August 24, 2007…approximately 9:05am…riding on the “5 Fulton” MUNI bus on my way to work somewhere between Van Ness and Market Street.
These are the approximate coordinates of where I was when I finally completed the seven year epic journey of the Harry Potter series. I find this a noteworthy accomplishment in my life as I don’t think there are many other things that I have been dedicated to for as long as I was to Harry and his fellow wizards and witches.
Without giving anything away, I am satisfied with the ending of the series and continue to be amazed at the creativity and consistency that J.K. Rowling displayed throughout the entirety of the seven book series. I remain most impressed by the fact that not only did the series trace the teenage years of Harry Potter growing up as a wizard, her writing style seemed to get more complex and intricate as Harry got older and faced more adult problems including girl drama, abandonment issues, betrayal, and responsibility. I always thought that the books were targeted at an audience that was the same age as Harry in each respective book. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone was definitely written for younger readers, while the later books used a much more lavish vocabulary and even non-linear dialogues that even I felt lost in the language at times. All of the praise, awards, and financial benefits that Rowling has received over the life of the series are all well deserved in my opinion.
I have been dedicated to the books throughout. After getting into the series late in the game (my brother introduced me to the first three), I have read each subsequent book almost immediately upon release. I have also become a bit of a collector as well and I have used the books as mementos of my travels. I own Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean versions of some of the titles. I even have the UK version of the first book, just because the title is Philosopher’s Stone instead of Sorcerer’s Stone. Although my efforts in acquiring collectibles has waned over the years, I will always hold these books in great esteem (interestingly enough, I have never really been a fan of the movies). Hopefully, I will one day revisit the world of Harry Potter as I pass the stories on to my own little wizards. Until then, perhaps the final words of the series can best sum up my feelings towards the Harry Potter collection…All was well.
These are the approximate coordinates of where I was when I finally completed the seven year epic journey of the Harry Potter series. I find this a noteworthy accomplishment in my life as I don’t think there are many other things that I have been dedicated to for as long as I was to Harry and his fellow wizards and witches.
Without giving anything away, I am satisfied with the ending of the series and continue to be amazed at the creativity and consistency that J.K. Rowling displayed throughout the entirety of the seven book series. I remain most impressed by the fact that not only did the series trace the teenage years of Harry Potter growing up as a wizard, her writing style seemed to get more complex and intricate as Harry got older and faced more adult problems including girl drama, abandonment issues, betrayal, and responsibility. I always thought that the books were targeted at an audience that was the same age as Harry in each respective book. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone was definitely written for younger readers, while the later books used a much more lavish vocabulary and even non-linear dialogues that even I felt lost in the language at times. All of the praise, awards, and financial benefits that Rowling has received over the life of the series are all well deserved in my opinion.
I have been dedicated to the books throughout. After getting into the series late in the game (my brother introduced me to the first three), I have read each subsequent book almost immediately upon release. I have also become a bit of a collector as well and I have used the books as mementos of my travels. I own Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean versions of some of the titles. I even have the UK version of the first book, just because the title is Philosopher’s Stone instead of Sorcerer’s Stone. Although my efforts in acquiring collectibles has waned over the years, I will always hold these books in great esteem (interestingly enough, I have never really been a fan of the movies). Hopefully, I will one day revisit the world of Harry Potter as I pass the stories on to my own little wizards. Until then, perhaps the final words of the series can best sum up my feelings towards the Harry Potter collection…All was well.
1 comment:
Yay- you finished! Wasn't the ending just perfect? I mean, I had to read the last couple chapters over again, but it was great. Bittersweet, to say the least.
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