That's right: I, Brenna Theresa Phillips Perry (forgot to check the box to drop the "Theresa" on the form when we got married so I now have this silly long name) had never read the series. Maybe you are thinking; "But you just seem like the kind of person who would be obsessed with HP?"
You're right. I am that kind of person. See here and here for some topical examples. So how did I miss the Hogwart's train you ask? The answer is two fold:
1. Lord of the Rings. The first Harry Potter movie was my first exposure to the series. At the time it was released I was a freshman in high school and already so deeply into my LOTR fog that nothing else mattered. Nothing. Else. Mattered. I was also a snob. Harry was beneath me. I mean, Frodo was saving Middle Earth from complete destruction and Harry was putting sticks up trolls' noses #nocontest
2. There was literally no room in my brain or in my life for anyone other than Legolas.
So I moved on in life, secure in the fact that I had obvs chosen the better series. Smug. Smug is what I was. Until a few years ago when James started getting harassed by our friends for never reading it. I sat by quietly, never mentioning that I had never read it either, and let the violent attacks continue -- because I'm a good wife like that.
Then at the beginning of this summer I thought, I want to read another series. I had inhaled Game of Thrones like the medieval crack cocaine that it is, and then looked around. And Harry was the last one standing. The Chosen One of my summer.
So I decided to read all 7 Harry Potter books by July 31st (Harry's birthday) and here is what I think:
Harry Potter and the... My Review of Entire HP Series
After having read the entire series I can say with confidence: I get it. I didn't get it before. Maybe I got it a little from seeing the movies, I always wanted to eat a chocolate frog real bad. But on the deeper "why are people so obsessed with this?" level I just didn't get it. I don't think that I will ever have the experience of those who were reading the books as they were growing up and being released, but I get it. And I liked it, very much.
My favorite book of the series: 6th book Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
Here are my 10 favorite things about HP:
1. It is lovely to read. It feels like walking down a street in London with a great scarf on. So British.
2. Professor McGonnaggle, who is a BAD A of the highest caliber.
3. That JK Rowling clearly loves school. I still buy school supplies every fall for the joy of it, and she dedicates whole chapters to school shopping!
4. Mrs. Weasley #motherpower.
5. Christmas presents magically appearing at the end of your bed on Christmas morning, say whaaaa??
6. The Weasley twins interrupting the end of year tests with fireworks.
7. Chocolate Frogs.
8. The school dance with teenagers snogging left and right, hilarious.
9. Halloween at Hogwarts = awesome
10. And lastly, my absolute favorite thing about HP is this: all the truly powerful magic isn't the ability to fly or create a lucky potion, it's always love. This is what the movies have a hard time capturing, which is why I was never really hooked like I was in the books. The magic is secondary. Here are my favorite examples of this:
That Harry is protected from harm as long as he is living with his family. I love this. It's like home and family is a magical thing always.
In the last book, when they are preparing for a big battle, the teachers start casting spells to protect the school and the students. So many feels.
"Harry, do you know why... Professor Quirrell couldn't bear to have you touch him?... It was because of your mother.
She sacrificed herself for you. And that kind of act leaves a mark...
This kind of mark cannot be seen. It lives in your very skin."
**the views expressed in this review in no way alter the fact that I will always love LOTR more than anything ever
And in conclusion here are a couple of my favorite HP Memes that I now understand:
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