Tales of beedle the bard, the (new edition)

I don’t know if JK Rowling is a Christian or not. There’s a part of me that really doesn’t care if she is or not. Neither would prevent me from reading her books. But, no, it’s not like that. Of course I hope she knows the wonders of salvation and the grace of Jesus, but, well, whatever. There’s not really a way I can explain what I mean by that without being proverbially damned if I do and damned if I do not. How about I say it this way: I am one Christian man who is overjoyed that JK Rowling wrote the Harry Potter books and and even more overjoyed at the lesser acclaimed The Tales of Beedle the Bard. I know some people who would have never hired me to preach at their church if they had known about my cache of Harry Potter volumes that I so prominently displayed—after reading—on the bookshelves in my study or if they knew that I attended not one but two midnight release parties! It could be, perhaps, that it was those same volumes that caused some in my former church to cast a suspicious eye my way and, eventually, call for, and receive, my termination. I doubt it. I know what was in their houses too. (*Smile*) Many who belong to the uber-conservative christian caste of the church are terribly critical of anything Harry Potter. The bible writer called James wrote that, “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing” (James 3:9-10). And so, to paraphrase: “Out of the same mouth comes praise for Narnia and cursing for Hogwarts.” Eh. That’s all it is. No one likes magic if it comes from the pen of someone who hasn’t stood up on an altar and declared their allegiance to Jesus. Frankly, I think that some were simply unhappy that children were actually, gasp, reading. Or maybe they were jealous that JK Rowling sold more books with hidden christian ideas than did Max Lucado with blatantly obvious christian ideas. After all, Rowling dared to talk about things like love, friendship, self-sacrifice, justice, righteousness, and, well, you get the idea. And kids ate it up by the book-ful as did many, many adults. But this has all been hashed and rehashed a million times over on blogs and in books. This short post is about Beedle and the short collection of wizard fairy tales ascribed to his pen and in this particular volume translated by the esteemed Hermione Granger. The book contains five such tales and is a scant 107 pages and can literally be read in under an hour. The five tales are wonderfully written in Rowling’s ironic and cheerful voice, but they are not her voice either. They are told in the voice of Beedle the Bard. Interspersed between each tale is commentary written by Albus Dumbledore. Rowling herself has written some footnotes explaining to us Muggles some of the more complex wizarding history and practices. It was in the introduction to the stories that I came across the point of the whole book, if, in fact, the ‘whole’ book (a collection of five tales) has ‘a’ point. There Rowling wrote: Beedle’s stories resemble our fairy tales in many respects; for instance, virtue is usually rewarded, and wickedness punished. However, there is one very obvious difference. In Muggle fairy tales, magic tends to lie at the root of the hero’s or heroine’s troubles—the wicked witch has poisoned the apple, or put the princess into a hundred-year’s sleep, or turn the prince into a hideous beast. In The Tales of Beedle the Bard, on the other hand, we meet heroes and heroines who can perform magic themselves, and yet find it just as hard to solve their problems as we do. Beedle’s stories have helped generations of Wizarding parents to explain this painful fact of life to their children: that magic causes as much trouble as it cures (vii-viii). Isn’t this the truth? I know that I have personally been the victim of many a magic spell gone wrong. And, too, have I learned that there is no secret spell I can cast that will make this problem disappear or that blessing appear—as if magic spells and charms exist merely to serve my ends and means. There are plenty of times when we certainly wish that magic worked that way. I wish sometimes I could conjure of an invisibility charm and vanish from the world, but it has yet to happen. In Dumbledore’s commentary on the fifth story The Tale of the Three Brothers he writes this: But which of us would have shown the wisdom of the third brother, if offered the pick of Death’s gifts? Wizards and Muggles alike are imbued with a lust for power; how many would resist the “Wand of Destiny”? Which human being, having lost someone they loved, could withstand the temptation of the Resurrection Stone? Even I, Albus Dumbledore, would find it easiest to refuse the Invisibility Cloak; which only goes to show that, clever as I am, I remain just as big a fool as anyone else (107). Sadly, while there may well be a Resurrection Stone and a Wand of Power, there is no such thing as the Invisibility Cloak. The one thing all of us would desire, to be hidden from Death and from others, is the one thing we cannot have in this life. It is a troubling fact of life that we cannot hide from anything. The Psalmist knew this: “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?” (Psalm 139) For some reason God takes particular delight in forcing us to face all those people, place, and things that we would rather not face. He forces us to be seen and prevents us from being invisible. Oh, unhappiness! I think it is easy to want to be invisible, to want to hide from everything. Sometimes, we don’t even want to hide from Death (recall Job who, so unhappy about his so publicly displayed suffering, wished he’d never even been born.) Sometimes we just want to hide from people for a while. What I truly admire about these stories and the stories of Harry Potter is that it’s often not magic that solves the problems or brings the blessings we seek in life. Often, more often than not, it is wisdom that is required, and this wisdom is only acquired by seeing and being seen in and by this world, by facing death a thousand times a day, and by continuing to live day in, day out, in all the strength that comes from being utterly helpless. I recommend that you read this book because it is helpful for gaining some wisdom that will benefit you long before and after you reach the point in life where you realize that being invisible is simply not an option. Such wisdom is beneficial for those of us humans who realize that being seen is not only a privilege, but a responsibility.

