Books and Cleverness

New, episode up Thursday, April 19.

We have some news and announcements in a Potterwatch-focused episode 8 of Books & Cleverness.

Unfortunately, we start off with some bad news before getting to the fun stuff. But, we also have a date for our re-launch! Listen to find out when you can join us and Harry as we enter Hogwarts for the first time (well, in this re-read).

There's been some news this summer. We're getting a few new books and there are changes afoot at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios. Guess who's excited and who's disappointed. We continue our talk of the theme parks in this episode's In the Common Room question.

Join us on the first day of termto finally, finally reach Hogwarts and see where Harry gets Sorted. (Really this time. We promise, guys.)

You can find us at:

http://booksandclevernesspodcast.com

https://www.facebook.com/bandcpodcast

https://twitter.com/books_clevernes

https://booksandclevernesspodcast.tumblr.com

[email protected]

Archer:

https://twitter.com/archerelleen

https://archerelleen.tumblr.com

[email protected]

Brigid:

https://twitter.com/basicallybrigid

https://infearofblankpages.tumblr.com

[email protected]

Music:

Moonlight Hall Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

New, edited episode Thursday, April 12.

We finally reach Hogwarts in the seventh episode of Books & Cleverness, although we're not through the doors quite yet.

First, however, we have two stories for Potterwatch. First, we discuss what the casting of Callum Turner as Theseus Scamander means for the Fantastic Beasts movies, and whether he's a good match. We also talk about Pottermore's Book Club announcement.

We have two questions for In the Common Room. First we talk about what pets we would have brought to Hogwarts (Archer isn't allowed to bring all of hers). Then we talk about whether we'd still go to Hogwarts if our owls arrived today (and under what circumstances we wouldn't go).

In Chapter 6, "The Journey to Platform 9 and 3/4," we follow Harry as he returns to the Dursleys and finds his way to King's Cross. He meets some interesting and important people who help him onto the platform and form the basis for his support for the rest of the books. He also buys entirely too much candy. Hagrid escorts the first years across the lake, and we're left on the doorstep yet again.

Finally, our first recurring Recurring Segment! In Ugh, Pottermore, we talk about two entries on Pottermore, the first about the Hogwarts Express and its origins, and the second about the platform. Does Archer hate this entry as much as the rest we've talked about? You'll have to listen to find out.

Join us next week to finally, finally reach Hogwarts and see where Harry gets Sorted.

You can find us at:

http://booksandclevernesspodcast.com

https://www.facebook.com/bandcpodcast

https://twitter.com/books_clevernes

https://booksandclevernesspodcast.tumblr.com

[email protected]

Jackie:

[email protected]

Archer:

https://twitter.com/archerelleen

https://archerelleen.tumblr.com

[email protected]

Brigid:

https://twitter.com/basicallybrigid

https://infearofblankpages.tumblr.com

[email protected]

Music:

Moonlight Hall Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

New, edited episode up Thursday, April 5.

It's time to go back to school shopping in Chapter 5: Diagon Alley. No Potterwatch this week, but we're missing Jackie. She'll be back next week!

We discuss Potter merchandise In the Common Room. What's the most embarrassing thing we've ever bought? And, what do we wish was available for purchase?

Unlike Harry, Archer and Brigid both cried the first time they stepped foot in Diagon Alley. But, Harry gets to buy a lot of cool (and more mundane) items that our hosts couldn't. Harry gets his first pet, and while being fitted for his robes, meets the one who will be his school nemesis. He finally gets his wand, learns something interesting about Voldemort, and is essentially abandoned at the train station with no instruction.

Finally, in our recurring segment, Potter Top 10, Brigid and Archer go over the top ten things Harry wasn't allowed to buy at Diagon Alley. See if you can tell which ones actually came from the books, and if you can come up with your own and tell us all about it.

You can find us at:

http://booksandclevernesspodcast.com

https://www.facebook.com/bandcpodcast

https://twitter.com/books_clevernes

https://booksandclevernesspodcast.tumblr.com/

[email protected]

Jackie:

[email protected]

Archer:

https://twitter.com/archerelleen

https://archerelleen.tumblr.com

[email protected]

Brigid:

https://twitter.com/basicallybrigid

https://infearofblankpages.tumblr.com

[email protected]

Music:

Moonlight Hall Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

New, edited episode up Thursday, March 29.

We finally see some magic in Chapter 3, "The Keeper of the Keys."

This week's Potterwatch is all about Jude Law's casting as the young-ish Albus Dumbledore in the Fantastic Beasts movies. Is he the right choice or would we have cast someone completely different?

In the Common Room we ask each other what would have happened if our Hogwarts acceptance owls hadn't gotten lost. Would our 11 year-old selves have wanted to go to Hogwarts? And, more importantly, would our parents have let us?

