Them: “You’ve NEVER read Harry Potter?”

Me: “No….”

Them: “But you’ve seen the movies, right?”

Me: “None of those either”

Them: (Something to the tune of) “Wow, how are you even alive?”

Me: “I’m not sure!”

 

When I was putting together my summer reading list (everybody makes one, right?) I decided that I was going to read the Harry Potter series for the very first time.

Being raised in a conservative household meant that J.K. Rowling was out and C.S. Lewis was in. I read and thoroughly enjoyed Lewis’ Narnia books, but never understood all the hype about this Harry guy.

Even though the Harry Potter series has been marketed mainly to kids, the books continue to influence media and culture all over the world. Just the other day at work, two kids were pretending to be wizards and were talking about events from the first book.

Today, I went to the “Harry Potter” room at the library and finished book one, The Sorcerer’s Stone. I truly was impressed by the richness of the characters and the drama of the events. Much like the work of Lewis, Rowling’s books weave a complex tapestry of good, bad and in between that must be confronted by her characters. As I continued to read, I could feel the narrative becoming more layered and complex with each new twist in the plot.

From only reading one of the books, I am starting to understand why Harry Potter is a name that can be recognized all over the world. We all see ourselves in these characters, in both their trials and triumphs. From the very beginning, Rowling makes it clear that things are not always the way they seem.  With adventure, drama and heart, she creates a world that anyone can see themselves stepping into.

My first reading of these books happens to coincide with the twenty year anniversary of the series. So like I said before, better late than never! I’m looking forward to Harry’s next adventures in The Chamber of Secrets and beyond.