by J.K. Rowling
home copies
genre: YA fantasy
I re-read all the HP books over the last month or so. I think it was my version of vegging out in front of the TV. Enjoyable, relatively mindless relaxation. Louie teased me about re-reading these when I didn't get a book club title read in time . . . but it was enjoyable. And I think I *finally* understood the whole "elder wand master" thing at the end of #7. Call me slow. I thought the wand itself had physically transferred from Dumbledore to Draco to Harry. But the whole point was that the wand recognized them as its master, regardless of who physically held it. (I think this was my third reading of #7.) Ah well. On to the stack of books I've been putting off.
<Above written 11.14.10. Below added 6.5.24.>
I see that I also blogged all seven of the books in 2015. I'm re-listening to the audiobooks while I work at Mackin this summer. I actually started last summer, then decided to "save" the rest for this summer. I've just finished Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (#4) and I noticed a few things I've not noticed before!
Jim Dale is an amazing narrator. His voice absolutely defines the Harry Potter audiobooks. However, it most definitely sounded as though he pronounced "leprechaun" as "lepreCORN." Over and over (at the Quiddich World Cup), he was saying "lepreCORN." It made me laugh. But also - how have I never noticed this before?
I also remembered one thing about this book that bugs me as an educator. No Quiddich for an entire school year because of the Triwizard Tournament? Even though only one student from the school is supposed to be a participant? And the tournament which was started 700 years previously had not been done in over a century? That doesn't make sense! To remove a very popular activity that has 24+ participants, regular matches, and a huge fan base . . . for an activity for four people (two of whom are not from Hogwarts) and have three events (late November, late February, and late June)? That's just silly! I understand why Rowling chose to do this for her author purposes, but it doesn't make sense from a school standpoint!
<below added 6.24.24>
Libby offered me HP and the Order of the Phoenix as a "skip the line" title . . . which I accepted. But that meant I only had a week to "read" it. I listened to some of it while working at Mackin, but realized that it would be returned before my next work date. So I've been listening to it at the lake while doing a jigsaw. Last night, I finally grabbed a print version to finish the last few chapters.
So now I need to learn more about this "skip the line" thing in Libby . . . and order the next audiobook. It seems weird that none of the adults thought to communicate more clearly with Harry, though Dumbledore chalks this up to his advanced age forgetting what it is like to be young. I like when Harry is able to talk with Sirius and Lupin about his dad as a fifteen year old and make the connection that he is fifteen and not a jerk like his dad was.
<Below added 1.4.2025 from Reading Log dated 7.11.2007.>
"Harry hits adolescent angst and suffers from anger, self-pity, and hormones. When he dreams, he experiences Voldemort's mind. Sirius is killed in a fight with the Death Eaters. Harry teaches a secret Defense Against the Dark Arts class."
"Time-killer. The movie released today, but I'm sure it will be as disappointing as the others. So many things have to be skipped to make it not-too-long, and the director will need to put their personal spin on it. My favorite part is when Fred & George defy Delores Umbridge."
<Below added 7.15.24>
I got Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince quicker than anticipated. I started it while working, but finished it at the lake! I haven't read this one as often as the others . . . there were some details I forgot. (RAB and the decoy locket, death eaters fighting in Hogwarts, Harry sharing the Felix potion, . . . ) I was sad about the ending, even though I knew it was coming.
<Below added 1.4.25 from my Reading Log! entry 7.13.2007>
Harry's sixth year at Hogwart's. Slughorn is Professor for DADA. Dumbledore offers to teach Harry himself and reveals Lord Voldemort's history. Together, they try to get and destroy the six horcruxes holding pieces of Voldemort's soul. Book #7 will be released next week. Storyline is fresh in my mind now.
<Below added 8.19.24>
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Libby audiobook. I think I'm a bit too OCD . . . I finished listening to this at our family reunion in Michigan last week. The culmination of the series is so satisfying. This was another "skip the line" title and I remembered most of the plot twists (about the elder wand, Snape's true self, etc.). I was still sad and just a bit weepy when Dobby died.
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