Like many muggles (non-magic folk) I’ve been impatiently waiting
for the fifth Harry Potter book to be released. The moment I get my
hands on a copy, I’ll willingly enter the world of Harry Potter and
his friends.
Like many muggles (non-magic folk) I’ve been impatiently waiting for the fifth Harry Potter book to be released. The moment I get my hands on a copy, I’ll willingly enter the world of Harry Potter and his friends. To get prepared for this latest adventure, I’ve spent every spare moment this last week re-reading the first four Potter books by talented author J.K. Rowling.
A lot has happened since J.K. Rowling’s first book was published. Not only has Rowling’s life changed, but so have the lives of many former non-readers. The Harry Potter series has touched a chord with many, especially children. How many of us felt we were the odd one out during our school years? Harry is. We’ve all dealt with bullies, the popular kids, the kids who never got in trouble and those who couldn’t seem to stay out of it.
For many of us, school was a major part of our social life. It varied between a place to escape to, and a place to run from, depending on where we were on the ladder of life. There were teachers we would always remember and be grateful for, and those who seemed bent on making our lives miserable. We had friends that stuck with us through good times and bad, and those who flitted through our lives for a short time. Some we met left a permanent mark, while others drifted into the sea of forgotten acquaintances.
Harry Potter’s books are set in Great Britain, but have touched the lives of children around the globe. They are sold in 200 countries and 55 different languages. For an author who was unheard of a decade age, these statistics are phenomenal.
Instead of simply enjoying the books like children do, adults have attempted to dissect and debate Rowling’s writings. Extremists on both sides worry about the supposed harm Harry Potter books can do. Chances are, these folks have read the books with their hearts closed, ready to find fault on a moment’s notice.
As an elementary school librarian, I first got interested in Harry Potter from my students. They asked me repeatedly if I’d read the books. Eventually, I got tired of apologizing for not reading them, and reluctantly picked one up. By this time,the hype was so high I thought nothing could live up to my expectations. How wrong I was! By the end of the first chapter, I’d joined the millions of readers who fell head-over-heels in love with Harry.
Not everyone greets the books with this same enthusiasm. One of my best friends couldn’t even make her way through the first book. It simply didn’t interest her. This same friend has read many of the classics that I can’t seem to plow my way through. I find them too boring. I respect her choices and she mine.
Yet, one of the most magical things about Harry Potter are the books themselves. They are filled with imagination and perhaps that’s what’s captured the audience. This is a generation surrounded by the latest in technology. In a highly visual world where information is available at the drop of a hat, imaginations have been pushed by the wayside. Harry Potter books unlock the door, allowing children and adults to once again see and explore using words and imagination. An added side benefit is more children than ever are falling in love with reading.
In my own world, I’d pushed book reading aside. Who had time, I wondered as I plowed through endless daily routines. But reading Harry Potter reintroduced me to one of my favorite pastimes – reading. Now when I have a few minutes, I’ll ignore the TV and grab a book. It’s amazing how these minutes can add up to pages and, eventually, another book has been added to my reading list.
Sometime during the summer my world will come to a stop. Laundry and dishes will be left undone. The answering machine will record any phone calls. In my hands will be Rowling’s latest book and I’ll be in the land of dragons and magic, visiting with my good friend Harry Potter.
Cindy Brown is a Free Lance correspondent. Her column appears every Monday.
