Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: Parts One and Two

It's been a long time since I read a book in under 24 hours, I have 4 children who are currently on school holidays so finding time to read at all is difficult let alone finding time to finish a whole book. Like many other people felt, I would imagine, this one could not wait. So long was it in it's coming that I had to be devoured immediately. The boy wizard is back, although less boy now and more 40 something man, Harry Potter still remains the world's most loved literary character.

I'd had my excitement for this book further heightened as my stepson and his girlfriend had been lucky enough to attend preview performances of both parts of this play at the Palace Theatre, London last month and returned saying it was by far and away the “best thing I've ever seen” and promised the story was exceptional so as my clock ticked to just after midnight and my copy arrived I delved straight in and was immediately lost. I freely admit that absolutely nothing has been achieved in my house today in terms of washing and housework and dinner was provided courtesy of our local chip shop but this was like reviving my life blood and partying with some very old friends who I hadn't heard from for years.

I am going to avoid providing any spoilers of the story, firstly because I know J K Rowling has worked very hard to stop secrets spilling out before the release of this book and also because I think it's imperative that people be allowed to enjoy this story as I did, fresh and without any idea of where Rowling is taking us. All I will say is that it was exactly I needed. Because it is in the format of the script from the play currently playing in London it isn't flowered with any of the descriptive text we find in a novel. There are stage directions and lots and lots of wonderful dialogue from our characters. The action therefore moves very quickly, there's little time to catch your breath and before you know it you've flown through 50 pages and are lost. Every character you would expect to find within a Potter tale at this point in time is there and it picks up exactly at the end of book 8, The Deathly Hallows, with Harry & Ginny and Ron & Hermione waving their children off as they go to begin their first year at Hogwarts.

We are introduced to new characters, Albus Potter and Scorpius Malfoy and their story is front and centre of this play. The way in which we grow to love them throughout is brilliant and testament to Rowling's writing. It is clear her years away from the franchise have not lessened her love for the characters who made her famous and she's happy to now introduce the next generation. It is a clever story, using tools and tricks we are familiar with from old novels to weave us a tale which makes us smile in delight and gasp as we make links to events of old which are recast in the future.

I cannot tell you how much fun I've had today, I feel fulfilled in a way no book has been able to leave me feeling for quite some time. I've been lacklustre as a reader recently, a part timer drifting around not really committing to anything wholeheartedly. Today I feel like I've come home, I've found myself again in a world of characters who have shaped literature for people around the world over the last 15 years. It's a phenomenon that I've shared with my children and even now it has important lessons to share. Would it make a wonderful movie? Absolutely. Do I wish I'd been fortunate enough to experience it onstage? Yes, although reading at home I could visualise my beloved characters as I wished, hear their voices spoken in the familiar tones I've loved rather than by actors and actresses new to the franchise. Although my stepson assures me the acting on stage is exceptional it' difficult to reshape the vision in my head. Do I pray for more? Absolutely. Please, please tell me this is only the beginning of a new chapter in the world of Harry Potter and we do not need to wait so long for the next one this time.