Some people started reading J K Rowling's epic Harry Potter series way back in 1998 when it was first published. Many came to the series later and had to catch up. I was one of the latter.
My mother started reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone to my siblings in about 2000. I heard snippets,but didn't really think too much of the story. A boy who goes to wizard school? It didn't sound that engrossing honestly. I saw the film adaptation of the book in 2001 and liked it ,but didn't love it. Then came my freshmen year at college. My geology teacher ,who I had become close to for reasons that need not be explained here, asked if I had seen the second movie Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets or read any of the first four books. I answered no to both ,and she said she might give me her copies of the books. A few days later,she did just that. So,I started reading. I liked the first two books well enough ,but when i got to the third book,I was gobsmacked by the climax,which involved werewolves ,time travel, and a rat. and by the time I got to Goblet of Fire i was again not prepared for the ending,which this time was wholly unexpected and a stunning setup for book five. By this time I was offically a fanboy. I had to wait, however ,for the 5th book to come out in summer 2003,like everyone else, which I read in a day. And thus began my lifelong obession with the story of a boy who,in the course of seven books, saves the wizarding world by mostly luck,but also a force much more powerful,in nits own way-love. This is all a longwinded welcome and intro to this blog,which will do two things I hope-provide another place for me and other Potterheads to discuss the series,and to give the first detailed critique that I know of on the new companion website Pottermore. In case you are not familar with this site,which you can find here (very few of you,I hope) it provides a new way to interact with the series specfically created by J K Rowling. Rowling has hidden bonus material about how the Dursleys met,say, or the Sorting Hat,in a wonderful mutlimedia chapter-by chapter walkthrough of the books. Also notable is you can actually get sorted by the Sorting Hat ,using questions written by Rowling. Not surprisingly ,the site has been very popular,and after a very long and convoluted beta period ,the site finally opened to everyone in April of this year. Ok,enough exposition. Let's get to blog mechanics. Every Wednesday and Friday I will be posting my thoughts on one chapter of the series ,starting with Socerer's Stone,as well as sharing my take on the corresponding chapter on Pottermore ,including any additional material Rowling might hide in that chapter . An important note; this blog is primarily intended for rereaders of the books, so there will be spoilers. As of now, Pottermore only has the first two books - all of the first, and I think only through Flourish and Blotts for the second- up to explore ,so you can't play through all the books just yet To avoid having to write out veach book in full,i will be using abberivations . So Socerer's Stone=SS,.Chamber of Secrets= COS,etc Since the Potter books are partly a mystery series,I will be noting where Rowling plants clues within the plot,so again,spoilers. I may also reference the literary alchemy -yes alchemy- in the series ,detailed in the books of John Granger,somewhat of the Harold Bloom of Potter scholarship. I may also point out other literary elements as we go.After each I will review the film adaptation of that book. Also, in between boosk and Pottermore additions,I may delve into other aspects of this fandom- the shipping wars ,fanfiction, Starkid, whatever. I'll be back Monday to discuss The Boy who Lived
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