So remember that post I wrote earlier this week about reading longer and better books? You should just maybe disregard that for now. I mean, don’t totally disregard it. I AM in the process of reading Winter’s Tale by Mark Helprin, which I’d abandoned when I went to Puerto Rico for Thanksgiving. So that’s longer. And better.
But I discovered that today is the kick-off of Alice’s Harry Potter Readalong. And re-reading H. Po. is on my 30-for-30 list. So why the hell not??
Posts will go up every Friday, but it looks like the schedule is such that I’ll be able to read another book while also reading the assigned Harry Potter. But since I’ve already done a First Line Friday for Winter’s Tale, I thought it would be fun to feature the first line of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.
Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say they were perfectly normal, thank you very much.
The genius in this line is the “thank you very much.” That is ALL Dursley attitude and sets the tone for introducing Harry and his life.
I’m really excited to jump back into the world of Hogwarts again, since I’ve never re-read any of the books, even before the new ones were coming out. And especially not before I saw any of the movies. I tried to listen to the audio of Sorcerer’s Stone last year, but it just didn’t take. The story of how I discovered Harry Potter is equally a story of how I met one of my freshman roommates in college and how I began my college career. The first book came out the summer between my freshman and sophomore year of high school, but because I was busy being almost 15 and angsty and writing a lot of really bad poetry, I completely dismissed the books as childish and stupid. Wizards? PSH.
But by the time I was set to head off to college, the fourth book – Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire – had just been released and it was officially A LITERARY PHENOMENON. But I was still skeptical. They were still children’s books. Then the paperwork for my future roommates came in the mail, and Caroline and I spent approximately 18 hours on the phone getting to know each other, and in the process, she convinced me of the series’ worthiness. So I bought the first one. And then the second and third. And the fourth. And when I moved into my dorm that August, I was 50 pages from the end of Goblet. But college! And I just stopped reading. When Caroline and the rest of my roommates and friends discovered my lack of follow-through and locked me in a room until I finished it. After which point I yelled, HOLY SHIT!
From there, it was the standard progression of midnight release parties and then when I managed the Children’s/YA department at a B&N during the midnight release of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince I dressed up as Luna Lovegood, homemade radish earrings and all.
Ever since I raced through the conclusion of the series, I’ve wanted to go back and read them all again together, as one cohesive unit. I just haven’t taken the time to do so. But this readalong is a perfect excuse to do so, and in the process, cross off a task from my 30-for-30 challenge.
So, yeah. I’m pumped. This is gonna be AH-MAH-ZING. Anyone else partaking??
(Edit: I realized I included like, NO introductory info. So I’m Rachel, I live in Washington, DC, and I’m in grad school for publishing. I also work full time for a newswire and I write for Book Riot. Whew!)
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I am so glad you are doing this too! The fact that you dressed up as Luna Lovegood might be the best thing I’ve ever heard, and I am interested to know how, exactly, one makes radish earrings.
Also, hooray for 30-by-30 (or in my case, 26-by-26) and getting things DONE.
LIKE THIS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUGbr_1uj3c
Bam.
Ah-mazing.
True confession: I’m reading the Harry Potter series for the first time EVER. I received the complete set for my birthday and have tackled the first 2. I’m going to start the 3rd shortly but I am NOT looking forward to lugging around 4-7 when I get to them. Plus I don’t want to mess them up with subway and office germs. I may have to keep them as “only at home” books.
They’re heavy, for sure. But you’ll read them fast and you’ll be so into them that you won’t want to leave them home. Just a warning
I second what Rachel said – you won’t want to leave them at home!
Crucial question: Did you try the Jim Dale audio, or the Stephen Fry audio? Because one of those things is better than the other to an insane degree.
Mama didn’t raise no fool. I tried Jim Dale. Just couldn’t focus on the details as much with audio.
This makes me so happy. Clearly you are a Ravenclaw, you clever boots.
Actually. Funny story. Every time I’ve been sorted, I get Slytherin. I’m uncomfortable with this.
I ALSO dismissed HP as being childish. Angsty teenagers do not appreciate whimsy.
The fact that you dressed up as Luna is amazing. Are there pictures? You should post pictures.
Let’s be clear. THERE WILL BE NO PICTURES. Because I also wore a blonde wig.
Yeahhhh…. we’re going to need some pictures.
Honestly, I don’t know if any exist. SO SAD FOR YOU.
MEAN GIRLS! MEAN GIRLS AND HARRY POTTER!!
I like you already, is what I’m saying. Aaaaand I think I really need some radish earrings now, obviously!
I still have mine. SHOULD THE NEED EVERY ARISE.
Also I’m pretty sure ALL my gifs will be Mean Girls Meets Harry Potter. FAVORITE!
Yay for joining in! This is sure to be fan-frikkin-tastic!
I am so jealous that I didn’t get to work in a bookstore for a midnight HP release, because that would have been sooooooo much fun!
It’s a lot of fun, until you realize that you have to stand on a table and shout at children through a megaphone.
….
Okay. That was kind of fun.
I’m going to try to do the HP Read Along, but with my 17 credit hours this semester starting on the 14th I just don’t know if I’ll be able to keep up. I have also never re-read them, and I’ve been wanting to for quite some time.
You absolutely should try! I feel your pain. I’m working a 40-hour-a-week full-time job and taking a full course load as well. It will be great to escape from work with these though. That’s what I’m telling myself.
Hah! Omg the first GIF.
I’m always happy when formerly ignoring-of-Harry-Potter people start reading the series and then dress up like Luna Lovegood. Y’know. As you do.
Thank you INDEED for joining us. Rather psyched about some of the new people, which I wasn’t expecting.
Obvi.
YES I AM PARTAKING! And yes, when we originally outlined the schedule (the official version of which Alice will post soon), we debated about the time frame and came down on the side of, let’s take it slow so we can read other books in between because we are all adults and can do that if we want.
Hermione’s hair is so cute. I just love her.
Hell yeah, I’m not gonna just be reading Harry Potter for five months.
I spent a lot of my fifteenth year writing bad poetry too. Also, the pictures about Hermione and her big hair are so random and I love them.
Sadly, my bad poetry actually was foisted upon unsuspecting victims because I was the editor of the literary magazine in high school .
::shudder::
Luna is the best part of everything ever, so I like you already.
So excited to readalong with all these great people! Also, WOAH. What a place to stop reading GoF! “HOLY SHIT,” indeed.
Dude, who knows what I was thinking??? COLLEGE. But thank god I had the best friends who forced me to finish it RIGHT THEN AND THERE.
Dressing up as Luna with actual raddish earrings is all kinds of wonderful. As obsessive as I am about HP I’ve never actually dressed up as any of the characters, but I’m pretty sure if the right opportunity came up I’d either go as Luna, Dumbledore or Mrs Weasley.
I really want to reread Harry Potter too. I wanted to do it last year but time really got away from me. Maybe this year?
doooooo ittttt!!