Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: Parts One and Two

So. There were two plot points that I did not fully understand, and I've never seen this performed in person. That said, reading it still made me cry–several times–and it left me thinking deeply about the bravery of being honest about what we fear.

I'm not a super-fan of the original series, but I have read them, and I did get satisfaction from seeing the next phase of familiar characters' stories . . . And from some of the indirect ways the authors addressed mythologies and a few criticisms that have developed about certain characters' actions.

It's difficult to read Rowling's books without bearing in mind the controversy around her opinions these days. The podcast “The Witch Trials of JK Rowling” gave me much to ponder on that front. Within that context, the themes of facing our imperfections and being painfully honest with those we love hit home in a very meaningful way.

Overall, the story goes to some darker places than I would like; I have always been a little too “cozy” a reader for the Potter books. ;) (By that I mean torture & watching people die, which both happen within a very intentional context, but I am a softie and it was a step further than necessary for me personally.) Despite that it drew me in and made me love characters I did not expect to, and I think that is the real strength of the play–and the series as a whole.