The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling

SUMMARY

"Containing clues that were to prove crucial to Harry Potter's final mission to destroy Lord Voldemort's Horcruxes, The Tales of Beedle the Bard is the volume of five wizarding fairy tales left to Hermione Granger by Albus Dumbledore in the seventh and final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows."

 

MY REVIEW

I thought it was cute, yes, cute.  I didn't have high expectations for this book, so it wasn't a letdown or anything, it was just cute.   The stories KIND OF reminded me of Asop's fables, in a way.  All of the little stories had a lesson at the end and after every story, Dumbledore added his commentary.  This was my favorite part. I love how clever and witty Dumbledore is!  This book was not meant to be something that is out of this world, like the Harry Potter books, but it was quick and enjoyable.  I would recommend it to anyone who enjoyed the HP books.

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest by Stieg Larrson

SUMMARY

"This novel not only puts the cap on the most eagerly read trilogy in years; the sequel to The Girl Who Played With Fire marks the completion of its Swedish author's career: Stieg Larsson died at the age of fifty in 2004. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest is, however, too exciting and too adept to be read simply as a major author's memorial. From its onset, with "avenging angel" protagonist Lisbeth Salander lying in intensive care, this fiction pulses forward. One British critic called it "intricately plotted, lavishly detailed but written with a breakneck pace and verve...a tantalizing double finale—first idyllic, then frenetic."

MY REVIEW

Although it's not quite as good as the first one, this book was a decent end to the series.   The main characters come across as real people, and the emotions they feel for each other develop in a plausible way. Larsson is very good at describing everyday conflict in the early 21st century Western world.  There is hand-to-hand fighting too, but it's much more fun to see how someone takes care of a complicated legal problem, or a colleague at work that they don't get on with, or a series of offensive emails. Last, he is not afraid of strong women. Lisbeth, Erika, Monica and Annika are all tough chicks, who are in many ways stronger than the men, but without thereby becoming caricatures.  I really loved how Lisbeth's character develops all the way through the end of the book.  She was one of my favorite characters and I am glad to see that she can get on with her life and has learned that human contact is necessary.