Harry Potter: A Review
Two summers ago, I tried to talk Andrew into reading Harry Potter. He wasn't into it. I was devastated. How could he not LOVE this book???? How could he be related to me???? Did I still love him??????
Last summer, I decided to try a different route. I let him watch "Sorcerer's Stone." I remember when that movie came out. Katie Couric went on the set when the movie was being promoted. Andrew LOVED the movie and then I was able to convince him to read the book. Well, I read it, he listened. We got through Books 1,2, & 3 last summer. Happy days were here again!
I know some people are against the whole Harry Potter series. Which has always, always, always, puzzled me. That's such a short sighted theme. It's like reading To Kill a Mockingbird and saying that it's about a girl living in the South. Or reading The Old Man and the Sea and saying it's about a dude who went fishing. If you say Harry Potter is about magic, well okay. You're 1% right. But it's about soooooooo much more!!!!!!!!
I was 25 years old when I discovered Harry Potter. My mom introduced me to it. I was hooked immediately. When each of the books: 5, 6, & 7 were released, I would go and buy them at midnight Why? The excitement! I think it was the 6th book that I went and bought, came home and laid on the couch and proceeded to read way later than I had any business doing- since I was a parent of a preschooler. But I was a smart parent, and sent my kid to daycare the next day, so that I could stay home and keep reading it until I was done.
Somehow reading these books with Andrew is totally different for me, then when I read them on my own. I'm not sure why. Is it because I am older and therefore significantly wiser (I mean duh- only super wise people leave the freezer door open and let everything in it defrost and have to be thrown away, which is what I did today). Is it because I am further into my parenthood and I read the books from a different angle? Is it because I have read articles and reviews of Harry Potter and realize how much more there is to the story than just good old fashioned good vs evil? Is it because I am reading them so much slower? I have a tendency to skim and miss a good amount of details when I read on my own. Now I am getting a lot more details. Today when we were reading the climax of the story I read something I had no idea about and was surprised. I've read Book 4 at least 3 times, and I had no idea that particular event happened.
We finished Book 4 today. I kept crying at the end, because something sad happened to Harry and while there was a mother that was there to comfort him, it wasn't his mother. His mother does come to him in particular times of need, but . . . she's not there everyday. It hurts my heart for him. There's this one part in the final book, that I literally sob when I read it. Every time. Tonight as I was finishing reading, Doug and Andrew walked away from me and Alexa looked very concerned. I kept laughing at myself, so Alexa figured I was okay and not to be too worried.
I am giving Andrew the choice about whether he wants to go on to Book 5. I think the ending will be stunning and upsetting to him. I have been very good to not give him any hints about anything. Although I did assure him that his 2 best friends do not die. I wouldn't commit to anyone else in the series. I told him he needs to think about it before he decides if we should read Book 5. He has a bit of a tender heart, and I don't know how he'll do with book characters dying. That could be very upsetting. I quit reading a book series when a favorite character died. Not a big deal since it was the last book and all, but still! I haven't re-read it . . . much. And I haven't gone to see the 2nd movie- so there! That really showed that author. I am tough like that, except for the fact that I keep crying over Harry. So I guess I am not really tough at all, just an obsessed fan.
Last summer, I decided to try a different route. I let him watch "Sorcerer's Stone." I remember when that movie came out. Katie Couric went on the set when the movie was being promoted. Andrew LOVED the movie and then I was able to convince him to read the book. Well, I read it, he listened. We got through Books 1,2, & 3 last summer. Happy days were here again!
I know some people are against the whole Harry Potter series. Which has always, always, always, puzzled me. That's such a short sighted theme. It's like reading To Kill a Mockingbird and saying that it's about a girl living in the South. Or reading The Old Man and the Sea and saying it's about a dude who went fishing. If you say Harry Potter is about magic, well okay. You're 1% right. But it's about soooooooo much more!!!!!!!!
I was 25 years old when I discovered Harry Potter. My mom introduced me to it. I was hooked immediately. When each of the books: 5, 6, & 7 were released, I would go and buy them at midnight Why? The excitement! I think it was the 6th book that I went and bought, came home and laid on the couch and proceeded to read way later than I had any business doing- since I was a parent of a preschooler. But I was a smart parent, and sent my kid to daycare the next day, so that I could stay home and keep reading it until I was done.
Somehow reading these books with Andrew is totally different for me, then when I read them on my own. I'm not sure why. Is it because I am older and therefore significantly wiser (I mean duh- only super wise people leave the freezer door open and let everything in it defrost and have to be thrown away, which is what I did today). Is it because I am further into my parenthood and I read the books from a different angle? Is it because I have read articles and reviews of Harry Potter and realize how much more there is to the story than just good old fashioned good vs evil? Is it because I am reading them so much slower? I have a tendency to skim and miss a good amount of details when I read on my own. Now I am getting a lot more details. Today when we were reading the climax of the story I read something I had no idea about and was surprised. I've read Book 4 at least 3 times, and I had no idea that particular event happened.
We finished Book 4 today. I kept crying at the end, because something sad happened to Harry and while there was a mother that was there to comfort him, it wasn't his mother. His mother does come to him in particular times of need, but . . . she's not there everyday. It hurts my heart for him. There's this one part in the final book, that I literally sob when I read it. Every time. Tonight as I was finishing reading, Doug and Andrew walked away from me and Alexa looked very concerned. I kept laughing at myself, so Alexa figured I was okay and not to be too worried.
I am giving Andrew the choice about whether he wants to go on to Book 5. I think the ending will be stunning and upsetting to him. I have been very good to not give him any hints about anything. Although I did assure him that his 2 best friends do not die. I wouldn't commit to anyone else in the series. I told him he needs to think about it before he decides if we should read Book 5. He has a bit of a tender heart, and I don't know how he'll do with book characters dying. That could be very upsetting. I quit reading a book series when a favorite character died. Not a big deal since it was the last book and all, but still! I haven't re-read it . . . much. And I haven't gone to see the 2nd movie- so there! That really showed that author. I am tough like that, except for the fact that I keep crying over Harry. So I guess I am not really tough at all, just an obsessed fan.
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