title: Beyond the Wand: The Magic and Mayhem of Growing Up a Wizardauthor: Tom Felton
published: 18 October 2022
publisher: Grand Central Publishing
genre(s): memoir
pages: 286
source: library
format: eBook
buy/shelve it: Amazon | B&N | BookBub | Goodreads
rating:
the blurb
From the magical moments on set as Draco Malfoy to the challenges of growing up in the spotlight, get a backstage pass into Tom Felton’s life on and off the big screen in this #1 New York Times bestseller.
Tom Felton’s adolescence was anything but ordinary. His early rise to fame in beloved films like
The Borrowers
catapulted him into the limelight, but nothing could prepare him for what was to come after he landed the iconic role of the Draco Malfoy, the bleached blonde villain of the
Harry Potter
movies. For the next ten years, he was at the center of a huge pop culture phenomenon and yet, in between filming, he would go back to being a normal teenager trying to fit into a normal school.
Speaking with great candor and his signature humor, Tom shares his experience growing up as part of the wizarding world while also trying to navigate the muggle world. He tells stories from his early days in the business like his first acting gig where he was mistaken for fellow blonde child actor Macaulay Culkin and his
Harry Potter
audition where, in a very Draco-like move, he fudged how well he knew the books the series was based on (not at all). He reflects on his experiences working with cinematic greats such as Alan Rickman, Sir Michael Gambon, Dame Maggie Smith, and Ralph Fiennes (including that awkward Voldemort hug). And, perhaps most poignantly, he discusses the lasting relationships he made over that decade of filming, including with Emma Watson, who started out as a pesky nine-year-old whom he mocked for not knowing what a boom mic was but who soon grew into one of his dearest friends. Then, of course, there are the highs and lows of fame and navigating life after such a momentous and life-changing experience.
Tom Felton’s
Beyond the Wand
is an entertaining, funny, and poignant must-read for any
Harry Potter
fan. Prepare to meet a real-life wizard.
- a few notes
- review
content warning: ❗addiction❗
POV: 1st person
keywords/phrases: acting, Harry Potter, struggles
tropes: n/a
spice: 0🔥
language: 0🤬
See disclaimer at the end of the review.
There is no question that the referenced series, despite the creator’s more recent behavior, has become a part of the cultural identity. Tom Felton is a huge part of that. But Beyond the Wand is just that, Tom’s story as it expands beyond that world.
In many ways, the book is a nostalgic journey through Tom’s experience in a childhood most of us can’t imagine. And while these trips down memory lane were fun, the book is so much more than that. Tom’s life wasn’t always as magical as his famous counterpart. There were bumps, and Felton doesn’t shy away from talking about those bumps in depth. The book was far heavier than I anticipated, raw and real and deeply emotional. He is brutally honest about his life, without trying to paint himself with a more positive brush.
He is very open about his struggles with both addiction and mental health. He tells it all, no matter how ugly it might be. I came away from this book with a deeper understanding, and with a lot of respect for him.
If you are looking for a trip back to the fandom, this probably isn’t the book for that. But it is an excellent read by a favorite actor who isn’t afraid to be honest.
Disclaimer
This review is solely for this memoir. It is a review independent from the fandom/original series that is referenced throughout Beyond the Wand. I do not support the writer nor her hateful opinions that she has publicly expressed.
About Tom Felton
Tom Felton is an English actor, best known for playing Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter films. He has also appeared in Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Belle, The Flash, A United Kingdom, The Forgotten Battle and 2.22 A Ghost Story in London’s West End. He lives in London with his dog Willow.
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reading challenges:
- 2024 52 Books Reading Challenge
- 2024 Alphabet Soup Reading Challenge
- 2024 Alphabet Soup: Author Edition Reading Challenge
- 2024 Library Love Reading Challenge
- 2024 Linz the Bookworm Reading Challenge
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