Then, in our analysis of the chapter, there's a lot of new information for poor Harry (and us) to digest. Hagrid tells us what he knows and Vernon tries very hard to stop Harry from learning it all. Of course, neither that nor his gun work.

Finally, in our recurring segment, Jackie and Brigid compete for House points and glory in Archer's (rather difficult) Potter Pub Quiz. See if you can get all the answers or if you're as clueless as we seem to be.

You can find us at:

http://booksandclevernesspodcast.com

https://www.facebook.com/bandcpodcast/

https://twitter.com/books_clevernes

https://booksandclevernesspodcast.tumblr.com/

[email protected]

Jackie:

[email protected]

Archer:

https://twitter.com/archerelleen

https://archerelleen.tumblr.com

[email protected]

Brigid:

https://twitter.com/basicallybrigid

https://infearofblankpages.tumblr.com

[email protected]

Moonlight Hall Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

New, edited episode will be up Thursday, March 22.

Vernon's gone absolutely mad in Chapter 4, "The Letters from No One."

But first, In the Common Room, we discuss which Harry Potter related event we were most excited about. Book release? Movie release? Fan tour? Convention? A really cool shirt? Who knows?

Then we go onto the chapter where we wonder why Harry didn't open the letter in the hall in the first place. He tries valiantly, but just can't manage to get a letter. As Harry gets more annoyed, Vernon descends not-so-slowly into completely insanity, eventually leading his family to a hut on a rock in the middle of a stormy sea. This doesn't stop their pursuers, and there's a loud boom on the door as midnight strikes.

Finally, we introduce a new recurring segment: Ugh, Pottermore. While we may not always agree with it, Pottermore is a value source of new information. This episode we discuss the entry on the Quill of Acceptance and the Book of Admittance, and it raises more questions than answers. Is this a good enough method? Why don't they know how it works? At what point are you magical enough to be a witch or wizard? We need to know.

You can find us at:

http://booksandclevernesspodcast.com

https://www.facebook.com/bandcpodcast/

https://twitter.com/books_clevernes

https://booksandclevernesspodcast.tumblr.com/

[email protected]

Jackie:

[email protected]

Archer:

https://twitter.com/archerelleen

https://archerelleen.tumblr.com

[email protected]

Brigid:

https://twitter.com/basicallybrigid

https://infearofblankpages.tumblr.com

[email protected]

Moonlight Hall Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

We're finally reading the books!

But first, in Potterwatch, Archer and Brigid talk about the Potter franchises' first Academy Award, and whether it's overdue. Then, In the Common Room, they discuss the most important Potter fan question - What is your Hogwarts House? - and the less important question of their Ilvermorny Houses as well as how much say Pottermore gets in the whole matter.

Archer and Brigid get entirely too into talking about the first chapter, "The Boy Who Lived." Vernon is an awful person, but he's a great introductory point of view to the books. Brigid declares her love for McGonagall (and James Potter?). Finally, how is it that three adults whose jobs involve being in charge of child welfare, feel its all right to leave a baby on a doorstep in the middle of the night in November?

Finally, in the recurring segment, Into the Pensieve, Archer and Brigid talk about the old fan theory, The Missing Day. Essentially, where in the world have Hagrid and Harry been all day? The answer is disappointing, but it's fun to talk about.

NEWLY EDITED!

You can find us at:

http://booksandclevernesspodcast.com

https://www.facebook.com/bandcpodcast/

https://twitter.com/books_clevernes

https://instagram.com/books_clevernes

[email protected]

Archer:

https://twitter.com/archerelleen

https://instagram.com/archerelleen

[email protected]

Brigid:

https://twitter.com/basicallybrigid

https://instagram.com/basicallybrigid

[email protected]

Moonlight Hall Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

NEWLY EDITED VERSION!

In the very first episode of Books and Cleverness, hosts Archer and Brigid introduce themselves. We learn exactly when and how the world of Harry Potter first enraptured them and how they met each other. (Hint: It's really nerdy!) You can also find out what to expect from Books and Cleverness, including how often we post, the format, and what we're going to talk about.

Books and Cleverness is a weekly podcast, posted every Thursday, where Archer and Brigid discuss their journey back into the world of Harry Potter, exploring it one chapter at a time. You can also find us at:

http://www.booksandclevernesspodcast.com

http://www.facebook.com/bandcpodcast

http://www.twitter.com/books_clevernes

http://www.instagram.com/books_clevernes

Archer:

http://www.twitter.com/archerelleen

http://www.instagram.com/archerelleen

Brigid:

http://www.twitter.com/basicallybrigid

http://www.instagram.com/basicallybrigid