For some this might a shock. But when I was first reading Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s stone in 1997 I read the first chapter and I put the book down and never picked the book up again for another 18 years. For the whole time for a baby to turn into a legal adult in the United States I did not read any book from the series cover to cover.
Before I get strongly worded comments about how this is a crime against humanity and that I had no childhood I have something to say. I agree with you. My grandmother got me the first book and a metal Harry Potter bookmark and told me she wanted me to read all the books because she heard all the other kids loved this book. I was only five years old though though; I didn’t understand what was even happening in the book. I thought Hagrid was the bad guy. I just didn’t think it was that great of a book. While my sisters were reading the books in one day and then talking about it I missed out on that sibling bonding. Sure, I watched the movies when they came out, but after Prisoner of Azkaban I stopped watching. I couldn’t stand to watch any of the movies. I didn’t read the books and I didn’t feel like it was right to watch the movies without having the books as a basis.
But what got me to start reading the books again you ask? Buzzfeed had this quiz about which house you belonged to. I took the quiz and was expecting Gryffindor, because Harry is so cool and everyone seems to be happy in Gryffindor. I got Slytherin instead and I wasn’t too happy, but everyone loves a bad boy. So eh, I was not too perturbed by it.
I only had the limited knowledge of what it means to be in Slytherin and wondered why I did not match the other houses. I knew the names of the other houses but had no clue what each house was special for. So I decided it’s about time to read the books. I found PDF copies of the books and started listening to them on my car rides to work and from work on a pdf reader app. I even drive my sisters to class and they complain about listening to my PDFs. I was able to understand the complexity of the characters and the events happening in the book. I compared what was happening to Harry and his friends to things that I have experienced in my life and felt a stronger connection than if I was trying to read the books when I was a child. Of course the thought of magic would have been a perfect thing for a child, but all the other things about the books mean a whole lot more to an adult.
I am on The Half-blood prince right now and I am trying to power through it and Deathly Hallows so I have enough knowledge for Potter Con in New York in August. I like how the Half-blood prince starts, but Goblet of fire is my favorite book so far. I got a Pottermore account and did the Sorting Ceremony and it confirmed what I accepted, that I am a Slytherin at heart. I’ve embraced this and I bought a nice crewneck sweater to show my Slytherin pride. This comes to my next point why it’s good that I’m getting into Harry Potter now. I’m an adult, so that means I can buy all the merchandise to show my fandom and Slytherin pride with all the items I bought with my adult money.
I wish that I read the books when I was a kid, but reading all the books I understand the books better and I can embrace the Harry Potter Fandom with other adults. And they won’t even know I’m coming late to the party.
Robert Liberato
LifeUnrife 