How Harry Cast His Spell: The Meaning Behind the Mania for J. K. Rowling's Bestselling Books

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Item Description...

Overview
Provides a Christian interpretation of Harry Potter, arguing that the series supports biblical teaching as opposed to the practice of the occult, and offers insights into character names, imagery, and themes.

Publishers Description
More than any other book of the last fifty years (and perhaps ever), the Harry Potter novels have captured the imagination of children and adults around the world. Yet no one has ever been able to unlock the secret of Harry's wild popularity . . . until now. Updated and expanded since its original publication as "Looking for God in Harry Potter" (and now containing final conclusions based on the entire series), "How Harry Cast His Spell" explains why the books meet our longing to experience the truths of life, love, and death; help us better understand life and our role in the universe; and encourage us to discover and develop our own gifts and abilities.


Item Specifications...

Pages   280
Dimensions:   Length: 0.75" Width: 5.75" Height: 8.5"
Weight:   0.7 lbs.
Binding  Softcover
Release Date   Sep 1, 2008
Publisher   SaltRiver
ISBN  1414321880  
EAN  9781414321882  


Availability  4 units.
Availability accurate as of May 26, 2012 01:30.
Usually ships within one to two business days from Bridgewater NJ.
Orders shipping to an address other than a confirmed Credit Card / Paypal Billing address may incur and additional processing delay.


Product Categories
1Books > Subjects > Literature & Fiction > General   [15121  similar products]
2Books > Subjects > Literature & Fiction > History & Criticism > Criticism & Theory > General   [12596  similar products]
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Reviews - What do our customers think?
Insightful  Nov 30, 2009
This book provides and insightful and compelling argument for the Harry Potter fan to understand some of the deeper themes and symbols used in the series. If you have ever wondered why after reading the series you are sad to leave Rowlings world, this book will help you understand.
 
Don't judge a book by it's title!  Aug 30, 2009
John Granger is a good writer and this is an "ok" book. HOWEVER... I had no idea there would be so many Biblical/Christian references in this book! I am as religious as the next person (probably more so) but I got tired of being preached at throughout the book. I found myself skipping several pages at a time, skimming and looking for Harry Potter references, which is why I bought the book in the first place. The author spends a lot of time explaining how the HP series is like God and Christianity. If you can get past that and weed out the Harry Potter references, then you'll be "mostly" satisfied with this book.

Overall, I would NOT recommend it. 1 - because I don't like being preached at. 2 - because there are many references in this book to other classical literature that I didn't read and have no idea what he's talking about. and 3 - because once you weed out all that other stuff, what you're left with is mediocre at best. Sure, he gives information about HP symbolism and meanings, which is what I was looking for. But it seemed that his primary focus was to tell how HP and Christianity are alike rather than "How Harry Cast His Spell" as the title (ahem) implies.

 
More enlightenment from John Granger  Aug 21, 2009
John Granger is an excellent writer, and a pleasure to read. All of his books on Harry Potter enable one to find new levels of meaning in the series. How Harry Cast His Spell is the newest edition of his books emphasizing the series' spiritual content. Unlocking Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Lectures are more aimed at discussing the series' literary aspects. Do not feel that this is just a rehash of Looking for God in Harry Potter, its previous edition. Although there are many of the same chapter titles, and some material is from the earlier edition, there is ample new coverage of The Deathly Hallows' spiritual aspects. There are some of the same helpful charts found in Looking for God in Harry Potter, but there are more, and fresh insights that allow you to say "Hey, I didn't notice that" the first (or second) time you read the series. For example, note the light ball of the Deluminator entering Ron's chest (near his heart) illuminating his spirit on Christmas morning, before he went back to his friends in the Forest of Dean. John Granger has a talent for discussing very weighty topics in an easy, enjoyable manner. There is a world of difference between Granger, and Kern's The Wisdom of Harry Potter (valuable reading, but a hard slog in comparison). Reading John Granger will enrich your experience of the Harry Potter series and your view of the world.
 
How Harry Cast His Spell: The Meaning Behind the Mania for J. K. Rowling's Bestselling Books  Jun 11, 2009
Harry Potter has captured the imaginations of millions of children and adults from every walk of life. The series has possibly experienced more popularity than any other book of the last fifty years having sold millions of copies around the world. With this in mind many have asked "Why is Harry Potter is so insanely popular?" As a fan of the Harry Potter series I already knew the answer, but this book has wrought to light many of the Christian aspects of series which I over looked. How Harry Potter casts his spells is an interesting look in to the Christian aspects of the Harry Potter Book series.


Below is the Table of Contents taken from the book. I like the way the Author wrote an explanation of each chapter in such a informative and humorous way. Through this book the Author adds a touch of humor to his writing.

Acknowledgments Publisher's Preface Introduction

1: Magic, Fantasy, and Transcendence
The magic in Harry Potter is traditional literary spellwork that acts as a counterspell to the materialism of our times.

2: Cosmic White Hats and Black Hats
The Harry Potter Novels revolve around the central conflict of good and evil

3: The Hero's Journey
Harry's adventures take him through life, death and resurrection

4: The Alchemy of Spiritual Growth
The story of cycles are built on the stages of transformation

5: One Person, Two Natures
Doppelgangers point to the struggle of dual natures- and their resolution in the God-Man.

6:Don't Judge, Lest You Be Judged
Surprise endings suggest a remedy for the evils of prejudice

7: The Triumph of Love over Death
The mystery of death meets the ultimate answer

8: The Question of Identity
Harry defines himself through choices, change, and destiny

9: Evidence of Things Unseen
The symbols in Potterdom are powerful pointers to spiritual realities

10: Fun with Names
The character names are delightful puzzles with hidden spiritual meanings

11: The Purification of the Soul
Spiritual keys to Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
12: Dangerous Books and Edifying Books
Spiritual keys to Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

13: Despair and Delivery
Spiritual keys to Harry Potter and Prisoner of Azkaban
14: Girded with Virtue
Spiritual keys to Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

15: Dark night of the Soul
Spiritual keys to Harry Potter and the the Order of the Phoenix

16: Baptism into a Sacrificial Death
Spiritual keys to Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

17: Choosing to Believe
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows as the stuggle with faith in story form

18: Christian Birth through Baptism
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows as the alchemical adventures of a Christian Everyman
19: Victory Over Death
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows as the Passion gospel of Christian Everyman

20: FAQs
The other big questions on the minds of Harry Potter reader's

Notes


My Personal Opinion
"How Harry Cast His Spell:The Meaning Behind the Mania for J. K. Rowling's Bestselling Books"
is an interesting read for any Christian fan of Harry Potter, this book shows that Christian symbolism is easily found in the Harry Potter series for those willing to search for it.
 
A Christian Scholar's Interpretation of the Harry Potter series  May 29, 2009
This book presents two sections in which John Granger gives his interpretation of the elements that make J.K Rowling's Harry Potter books such compelling reading.The first ten chapters are connected to elements that are contained in Rowling's books that make them both enjoyable yet seriously themed. My personal favorites from the first section were Chapter 4, which deals with Alchemy and connects the process to spiritual growth, Chapter 9, which examines the symbols used in Harry Potter, and Chapter 10, "Fun with Names," which examines the meaning behind many of the character's names in the series.(Granger's take on the dual meanings of Neville Longbottom are almost worth the price of the book alone!) Chapters 11 through 19 deal with the individual Harry Potter books, and here Granger examines the books with a Christian viewpoint that addresses the major themes found in the series of books. Any reader of the Harry Potter books will find enlightenment in this book, but it is especially apt for Christian readers of the series who have had to deal with bias from other Christians who have negative views of the books.
 

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