Instead of giving the overall book a review, I'll review each story separately. The Wizard and the Hopping Pot: 5 out of 5. This is because it's a very enjoyable tale about a cold-hearted wizard who learns his lesson. The references to Harry Potter are also enjoyable. To quote the editorial long review of the 5 tales on Amazon, "the kindly old wizard at the beginning of this tale reminds us of Dumbledore quite a bit." Dumbledore's commentary (a nice touch) is hilarious because of the sugar-coated fictional version of this story presented at the end of it. I loved how it said that Hermione Granger translated this book. It made it seem more of an authentic wizard's story book. The Fountain of Fair Fortune: 5.1 out of 5. This tale, in my opinion, may win the prize for the best written down fairy tale of all time. J.K. Rowling's beautiful illustrations to it are a treat to look at. The tale itself is well written, like all of them, and its characters are very real. It really makes the task of climbing up the hill to the Fountain seem extremely hard. I loved the ending, too. It was very unexpected. Dumbledore's commentary is at its highest point here, describing the catastrophic attempt to put the play on at Hogwarts. It's also interesting having one of the Malfoys complain about the story. The Warlock's Hairy Heart: 4.5 out of 5. This particular tale is a bit more gruesome than the others. It should not be read to the easily frightened. It depicts a warlock who thinks that falling in love makes people act foolishly. He finds a way to prevent himself from falling in love, but after meeting a talented and rich witch, his mind might not stay the same. The rest of the tale I'll let you read. It also has frightening illustrations, once again, like all the other illustrations in the book, drawn by J.K. Rowling. She is a very talented illustrator; it's very difficult to draw a human heart accurately, and she pulls it off. Babbitty Rabbity and Her Cackling Stump: 4.9 out of 5. An award should go to this one for having the funniest title. The story here is that our amazingly smart fairy tale king orders the execution of all wizards and witches and then orders a wizard to be his personal wizard despite the previous order. After hiring a fraud, it seems like this charlatan can pull it off, until a poor washer woman named Babbity cackles, leaving the king impatient to learn magic and a very bad situation for the charlatan. Dumbledore's commentary on form-changing wizards makes one think. The Tale of the Three Brothers: 5 out of 5. This story I won't bother giving part of the plot away, since anyone can either read Harry Potter 7 to see it, or hear it in the movie. It's a very interesting tale though, and Dumbledore's commentary is riveting. It offers a new history to the Elder Wand. My overall rating of the book is a ...... 4.987987 ..... out of 5. This book adds the perfect finish to the Harry Potter series!!!

It's fascinating to learn about the magical wands, and how much people are trying to get the most powerful wand.

