8.11.2007

Goodbye, Harry...


I finished reading the final book in the Harry Potter series yesterday...

I bought it about a week after it came out and was too busy to start it until about a week ago, but once I opened it I couldn't put it down. Plus, I had to finish it before the students get back to school because they are not good about keeping secrets about the ending.

All I have to say is... "Brilliant!"

I've loved every page of every book. I'm not really into fantasy, but, I've always enjoyed great children's literature. One of my favorite authors of all time is Madeleine L'Engle, author of A Wrinkle in Time. But let's be honest: This series was never just for children.

I love how the characters really grow throughout the series. Instead of a series where the characters are a static age in time, never changing, you watch Harry, Ron, and Hermione experience life from pre-adolescents to young adults. They are real characters with flaws that change throughout, as are the other secondary characters in the series.

But, the part that amazes me the most is that J. K. Rowling was able to arc a wonderful, detailed, intricate story over seven novels. Details that seemed insignificant in Book 3 come back in the epic's close to tie together a wonderful tale of adventure and mystery and love.

I read my little brother's copies of the first five books and own the hardcover first edition prints of numbers six and seven. I am now on an EBay mission to find the others to add to my own collection. I can't wait to share these new classics with my own child...

5 comments:

Dave Morris said...

When you're really into a book, you're pretty focused... did you know our house burned down?

Kidding. Only kidding.

Bluepaintred said...

it was a wonderful series, and the great thing about HP is that it brought a brand new generation to the bookstores and instilled in them a love of reading.

Now that the final book is out, we will be reading them to our boys. But now until Christmas.

We have to finish reading them Eragon and then Eldest first!

Bob said...

It was a great series, and I'm a bit sad to see it come to an end.

Fantastagirl said...

My sister got me started on the HP series - can't wait to finish the it!

Jill said...

Ah ha! So that's where you've been, nose tucked in a book! ;)

I get like that sometimes with books. J will say "come 'ere, I wanna get jiggy with ya" and I'll say "go ahead and start without me. I'm gonna finish this chapter."

Sorry. TMI.

But, so cute about the idea of sharing with you bebe someday.