and the jobs, the main thread through this novel is science and the intricacies involved with experimenting and investigating and exploring the scientific wonders of the world.

Sadie by Courtney Summers
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Following the mystery of her sister’s murder, Sadie sets out on a quest to uncover the culprit. The audiobook of this story is wonderfully crafted as it follows Sadie’s own perspective, as well as that of a podcast reporter searching for his own answers. Heart-breaking and harrowing, the clues build up as Sadie heads towards the final showdown.

Gryffindor

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Bravery comes in many forms, and this tale about lonely outsider, Eleanor Oliphant, is completely mesmerising and devastatingly heart-wrenching. Through the course of the book, the reader learns more and more about the title character; her arrogance, her judgemental attitude but most of all her absolute unflinching courage to confront her past in order to live a better present.

Circe by Madeline Miller
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

This retelling of Circe the witch is all too modern. Ostracised by her peers and exiled by her father, Circe hones her occult powers on a lonely Greek island. Terrorised by sailors, the Goddess has to learn to be brave and fearless in a man’s world, showing that courage and determination come in all different forms.

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

When an altercation between the President’s son, Alex and Prince of England, Henry is exposed in the international press, the teams behind each of the high-profile individuals concoct a fake friendship plan to simmer the tension. Their relationship turns into something deeper and more intimate, and both characters have to decide whether their love is bigger than diplomacy in this novel about bravery and authenticity.

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Starr Carter witnesses the murder of her unarmed black best friend at the hands of a white police officer. What happens next is a series of events that tackle the conversation of racism and police brutality. This is a novel about finding your voice and using it in the times that matter; the times that will make a change. It is about choice and courage in the face of overwhelming prejudice.

Slytherin

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Jude and her sister, Taryn, witness the murder of their parents at the hands of the Fey. Whisked to Faerie, Jude crafts her swordsmanship and aims to be as strong as the faeries that torment her mortality. Cunning and ambitious, Jude is ensnared in court politics and ends up under the gaze of wicked and vicious, Prince Cardan. This book showcases peak Slytherin traits: resourcefulness, determination and the gut-wrenching need to succeed.

Nevernight by Jay Kristoff
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Mia Corvere becomes embroiled in the cutthroat environment of assassin school, The Red Church as she sets out on a quest to avenge her parents’ murders and overthrow the current rulers of Itreya. Filled with danger, gore, and unrelenting action, this novel explores the lengths people will go to see their goal accomplished.

Daisy Jones and The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

This vibrant tale of the rise and fall of a successful rock ‘n’ roll band is seamlessly woven together in this engaging oral history. The novel captures each of the characters voices individually and concocts a juicy, turbulent narrative of a band at their height. Spunky Daisy Jones arrives on the scene and invigorates the members of The Six, and what follows is a chaotic ride through the seventies and the ambitious goal of super stardom.

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

This near future science-fiction adventure story is brimming with the energy of the Slytherin house. From ambitious end goals to securing survival in the vicious world of virtual reality (VR), this book follows Wade Watts as he attempts to decipher the puzzle of his hero’s game. Deep inside the OASIS, a VR style world where anything is possible, deceased creator James Halliday has hidden the keys to his kingdom.

So, wear those colours with pride, pick up a book and celebrate the best traits of your house!

Do you have any other recommendations? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Sorting Books: Hogwarts House Book Recommendations appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

So let’s start with perhaps the biggest example of the divergence between books and films being so significant that we might be better to simply view them as distinct entities: Disney. Almost all Disney movies are remakes of classic stories, many of which are very different to the original versions.

While the fairy tales themselves have several versions—sometimes even the same author would rewrite them multiple times. This was the case with the Brothers Grimm who rewrote their stories in order to incorporate elements which were in keeping with fashions of the times. But the versions that were immortalised by Disney are very different to their initial incarnation.

A version of the Sleeping Beauty folk tale, published by Charles Perrault, then collected by the Brothers Grimm, sees the prince stumbling across the princess. He finds her so entrancing that he has sex with her while she is still asleep (given when this was written, instead of being rapey, it’s considered romantic) and she subsequently bears him twins. Clearly then, the version of Sleeping Beauty where the Prince and Aurora dance in the clouds singing to each other is a significant deviation from the original story, as is the fact that Maleficent transforms into a dragon and is valiantly defeated by the Prince. In one version she is an ogre who demands the twins be served to her by a cook who substitutes the children with lamb and goat…sound familiar, Disney’s Snow White?

