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If you don’t know who Tom Felton is and you’re between the ages of 45 and 25, then have you been living under a rock for the past twenty years? Do you have no movie knowledge? Have you not paid attention to how Nikki and I are Harry Potter obsessed, both of the books and movie series? Thomas Felton was born in 1987 in Surrey, England, and is most famously known for portraying Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter Movie series.

Beyond the Wand: The Magic and the Mayhem of Growing Up a Wizard is Tom Felton’s memoir of the years of acting as Draco Malfoy, plus his acting career before and some highlights of his life afterward. I was pleasantly surprised that in this Buzzfeed article Felton discusses his writing process for the book, and that it doesn’t seem that he used a ghostwriter. But, then again, I need to remember that he’s constantly writing his own music and performing on Instagram, so why couldn’t the words in this memoir actually come from his hand and his heart. I’m sure his editing team was spectacular because the way that Felton performed the audiobook, it did feel like he was telling the stories of memories he constantly re-lives. It was a lovely, and cheeky (one of Felton’s favorite words), aural journey of several hours while at home, doing other things. I love a memoir or autobiography performed by the author. It is the highlight of my audiobook experiences. My other top 3 are: Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey, Open Book by Jessica Simpson, and Scrappy Little Nobody by Anna Kendrick. I have heard only good things about Amy Pohler’s and Tina Fey’s memoirs, but both those titles are still sitting on my TBR and I can’t give a review of those. But, I digress…[Nikki here: Can confirm Tina Fey’s Bossypants is an amazing audio experience!  It’d make a nice flight with last week’s review, Romantic Comedy.]

Tom Felton brings the reader into the fun and adventure of the Wizarding World, while also tempering our experience by discussing his real-life wins and struggles. There are heavy themes of depression, drug use, and his several experiences in rehab for alcoholism. But, what I want to discuss is the way he talked about the ‘misadventures of youth’ like his attempt to steal a CD from a music store as a teenager. Or the way one of his elder brothers, who was supposed to be his chaperone on set, would take him out for all night fishing adventures instead of to sleep. There was also a story of the way he didn’t pay attention in school, instead barely getting the marks to move up levels. After much reflection on the way Felton explains these experiences away in a manner that states, this is just what a typical kid does growing up. And I just don’t think that’s anywhere near the truth, and I think that comes from a place of immense privilege. He may not have come from a family of wealth, but his work has earned him millions. He is a relatively attractive white man with solid acting talent, who was first an immensely adorable child when he was cast in one of, if not the, most popular franchises on the planet. I do not think a female, or a person of color, could have skated by with so few consequences as an adolescent. We as readers need to be aware of the writer’s biases when we bring any story into our imaginations.

I’m still giving Beyond the Wand: The Magic and the Mayhem of Growing Up a Wizard 3.5 stars rounded up to 4. It exceeded expectations with the writing and the performance. I learned new things about Felton’s life and career that I didn’t know before, and I would recommend anyone looking for some non-fiction Wizarding World entertainment to give it a listen. 

What is your favorite memoir and why?

~Ashley

Ready for some secret sauce?  Typically when we read and review a book, there’s text chatter going on all the while.  I don’t think we chatted much about today’s title (unlike next week’s… whoa), so when I sat down to read Ashley’s reflections and write my own, I had some ideas about what I was going to say and some assumptions about what she was going to say.  It’s really fun when we’re on the same page, but with a bit of a different spin on how it comes out of our fingers.  Here we go!

I had no idea who Tom Felton was before Harry Potter hit the big screens, and even then, not really.  I was clueless that he’d been in Anna and the King with Jodie Foster, and now I want to watch Planet of the Apes to see how he’s improved his craft from his Potter days.  His memoir, Beyond the Wand: The Magic and the Mayhem of Growing Up a Wizard, as read by him, is an incredibly fun, nostalgic hang for anyone who loves the movies.  It is also, as Ashley mentioned, an experience highly influenced by his white male privilege, then post Potter the addition of his rich privilege.  Does that detract from the experience?  Somewhat, just as it does in Greenlights, but overall, minimally.  

While I really enjoyed the nostalgic pieces when Felton discusses filming all the Harry Potter movies, I also really loved hearing about his acting start, his family life, how he was sort of accidentally cast as Draco, what it was like to be on set as a teen, how the Houses were pseudo clubs off camera, and still have some IRL competition, and what he’s done since.  My favorite part though, is his vulnerability in sharing about his move to LA, the spiral that followed, resulting in an intervention, and his first stay in rehab.  I especially liked his reminder that rehab worked for him when he decided it was time to go, not when his management decided.  I cannot imagine what writing that section, revising it with editors, and then performing it took from Felton, and I hope he’s proud of it, and hears of some of the impacts that makes in people’s lives.  

Overall, I’m giving Beyond the Wand: The Magic and the Mayhem of Growing Up a Wizard four stars.  It’s gorgeously written and performed and felt very much like a conversation around a campfire roasting smores and enjoying some cider.  Felton’s affect is amazing and I could definitely see where Draco got some of his personality from, loved the family antics on set (although more his grandfather than his brother), and thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience.  I’m not likely to reread this, but I am likely to look up Felton’s music and explore that sometime following the 1980s music education my children are receiving currently, but that’s a story for another time.

What’s a book you’ve really enjoyed partially because of how the story is told?

~Nikki 

PS: Check out Felton’s music on Spotify. There are some fun songs to be found!

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