Harry Potter

I admit it, I worship at the Altar of Harry Potter. I am a huge fan. I have read the first four books at least eight times each. I will be one of the nuts in line at 11:00 p.m. Friday July 20, 2007 to get my copy of Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows. I will also have the book finished by Sunday the 22nd. O.k., so I am actually thinking of taking Friday afternoon off of work to enjoy the fesitivities in the town I live in, but that's besides the point...

Admittedly, I have only read book 5 twice and book 6 once. I am trying to get through the series one last time before Friday, but I don't think I am going to make it. The books are unbelievable. J.K. Rowling has created a fantastic world filled with characters we love and hate with equal vehemance. Even if I was not an actual fan of the books, any book that can motivate so many people to read will have my support. Harry Potter has introduced a new generation to the love of books and reminded some of us of previous generations why we love books so much.

I have mixed feelings about Deathly Hallows, on one hand I am extremely excited that the next book is out, but I will be sad to see the series end. My biggest apprehension is about what will happen in this last installment. There is a distinct possibility that some of my favorite characters, including Harry, will die in this battle against Voldemort and while I logically know this, the thought of it breaks my heart a little. Two of my favorite characters have died in previous books and I am not sure how much more I can handle. I know any character is fair game when the story ends, especially when Rowling has said that there is no guarantee of a happy ending, but it is terrifying to a true fan nonetheless.

As for the movies, well this is a favorite rant of mine. I saw Order of the Phoenix on Friday night and was terribly disappointed. The books have obviously done something right, so why do the movie makers change things for no reason? Or if there is a reason, not a clearly discernable one? The story is amazing as Rowling wrote it, but the movies are not just pale comparisons, but in some instances completely different. I had this same problem with the second Bridget Jones movie.
For example, since the third HP movie, the students are rarely in their robes, why? I cannot perceive of any logical, rational reason for this. They are wizards, in the books the students and all wizards wear robes unless they are trying to blend with Muggles, but in the movies, virtually none of the characters wear robes! This makes no sense to me, none. This is not my only complaint, but my most obvious one.

I also understand that the books are too long for all of the wonderful scenes to be in the movies, but the last three movies have seemed like less than even a cliff-notes version of the books. The Lord of the Rings did such a good job of including as much as possible into the movies, that I guess I had hoped the HP movies would do the same. Again, the HP books are much longer than the LOTR books, but it is still disappointing. O.k. I am done ranting, but only because it does no good.

So, for all you Harry Potter fans, enjoy the Deathly Hallows as much as possible. Savor the book, as one way or another, it is the end of something great.

-Shel