Hans Christian Andersen’s version of The Little Mermaid sees her feel as though she’s walking on knives in order to actually get her legs and the prince views her as a pet rather than a person. Then, the Prince doesn’t actually choose her, he marries someone else and the condition of her becoming a human aside from the agony of walking is that she must be married of she will die, she must kill the Prince.

Moreover, the happy ending in which the princess is not only alive, but gets her man and her throne is a total deviation from the manner in which these stories originally ended. I suppose in Cinderella she does indeed get the Prince, but the eyes of her stepsisters are gruesomely pecked out by birds, which to me at least ruins the wholesomeness of the ending. As such, while the films themselves indisputably draw heavy inspiration from the original folk tales, it is compelling to suggest we should view them as distinct products and stories rather than a simple translation of a story.

Equally, Howl’s Moving Castle is a great example of a film which takes many of the original story’s elements but is not constrained by them. Arguably, there are sufficient differences that the book and film take on lives of their own. Miyakazi’s introduction of the war plot, and the different treatment of the Witch of the Waste are significant deviations from the book, but they contribute to the story that Miyazaki tells—one in which kindness and a gentle heart are the attributes which ultimately resolve the significant problems of the plot.

Indeed, this article discusses the arguably significant deviation between the two versions in noting “One difference is in its attitudes to evil. Miyazaki doesn’t do incorrigible villainy, and Howl the movie lifts that burden from the shoulders of Jones’s Witch of the Waste, sharing it out among a number of warmongers and miscreants.” In the words of Jones herself: “My philosophy would say that they would go to the bad for some other reason, if they didn’t have that one. I really do believe there are some people who are just irredeemable. But yes, Miyazaki is much more genial about the human race than I am.”

This therefore suggests that the divergences between the two creative forces of each version are grounded in fundamental differences of outlook and philosophy, leading to the creation of two very different stories. As a result, the film and book may be better viewed as two separate stories which happen to have several elements in common.

Less severe could be The Hunger Games films. The first film was reasonably faithful to the story barring the included scenes between President Snow and the Gamesmaster where the nature of power and control is teased out, giving us the audience greater insight into the kind of calculated control that President Snow extends across Panem. Is this sufficient to say that the book and film are two separate entities? Probably not, but the medium of the film enabled these scenes to take place whereas the first-person narration of the book limits its capacity to cut away to the Capital in such a fashion. It’s a great example of how films can move beyond the limitations of books in a way that augments the story.

Of course, there are then example of films that are clear in the adherence to the book, but deviate slightly in the telling. Baz Luhrmann’s version of The Great Gatsby offers a specific vision of the film that is both faithful to the book and moves away from it. The soundtrack is a really great example of this. It features rap, hip hop, and RnB songs, none of which existed in the roaring ‘20s. Luhrmann in an interview noted that he wanted to pay homage to the fact that F. Scott Fitzgerald was a modernist, as he was “in the moment, and the music of the moment was African-American street music called Jazz, and when he put Jazz music in Gatsby, everyone was like ‘What are you crazy? It’s a fad.”

As such, the movie Luhrmann created could be considered distinct from the original piece due to its inclusion of elements which simply did not exist when Fitzgerald wrote the book. Yet he was building upon and within the framework Fitzgerald’s legacy within the parameters of his own distinct style.

This article beautifully surmises: “Using technology, music, and the sheer emptiness of raw spectacle, he translates the exuberant spirit of the Jazz Age for an audience raised on Jay Z [who was the executive producer of the soundtrack], and wedges a wide enough rift between style and substance for Gatsby himself to fit comfortably inside.”

It goes on to note some of Lurhmann’s other works, and mentions his adaptation of Romeo and Juliet where; “he thread Shakespearean iambic pentameter through an explicitly 90s milieu, combining the feisty tribalism of Verona with the florid style of Venice Beach in order restore the present tense to a tragedy that feels like it predates all of civilisation”.

