More images from the HP Exhibit...and more to come!
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Ril
| The Ultimate Harry Potter Analysis Source |
| Choosing what is Right over what is Easy |
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| Copyright © 2007 | www.booksandwands.com | All Rights Reserved Harry Potter belongs to JK Rowling, Bloomsbury, Scholastic and Warner Brothers Entertainment. No copyright infringement intended of any and all source material. No profits were made from this site. |
Oh. My. God. It's been such a long time! We've been
dealing with huge technical difficulties. I
couldn't access my own files! But hopefully now
that's all fixed...fingers crossed.
I was up around the clock trying to get this
working because I haven't missed a birthday yet!
Happy Birthday, Emma! Happy Birthday, B&W!
I'll update more later, if this works (and I'm
hoping and praying that this update goes through).
We hope Emma's having a great day, we hope you're
having a great day and thank you for sticking with
us!
Much love,
Ril and the B&W team!
| 15 April 2011 |
New affiliate to announce. The HP Fan.
It combines news, gaming, fandom and roleplays.
Members can experience a virtual Hogwarts, as well
as participate in contests, fan art, fan fiction
and much more in a safe, fun online community.
Go check it out.
Thanks to Victoria and wrackspurt_head!
Ril
| 16 April 2011 |
I'm sure you've heard the news about the JKR
Birthday Project. But I happen to think it's a
really great thing so I'm posting the info. If
you've seen it, look at it again and think about
participating. If it's news to you- I'm a genius! ;)
Seriously, though, it benefits a good cause and
though I'm mad at Rowling -she broke me wee heart
after all- she did give us all an amazing gift.
Think about it.
JKR Birthday Project
Ril
| 18 April 2011 |
Thought of the Day:
Kelly Macdonald is going to play the Grey Lady in
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II.
Interestingly enough, she has already been in Nanny
McPhee with Emma Thompson (Professor Trelawney) and
Gosford Park with Maggie Smith (Professor
McGonagall), so she should feel right at home.
RGW
| 20 April 2011 |
Did you know...
Pythagoras (the a squared plus b squared dude) and
his followers believed that the number 3 was the
first 'true' number.
It represents the first "equilibrium of unities".
Symbol of wisdom, understanding and knowledge. And
in Tarot, 3 is the card of the Empress. She is the
personification of the female principle that
symbolically links heaven and earth. She also
carries the triple aspect of the Goddess: Virgin,
Mother and Crone.
The word crone is often used to mean...witch.
wink::wink
Ril
| 22 April 2011 |
Thought of the Day:
I really would love to run into a wall at a train
station and scream, “OH NO! The platform has sealed
itself shut!”
And Happy Easter from everyone at B&W!
RGW
| 24 April 2011 |
Thought of the Day:
Jason Issacs, who plays Lucius Malfoy, begged J.K.
Rowling to let his character out of jail for Book 7.
RGW
| 26 April 2011 |
The cover of Entertainment Weekly's new issue
boasts an exclusive first look at Breaking Dawn.
And in the words of Kristen Stewart, "I really am
so satisfied with the entire experience this time
around...We ended on such a high note, and that was
the whole point of this one - to reach a state of
exuberance...I'm so happy to be saying this to you,
you have no idea."
Ril
| 1 May 2011 |
Read the EW Exclusive First Look here. Or check out
the May 6th issue at your local bookstore.
Major Spoiler Alert for the article! Read at your
own risk. You have been warned!
Ril
| 3 May 2011 |
Thought of the Day:
How did Hermione get away with fixing Harry’s
glasses in Diagon Alley at the beginning of the
second movie? Isn’t that considered doing magic
outside of Hogwarts?
RGW
| 10 May 2011 |
This is an update for fans of the Hunger Games
trilogy.
The new edition of Entertainment Weekly features an
exclusive feature with photos!
Ril
| 19 May 2011 |
If you haven't seen it, check out D. Rad in How to
Succeed in Business on the David Letterman show. If
you have seen it, watch it again. Click here.
Ril
| 24 May 2011 |
I have the excerpt of the EW Hunger Games article
up.
Go read it. There aren't any real spoilers.
Ril
| 25 May 2011 |
Around the time of the release of the HP7 DVD,
Reality Films put out a DVD called The Seekers
Guide to Harry Potter.
Presented by Dr. Geo Travarthen, the film delves
into some of the symbolism within Rowling's
Potterverse.
It's an interesting watch...we have a review of the
DVD.
Ril
| 6 June 2011 |
Thought of the Day:
Isn’t it funny how much EVERYONE cares about house
points in the first book? Neville gets SO upset at
the thought of Gryffindor losing more house points
for his friends sneaking out that he threatens to
FIGHT them.
