Snape

The Definitive Analysis of Hogwarts’s Mysterious Potions Master

By: Lorrie Kim

Narrated by: Michelle H. Lee

While the Harry Potter series may follow the journey of the Boy Who Lived, if you want to know the whole story, keep your eyes fixed on Severus Snape. This greasy-haired, grumpy genius, one of J. K. Rowling's most enduring gifts to English literature, is the archetypal ill-tempered teacher: demanding, acerbic, and impossible to ignore. Over the span of seven novels, Snape's remarkable role in the series can be hard to parse: Where do his true allegiances lie? Can a former Death Eater change his spots? Why does he seem to loathe the boy he's pledged to protect?

Taking an analytical approach to Hogwarts's irascible, protective Potions professor, author Lorrie Kim presents a closer look at how Dumbledore's double agent operates behind the scenes throughout the Harry Potter series. By examining the story from Snape's point of view, this in-depth exploration pierces the defenses of the wizarding world's famed Occlumens, revealing the man for who he truly is: one of pop culture's most memorable heroes.

©2022 Lorrie Kim (P)2022 Tantor

An Interesting Perspective

Michelle Lee is a good narrator; however, it was annoying to hear her try to do character voices where parts of the original novels are read out. it would have been better if she just read in her normal voice. As for the book, itself... I could have turned it into a drinking game. Every time she says "ambiguity", DRINK! That was only one of several words that were just tiringly overused. All that being said, I enjoyed this perspective of Hogwarts' Potions Master.

Great perspective.

Very well done. Snape has always been my favorite character. The depth of this examination enhanced this viewpoint and was an enjoyable way to return to Hogwarts.

An exercise in reading between the lines

This was an amazong revisit of the stories ive read and heard so many times! the amazing ability to see the turmoil of Snape’s life was an amazing breath of fresh air. Its clearly an amazing opportunity to be reminded that this is a story as seen through the eyes of a child and this book lets ypu see the same story from an adults perspective, perfectly encapsulating the difference! Im not too sure about the inclusion of the LGBT stuff, the book couldve done without it, but everything else was amazing.

dark and well thought out.

The life of Severus Snape is not a happy one, but a life of servitude and regrets. I've read the HP series 3 or more times and sadly never put more thought into Professor Snape than was written on the page. As an adult, I realize that day to day responsibility, tasks, and expectations are never as cut and dry as what is written before you. I truly underappreciated the accountability Snape was burdened with.
This book is an important example of the genius that is JK Rowling. A must listen.

Well Researched

Lots of insightful content, though I wish the author would have stuck a little bit closer to canon. There are some theories that are grasping at straws a bit too much for me, but it's mostly entertaining. I do find the narrator to be annoying -- as an avid fan of the Jim Dale audiobooks it's pretty cringey to hear an American try to do the character's voices in a British accent. But I've still listened to parts of this book several times.