Dec 28 2006
How I Read Harry Potter
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. That’s it. J.K. Rowling (pronounced like bowling and not howling) has announced the title of the seventh and last book of her Harry Potter series (see this BBC article). The seven books represent seven years of schooling in the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry where teen-aged witches and wizards take up cool subjects such as Spells, Divinity, Transfiguration, Care of Magical Creatures, and Defense Against the Dark Arts. Lucky for them, they don’t have Algebra, Geometry, or Social Studies.
Anyway, I didn’t know about the Harry Potter mania the first time I got hold of the first book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. I was just curious about what my niece, then ten years old, was reading so I borrowed it from her. But ever since I read the opening lines…
Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you verry much. They were the last people you’d expect to be involved in anything strange or mysterious, because they just didn’t hold with such nonsense.
… I was stuck. In fact, I read it so fast that I didn’t understand anything. 
So I had to read the whole book all over again.
I was able to read the first three books (all borrowed from my niece who grudgingly relented) one after another almost without stopping… never mind that I had to study for my finals. Needless to say, I almost got kicked out of law school… and all because of Harry Potter.
When the fourth book (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire) came out, I reread the first three books all over again to refresh my memory (getting old, my memory is not too good). I did the same when the fifth book was published (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix). I had to make sure I could recall all the characters (which one is Crabb and which one is Goyle?), the locations (where the heck is Flourish and Blotts again?) creatures (what are the different kinds of dragons?), and the intricate plots (why were the dementors allowed in Hogwarts?). When the sixth book (Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince) came out, I was already living in Cambodia. So I had to wait longer than most Harry Potter fans before I could get my copy. When I did, I restrained myself from reading it until I reread the first five books.
It’s like watching all the Star Wars movies in one sitting and in the correct order and not in the silly sequel 4-5-6-1-2-3 roundabout way. Or it’s like watching all the Back to the Future betamax tapes or laser disks one after another. Everything makes so much more sense.
Anyway, I’ve long returned my niece’s Harry Potter books and gotten my own copies. I’ve taken them all out… ready to be reread in preparation for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Here they are with my other children’s books… children’s books are all my attention span could hold.
BTW, except that I really like the way they made the Great Hall with the Bewitched Ceiling which shows exactly how the sky looks like outside, the movies are nothing compared to the books. Not that I’ve watched all of them as they’re not shown here in Cambodia.
Anyway, I can’t wait until the finale comes out. Long live Harry Potter, the boy who lives!
Technorati tags: Harry Potter
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
- Spoiling Harry Potter Atbp.
- Great Beginnings, the Revelation
- Book Marathon 2
- Jumping into the Bookwagon
- Book Marathon
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I haven’t read any but I watch ALL.
I haven’t read harry potter’s books too but I caught my daughter reading this book under her blanket using flashlight late at night. So I decided to keep the books for the meantime, habang may pasok pa sa school.
Ipanema, maybe when the last movie comes out, I’ll watch all seven one after the other.
Anne, the Harry Potter books are also popular because they taught children to go back to reading books again. I don’t blame Tin-Tin… nakaka-addict talaga.
But better than watching TV diba? 
You sound like my youngest stepdaughter who’s now 20 years old. She re-reads all the previous books whenever a new one comes out. I can see her now going through all 6 books weeks before “…Deathly Hallows” is out. I’m a Harry Potter fan, too…and so is Jamie…but I don’t have the patience of re-reading them all :-p By the way, I also own all 4 DVDs!
Ollie, nice to know that your stepdaughter and I are of kindred spirit when it comes to Harry Potter.
She must also be waiting when the publication date would be. I, for one, need time when I to reread all six books… that’s a few thousand pages kc e. 
I haven’t watched the 3rd and 4th movies. Maybe I’ll buy the pirated copies from here… wala namang nabibiling original e.
[...] Harry Potter fan Toe submitted a post in which she describes her reading process when new HP books come out. [...]
I wonder why I missed this post of yours before…
Anyway, I remembered the comment you left on my blog, about Dumbledore being not dead. Knowing how you go about reading and re-reading the previous books whenever the new one comes out, it makes me wonder whether you MIGHT do the same if you check out where I got the clues about the possibility of Dumbledore’s a-la Gandalf moment.
Looking forward to dissecting the next book with you, Toe. Cheers!
Prab, I’m quite excited to reread all six books again. I’ll do it when the publication date of the 7th comes out. I’ll definitely watch out for the clues about Dumbledore’s impending return.
Hmmm… maybe we can blog about those clues and compare notes. Then we’ll see if we’re right when the last book gets published. 
Hey I just got an email to pre-order this book. We have membership kasi sa bookstore.
I have the first book but never got the chance to read it after the first few pages.
So I just watched the movies. I have them on DVD as well. Hayaan mo pag natutunan ko na magcopy ng DVD I’ll send you some copies.
Antiyaga mo naman magbasa , i mean to re-read 5 books. Wow, you better start now, kasi it’ll be out soon. I heard Harry might die in the last book, Kaya?
[...] of course, how could I be left behind? I love Harry Potter too and I’m bracing myself for the seventh and final installment in [...]
I will be in Cambodia this July when Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is released. Do you know of anywhere I can buy it in English format around 21st July?
Thank you for your help in advance
You like children’s books?
Try reading philip pullman’s “dark materials”… That’s really great, too. If you haven’t read it, you won’t be able to put down. A film’s in the making with Nicole Kidman.