John Granger examines the great books and authors that shaped the Harry Potter series in this literary analysis of Potter mania. It is a well researched, and well informed look, particularly at the genres and literary techniques J.K. Rowling has utilized to create the wizarding world of Harry Potter. Granger focuses on four levels of meaning within Rowlings text (the surface meaning, the moral meaning, the allegorical meaning, and the anagogical meaning) while examining how Rowling combines the best of the hero's journey, mystery, schoolboy fiction, Gothic fiction, postmodern morality, and Christian fantasy to cast her spell. This made for a fascinating read and really adds more to rereading the series. ( )

I had mixed feelings about reading this book. My first reaction was "Harry Potter, YAY!!!!" but then I thought about all the books I studied in college and how scholarly analysis tends to take the fun out of reading. I couldn't stand it if that happened to Harry Potter. However, after listening to several episodes of MuggleNet's Alohomora! podcast and enjoying it immensely, I decided to risk it and read this book.

While a little bit dry in places (some of those sentences seriously went on for about a half a page), this book had a lot of fascinating insights on the books and gave me a lot to think about. Mostly, though, it just upped my respect and admiration for J.K. Rowling. She is brilliant. Yes, sometimes fans put things in the books that aren't supposed to be there, but there are so many things that Jo planned—from the names to the complex plots to the Christian allegories—that couldn't have possibly been an accident. It's no wonder I can keep reading the books over and over again without getting bored—in addition to being a wildly entertaining series, Harry Potter is full of delightful nuggets and connections to all sorts of things. ( )

Simply Brilliant! It goes beyond the actual story of Harry Potter and tells the reader of why and how certain aspects of the Harry Potter books were made possible. It explores the different underlying themes throughout the books and how they relate to different books and or concepts/ideas in our world. Even more fascinating, Mr. Granger explores the possible different influences on J.K. Rowling's writing. If not for all these other books, artists, philosophers, leaders, might we not have Harry Potter? A story is more than just a continuation of events, and this book clearly demonstrated to me when I was younger that there is much more thought that goes into a book than I could have possibly imagined. A book is not just mere ink forming aesthetically pleasing symbols on a thin piece of paper. A book has a life all of its own. Another story in fact, a story not written on the pages within it, but are surrounding the book nonetheless. And if not for this background story of the book, then the book might never have come into existence. Mr. Granger delightfully points out many of the forces that gave us all the ability to enjoy Harry Potter as we do today. ( )

I enjoyed this reread of Granger's exploration of the books and genres that influenced and/or inform the Harry Potter series. In fact, I may have enjoyed it more than I did the first time, as this time I have read more of Granger's other work, and more completely understand some of the things he is only able to explain briefly here. Recommended for Potter fans who would like to read analysis bordering on litcrit of the series. ~March 2018

Granger's discussion of the literary influences on the Potter books and how tracking those influences can help one understand Potter more thoroughly should not surprise anyone who is well-read in English literature or who has studied English lit beyond the high school level. But it's a fun read, and the discussion is enough wide-ranging that even the widely-read might learn something new (the section on the Gothic novel tradition broadened my understanding of genre I never had a chance to study formally, for instance, and the chapter including a look at British schoolboy fiction clarified some things I'd only gleaned from references here and there, as that genre seems not to have hopped the pond over to the US). Even when he talks about books and genres I know well (Pride and Prejudice, detective fiction), Granger tended to bring into sharper focus insights I may have had but not thought-out fully. However, I did find myself wishing throughout that Granger would more emphatically answer the question "So what?" after outlining his insights. It is enjoyable just to make the connections, but I wanted him to tell us what all these connections reveal about the novels that not just anyone could see. I wanted conclusions. I wanted a thesis. The book is not entirely devoid of conclusions, but I felt sort of constantly left hanging, left without the resolution to an intellectual exercise. This might be forgiven, I suppose, since the book was obviously written for people who are not PhDs in English, and was surely meant to be accessible to the advanced teen Potter fan as well as adults. An enjoyable discussion of Harry, and better edited and proofread than some of Granger's earlier books on Potter. Smart and insightful, but not rigorous, though it does accomplish one thing I think all good literary criticism should: it makes me want to return to the novels. ~August 2012 ( )

John Granger (aka the Hogwarts Professor) has done it again! In Harry Potter's Bookshelf, Granger analyzes the literary aspects of the Potter series and connects them to other literature. This is not a ' Harry Potter is like Charlie Bone, Twilight or His Dark Materials. Granger links to Jane Austen, the Bronte sisters, Tom Brown's Schoolboy Days and more, all with many references and citations. ( )