Interestingly, this leads into a quick discussion on adaptations. Ten Things I Hate About You may just be the greatest 90s teen film of all time (fight me if you disagree). It is a fabulous retelling of The Taming of the Shrew, updating the gossipy, jock-esque behaviour that Shakespeare captures so perfectly within his society by transposing it into a high school. Similar comments can be made about Bridget Jones’ Diary as both a book and film as a retelling of Pride and Prejudice, and Clueless as an adaptation that I would argue is better than the book of Emma.

Now of course, these are adaptations and very clearly re-interpretations, not faithful translations, but they themselves offer us the question of where the line exists between a retelling of the same story but in a different medium, and a distinct and new story, exists. There is also a somewhat compelling argument that The Lion King is based on Hamlet. If you happen to be well acquainted with the play, you too can sit glass of wine in hand and obnoxiously comment on the departures from the play throughout this children’s movie while also militantly skipping Mufasa’s death scene because you were too traumatised by it when you were four… or you could just read this article.

Ultimately, when books are made into movies, things are going to be different. If you imagined Dumbledore to be really tall and really thin, Michael Gambon was going to disappoint you. Sometimes the changes movies make are small deviations, or simply retellings of the story within the context of the modern world (like Gatsby). Sometimes the movies simply change things that happen, or place such a significant emphasis on certain parts of the plot, that the original message and original story has become transfigured. When this happens, perhaps it is best not to use the reductive phrase “the book was better than the film”, but instead to view them as distinct stories that happen to have similar elements.

But sometimes interpretations of books and the need to alter the specifics of the story in translating from page to screen can go awry. I ask you to look no further than the below evidence, which obviously arises from a distinct vision, but has perplexed some of the best minds of our generation:

What do you have to say about book to film adaptations? Tell us in the comments below!

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Written by Sowmya Gopi

Hello fellow Potterheads! We must all have binge watched all the movies and re-read the books a million times, along with reading up about the characters, the actors, and everything about the whole franchise. Yet, there are many facts that may have escaped even the most adherent fan

Read on to discover some Harry Potter facts that may make all the Pottermaniacs go, “Bloody Hell!”.

1. For 2 years from the age of 11, Evanna Lynch suffered from anorexia. She used to love the Harry Potter book series and was an avid reader. She saw herself in Luna that inspired her to embrace her oddities. During that period, J.K. Rowling herself sent her letters of encouragement.

2. J.K. Rowling killed Lupin and Tonks to remind people of the children left without parents because of war.

3. Bonnie Wright was exactly 9 ¾ years old when she started filming Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and her first scene was also set on Platform 9 ¾ .

4. Katie Leung (Cho) was so nervous about her kiss scene in Order of Phoenix with Daniel Radcliffe that she had sleepless nights over it. To get into an emotional mood before filming the scene, she used to listen to Coldplay.

5. In America, a man changed his name legally to Lucius Malfoy and then sent Tom Felton documents to disown his parents and move to live with him in his house, which he had named Malfoy Manor.

6. Daniel Radcliffe’s favourite prop from the movies were Harry’s glasses, which he got to keep after the last film. He used 160 pairs of glasses throughout the whole of the Harry Potter series filming.

7. When they started filming, it took Tom over two years to have a proper conversation with Daniel because of their age gap. Tom was 13, and Dan was 11.

8. After Harry’s birth, Lily sent the announcement to Petunia which was the last information she ever sent her sister. Petunia took one look at the mail and promptly threw away.

9. Draco’s marriage to Astoria Greengrass was something of a disappointment for his parents as his wife didn’t believe in pure-blood ideals. Regardless, he did not lose favour of his parents, as he inherited the Malfoy Manor.

10. Luna Lovegood became a naturalist and eventually married Rolf Scamander, with whom she had twin sons, Lorcan and Lysander.

11. J.K. Rowling killed Hedwig because it represented the loss of innocence and security and her fate marked the end of Harry’s childhood.

12. Dumbledore’s boggart is the corpse of his sister, Ariana.

13. Hermione was the only one in the trio who continued the 7^th year at Hogwarts by joining Ginny’s year. Harry and Ron went on to work.