I recently purchased The Tales of Beedle the Bard, Standard Edition (Harry Potter) Hardcover as a gift for a friend who is an avid Harry Potter fan, and I couldn't be more pleased with the choice. This enchanting collection of wizarding world fairy tales by J.K. Rowling has captivated both my friend and me, earning a well-deserved 5-star rating. Here's why: Engaging Stories: The Tales of Beedle the Bard contains five magical stories that offer a delightful glimpse into the wizarding world's folklore. Each tale is unique and filled with the charm and wit that Harry Potter fans have come to love. Beautiful Presentation: The hardcover edition is well-crafted, with a visually appealing cover and high-quality pages. It makes for a lovely addition to any bookshelf and is a perfect gift for fans of the series. Insightful Commentary: Throughout the book, readers are treated to insightful commentary from Professor Albus Dumbledore, which adds depth and context to the stories. This element brings the wizarding world to life and deepens the connection to the beloved Harry Potter series. Perfect for All Ages: The Tales of Beedle the Bard is suitable for readers of all ages, making it a fantastic gift for both long-time fans and those new to the wizarding world. It's a delightful read that can be enjoyed by the whole family. Supports a Good Cause: Proceeds from the sales of this book go to J.K. Rowling's charity, Lumos, which works to improve the lives of disadvantaged children around the world. By purchasing this gift, you're not only delighting a Harry Potter fan but also contributing to a worthy cause. In conclusion, The Tales of Beedle the Bard, is a magical and enchanting gift that deserves a 5-star rating. With its engaging stories, beautiful presentation, and connection to the Harry Potter universe, this book is a must-have for fans of all ages.

I am Simply floored by this Beautiful collectors item, I expected somthing impressive but, this was above and beyond what I hoped for. I do not have wow moments often, I adimit that i'm sort of a collectables snob. That, being said, I had a serious wow moment in this case. Amazon really did the Potterfandom proud here, They went all out and it shows. Pictures can't really do justice to this piece, you have to hold it in your hands. To start with, The faux book that incases Beedles tales really does feel( and I mean this literally) like a tome straight off the Hogworts Library shelves. There's nothig flimzy about it, The lining is done a plush black felt like meterial. And there is a pleasent heft to the case which adds to the real book feel. The leather alternitve used for the faux book's cover is realistic in both look and feel, and the embossing on the front cover is fantasic. On the inside cover of the faux book, there is a pocket. This is where the illustration prints are located, inside of a faux parchment envelope decorated with an inked drawing of the faux book's cover. The illustrations were a suprise to to me in that I hadn't expected them to be full sized but, indeed they are and printed on good heavy weight paper. The actual book is housed in deep compartment(no worries of the book falling out if the piece is stood up.) inside it's red and gold drawstring bag. but as you would expect the best part truly is the book it's self again I say pictures don't do it justice. My hope in purchasing the collecters edtion was to be able to have the fealing, which I think most avid fans want of holding a true realic of Harry's world in their hands. At the end of the day, that's exactly what it felt like. As much as I would have loved to see Bedles tales bond as they were discribed in Deathly Hallows, I have absolutely no complaints about how it turned out. One of my favorite aspects is the beautiful end papers, a small thing but it struck me. The copy of JK's handwritten introduction is a little hard to read, but worth the paitents. the begining of each story is preceeded by an illustration and followed by Dumbeldore's comentary. As well as footnotes throughout.My favoite story being The Fountain of Fair Fortune. At the end of the book there is a tuching thank you statement by Baroness Emma Nichloson, cofounder of The Children's High Level Group. If your sending this as a suprise gift be aware that the shipping box is clearly labled as to what's inside. A quick note on the clasp of the actual book it's self. not that it's poorly made but, if the book has a weak spot this might be it. one my want to avoid to much opening and closing. Honestly this hast to be on the shortlist of the best Potter collectables I've seen to date, plus it's a it's helping a wonderful cause. should you choose to invest in this piece I can say without hesitation that you won't regret it.