My god, by the sixth book with Voldemort running
around, do you really think a teacher could
threaten a student with a house point and have them
take it seriously?
RGW
| 11 June 2011 |
Boy, have we got a surprise for you!
Ril ;)
| 13 June 2011 |
This isn't the surprise yet, but we thought you'd
like this tidbit too.
RGW found this link...Rowling's new site!
Ril
| 16 June 2011 |
This is the surprise! We visited Harry Potter: The
Exhibition!
Read the review by RGW!
And if you're in NYC during the summer, you should
check it out! Tickets are only $25.
| 22 June 2011 |
Firstly, I'd like to say that everyone's hearts go
out to the survivors of and those lost in the
London bombings that happened on this day in 2005.
Secondly, for good news, here's a link to the new
Larry King special that will air July 10.
Harry Potter: The Final Chapter.
Ril (I heart London!)
| 7 July 2011 |
Ok, the verdicts are in... my sister said Part II
was 'EXCELLENT!'. My nephews loved it. One reviewer
reportedly said Alan Rickman is 'oscar-worthy.' And
even RGW is leaning more towards love than loave.
Back soon with her review.
Ril
| 18 July 2011 |
Sorry for the delay, there was a death in the
family.
But it also worked out to give us enough time for
everyone to have seen the movie (at least once).
Still, I'm issuing a MAJOR, MAJOR SPOILER ALERT!!!
READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!
For those brave enough, click here to read RGW's DH
Part Two review.
Ril
| 30 July 2011 |
Thought of the Day:
Do you think they’ll ever make a Harry Potter
themed cruise ship?
And check out our new affiliate: Pottersource.
RGW
| 5 August 2011 |
Did you know...
The ancient word Abracadabra is said to have been
inspired by the Aramaic word "Avra Kedabra" which
means "I create as I speak".
Some believe that the word was derived from the
Hebrew phrase "Abreq Ad Habra" which means "strike
dead with thy lightning".
Not difficult to see where JK got the inspiration
for her killing curse.
Ril
| 12 August 2011 |
Thought of the Day:
In October, 2010, J.K. Rowling announced that she
is “considering” writing another Harry Potter book.
She’ll need to give us a LITTLE more detail than
that.
RGW
| 18 August 2011 |
Just remember it's not really a hurricane...It's
Voldemort's corps of giants that he's sent to
attack Muggle towns to scare the Ministry into
submission.
But we won't let him win!
Good luck, East Coast. Stay dry and stay safe!
Ril and the B&W Team
| 27 August 2011 |
Warner Brothers is having a celebration in the
Universal Studio's Orlando Harry Potter Park in
November to commemorate the films.
Guess where RGW just was? And got selected to have
a wand choose her!
Ril
| 4 September 2011 |
It’s Granger Day everyone! First, let’s start by
wishing Miss Hermione Granger a very happy birthday!
In celebration, I’ve decided to share with you a
few pieces I’d actually written a long time ago,
before we started this website. I second guessed
myself and never posted them, but I recently reread
them (and reworked them) and figured creativity is
a good way to honor the Granger.
If you like them, please let me know – if you
don’t, keep it to yourself, lol. ;)
Click here to read it.
And now for the ever popular and highly necessary
singing of the Granger Day song!
Happy, happy, happy Granger Day to you!
Oh, happy, happy, happy Granger Day to you!
Happy, happy, happy,
Happy, happy, happy,
Happy, happy, happy Granger Day to you!
Much love to Hermione Granger today and all the
know-it-all's of the world!
Have a cupcake to celebrate...better yet, get a
cupcake and put an HG on it! Now it's a party!
Happy Granger Day!
Ril & the B&W team
| 19 September 2011 |
So I just watched a movie starring Maggie Smith and
I was reminded how wonderful she is - it made me
think of all the other great adult actors in the
cast of HP.
Let's have a special moment to think of all the
grown-up actors (I know the kids are all grown-up
now but I'm talking about the grown-ups who were
grown-up the whole time) and how amazing and
talented the cast of HP really is.
They've got at least 5 Academy Award nominated
actors, and even a few that can be considered
legendary!
And...Alan Rickman! C'mon, who doesn't love Snape?!
Props to the cast,
Ril
| 17 October 2011 |
Ok, there was snow on the ground in NYC! What the
fudge people, it's not even November yet! Snow,
hail, fallen trees, electrical outages...doesn't
bode well for a quiet winter, does it?
Since it's the end of the world, I've added more
pictures from the HP Exhibit. You can check them
out
Ril
| 30 October 2011 |
| 6 November 2011 |
Happy Thanksgiving!
I'm thankful for Potter, Granger's Army, our
extended Potter family, our readers, and of course,
you.