14. Rupert Grint loved filming the meeting between the trio at the Hogwarts Express, because he enjoyed eating sweets.

15. Daniel Radcliffe said he didn’t think he would play Harry Potter in all films, as he believed he won’t fit in the part, once he got older. However, he of course went on to star in all eight movies.

Any other Harry Potter facts you love? Tell us in the comments below!

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Happy birthday to our favourite wizard, Harry James Potter! The first book was released in June 1997, but Harry celebrates his birthday on July 31st, hence this little special celebration!

We all know Harry Potter, which is arguably one of the best-selling books ever. It has sold over 500 million copies and translated into over 80 languages. In fact, Bloomsbury has gone so far as to translated the book into Ancient Greek and Latin. Over 20 years later and with an eight movie franchise, Harry Potter is a worldwide phenomenon that has been printed and reprinted all over the world. Some countries used the original cover when they are translating the books, but others also chose to came up and release the translated books with their own covers. To celebrate the magic, today we are collecting Harry Potter covers from all around the world!

UK

As this is the story where the series come from, it’s not a wonder that they have extensive selection of covers. First, of course we have the original UK cover and stuck around from 1997 to 2007. The original title for the first book was Philosopher’s Stone, but they changed it to “Sorcerer’s” for the US market because they didn’t think Philosopher seemed enticing enough for children. Then they released these gorgeous new covers that capture the magic even better in 2014, along with an array of others including the adult edition, 10th anniversary edition, the illustrated edition, gift edition, signature edition, and 20th anniversary edition.

US

The US edition is also well-known because it was often used to publish the books in other countries. The first one was released in the 1997 by Scholastic, who then also released the 15th anniversary edition. The special edition spines will form an image of Hogwarts just like in the first movie. They also released the illustrated and Hogwarts houses as a 20th anniversary edition and these gorgeous black and white cover is courtesy of Brian Selznick, who is famous for his other works such as The Invention of Hugo Cabret, Wonderstruck, and The Marvels. Another edition I found from the US is the Braille edition, which brings the magic more people!

Spain

Spain has four gorgeous covers with the first two released by Salamandra and I love how they try to use both the UK and US covers but make it their own with Harry is riding a broom (US) or standing nearby the Hogwarts Express (UK)!

Germany

Carlsen published all the Harry Potter books in Germany and so far it has released 3 editions, with the third one being the special 20th anniversary and it will be released in August 31st, 2018.

Italy

I think it’s the most unique in this list because yes, it does features Harry in its covers, but who is that giant mouse?? Anyway, I think this is a really good cover and reminds me of The Little Prince, which might be the aim to attract more children to read the story.

Sweden

Probably one of my favourite international covers as I love how magical this one seems, with Harry flying along with vibrant colours and stars thrown around in the background.

Finland

I also love this one, it just looks so cartoon-ish and it looks at how I imagined the wizard chess would look like. Also, the characters illustration are on point with the book description!

Indonesia

This edition has recently released, and I love it so much that I eye it every time I go to the bookstores. They don’t use a lot of colour, but there are tons of details and characters in the cover illustration and the center stage is always an animal associated with the series. So for example, the Chamber of Secrets will have Fawkes, Prisoner of Azkaban will have Buckbeak, and so on.

France

Just like the UK edition, France has two covers to appeal to wide range of age: the original cover and the adult edition. The original edition has a cute illustration while the adult one has that dark, whimsical tone to it.

Czech

I love how they try to include everything from the sorting scene: the magical ceiling, teacher’s table, and Harry in front wearing the sorting hat. They even include the ghost, which despite being inaccurate, is such a cute addition to the cover.

Russia

Unlike the cover from other countries on this list, the Russian one definitely has a darker tone. They chose a pretty good colour scheme though, the gold and copper really stands out against the black background.

Ukraine

And finally, we have the Ukrainian cover. I think they try to include everything from the story and I think they also succeed quite well in it. It’s a lovely cover and captures the story really well.

Do you have a favourite Harry Potter cover? Tell us  in the comments below!

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What is a “fandom”? Of course, if you’re interested in discovering the definition then you could just use Google to search for and find your answer. Google defines the word fandom as “the state or condition of being a fan of someone or something” and “the fans of a particular person, team, fictional series, etc. regarded collectively as a community or subculture”. In regard to this examination of fandoms within the society of us readers, TV show lovers, and movie fanatics, neither definition is wrong.

