Field Guide to Harry Potter

By Colin Duriez

Colin Duriez overviews J. K. Rowling's life, puts her work into the context of fantasy literature, analyzes the spiritual themes in the Harry Potter books and provides a succint overview of the books.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0830834303
• ISBN13: 9780830834303
• Release Date: November 2007
• Publisher: IVP Books
• Length: 300 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.7" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

Harry Potter

Other than the first few chapters, I found that this book is a wonderful reference to the Harry Potter book series. I did know about J.K. Rowling's life story and how she wrote her books. This went a little more in depth about that and her background. I found the religious portions interesting as well as informative. It brought to my mind that things are not all what they seem to be. One does not know everything about the religious aspects that are brought to light in the Harry Potter books. When one reads them, the individual probably does not realize the effects of religion in those books. They are reading the books because it is Harry Potter and are not looking deeper into the stories. "The Field Guide to Harry Potter" is just that. A 'guide' so that those who read it will get a better understanding of the underlying themes of the individual books. This makes one want to read the books over and over again, as I have done.

The Best I've Read

As a Seminary student, I love the Potter books. It's refreshing to see them cast in the proper light as great Christian works. Duriez makes a strong case for this as he explores every facet of Harry Potter including biography on the life of the author J.K. Rowling. There is no doubt that Duriez has done his homework. In addition, one will find a timeline of the events as well as a glossary of many of the people and items. If you can have only one resource on an overall look at Harry Potter, I'd choose this one.

Harry Potter finally receives well-deserved literary respect!

"How refreshing to finally see the Harry Potter books be given the respect they have deserved all along from Christian writers and publishers! The Field Guide to Harry Potter puts the monumental works of J.K. Rowling in the literary context of great Christian writers of the past - which is where they belong. Besides all this, it was a delight to read. Those who are bereaved of reading the Harry Potter books after the seventh now have a field guide not only to Rowling's works but to the rich historic tapestry of similar literature into which it has been woven and from which many of its varied threads were gathered." Connie Neal, Author of: Wizards, Wardrobes, and Wookiees: Navigating Good and Evil in Harry Potter, Narnia, and Star Wars (InterVarsity Press, 2007) The Gospel according to Harry Potter: The Spiritual Journey of the World's Greatest Seeker (Westminster John Knox Press, 2002; revised and complete edition Spring 2008) What's a Christian to do with Harry Potter? (WaterBrook Press, 2001)