Gobble, gobble...Ril
| 24 November 2011 |
I just read this and thought it was so great I had
to share it.
Quote of the Day:
"A common mistake that people make when trying to
design something completely foolproof is to
underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools."
~Douglas Adams, Mostly Harmless
It might explain the whole existence of this site.
;)
Ril
| 2 December 2011 |
Did you know...
The wand and wand-like tools, such as scepters,
staffs, divining and dowsing rods, have a long
history.
It is a symbol of authority and power. Those who
wield a wand are said to have a connection to the
spiritual world and magical powers, they have a
command over supernatural forces.
Fairies have been said to use wands, but also
monarchs carry scepters, bishops carry shepherd's
staffs, and obviously our witches and wizards use
wands.
Wands could be found in ancient Egyptian tombs for
use in the afterlife. Moses carried a staff of
hazel...hazel and willow are said to be good for
detecting water sources.
The son of Apollo, Aesclepius, carried a wand with
intertwining serpents. This is called the Caduceus
and is even today known to be a symbol of healing
power. It is often used in relation to hospitals or
doctor's offices.
The material used to construct the wand has great
importance, often determining the best uses or
purpose of that particular wand. The Druid beliefs
on different wood properties affecting the wand has
greatly influenced Rowling.
Rowling has drawn relationships between the wand
user, it's magical components and the ultimate
power of the device.
Ril
| 14 December 2011 |
Merry Christmas!
Some HP trivia as a special treat:
1. At the opening of the film version of
- Sorcerer's Stone, what is sitting on the Privet
Drive street sign?
An owl.
- Bonham Carter play a very proper lady pursued
by a character portrayed by Ralph Fiennes?
Wallace & Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit
- the class to turn to which page?
394
- Slughorn pretends to be a...what?
An armchair.
- have Bellatrix carve the word 'mudblood' into
Hermione's arm.
True.
this year and are enjoying all your new toys.
Have a great holiday!
Love from,
Ril, RGW and the B&W team
| 25 December 2011 |
Hope everyone enjoyed their holiday!
The answers to the questions are below.
Highlight the blank space under each question to
see the answer.
Ril
| 29 December 2011 |
More Trivia!
1. How many people (in human form) are present at
- Harry's bedside in the hospital wing after the
Triwizard Tournament for the discussion of
Voldemort's return?
10
- 9
- broken, taken or swapped out throughout the
series?
8
- 7
- 6
- 5
- 4
- Triwizard Tournament?
3
- to a normal schedule after her Third Year
experience?
2
- book/movie?
1
Ril & RGW
| 31 December 2011 |
Were you able to guess the answers?
For those who are still out of commission due to
their celebrations, the answers are under each
question. Highlight the blank area to view.
Hope everyone is having a great start to the New
Year!
Ril
| 2 January 2012 |
To clarify some of the answers:
1. Just after Harry is startled awake by the sound
- of angry voices in the Hospital Wing. It is
Fudge and Dumbledore arguing. Sitting around
his bedside are Hermione, Mrs. Weasley, Bill
and Ron. (That's 7 people.) Also present are
Professors McGonagall and Snape and the always
bustling Madame Pomfrey. (That's 10!) Sirius is
also present but in animagus form, so he
doesn't count.
2. Nine Weasley family members: 7 kids, 2 parents.
- (No spouses counted.)
3. Ron's wand is broken in Book 2 (one); Neville's
- wand is broken in Book 5 (two); in Book 7:
Harry's wand is broken - to be restored later
in the book (three); Hermione's lets Harry take
and use her wand (four); Draco's wand is taken
(five); Bellatrix's wand is taken (six);
Dumbledore's wand is taken (seven); and (eight)
Hagrid's wand was broken and hidden within his
umbrella which we learn about in Book 1. A
total of 8, not counting everyone who was
disarmed because I'm pretty sure that would be
innumerable.
Skip to:
9. Hermione famously walks out of Divination in
- Third Year, so that's one class down. She later
chooses to drop a second class, Muggle Studies,
which would allow her to return to a normal
schedule.
10. We learn that McGonagall can transfigure
- herself into a cat in the very first book and
movie. Thus, making it our first introduction
to that form of magic. (However, we are not
officially taught the term 'animagus' until
Book 3.)
Ril
| 6 January 2012 |
Congrats to the World of Harry Potter on all the
People's Choice Awards they scooped up!
The last installment won for Favorite Movie, Action
Movie, Ensemble Movie Cast and Book Adaptation.
We won!
Ril
| 17 January 2012 |
A Favorite Quote:
"I am a wizard, not a baboon brandishing a stick!"
Can you guess which novel that line comes from?
Ril
| 27 January 2012 |