I was intrigued about the two "Hogwarts" books even before I knew that they were written for a charitable cause. What die-hard Harry Potter fan, or even casual reader, wouldn't have their interest piqued by the sudden arrival of the very books they've read about within a book? Especially since the only place a copy of those books had been available was Diagon Alley, a locale that we Muggles cannot access. I'm also a bit of a Mercedes Lackey fan (a talented, more adult fantasy writer), and I was tickled to learn that the balads she mentioned in her books she also has on CDs, and have since found the whole concept of actually creating the fanciful books, songs, games, etc. that you read about in a novel to be a really neat idea. In the case of the Harry Potter "world," creating these items makes it seem more like a conspiracy by the Wizarding Community to keep us all out of the loop, rather than the imaginative stories of a gifted author.
But J.K. Rowling is not only gifted, she is also generous. She has selflessly donated these two stories to help a charity called Comic Relief, a British institution that raises money for such organizations as the Red Cross, the International HIV/AIDS Alliance, and Anti-Slavery International. Publishers and editors have produced the book at a reduced cost so that more of its sales can go to Comic Relief's Harry's Books fund, and Rowling herself is giving all of her royalties to the fund. And as the fund not only helps British organizations, but also benefits organizations that do important work worldwide, I am hoping that the two books, Quidditch Through the Ages and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them have large success around the globe.
I regret that I have not yet had the opportunity to read Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, a brief, three-second perusal of the book on a hectic, rushed Mall of America trip revealed to me that there were "notes" scribbled in the margins, just as if it were Harry Potter's own book. I intend to find the book the next time I get an opportunity. But if it is anything like Quidditch Through the Ages, then it is a welcome addition to anyone's book collection. Quidditch Through the Ages, by Kennilworthy Whisp, was a delightful read, full of insights into the game's history, the teams and what and who they are known for, it's spread to North America, South America, Africa, Australia, and Japan, fouls, common plays, and so much more. It read like a history book, and had excerpts from the Daily Prophet, and a disgruntled old witch's diary, as two correspondances, and even a poem. Some of the "historical" things that happened were just so funny, like the poor Departmental representatives that keep getting maligned by angry crowds when changes in the Quidditch rules are made, or the much-affronted Madam Modesty Rabnott jumps up from her seat in the stands at an early game to try and save the poor Snidget, a live bird that was used instead of a Snitch for some time. And that is only the beginning of the book.
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