Harry Potter and The Girl He Changed
As an avid reader and lover of all books, I shocked even myself, when I picked up the first of seven Harry Potter books this April. During the craze of Harry Potter in the late 90s and early 2000s, I was living a normal, Muggle life if you will. Never one to follow trends or hop on any bandwagon, I purposefully ignored the HP gods and chose to not read a single book. I didn't want to be like everyone else, duh!
And then this year happened and for some unknown reason, the enchanting series written by the incomparable J.K. Rowling, fell into my hands and captivated my heart. Two nights ago I finished the seventh book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, and cried more than I have in many years. People had warned me of this and I told anyone who mentioned just the slightest thing about Harry and his friends, to please shut up and not ruin it for me.
All I allowed to sink in was that I was going to cry more with each book , which of course was true. Here is the thing about books like Harry Potter and authors like J.K. Rowling--there is nothing remotely close to anything like them. Of the hundreds and hundreds of books I've read in my lifetime, I have never come across a book, much less seven, that continue to excite and grab my attention. Rowling personifies everything we love about storytelling-childhood, loss, family, friendships, fear, growing up, making decisions, finding our own way, and undying love. Even the characters she magically created for us to loathe (Dolores Umbridge if you will....ugh!!) are vital parts of each story. Without them, the story just wouldn't be all that it is.
It has been two days since I finished HP and I am still not ready to move on. As insane as that may sound, that is how I know (at least) when I have read a masterpiece. When I picked up Harry Potter in April, I was just about to turn 30, I was doing something I thought was meaningful to the world, but I was also, deeply unhappy. With each end of one book and the beginning of the next, I found myself changing and growing along with the characters. In some mysterious and magical way, these books came into my life at just the right time; when I needed them most and when I desperately needed to decide which part of my soul I wanted to listen to.
From Dumbledore to Snape, Ron to Hermione, and Luna to Neville, there is a part of each character that I can relate to. A part of each character that I admire and find inspiring. And a part of each character that will go down in history, as just as important.
I understand now, why these books were and still are, wildly popular. All seven sit neatly and beautifully upon my bookshelf, sacred mementos of what can happen when you just believe--in yourself, in the people you love, and in magic.
After all this time, I have found in Harry and his story, a kind of hope that no matter how much darkness there is, light will always be there as long as we don't forget.
And above all, love. Always.
 |
| Via Pinterest |
All I allowed to sink in was that I was going to cry more with each book , which of course was true. Here is the thing about books like Harry Potter and authors like J.K. Rowling--there is nothing remotely close to anything like them. Of the hundreds and hundreds of books I've read in my lifetime, I have never come across a book, much less seven, that continue to excite and grab my attention. Rowling personifies everything we love about storytelling-childhood, loss, family, friendships, fear, growing up, making decisions, finding our own way, and undying love. Even the characters she magically created for us to loathe (Dolores Umbridge if you will....ugh!!) are vital parts of each story. Without them, the story just wouldn't be all that it is.
It has been two days since I finished HP and I am still not ready to move on. As insane as that may sound, that is how I know (at least) when I have read a masterpiece. When I picked up Harry Potter in April, I was just about to turn 30, I was doing something I thought was meaningful to the world, but I was also, deeply unhappy. With each end of one book and the beginning of the next, I found myself changing and growing along with the characters. In some mysterious and magical way, these books came into my life at just the right time; when I needed them most and when I desperately needed to decide which part of my soul I wanted to listen to.
 |
| Via Pinterest |
I understand now, why these books were and still are, wildly popular. All seven sit neatly and beautifully upon my bookshelf, sacred mementos of what can happen when you just believe--in yourself, in the people you love, and in magic.
After all this time, I have found in Harry and his story, a kind of hope that no matter how much darkness there is, light will always be there as long as we don't forget.
And above all, love. Always.
 |
| Via Pinterest |
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