Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone anniversary: Fans share favourite books

Professor Trelawneyrsquos oddity is appealingJK Rowling File picAmong the characters in the entire franchise I think Professor Trelawney was my favourite She was an oddity a misfit who was always impulsive and unpredictable just like the vagaries of nature She seemed like a pariah even in the magicteaching community because of her alleged lack of ldquorealrdquo abilitiesIt was actually her ineluctable prophecy that set all the events in motion changing lives forever The HalfBlood Prince stood out for me because it goes deep into humanising the antagonist and radically illustrates for young fiction readers how evil is often not an external identifiable force but a cumulation of smaller wrongs that begin at homePranav Joshi brand strategistDobby is the bestI have always struggled with my identity and the belief that Irsquom not defined by one thing or experience alone For me Dobby represents how you can be a small fish in a big pond yet have a kaleidoscope of traits He is kind to Winky and smart with Gillyweed He is brave fiercely loyal and loving He is goofy and troubled as a creature from the lower rung of society within the wizarding world Most importantly hersquos unafraid to stand up for himself and his beliefs even at the cost of being shunned by his own kind Hersquos selfless and shows time and again how an act of goodness can change the entire course of the world that no matter how small you matter I love Goblet of Fire best because we see a transition of our favourite characters from being children in the earlier books to finding their adult identities now Plus the book is extremely actionpacked and thrilling we get to explore the universe beyond HogwartsJayashree Basu corporate communications and PR specialistHermione is the real chosen oneAs a fellow nerdy girl who always felt out of place in the small town I grew up in discovering Hermione was the first time I somewhat saw myself represented in fiction In childrenrsquos novels before that which had female representation like Enid Blytonrsquos works women checked certain boxes and the books would often be about womenrsquos boarding schoolsIranirsquos tattoo of the Sign of the Deathly HallowsThey focused on women dealing with other women which is easier Hermione was mature beyond her years I think she is actually the chosen one shersquos the one who thinks on her feet and saves everyone She came into a world which was completely alien to her and took it by stormArnaz Irani copywriterHighfive for HermioneHermione Granger is my alltime favourite character Shersquos smart brave and loyal I admire how shersquos always prepared and never backs down from a challenge Her dedication to her friends and passion for learning make her a role model for me Plus she always shows that she cares deeply about justice and equality which is truly inspiring Among the books I particularly loved Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban because of the introduction of Sirius Black and the way the story unfolds with the timeturner The plot twists were mindblowing The book kept me on the edge of my seat and I couldnrsquot put it down until I finished itAmyraa Lodha student grade 8