Meet Jess, a lawyer in training, loving wife and wonderful friend. I am so happy to present you with her wise and reflective words on Harry today.
(Me (left) and my best friend Jessica at the B&N midnight release of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince)
When JK Rowling released Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows on July 21, 2007, I felt anxious, ecstatic, and a bit sad that the literary journey I had been on for the past ten years was about to come to a close. I was in 7th grade when the first book came out. By the time the final book was released, I was a junior in college and engaged to be married. My teen years (and slightly beyond) were dotted with book release parties at Barnes & Noble and midnight showings of the movies, along with lengthy theory-sharing discussions with friends and family members, and rereading those books over and over.
I used to wonder how the world of Harry Potter became so popular. How is it that millions of people around the world can love the same story as much as I do? Why is it that this world, and these characters, appeal to so many people of different ages, backgrounds, and nationalities?
But then I dive back into Harry’s world, and I completely understand. It is not just a book about magic. It is magical. There is no other word to describe it.
So what I do not understand are people who refuse to read the books. I have a best friend who, although she loves to read and has read many other series, absolutely refuses to read the books, and actually professes that she hates Harry Potter. In fact, for her birthday one year, our good friend (now her husband) gave her a Harry Potter book and a lighter. Shocking, I know. And my own 14-year-old sister, although she loves the movies, absolutely will not read the books. I (and other family members, including my mom and my dad) have tried for years to persuade her to read them. But she won’t. And she doesn’t even have a good reason.
So why does it bother me so much that these people in my life don’t care for something that I love so much? To each their own, right?
No. Not this time. Not this time, because I know that if they gave it a chance, they would love it as much as I do. How could they not? Just like me, they would laugh at Fred and George’s pranks, smile when Ron and Hermione finally kiss, cry when Sirius died, wonder whose side Snape is really on, and cheer when Harry defeats his enemy once and for all. Harry Potter doesn’t just have something for everyone. It has everything anyone could want. And no matter how many times you read the books, or how well you know the story, you keep coming back for more. The characters are your friends. You don’t want to forget them, so you must go back for a visit now and again.
Maybe someday curiosity (or nagging, or boredom) will get the best of my friend and my sister, and they will finally meet Mr. Potter. I cannot wait to introduce him to my children one day. But although they will likely love the story, I know their experience won’t be the same as mine. No months and months of anticipation before the next book comes out. No discussing theories about what will happen, or who will die. No finishing the book in one day and then picking it right back up to begin again because you just can’t believe the story won’t continue for another two years. The story will be laid out for them, one book after the other. They may read the entire series in one sitting and simply think, “Well that was a lovely story.” Some of the magic will have gone out of it for them.
But to me, Harry Potter will always be special. He is one of my oldest friends. We grew up together.
*Clap*....*clap*....*clap*...I'm slow clapping on this one. Jess seemed to hit the nail on the head for how I'm sure a lot of us real Potter fans feel. My heart aches for those who refuse to allow themselves the irreplaceable pleasure of knowing Harry Potter. I am glad we are the Potter generation, the only that will ever have experienced the books one at a time. I wouldn't trade my years of waiting and loving and re-reading for anything, certainly not to have all 7 at once. Thanks for the post, Jess! Everyone share your thoughts and love in the comments!
*All art work belongs to Mary GrandPre
(Me (left) and my best friend Jessica at the B&N midnight release of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince)When JK Rowling released Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows on July 21, 2007, I felt anxious, ecstatic, and a bit sad that the literary journey I had been on for the past ten years was about to come to a close. I was in 7th grade when the first book came out. By the time the final book was released, I was a junior in college and engaged to be married. My teen years (and slightly beyond) were dotted with book release parties at Barnes & Noble and midnight showings of the movies, along with lengthy theory-sharing discussions with friends and family members, and rereading those books over and over.
I used to wonder how the world of Harry Potter became so popular. How is it that millions of people around the world can love the same story as much as I do? Why is it that this world, and these characters, appeal to so many people of different ages, backgrounds, and nationalities?
But then I dive back into Harry’s world, and I completely understand. It is not just a book about magic. It is magical. There is no other word to describe it.
