RSSHarry Potter
Dec 19
I recently finished reading the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling.
As an aspiring author, I felt obligated to read the first one to at least have some familiarity with the series, but I was immediately hooked and ran through the entire series. I thought the beginning and middle were superior to the ending, and thought that the final book was a bit of a disappointment, but overall I really enjoyed it.I saw the movies first, but I think the series works far better in book form because the point-of-view lets you get inside Harry’s head. For example, I really disliked the Goblet of Fire movie. It seemed like they were playing up the “mystery” of whether or not Harry put his name in the goblet, and the rift that caused between Harry and Ron. In the book, it’s made clear that Harry understands why Ron is acting the way he is, and Ron’s attitude makes a lot more sense than in the movie where he just seems like a petty jerk.
As well written as Harry Potter is, there are parts that frustrate me. For example, the “rules” of how magic works, and what problems can or can’t be solved with magic, are never really explained, and sometimes when they are explained they don’t make much sense (such as how the Elder Wand works in book 7). The characters are pretty well done, though (my favorites are probably stressed-out Hermione in book 3, and Luna Lovegood throughout).