The Final Countdown

The book blog was delighted - and frankly relieved - to see Professor Minerva McGonagall topping the vote for Hogwarts' best member of staff (we've always had our doubts about Dumbledore's professional ethics).

Hogwarts Staff Appraisal

Yesterday's poll saw us accused of slandering Severus Snape by putting him in a poll of villains: he still ended up top, with demonic duo Dolores Umbridge and Bellatrix Lestrange tied in second place.  Is this because he's the best villain, or simply because he's one of the best characters? It's hard to decide, but Snapeheads get another chance to vote for him today, as we ask you who's your favourite member of the Hogwarts faculty:

Will he win again? And should we have included Dobby?
As today we're focussing on the Hogwarts staff, we thought we'd ask the SPS teachers for their Potter memories, and despite this being a manically busy time of the year, several of them were kind enough to respond.

Something Wicked This Way Comes

Yesterday's poll saw Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban top the charts of the series' cinematic adaptations.

Today's poll takes a trip to the dark side: we're asking you to vote on which of the novels' many nefarious nemeses is the most noxious - who's the best of a bad lot?

Is it the biggest bad himself, Lord Voldemort? Does Dolores Umbridge still give you nightmares? Is Draco Malfoy just the product of bad parenting? Should Snape really be on the list at all?

You decide - cast your vote now (and remember, if you're reading this on your phone, you need to access the web version of the blog to vote ...). 

Potter on Film

Yesterday's poll saw Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire a clear winner in the popular vote, with Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban in second place, and Deathly Hallows in third. Today's poll looks at the film adaptations, from where it all begins -

to where it all ends -

But which film is the best? Will Goblet of Fire do the double? Is Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows really just one film?  And should we have included Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them?

You decide ... polls are open until midnight.  And as always, if you're reading this on your phone, remember that you need to go to the web version of the blog to vote: click 'web version' at the bottom of your screen to get there. 

Happy 20th Anniversary, Harry Potter!

It was twenty years ago today that Bloomsbury first published Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, and unleashed a phenomenon.  This week, the book blog is celebrating all things Harry Potter related, and we'll be running a daily poll: today, we'd like you to tell us which of the Harry Potter books is the best in the series.

World Book Day Poll Number 1

This Thursday, March 2nd, is World Book Day: and to celebrate, the book blog is running a week of polls.  Each day, we'll be pitching two giants in one genre against each other in a Clash of the Literary Titans, and inviting Pauline readers to decide who wins. Today, the bards (ok, they're not actually bards, but we're fervent fans of alliteration here at the book blog) battling it out are J K Rowling and Terry Pratchett. And here, pitching for your vote, are Dr Hudson on J K Rowling and Charlie de Waal on Terry Pratchett: details on how to vote are at the end of the post.