However, neither definition succeeds in doing anything beyond scratching the surface as to what fandoms truly are. The term ‘community’ used in the definition provided by Google is fitting yet doesn’t quite express the strength and power to which being a part of a fandom holds. ‘Community’ portrays this idealistic, yet untrue, image of a large collection of individuals living and expressing their mutual love for said thing in harmony. However, there are times in which being a part of a fandom, or indeed multiple fandoms, is anything but harmonious… Therefore, it could be more fitting to use a different term to describe what fandoms are: fandoms are families. Those a part of a fandom can most likely agree to this use of terminology.

Fandoms are filled with people worldwide who come together to participate in the discussion of their favourite TV shows, books, movies, etc. Those individuals participate in a wide variety of activities which play a part in the ‘fandom life’ such as fanfiction writing, drawing fanart, and roleplaying etc.

There are many fandoms which exist today, some more popular than others and each with their own delights and disasters. Examples of the more popular fandoms today are as follows:

• Potterheads – fans of the Harry Potter book/movie series
• Whovians – Doctor Who fanatics
• Thronies – Game of Thrones fans
• Sherlockians – Sherlock fans, mostly those who are fans of the BBC TV series although it does extend to those who are fans solely of the movie adaptations of the Sherlock Holmes tales starring Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law
• Merlinians – Fans of the beloved show Merlin which featured also on the BBC channel

Other fandoms which exist revolve around a mixture of TV shows, movies, books and even just individual actors, such as Shadowhunters, Supernatural, Teen Wolf, The Hunger Games, Maze Runner, Lord of the Rings, Twilight and more…

But whilst all these fandom ‘families’ may dwell within their own fictional worlds, sometimes two separate fandoms, or even three, may co-join with one another. This occurrence is known as a crossover and is often seen in fanfiction or even encountered during roleplaying, examples of this include:

• PotterLock – In which the Sherlock characters are enrolled or have been at Hogwarts much like the characters of Harry Potter themselves.
• SuperWhoLock – A mix of Supernatural, Doctor Who, and Sherlock characters merged together to create an even wider universe for fanfiction writing and roleplaying prompts.

The fandoms mentioned and the others which exist are able to merge so easily now with the help that the Internet provides and sites like Twitter, Tumblr, ArchiveOfOurOwn, Fanfiction.net, and those used for roleplaying help to further expand the material surrounding a fandom by use of the fans’ imagination. One of the advantages which the Internet has with providing fans with the opportunity to interact with one another and create even their own material is that it allows—more often than not—for fans to keep the show alive even after it is over. For example, the BBC TV Show Merlin which ended in 2014 and MTV’s Teen Wolf has long been kept alive with the help of fans sharing their own AU fan fictions and fan art via sites such as Tumblr and even groups which can be found on Facebook. However, it’s not just the internet which allows for fans to interact with each other and even with their favourite actors and authors alike, but events held like Comic-Con allow for fans to gather, cosplay (dress up as their favourite characters), and meet those whom they admire!

Of course, as stated earlier in this article, not everything about being a part of a fandom is smiles, laughter, and fans coming together without complaint or disagreement… Fandoms are like families, after all, and families have their rocky patches. A big issue with the fandom life is the controversy which comes with being an individual fan in a sea of them, each with their own beliefs surrounding the material which canon provides. One of the biggest controversies within a fandom comes with the idea of shipping.

More often than not, fans are happy with the final relationships which come out of the works produced by their beloved authors and directors. However, this isn’t always the case and even if it is, where is the fun in refusing to explore the various outcomes of a product. Various ships which exist out with canon are:

Dramione – Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter series
Jalec – Jace Herondale and Alec Lightwood from The Mortal Instruments series
Newtmas – Newt and Thomas from The Maze Runner series
Sterek – Stiles Stilinski and Derek Hale from the Teen Wolf series
Cherik – Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr from the X-Men series
JohnLock – John Watson and Sherlock Holmes from the Sherlock series
Merthur – Merlin and Arthur Pendragon from the Merlin series

All these ships allow for individual fans to explore the “what if’s” of their favourite movies, TV shows, and romance storylines. However, not everyone is a fan of a particular ship or in agreement of two characters being anything more than what they are in canon or even just friends and so the controversy starts. Shipping is not the only thing within a fandom which causes controversy either, more often than not fans headbutt each other when it comes to the many theories which each of them create; theories such as “How Did Sherlock Holmes survive? Is Jim Moriarty truly dead? Is the new Doctor being a woman a good thing? What if Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter had become friends in Year 1? What if Arthur had known about Merlin’s magic all along?” All of these theories can be found somewhere online with a great number of people arguing their own case, agreeing, disagreeing, and providing evidence to back up their points, the entire experience of joining in or even just observing is highly intriguing.

