Snape

The Definitive Analysis of Hogwarts’s Mysterious Potions Master

By: Lorrie Kim

Narrated by: Michelle H. Lee

Length: 13 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

While the Harry Potter series may follow the journey of the Boy Who Lived, if you want to know the whole story, keep your eyes fixed on Severus Snape. This greasy-haired, grumpy genius, one of J. K. Rowling's most enduring gifts to English literature, is the archetypal ill-tempered teacher: demanding, acerbic, and impossible to ignore. Over the span of seven novels, Snape's remarkable role in the series can be hard to parse: Where do his true allegiances lie? Can a former Death Eater change his spots? Why does he seem to loathe the boy he's pledged to protect?

Taking an analytical approach to Hogwarts's irascible, protective Potions professor, author Lorrie Kim presents a closer look at how Dumbledore's double agent operates behind the scenes throughout the Harry Potter series. By examining the story from Snape's point of view, this in-depth exploration pierces the defenses of the wizarding world's famed Occlumens, revealing the man for who he truly is: one of pop culture's most memorable heroes.

©2022 Lorrie Kim (P)2022 Tantor

I didn’t want it to end

I didn’t want the book to end. As a big hop and Snape fan this book was amazing and the performance of the book elevated the story. It was wonderful to return to this beloved story in a way that breaks down such a complex character into understandable characters. Thank you so much for this experi

An Interesting Perspective

Michelle Lee is a good narrator; however, it was annoying to hear her try to do character voices where parts of the original novels are read out. it would have been better if she just read in her normal voice. As for the book, itself... I could have turned it into a drinking game. Every time she says "ambiguity", DRINK! That was only one of several words that were just tiringly overused. All that being said, I enjoyed this perspective of Hogwarts' Potions Master.

Beautifully done

This answers so many questions about the soldier who masterfully destroyed Voldemort and was in many ways Harry’s true protection.

Loved this book!!

An insightful view of the real story behind the Professor we all loved to hate. Revealing how much he gave up to protect Harry. I’ve already listened to this twice. So good.

Never will see Snape the same again.

Let me start out by saying that I thoroughly admire Lorrie’s devotion and analytical thinking of Snape and the Harry Potter series as a whole. Several times she pointed out instances that really made me smack myself on the head for not realizing them before.

However, and I do mean this in the kindest way possible, there are times when (by either choice of words or theory or both) that I feel like she is trying too hard. Don’t get me wrong it is an interesting read. Also I do agree with some other reviews saying that it is very political. I did indeed get a lot out of this book, though I would be lying if I said I didn’t roll my eyes a couple of times.

Finally, the choice of narrator: Michelle is a great narrator however I don’t think she was the right choice for this book. Especially when she was doing the voice of Snape, I just couldn’t take her seriously. Again she has a good voice for a narrator, but for me I don’t think she was the best choice for this book.

helps me understand snape and love him more

It was amazing and sweet. Snape is so brave and secretly Loving!!! Snape has a real comeback story. I never can read the books or watch the movies the same!(in a good way). It is am amazing story for harry Potter fans

Good outlining but political

Love the character and great outlining but got a little too political for me in how they drew reality into the Wizarding world

learned another view

loved the accurate analogy of him, understood so much more about the speakers feelings about it all.

dark and well thought out.

The life of Severus Snape is not a happy one, but a life of servitude and regrets. I've read the HP series 3 or more times and sadly never put more thought into Professor Snape than was written on the page. As an adult, I realize that day to day responsibility, tasks, and expectations are never as cut and dry as what is written before you. I truly underappreciated the accountability Snape was burdened with.
This book is an important example of the genius that is JK Rowling. A must listen.

Well Researched

Lots of insightful content, though I wish the author would have stuck a little bit closer to canon. There are some theories that are grasping at straws a bit too much for me, but it's mostly entertaining. I do find the narrator to be annoying -- as an avid fan of the Jim Dale audiobooks it's pretty cringey to hear an American try to do the character's voices in a British accent. But I've still listened to parts of this book several times.