Harry Potter

 Todays post by Nathan Bransford, ending his Harry Potter Week, challenged, or rather encouraged whoever wanted to participate, everyone to write their own post celebrating this magnificant series. Now, having always been a fan of Harry Potter, I couldn't pass up the opportunity.

The first time I heard about the H.P. series was about ten years ago. My cousin and I were together for some reason or other and she had a copy of the first book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone lying in the back of her car. I picked up the book and looked at the fun artwork on the cover and asked her about it. She then told me how her younger brother had been reading them and how she decided to start reading them, too. In her words it was a 'cute' book.

It was a children's book, but being a fan of books of all ages, and being a fan of illustration art, I got drawn in by the whimsical cover and decided right then that I had to read the book. Shortly after I purchased it and ever since have been a huge fan.

From the very first lines of the very first book, which reads:

"Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, of  number four, Privet Drive, were proud ot say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much. They were the last people you'd expect to be involved in anything strange or mysterious, because they just didn't hold with such nonsense,"

 I have been hooked.

Right away you could feel JK Rowlings sense of whit and style. She creates a realistic world, bringing in so many details that the reader is left with nothing but acceptance there is such a place as the Wizarding World. As I finished the first book, I practically slapped myself on the forehead, saying, "Duh! Why didn't I think to write something like this." Stories like these, of magic and magical creatures have always interested me. They interest thousands of people. So, why hadn't anyone thought of this before? Maybe they had, but JK Rowling was finally the one brave enough and talented enough to write it down and see it through. 

I admire Miss Rowlings courage to go through such a life altering experience, going from a normal whoits, to one of the most recognizable people in the world of infamy. Not only has she written 'a' book, but several, keeping up this world of hers through many years of Hogworts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, as well as many stations of Harry's life. Starting when he was young and bringing him up through his teenage years. There is a feeling to each book appropriate to his age, allowing young readers to grow up with Harry and continue to understand and relate to his feelings as he experiences new challenges. Including love.

One of the things I loved in the earlier books was the fact that every child thinks they have it tough and wishes they were somehow special, more than ordinary kids. Harry has this to extremes. He is abused, neglected, humiliated at every turn, and then comes to find that he is one of the most famous people in a fatastic world he never knew exsisted.

What a rush for a kid!

But the great thing is that he has challenges even with fame. His life isn't hunky-dory just because a million people love that he took down the Dark Lord with one fail swoop. No. People come to expect a lot from him, and being nauive to the way magic works, he blunders through his trials in an all too human way, also allowing us to 'learn' about magic with him. Harry's courage, along with his human faults, is charming and draws you in from the start.

The later books grow in tension, which I love, each one getting better and better. When I first saw how thick book number 4 and 5 were, I was ecstatic. Yeah! More to read, more information about Harry's world. Seriously, if JK Rowling planning taking Harry through his post-school life, I would be all for it. I would love chasing dark villians with him for a living, learning to detect their every move and coming up with new magic to defeat them. How fun would that be, seriously? It could go on forever.

For now, I can't wait to see what JK Rowling comes out with next. I am inclined to be a life-long fan of hers. So, to Miss Rowling, I say, "We love you! Keep up the good work!"

And to Harry Potter...

Until the next reading! I have book in hand and ready to be wrapped in the awe of another world.