As stated, all these fan interactions allow for a fandom to remain alive through the fans themselves but just how far are fans willing to go to save what they love? One fandom, in particular, is the perfect example to use when exploring this question.

With the cancellation of the Shadowhunters series being announced on June 5th 2018, the fans of the beloved show were sent into a frenzy and it’s clear that Freeform picked the wrong fandom to mess with… The below image provides merely a few stories as to what lengths the fans have gone to in their attempts to save the show from creating the trending tweets #saveshadowhunters, #savetheshadowworld and sharing multiple images throughout the internet to hiring a plane to fly over the Netflix HQ carrying the banner #saveshadowhunters and more!

With campaigns being held over the social media and petitions going around via Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr, countless fans doing their part in helping to save the shadow world which we have come to love from the moment it hit our screens, there is no doubt that proof exists as to how important fandoms can be to us fangirl and fanboys. And whilst the fate of the show can not yet be determined, it’s clear that the dedication shown by fans allow for everyone to see how much of a family the fans truly are. They may be at war with one another at times regarding various aspects of the show, but mess with the show itself and the fans will stand together to fight side by side to save what has allowed for them to create such a family in the first place.

If that’s not family, then what is?

What fandoms do you belong to? Tell us in the comments below!

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Simone de Beauvoir once said “one is not born, but rather becomes, a woman” and while this statement has pointed out the primitive and stereotypical moulds women are forced to fit into, it also allowed women to break free from the society’s imprisoned misconceptions. And what better way to defy the society than by redefining the meaning of women on the big screen.

Read on to discover ten movies starring powerful women and who are also redefining womanhood!

Mona Lisa Smile

At a time where women were allowed to study but barely acknowledged as students rather than future wives, Katherine Watson came to break the chains of an institution that refused to see women as nothing more than a wife. The movie is as empowering for women as it is for every other person alive; education will take you places, kids.

Gone Girl
TRAILER

Gillian Flynn’s disturbing, powerful, fascinating and critically acclaimed novel has been adapted into the big screen under the same name. It definitely defies everything the world shapes women into: the perfect behaviour, the perfect planner, the perfect wife and so on of that same old mantra. However, Amy Dunne manages to portray the perfectly dangerous—if not psychopathic—human. Not to say that she is a great role model for any human out there, but she sure is one of the most brilliant characters to have ever been written!

Hidden Figures

In a gender and racial segregated America, Hidden Figures—an autobiographical movie—portrays the real stories of three of America’s black female mathematicians at NASA. Simply put, it’s one of the best and greatest movies of all time! Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, and Janelle Monáe killed it on the big screen! #GirlPower

Zootopia
TRAILER

You know how hard it is, but not impossible, for women to work in a male-dominated profession?! Despite being an animated film, Zootopia makes it clear that women can, as officer Bunny (voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin) enters the police force and has to prove to her male counterparts that not only that she’s capable of doing her job, but that she can do it well. Yup! Even animation has stepped up their game, wake up world!

Joy

“Life gets better after divorce” is definitely not the point of that movie, but always a brightside to remember. Joy is another autobiographical film just to prove that women kick ass in real life just as much as they do on-screen. Joy Monagano literally turned her life upside down and made herself filthy rich by believing in herself and her ambitions. This movie will get your adrenaline pumped and you won’t rest until you start building your own empire.

Brave
TRAILER

I love when Disney highlights social problems through great animation! Even though not every girl in the world is in line to become the next heir to a throne, but some of them are forced to marry for one reason or another. As some societies or Jane Austen have that fixed image of a husband as a safe haven on earth, which is utter and complete bullshit. Thank you Merida for proving them wrong!

