Michael Gouker reviewed The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J. K. Rowling (Hogwarts Library, #3)
Review of 'The tales of Beedle the Bard' on 'Goodreads'
3 stars
This is the tales along with Professor Dumbledore's notes.
I think this is a cool worldbuilding trick, a way to give a feeling of in media res after the fact, and Rowling deserves props for this. The tale of the brothers, of course, is mentioned in Deathly Hallows, but Rowling gives the story more depth by surrounding it with cohorts. It really does feel like a small collection of stories for wizard children.
Dumbledore's notes (and his mention of the letters with Malfoy), however, are a bridge too far, accentuating the pause the reader feels in the Harry Potter stories themselves. That is, how was it ok for any good people to know about the anti-muggle affinity of so many wizards and continue to perpetuate the system?
Why did it take Harry and his friends to put the proverbial stick into Voldemort? Where were the adults?
