I have been working through the Harry Potter series via audiobook with my now nine-year-old son as he ages alongside the books. It’s been a really gratifying experience as a Harry Potter fan, although I do take this moment, particularly during Pride Month, to acknowledge the abhorrent and hurtful, completely inexcusable views of the author who shall not be named.
I have been listening to the Stephen Fry version of these audiobooks, and next time we’ll be pivoting to the recently released full-cast version. I’m curious to see how it compares.
Now, Goblet of Fire is my favourite of the Harry Potter books. I particularly adored the scene in the prefects’ bathroom, which is frankly my dream come true, were such a place to actually exist.
Everyone will be familiar with this story. It is, of course, about the Triwizard Tournament, which takes place at Hogwarts during Harry’s fourth year. The very dangerous competition brings two other wizarding schools to Hogwarts for the year while the tournament is underway. As a child, this was just so exciting. There were other witches and wizards around Europe learning magic! As an adult, all I could think was how terribly interrupted the education of those children must have been. Were they still doing their studies? Did all the teachers come too? They were living out of a boat and a giant horse-drawn carriage for a year. I have so many questions that will remain forever unanswered.
In any event, witches and wizards of a certain age are allowed to put their names into the titular Goblet of Fire, hoping to be chosen as their school’s champion. Three schools, three champions, right?
Well, not so fast.
After the three older students are selected, we get a fourth name: Harry Potter, of course.
This kicks off the first major fracture in Harry’s friendship with Ron and gave me some really rich conversation topics to discuss with my son. It introduces themes of jealousy and resentment for the first time in their friendship, and I thought those themes were explored surprisingly well.
The one thing in this novel that makes absolutely no sense is the final task, ending with a MacGuffin that brings You-Know-Who back from the brink of death.
Yep. Voldy’s back, baby.
And it’s all Harry’s fault.
Kind of.
Sort of.
Not really.
It’s quite a plot that has been stitched together to bring back old Voldy. Contrived would be a good word for it. I feel like if, at any point throughout the year, they could have simply turned a quill into a Portkey and achieved the same outcome, perhaps they should have done that instead of concocting an elaborate scheme involving a Triwizard Cup.
But I digress.
It was really fun. My son was completely into it. The magic continues to be magical. And yes, I continue to struggle with supporting this franchise. It vexes me.
Overall, I will give this audiobook, with my adult lens firmly applied, three Canary Creams out of five. As usual, I just wish the adults were more adult in the Harry Potter universe. There were so many opportunities to step in and prevent what happened, and it’s poor old Harry who ends up literally carrying the body.
Poor kid.
