For almost 15 years Harry Potter has been apart of the lives of us. When I say "us" I mean my generation. I first began Harry Potter and the Philosopher Stone in 1999 when my 4th grade teacher began reading it to the class. She stopped half way through and feeling gypped I continued on as a solo reader and quickly became an obsessed 9 year old child. Now, in my 22nd year and having ended my journey a few days ago, it feels like the perfect time to reflect upon Harry Potter and the... as a whole.
I shall begin with the novels. Novels 1 through 3 I felt, really played to the age that I was when I read them. Nothing too scary, lots of fantasy and in depth developed characters all with rich and varying back stories. We know by this point that she is setting us up for something and we also know that lil Voldy can't stay hidden forever feeding off of unicorns in the forbidden forest. Plus these attempts at reincarnation were rather feeble as far as old Voldy goes.
Now there is a very definitive change in between books 1-3 and 4. Not only is there about 300 more pages, but the plot thickens as Harry's nemesis (no not Draco), comes back into the living realm as a(semi) human. But whose counting really? Humans: so overrated right Voldy? Now in between books 1-3 and 4 I went on a little hiatus in which I read books 1-3 many times before continuing on to book 4. Maybe it was its daunting length and size. Maybe I couldn't handle the truth about our pal Voldemort, or maybe i feared fear itself, whatever it was, I couldn't look back. 4th book: UH-mazing. I must say, the 4th book is certainly one of my favourites. From this point onwards it was Harry Potter mania for me!!
Now, books 5 and 6 (especially 5) I found to be a little lengthy. Don't get me wrong they were fantastic reads, but in book 5 there was waaay too much filler. I mean who cares how many times Harry goes up to the owlry to pout with Hedwig? Book 7 for nostalgia purposes of course was fantastic, but not my favourite, however it contains some of my favourite single chapters that JK has ever written (aka Snapes chapter...love!). I'm not sure how I feel about Harry living though. The first time I read it, I accepted that Harry had to die. Ok Harry is dead NBD. But then poof bam, he's alive again..WHaaat?? Harry as the last horcrux? camon. lame. And I'm not even going to talk about the whole 19 years later thing because I will begin to cry again as that's what I did for a month after she ruined the end with that epilogue.
As far as the novels go, I was completely and totally in love with them and now that its all over I want to read them again. If you've never read them, and you belong to the 16-27 age bracket shame on you. Stay tuned for part 2: the movies!
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