virginiacjacobs's review
3.0
This book was obviously meant to be read BEFORE Deathly Hallows came out, but I didn't get around to it. And this year, one of my goals is to read all of the HP-related books I have hanging around the house.
This book is more like a series of essays written by a few different people, and it made me want to re-read the series (again!) to catch all of the things I've missed on the first three or eleven readings.
And honestly, "The Case for Snape's Innocence" is really better than "Guilt."
This book is more like a series of essays written by a few different people, and it made me want to re-read the series (again!) to catch all of the things I've missed on the first three or eleven readings.
And honestly, "The Case for Snape's Innocence" is really better than "Guilt."
remeaney47's review
5.0
I really enjoyed reading this after I finished Half Blood Prince. I can agree that while the series focuses on Harry I was always a big Snape fan. It also probably helped that I am a huge fan of Alan Rickman and thinks he deserves an Oscar for Severus Snape, just saying! I enjoyed both sides of this book and it gave us very different views of whether Snape is a good guy or a bad guy. It was a great thinking book before reading Deathly Hallows.
amyl88's review
4.0
Yes, I've gone a bit nuts. This is a double book - one side gives evidence that Snape is bad (evidence in the books as well as literary devices used and, strangely, why the casting of Alan Rickman proves it!); flip it over for the same kinds of evidence proving Snape is good. A lot of the proof from the books is the same on both sides - Rowling is really good at hiding Snape's true colors, and he really could go either way (my vote is GOOD!! Remember Alan Rickman HAS been a good guy, too!)
It does a good job of dissecting the situations and dialogue that point to whichever version, but I guess we'll never really know until July!
It does a good job of dissecting the situations and dialogue that point to whichever version, but I guess we'll never really know until July!
xxbethjoyxx's review
4.0
This book was just super fun to read. It's a great change from just reading the Harry Potter book series for the 5th time. It sheds some light on the series and how things could have turned out had J.K. Rowling made Snape the opposite she did. (trying to keep spoilers out of it)
clockworkbee's review
I especially enjoyed Joyce Millman's essay, "Snape the Hero". I used it to write a paper on Snape: The Byronic Hero.
thebiblioshelf's review
4.0
Reading this with the hindsight of what actually happens, and the circular arguments that took place between Snape's case for guilt or innocence before Deathly Hallows was released just goes to show how amazingly talented Rowling's writing is! To set up a character and story with that many layers which makes people scrutinise every phrase and look they make...wow!
annie139d7's review
2.0
Not worth a read in 2020 unless you want to be frustrated and feel like you're back in 2007.
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