It's Harry Potter Day

Intro/Overview

Okay, so it's not actually Harry Potter Day because such a thing does not exist. However, it is both Harry Potter's and J.K. Rowling's birthday today. Also, Pottermore has a new update so... there's that.

Pottermore Update

So... Pottermore released an update today... or yesterday... or something close to now-ish. I went through and clicked through the new chapters and the old chapters. The updates include a new navigation page, site layout, progress bars, and a couple new chapter moments in the Sorcerer's Stone section.

I'm neither impressed nor unimpressed by the new navigation page. I do like the new layout and the new chapter navigation. I didn't really have a problem with the old chapter navigation; in fact, I think that the old chapter navigation was much more slick than this one is. And by slick, I mean better looking.

I really like the progress bars. As I went through the new/old chapters, it was nice knowing whether or not I'd missed mousing over something. I'm a little annoyed that the progress bar counts animations as well as pick-up-able items, but meh. There were a surprising number of people in the comments under each section who complained up and down about hating the new navigation and hating the progress bars. While I agree that the chapter navigation bar could use a button that makes it collapse, I wasn't all that phased by it. The progress bar was actually what made me go down and check the comments. If I couldn't find something, I'd check the comments to see what it was. Easy peasy.

The new Prisoner of Azkaban chapter sections were awesome. It was great seeing that Lupin as a werewolf was actually portrayed as a werewolf and not as an emaciated naked mole rat with fangs. I enjoyed the new information and insight into werewolves and Remus Lupin himself. There was actually some in-depth information about Remus that shattered some of the fanfiction canon I've been exposed to, but that's par for the course with fanfiction.

I also really enjoyed the couple of new moments we got in the Sorcerer's Stone section. Each one actually added something to the experience and didn't shuttle you right off into wand selection and sorting. In fact, there was actually a moment for Ollivander's shop, which was cool. I like the movie version better, but seeing the place in need of a few candles was nice.

Overall, I feel that this Pottermore update has done more for the site than any of the others. I actually spent a good portion of my day running through the site again in order to fill up my progress bars. I will say though, the really blatant and obvious marketing for the "Book of Spells" game took me out of the experience. Yeah, the little trailer video was kind of cool and kind of entertaining, but I don't think that's a good way to market the thing. Mind you, I knew about "Book of Spells" when it was announced so... maybe I'm not the target for that advertising.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HARRY AND JO!

Love ya, Jessie.

Pottermore's PoA ch 8-15

Obligatory Spoiler Warning

For those who: a) have not read Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and do not wish to be spoiled and/or b) have not clicked through chapters 8-15 of Prisoner of Azkaban on Pottermore and do no wish to be spoiled.

Yes, I feel silly issuing spoilers about a book that's both widely read and has been out for years. But you never know so... you've been warned.

This is how this is going to work. First, will be my overall review of these chapters in regards to Pottermore. Next will be my thoughts on the individual chapters and moments. Then... Housekeeping, most likely.

Chapters 8-15 of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban on Pottermore Review

Overall, I'm slightly more impressed with this batch of chapters on Pottermore than I have been in the past. Prisoner of Azkaban is both my favorite Harry Potter book and movie. I am a gigantic fan of the Marauders and so I was pleased we got some more information about them. It was a small bit, but it was there. That said, I'm still incredibly disappointed with what I'm getting out of Pottermore. I am not one of those people who sits around waiting for potions to brew or clicking on letters to work on my "wand work." I am a casual fan of Pottermore who is much more into Harry Potter than I often let on. I'd rather have more to do in the "moments" than, essentially, nothing. That said, I'm glad we are getting what we're getting, I just wish there was more.

Chapter Thoughts

Chapter 8 - Flight of the Fat Lady

Not sure what I expected here, but what I got was boring as all get out. The first moment was boring for the most part. I got a small amount of childish enjoyment leading a swarm of bats around the screen with my mouse.

The second moment was only slightly more interesting because we got more information about magical portraits. The information basically clears up why some portraits, such as those of headmasters and headmistresses, have more personality than those of other portraits, such as Sir Cadogan and The Fat Lady. Also, that bit with Peeves making a farting noise when you mouse over him was not necessary, in my opinion.

Chapter 9 - Grim Defeat

I loved this moment. Loved it a lot. I don't think Rowling's writing fully impressed upon me how terrifying it would be to have a swarm of hundreds of Dementors beneath you. This moment pretty much solidified in my head just how terrifying it would be. You get to hear the storm and the sounds the Dementors make. They kind of sound like zombies, if I'm honest, but the visual of them is just... wow.

This moment also brought in an excerpt from the audiobook. I'm not sure if a) the narrator is dependent on your location or b) it's a good thing. I've seen people in the comments of Pottermore talking about Jim Dale and some talking about Stephen Fry so... I'm a bit confused on that. As for it being a good idea or not... I was surprised when I heard Jim Dale's voice start up and initially impressed. Now that I've gone back through though, I was slightly annoyed at it. I don't need the narration playing every time I open the moment.

Chapter 10 - The Marauder's Map

I'm not gonna lie, I was pretty excited for this bit of Pottermore. The entirety of moments in this chapter are boring as all get out, to say the least. The part that interested me the most was getting more information about The Marauder's Map and The Marauders themselves. We got a little bit about how the Map came into being and about how Filch ended up with it before the Weasley twins got a hold of it. The Marauder's fangirl in me was grinning as I read about The Marauders making the map always insult Snape. I also found it interesting that Rowling wasn't really pleased with the Map as a plot device. I guess she has a bit of a point, though I never really thought about it.

The rest of the moments in this chapter were better done in the movie. I sort of expected a moment titled "The Three Broomsticks" to actually let you poke around inside The Three Broomsticks, but no. Instead you get to attempt to click stuff out in the animated snow.

Chapter 11 - The Firebolt

Yeah... this moment was boring. It included another audiobook excerpt and some info on Gobstones. I never really thought twice about Gobstones and apparently, neither did most wizards and witches.

Chapter 12 - The Patronus

The most disappointing chapter of them all. Not only did we not get to see a Patronus, but there wasn't a quiz or anything so we could find out what our Patronus would be. While I wasn't exactly expecting that last bit, I did at least expect something more than some very obvious remarks about chocolate helping you to feel better after a Dementor comes near you. I do think it would be neat at some point to find out what my Patronus would be, just like getting a wand and being sorted.

Chapter 13- Gryffindor Versus Ravenclaw

The only vaguely interesting thing about this chapter was the bit about goblins having a hand in the creation of the Firebolt. There was an attempt at humor at the bottom of that bit of info, but it didn't really work out.

Chapter 14- Snape's Grudge

Again, another mostly disappointing chapter. There's nothing to talk about really. I did chuckle, though, at getting to ransack Professor Snape's office for potion supplies I'll never use. I thought the bit of animation with the Floo Powder was kind of cool, though now Professor Lupin's stuck in the fireplace... was the thought that popped into my head this time around.

Chapter 15 - The Quidditch Final

Nothing even vaguely interesting here, unless you like crowds yelling stuff.

Housekeeping

Okay, that was more fun than I thought it would be. I don't really have anyone around to talk Potter with so... yeah. Oh, and feel free to friend me on Pottermore, though I probably won't be on until the next batch of chapters comes out. My username is GoldOak9.

Tomorrow... I have no idea what I'm going to blog about. Maybe I'll finally watch the most recent episode of Supernatural...

Love ya, Jessie.