So what I do not understand are people who refuse to read the books. I have a best friend who, although she loves to read and has read many other series, absolutely refuses to read the books, and actually professes that she hates Harry Potter. In fact, for her birthday one year, our good friend (now her husband) gave her a Harry Potter book and a lighter. Shocking, I know. And my own 14-year-old sister, although she loves the movies, absolutely will not read the books. I (and other family members, including my mom and my dad) have tried for years to persuade her to read them. But she won’t. And she doesn’t even have a good reason.
So why does it bother me so much that these people in my life don’t care for something that I love so much? To each their own, right?
No. Not this time. Not this time, because I know that if they gave it a chance, they would love it as much as I do. How could they not? Just like me, they would laugh at Fred and George’s pranks, smile when Ron and Hermione finally kiss, cry when Sirius died, wonder whose side Snape is really on, and cheer when Harry defeats his enemy once and for all. Harry Potter doesn’t just have something for everyone. It has everything anyone could want. And no matter how many times you read the books, or how well you know the story, you keep coming back for more. The characters are your friends. You don’t want to forget them, so you must go back for a visit now and again.
Maybe someday curiosity (or nagging, or boredom) will get the best of my friend and my sister, and they will finally meet Mr. Potter. I cannot wait to introduce him to my children one day. But although they will likely love the story, I know their experience won’t be the same as mine. No months and months of anticipation before the next book comes out. No discussing theories about what will happen, or who will die. No finishing the book in one day and then picking it right back up to begin again because you just can’t believe the story won’t continue for another two years. The story will be laid out for them, one book after the other. They may read the entire series in one sitting and simply think, “Well that was a lovely story.” Some of the magic will have gone out of it for them.
But to me, Harry Potter will always be special. He is one of my oldest friends. We grew up together.
*Clap*....*clap*....*clap*...I'm slow clapping on this one. Jess seemed to hit the nail on the head for how I'm sure a lot of us real Potter fans feel. My heart aches for those who refuse to allow themselves the irreplaceable pleasure of knowing Harry Potter. I am glad we are the Potter generation, the only that will ever have experienced the books one at a time. I wouldn't trade my years of waiting and loving and re-reading for anything, certainly not to have all 7 at once. Thanks for the post, Jess! Everyone share your thoughts and love in the comments!
*All art work belongs to Mary GrandPre
9 comments:
I know all about friends, siblings, family who doesn't want to read the books. Stupid people. In the end - it's their loss.
I think this is what "the end" means. We can reread the books and see the movies as much as we want, and it will be amazing. But there won't anymore wait. Any more suspension or new things to happen. That wait is special.
Loved this post, it really got me thinking!
<3
Maybe we could switch the cover on the books and use white out and a pen to change Harry Potter to Harvy Botten and then give the books as gifts to these people and see what they think!
Being the mother of 'guest' blogger, and that 14 yr old who won't read the books...i just want to put a disclaimer that said 14 yr old hardly reads any books so don't be too hard on her. At least I raised a majority of Harry Potter fans--but some kids are just stubborn. I'm currently working on my husband to get him to read Lord of the Rings. If it weren't for Jessica, I would be one lonely fantasy reader. Great job on the post sweetie! It's how I feel too. I hope you'll let me read a little Harry Potter to my future grandchildren :)
Nathan has only read the first four and refuses to read the rest because "why don't I just watch the movie?" Argh! Then once he watches the movie, he'll never read the books because "he knows what happened." Except the books are so amazingly superior to the movies, he doesn't know the half of all the magic that happens. Harry Potter forever.
I adore this entry! So, so true. And I love how you used DuPre's drawings. <3
I'm pretty sure I was there when that first picture was taken.
I can't believe I was on a blogging hiatus and missed Harry Potter Week... Well, at least I can catch up on my reading now! :-)
As for Harry Potter haters, my boyfriend used to be one -- until I converted him. He's since read all the books, seen all the films (twice), and gone with me to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, where he got his very own wand replica (Harry's, natch).
Revenge is sweet. ;)
What an adorable blog you have!! And this guest post was just lovely! I definitely agree and relate with everything Jess wrote about!!
i loved this entry, i felt it like my own story, specially the last paragraph? we were so lucky to live it as it happened!
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