Harry Potter

[KatMode]

No Deahly Hallows (series ending) spoilers below, but a long-winded telling of one person's experience with this classic, epic tale.

History in the making - in our lifetime.

When I first heard about the books, I didn't think twice about it. Just another kids story about wizards or some shit. No different than R.L. Stine or that Sweet Valley High serial crap. I caught the first movie, The Scorcerer's Stone, on HBO on night and thought it was OK. Special effects were cool, but it still seemed like more of a kids movie than anything else. Same went for the second movie, The Chamber of Secrets, though the storyline was getting more interesting, and the kids were the same actors. It wasn't until I saw the third movie, The Prisoner of Azkaban, that I decided to read the books.

Now I am already a big fan of serials, with the last one I've read being the Lord of the Rings. Plus, I like to read the books before they are made into movies, and I knew there were going to be four more HP movies, so I had to get reading, fast.

I flew through the first two books in only a few days. The first movie followed the book almost exactly, so that went fast. The second book had a bit more detail, but was also used very closely for the movie. The Prizoner of Azkaban (3rd) took a little more time because the book had a lot more information (and pages) than the first two. The movies were now having to cut pieces out to fit within the 2 -2.5 hour time frame. This is where the books really start to shine, and J.K. Rowling begins to mature as a writer.

The fourth book, The Goblet of Fire, was the best so far. It is about twice the size of PoA, and has over 700 pages. Just finished it in time to see the movie. Holy shit, you've got to read the books before you see the movies - the movie had to leave out so many details, and it's just not quite the same story. Anyway, back to reading. The fifth book, The Order of the Phoenix, is my favorite for a couple reasons. It's the longest book in the series (800+ pages), but there's so much information in it. Harry is 15 in this book, and Rowling is able to capture the horrahs of growing up extremely well. All those akward moments with the opposite sex, the rebelliousness we've all felt, and just that in-between stage of child and adult. The end of the book has the most fantastic magical battle. Spells flying, people getting hurt, shit getting destroyed, running around through different rooms in the Ministry of Magic. And yes, even a major death. This is no longer a kids series - this is for everyone.

Now on to the sixth book, The Half-Blood Prince. I zoomed through this book in record breaking time - 2 days, non stop. This book was so goddamn good, I simply could not put it down. By now, everything you've read in the prior books is being used - from spells, to friends, to rooms, and it all a surprise, every single time. I litterally gasped towards the end of the fourth book because of the unexpected turn at the end. Even though certain objects or spells are referenced in a casual way earlier, they end up becoming very important later on. You don't realize the impact of what happens in the 2nd book until you've finished the 6th book, and then you're like, "Holy Shit!"

When The Deathly Hallows was finally released, the seventh and final book, I ordered it online and got it the day it was released. Finished it the next day. Not only was this the last book, but it was the only book where I had no clue as to what would happen in the end. With all the other previous books, I knew what was going to happen (some I cheated and looked up, others were told to me). This was the first book in my entire life, where I was moved enough to respond out loud. And yes, I cried at the end - not just a tear, but almost a sobbing, pathetic mess.

I must say, the HP series is most likely my favorite books I've ever read, and I've read quite a few. These are the first books in my life where I have wanted to re-read them not once, not twice, but over and over again. No other book(s) have had such a pull on me before. I don't really know if it's the level of detail Rowling has put into this world (such as creating a whole new sports game called Quidditch, complete with a World Cup), or if it's because we finally have a series where the main character grows up, or if it's because of all the twists and turns that make these books unpredictable. There's something to be said about a series that has gained so much recognition and readers, and yet not one single person could have (or did) guess the ending.

Each book is a story in itself, yet is also part of the larger, overall story. I will say that each book does NOT end with a Harry/Voldemort confrontation. It's not the same battle being fought over and over again. Hell, Voldie isn't even in the third book much at all.

Anway, if you've even been curious about the books, I would say that if you can get past the first half of Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Rings with the nonstop walking through the woods, than you can get through the first two books, and on to the third where (I think) the story starts getting really good.

Once you've read the books, the movies aren't too bad if you keep in mind that the later books are about 700-800 pages long, and unless it the movie is 5 hours long, there will be cuts. But when it comes to the movies, you can't deny the incredible feat that a part 5 movie about anything has made almost as much money as the first movie. All because they've kept close to the story and used the same actors in them all. Between the books and the movies, this is just something we may never experience again in our lifetime with such popularity and intrigue.

Has anyone else read the series? What did you think?

[PSUFAN]

I enjoyed the books. I read them in order to be conversant for my kids, when they read them. I wouldn't call them great...but I recognize that reading these books will be the event that causes innumerable kids to learn to love reading. I think that is an undeniably great accomplishment.