S02E12 - PS co-host quiz-off

The Harry Potter series, written by J.K. Rowling, follows the journey of Harry Potter, an orphan boy who discovers he is a wizard. The series spans seven novels, each corresponding to one year of Harry's life at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry, along with his best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, navigates the magical world, confronts various challenges, and ultimately faces off against the dark wizard Lord Voldemort, who murdered Harry's parents and seeks to dominate the wizarding world. The series explores themes of friendship, love, and the struggle between good and evil.

The book tells two distinct but interrelated stories. Kafka Tamura, a 15-year-old boy, runs away from home to escape an Oedipal curse and search for his mother and sister. He finds refuge in a private library in Takamatsu, where he interacts with Miss Saeki and Oshima. Meanwhile, Satoru Nakata, an old disabled man, has the ability to talk to cats and is on a quest to find an entrance stone that opens up another world. The narrative explores themes of music, metaphysics, dreams, fate, and the subconscious, with the two characters' stories intertwining in complex ways.

Normal People is a character-driven novel that delves into the intricate relationship between Marianne and Connell, starting from their high school days in County Sligo, Ireland, and continuing through their university years at Trinity College Dublin. The story explores themes of love, class division, mental health, and the complexities of human connection. Marianne, from an upper-class background with an abusive family, and Connell, from a working-class background, engage in a secret relationship in high school due to Connell's fear of social judgment. As they grow and navigate different social worlds, their relationship is marked by periods of intense connection and separation, influenced by their socioeconomic backgrounds and personal insecurities. Rooney's writing is characterized by its spare prose, detailed character development, and a deep exploration of the psychological and emotional nuances of the characters.