I thoroughly enjoyed the Harry Potter series and had hoped this little book would be comparable. Needless to say, I was disappointed in Rowling's latest offering. The five stories in this book are all short; each imparts a moral lesson. Although the tales are original, each still manages to sound familiar. The stories, without the inserted commentary, could have been nice read-a-loud material. However, "The Warlock's Hairy Heart" is gruesome and definitely not suitable for younger muggle children. "The Tale of the Three Brothers" might also cause some anxiety, particularly for those young readers/listeners who have not experienced death or do not have a strong spiritual grounding. I personally enjoyed the "commentary" in the text and would like to see Rowling author a wizarding history in the future. I thought the writing of the commentary was superior to that of the tales. If you have all the Harry Potter books, then you will definitely want to purchase this little volume to complete your collection. If you're not a Harry Potter fan or don't own all the books, then skip purchasing this book. You may be disappointed in the actual stories and the commentary will be meaningless. I rated this book as three stars because it is not a book that will appeal to a large spectrum of readers and because it was not as engrossing as the Harry Potter series.

If only J. K. Rowling had written all of the textbooks as well as this and the other library books, we'd have had an even better experience with ask the readings. (Sorry, read this after reading the textbooks by another author who was awful). That said, this was a wonderfully delightful read. If I had kids I would even add this to the repertoire of tales to read to them. I don't agree with Dumbledore on the lesson the wizard learned from the cauldron, but, as with most stories, different lessons can be learned by different people from the same story. I really liked the addition of his notes and Rowling's footnotes. Not only did it give more to read, but it helps tie the book to the Harry Potter Universe far more. The only thing I'm disappointed in is that it did not include the story of the goat to which Dumbledore made reference multiple times, but perhaps that wasn't one of Beedle's stories and was a well known story by someone else. Rowling also referenced another author who had written sickeningly sweet versions of various authors, and it would be interesting if she would write those as well. But then it would be great for her to write each every book mentioned in the books and movies for us to read (including proper versions of the textbooks).

I'm a gigantic Harry Potter fan, so when I saw that Amazon was offering a collector's edition of "Beedle the Bard," I knew I had to have a copy. I was a bit offset by the price, especially since I'm an only an 18 year old with bills of my own to pay and not a lot of extra cash, but based on the photos and description I knew that I needed a copy. I got standard shipping on mine, so I was able to read the reviews of many people who had gotten their books earlier and had experienced some problems with the condition of their book. I was worried about how my copy would look, but when I got my copy last night, all worries were pushed aside. My copy was in perfect condition, and looked amazing. I was thrilled with the larger, "tome" outside copy, and was ecstatic when I opened it and pulled my copy of the actual book out of the velvet case. The detail on everything is beautiful, and the whole package is just gorgeous. Throw in the art prints, and you've got yourselves one great Harry Potter collectible. I only had one problem with both the book and the seller, respectively. I felt that the text in the book was a bit annoying if you actually planned on reading your copy. It's done with the "Tim Burton's Nightmare" font (otherwise known as the font from "The Nightmare Before Christmas"), which is sort of distracting and makes it more annoying to read. I realize that if you bought this copy you're probably keeping it for more of a collectible than for actual reading material, but just be warned that if you're buying this with the intention of reading it, that you might just want to buy a copy of the standard edition to do your reading instead. I found the normal text in the standard edition much less distracting and more easier to read than the text in this edition. As for the seller, the only problem I had was with the way that Amazon packaged this. The book arrived in a box that was almost twice the size of the book itself, and the only protection for the book was a slide-over cardboard cover that was wrapped in plastic; there was no bubble wrap, no packing peanuts, no shipping paper - nothing - else that was protecting the book from the rest of the box, meaning that there was a heck of a lot of extra room for the book to move around in. I can only imagine how many times my book was thrown against the sides of the box, and I'm guessing that's why some people had the imperfections on their books that they did. However, as I said, my arrived in fine condition, so I wouldn't give it any less stars for that. Overall, this is definitely something that every Potter fan should add to their collection. The book itself is gorgeous, and something that is well-worth the price!

It's a book what more can I say.

Muy bonito. Lástima que la cubierta no coincide con la original de la película.

Not the best quality but it look fine.

You have to read this book to truly be understanding of happiness because it’s so much better than what you have been doing for the last million years

I bought it , as no wizarding house is complete without a copy