I feel like I’m marking someone’s homework with this podcast. The Harry Potter series is my comfort audiobook, despite JK’s current extremely questionable stance on Trans People. I have listened to it so many times, if tape was still a thing I think the tape would be warped. So, listening to this podcast is frankly rather cringe. I’m currently on episode 29. I am a 25 year old black brit, at time of writing and I honestly think this pod should be marketed from an American perspective instead of as adult one. The host, in one breath polices the prose for language like « sniggered » while having no regard for the pronunciation of language created for the book. Pronunciation is important since you are doing a podcast rather than a blog where it doesn’t matter. Importing Americanisms into the text completely misses the the purpose of this series. Of course, it’s a fantasy book but it’s also quite an allegory on British culture and history. There’s a reason why JK pinched so much from folklore and Tolkien. Context is important in any analysis and should be taken into account when reading as an adult. You cannot place a text written almost thirty years ago and place into a modern context, so a simple Wikipedia search of what was happening in the very early 90s: Thatcherism, Genocide, the ending of apartheid South Africa and the birth of new Labour. Probably would have made this easier to listen to. As the host in particular sounds ignorant on British culture in particular. All are represented to some degree in the text. I’d expect a 25 year old to be able to take this into account, even to a TINY degree but its always like he forgets he’s an American reading British literature and they are distinctly different cultures with separate histories. I think this is more of a reading of a politicised teenage liberal than a 25 year old. The analysis is the most frustrating part of this podcast and that to me is the most important part. That’s my critique. Things I enjoyed: Conciseness. The story retelling was concise. The American perspective to some degree was appreciated and it meant I didn’t have to redownload the audiobooks. The audio and production is good, no problems with that. Anyway, I’m still listening. It’s not a hate listen because I don’t hate it the premise is good, the execution…well you can see the stars. I intend to get to the end of the deathly hallows. I hope i don’t give up out of sheer frustration. I have no expectations of whether it will improve but… I’ll Re-review if it does.