Precious

This is a survival story based on the novel Push by Sapphire, Precious is a 16-year-old girl living in an abusive household. The movie discusses the mental and physical results of abuse, while also showing the importance of being a good teacher.

Erin Brockovich
TRAILER

Julia Roberts strikes again along with autobiographical movies about powerful and brilliant women just keep on coming. Erin Brockovich is the real story of a woman who brought down Pacific Gas and Electric Company who were responsible for the contamination of drinking water in Hinkley. It’s fierce, lively and most of all true!

Mulan

A brilliant strategist, beautiful, loyal, and a warrior; that is Mulan, and SHE SAVED CHINA!! Need I say more?!

Hermione Granger and How She Saves The World Every Damn Time!

Yes, she may not be “the chosen one”, but she is definitely the one that got all the answers. She is loyal, fierce, and the brightest witch of her age. A role model to look up to, even when she was a cat!

Any other strong female leads you would add? Tell us in the comments below!

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In case you missed it, Bloomsbury will be releasing another special house edition of Harry Potter this year to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Chamber of Secrets! Just like the special edition for Sorcerer’s Stone, this new house edition will contain “new artwork, house colours, and additional illustrations and content”.

To celebrate the new edition, we are going to give you some book recommendations according to hogwarts houses virtue! These virtues can be seen on the cover of the houses edition, and corresponds to the house represented in the cover.

Tell us which Hogwarts house is yours in the comments below!

GRYFFINDOR
COURAGE – BRAVERY – DETERMINATION

The Bear and The Nightingale by Katherine Arden: Set in medieval Russia, where women must marry and live a secluded life apart from society and where the old gods of Russia are fading by the power of Christianity, our main character Vasya fights hard to save herself, her family, and her village from ancient evil even though it caused people to label her as a witch and disgrace her family.

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee: The classic, Atticus Finch courage, bravery, and determination in defending Tom Robinson’s is the finest example of Gryffindor’s traits.

The Wrath and The Dawn by Renee Ahdieh: A 1001 Nights retelling, our main character, Sharzhad, volunteer as the next bride to Khalid, even though it is a guaranteed death sentence for her to avenge her best friend death’s by his hand.

SLYTHERIN
PRIDE – AMBITION – CUNNING

Vicious by VE Schwab: The whole problem of this book starts from the ambition of Victor and Eli, thinking they are better than the rest and playing God with themselves. This ambition and pride of them causing one of them to go into prison while the others become a serial killer.

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn: No spoilers, but the characters in this book are all very cunning, it’s scary to read.

Forest of A Thousand Lanterns by Julie C. Dao: Retelling on the origin of the Evil Queen, Xifeng embodies the best and worst quality of Slytherin: pride and ambition that helps her reach what she wants but also cause her to be ruthless to people who are in her way, and cunning mind that help her strategize and think before making her move.

HUFFLEPUFF
DEDICATION – PATIENCE – LOYALTY

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman: Even though Bod is a human, the graveyard ghosts are his family and their dedication, patience, and loyalty towards each other help set the tone of this book.

The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill: When Xan accidentally feed baby Luna moonlight, she decided to raise her together with the swamp monster Glerk and tiny dragon Fyrian. This family might look unusual, but they have a lot of love between them.

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo: 6 criminals working together to pull off an impossible heist… It seems impossible that this group could pull this off without killing each other but as the story goes, it became clear that this group has only loyalty towards each other.

RAVENCLAW
WIT – LEARNING – WISDOM

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen: The well-known classic, Elizabeth and Darcy are both witty (a lot of verbal sparring here) and learned a lot about each other and the effect of first impressions.

Still Star-Crossed by Melinda Taub: Set after Romeo and Juliet, where Verona has plunged into chaos following the death of the famous lovers, Rosaline has to fend for herself to escape the feud and an arranged married using her mind only.

The Five People You Meet In Heaven by Mitch Albom: When Eddie was killed after saving a girl from a fallen ferris wheel, he learned that heaven is not a place, it’s where his life is explained by 5 people, revealing questions about his life. This is a book that definitely makes you think about your life and your connection with others.

Any books tickle your house pride? Tell us in the comments below!

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